Show fi 7 ii t1i s LAST tIt t t-It t 1 j presidents Message to Congress Monftay IV 0 r VERB DOCUltfENTj A jy mlcr ofRec mmond 1 a jnmr InwIlicll tiIndo and UtJl tIon s n et Forgotten 4 4 i r 5 4 ElectIon ldentln1 5 The l r6 f th UtitJt Slates eu of njrcU tilt OqJ < To son the fce the closeof your nce eereise of the Ie in tb e American eop1e haJe chosen t Oi suffrage hlghC5t right o t e for th four years their t Cll1ef rag15tra it is J remembered that cluing When the ntrys history i1 in no period I contest which has the long political ed es the day of the prCCes customarily prec been waged with ndUonal lertion intensity it 15 a sub v1 Ic riOr and greater that after the cct J of co nCfratulabon jeg polls was overand at the controversy jonderalicebywhich prepondera ce byW lC while the slight P 4 determined Was as been the issue SuST i the public peace I y t disturbance but the people scred nO suer patiently and quietly oCverjwbere result Nothing could more awaited the illustrate the temper of the 5jjngIy tit cn his love of order anti AllericanitiZCflI to 1W l Nothing could more ioya1tytO 11 demonstrate the strength and gril1IIy alIy ing mshtution Sfeffim of our political since contro have passed a Eight years I concerning the result of a nat oi1i11 yrsy election sharply called the attention of ii > Congress to the necessity of providing amore I a-more precise and definite regulation for i counting the electoral vote It is of the gravest importance that th question ques-tion be solved before conflicting claims h to the Presidency shall again distract the country and I am persuaded that by the people at large any of the measures ot relief thus far proposed would be preferred to continued inaction in-action Foreign Isolations Our relations with all foreign i powers I continue tobe amicable With Belgium a convention has been signed whereby the scope of the present treaties has i eajaenlajgedrfassto secure to citIzens oi either country within jurisdiction jdfeother equal rigliis andprivileges In the atiquisition and alienation of property a trade mark treaty has also I Property The war between Chili 1 and Peru is at end For the arbitration of the claims of American citizens who during ltscon nuanc suffered through the Uacts of the Chilian authorities a convention will soon be negotiated The state of hostilities between France md China continues to be an embarass ing feature of our eastern relations The Chinese government has promptly adjusted and paid the claims of American Ameri-can citizens where property was destroyed de-stroyed in the recent riots at Canton I renew the recommendation of my last annual message that the Canton fund returned to China Chinese Immigration The true interpretation of the recent v cent treaty with that country permitting the restriction of Chinese immigration fejikely to be again a subject of your deliberations It may be seriously 4ues honed whether the statute passed at the last session does not violate the treaty rights of certain Chinese who oft this country with return certificates valid under the old law and now1 seem I to be debarred from landing from lack of the certificates required by the new The recent purchase by the United States of a large trading fleet heretofore under the Chinese flag has considerably enhanced our commercial importance in the east In view of the large num her of Tessels built or purchased by American citizens in other countries and exclusively employed in the legitimate tariff between foreign ports underthe recognized protection of our flag it might be weft to provide a uniform rate for their registration documentation i that the bona fide property rights of our I citizens therein shall DP duly evidenced and properly guarded Tho Congo 1 Pursuant to the advice of the Senate at the last session I recognized the flag of the International Association of the Congo as that of a friendly government avoiding in so doing f any prejudgment of the conflict in territoriol claims in that region Subsequently Sub-sequently in the execution of the expressed ex-pressed wish of the Congress I ap pomted a commercial agent for the Congo basin The importance of the rich prospective trade of the Qongo valley has led to the general conviction that it should be open to all nations upon equal terms An international con ference for the consideration of this sub ject called by the Emperor of Germany is now in session at Berlin Dde StLi a1cnQw in attendance on behalf ofthl o the Q United States Of the results of thl conference you will be duly advised The government of Corea has ously aided the gener efforts of the United States minister to secure suitable mites for the sntateprc use of thelegation The V conditions of diplomatic intercourse with eastern nations demand them The legation premises will be owned 5 by the represented power I advise then that an appropropriation be made for the acquisition of this property bv the governmen The United States already al-ready possesses valuable premises at Tangier as a ift from the Sultan of Morrocco As is stated hereafter they have lately received a similar gift from the Siamese government The govern I 5 ment of Japan stands ready to cede to us extensive grounds at Tokio wherein to erect a suitable building for the legation < < le-gation court house and jail and similar simi-lar nrivileges can probably be secured in tina and Persia The owning of such premises would not only effect a large saving of the present rentals but would permit of the due assertion of extra territorial rights in those countries coun-tries and would the better serve to maintain the dignity of the United States V Egypt S The failure of Congress to make appropriation ap-propriation for the representation at the autonomous court of the Khedive has proved a serious embarrassment in our intercourse with Egypt and in view I of the necessary intimacy of diplomatic diploma-tic relationship and the participation of this government with the treaty powers in all matters of administration there affecting the rights of foreigners I advise the restoration of the agency and ConsulateGeneral at Cairo on its former basis I do not conceive con-ceive it to be the wish of Congress Con-gress that the United States hould withdraw altogether from e honorable position they have hitherto had with respect to the Khedive or that citizens of this Republic residing or sojourning in Egypt should hereafter be without the aid and protection of a competent representative Bartholdl Statue With France the traditional cordial relationship continues The Bartholdi statue Liberty Enlightening the World the generous gift of the people of France is expected reach New York in May next I suggest that Congressional action be taken in relation to the spirit which has prompted this gif tvand in aid ofthe timely completion of the pedestal upon which it is to be placed Qcrmany y t Our relations with Germany a country which contributes to our own some of the best elements of citizenship continue to be cordial The United 1 States have extradition treaties with several of the German states but by reason of the confederation of those States under the imperial rule theanpli cation of such treaties is njt as uniform and comprehensive as the interests of the two countries require I therefore recommend you to open negotiations for a single convention of extradition to embrace all the territory of the Empire It affords me pleasure to say that our intercourse with Great Britain continues to be of a most friendly character V The government of Hawaii has indicated indi-cated its willingness to continue for seven years the provisions of the existing exist-ing reciprocity treaty Such continuanqe in view of the relations of that country with the American system of States should in my jnftgaferit1 be favored The revolution in Hayli against the tab1IshedmpthasJermin jted While in its progress it became necessary neces-sary to enforce our neutrality laws by instituting proceedings against individuals II indi-viduals and vessels charged with their ringement those precautions were in all cases successful V I WorcH of Art Much anxiety has lately been displayed dis-played by various European l governments govern-ments and especially by the government of Italy for tIP abolition of our import duties uppuworks of art It is well to consider < < whether the present discrimination discrimin-ation in favor of th production of I American artists abroad is not likqly to result as they themselves seem very generally to believe it may hi thQ practical exclusion of our painters and sculptures from the rich fields for observation ob-servation study and labor which they 5 have hitherto enjoyed There is prospect that the long fending fend-ing revision 01 the foreign treaties of Japan may be concluded att anew a-new conference to be held at Tokio While this government fully recognized the equal and independent status of Japan in the comity of nations would not oppose the general adop tion of such terms of compromise as Japan may be disposed to offer in furtherance fur-therance of a uniform policy of intercourse inter-course with western nations < rcxlco During the nast year the increasing good will between our own and government govern-ment and that of Mexico haVoeen variously vari-ously manifested The treaty of commercial com-mercial concluded January 20 1883 lias been ratified and awaits the necessary tariff legislation of Congress to become effective The legislation will I doubt not be among the first measures to claim your attention A full treaty of commerce navigation and consular rights is much be desired such a treaty I have reason to believe > be-lieve the American government stands ready to conclude Some em I b rassm nt has been occasioned by the failuieqf Congress at its last session to provide means for the due execution of the treaty of July 29th 1882 for the resurvey of the Mexican boundary and the relocation of boundary monuments monu-ments I With the Republic of Nicaragua a treaty has been made whichjauthorized the construction by the United States of a canal railway and telegraph line across the Nicaraguan territory By the terms of this treaty sixtv miles of the Uiver San Juan as well as Lake Nicaragua an inland sea forty mil sin s-in width arc to constitute a part of the projected enterprise V This covers for the actual canal construction seventeen miles on the Pacific side and thirtvrsix miles on the Atlantic Atlan-tic to the United States Iwhose rich territoryon the Pacific for the ordinary ordi-nary purposes of commerce practically cut off from communication by water with the Atlantic ports The political and commercial advantages ot such a project can scarcely overestimated It is believed that when tli i treaty is laid before you the justice and liberality i liber-ality of its provisions will command i umversal approval at home and abroad I The death of our representative at Russia while at his post at St Peters burg afforded to the imperial gbvcrn meat a renewed opportunity to testify ifs sympathy ill < a O Banner Ban-ner befitting the intimate friendliness friendli-ness which has ever marked the intercourse of the two countries SiamV The course of this government in raising its representation at Bangkok to the diplomatic rank has evoked from Siam evidences of warm friendship and augurs well for our enlarged intercourse The Siamese government has presented to the United States a commodious mansion man-sion and grounds for the occupancy of the legation and I suggest that by joint resolution Congressattest its appreciation apprecia-tion of this generous gift Spain I This government has more than once been called upon of late to take action V in fulfillment its international obligation obliga-tion toward Spain agitation in the Island Is-land of Cuba hostile to the Spanish crown having been fermented by persons per-sons abusing the sacred right of hospitality hos-pitality which our territory afforded The officers of the goVernment have been instructed to exercise vigilance to prevent infractions of our neutrality laws at Key West and other points near the Cuban coast I am happy to say that in the only instance where the precautionary pre-cautionary measures were successfully eluded the offenders whenfoundin our territory were subsequently tried and onvicted The growing need of closer relationship of intercourse and traffic between the Spanish Antilles and their natural market in the United statcs led to the adoption in January last of a I commercial agreement looking to that j end This agreement has since been 1 superseded by a more carefully framed i and comprehensive convention which It shall submit to the Senate for upproY lIt l-It has been the aim of this negotiation to open such a favorable reciprocal exchange ex-change of productions carried under the flag of their country as to make the intercourse in-tercourse between Cuba and Porto Rico and ourselves scarcely less intimate than the commercial movement between our I j domestic ports and to insure a removal I j of the burdens onshipping in the Spanish Span-ish Indies of which in the past our shipowners and shipmasters have so often had cause to complain The negotiation of this convention has for a time postponed the prosecution of certain claims of ouitiitizens which were declared to be without the jurisdiction of the SpanishAmerican claims commission com-mission and which we therefore remitted I re-mitted to diplomatic channels for adjustment 1 ad-justment The speedy settlement of government these claims will now be urged by this Ii Negotiations for a treaty of commercial com-mercial recipocity with the Dominion Republic have been successfully concluded con-cluded and the result will shortly be laid before the Senate Certain questions between the United II States and the OttomanEmpire still remain i re-main unsolved Complaints in behalf of our citizens are not satisfactorily adjusted ad-justed The Porte has sought to withhold with-hold from our commerce the right of favored treatment to which we arc entitled en-titled oy existing conventional tip Nation Na-tion and the revision of the tanfHsun accomplished The final disposition of pending quea tions with Venezuela has not as yet been reached but I nave goad reacns to expect an early settlement which will I provide the means of reexamining the I Caracas award in conformity with the expressed desire of Congress and which will recognize the justice of certain claims preferred against Venezuola The Central and South American commission appointed bv authority of the act of July 7th 1884 will o > n proceed pro-ceed V to Mexico It has been furnished with instructions which will be taut before be-fore you They contain a statement of the general policy of the government for enlarging its comifiercin1 intei course with American States The commissioners commis-sioners have been actively preparing for their responsible task by holding conferences con-ferences in the principal cities with merchants and others interested in Central Cen-tral and South American trade International 1ltwhHau V j j I The international meridian conference f confer-ence lately convened in Washington j upon the invitation of the government jf govern-ment of the United States was composed of representatives V from twentyfive nations The conference concluded its laborson the first of November No-vember having with substantial unanimity unani-mity agreed upon the miridian of Greenwich as the starting point whence longitude is to be completed through 180 degrees eastward and westward And upon the adoption for all purposes for which it may be found convenient of a universal day which shall begin at midnight on the initial miridian and where hours shall be counted from zero up to twentyfour The formal report UF the transactions of this conference will be hereafter transmitted to Congress Con-gress International Exhibition 1 This government is in frequent receipt re-ceipt of invitations fronTforeign States to participate in international exhibL tionsJoften great interest and importance import-ance Occupying as we do an advanced ad-vanced position in the worlds production produc-tion and aiming to secure a profitable share for our industries in the general competitive markets it is a matter of I serious concern that the want of means forparticipation in these exhibitions I should so often exclude our producer from the advantage enjoyed by those of other countries During the past the attention of Congress was year drawn to the formal invitations in this regard rendered by the governments of England Holland Belgium Germany and Austria The executive has in 1 > ointcd JIonorary j I some instances appointed I commissioners This is however a most unsatisfactory expedient for with some provisions to meet the neces out working expenses of acOiumission saryworkiiig it sary can effect little or nothing behalf of exhibitors V An international inventors inven-tors exhibit is to be held in London next May This will cover a field of in which our V importance special VV the but rank foremost Country holds a presentpowerless to organize executive is at of our representation ganize a proper vast nationaLmterests in this direction I have in several previous referred re-ferred to this subject It seems to me I that a statute giving to the executive ral discretionary authority fo accept I general gsuch inVitations and to appoint cept without salary I honorary commissioners > anflplacmg at the disposal ofthaSecre f I tary of StatG a small mud fordfjaytng < t 5 a their reasonable expenses would be of great public utility ThIS government received official notice that the revival of the international interna-tional regulation for preventing collisIon colli-sIon at sea have been adopted by all the leading maritime powers except the United States and came into force on the 1st of September last For the due protection ot our shipping interests the provisions of our statutes should at once be brought into conformity with those regulations International Copyright The question of securing to authors i composers and artists copyright privileges privi-leges in this country in return for reciprocal recip-rocal rights abroad is one that may justly challenge your attention It ib true that a convention will be necessary 1 < pull accomplishing this result But 1 until Congress shall by statute fix the extent to which foreign holders of copj right shall be here privileged ithas been deemed inadvisable to negotiate such conventions For this reason the Ignited l States were not represented at the recent conference at Berlin t Neutrality Laws I I recommend that the scope of the neutrality laws of the United States be so enlarged as to cover all patent acts of hosulitv committed in our territory ana aimed against the ueace of a friendly notion Exiting statutes prohibit the fitting out of armed expeditions and restrict res-trict the shipment of explosives though the enactments in the latter respect were not framed with regard to international Obligations but simply for the protection protec-tion of passenger travel All these statutes stat-utes were intended to meet special emergencies that had already arisen Other emergencies have arisen ince and modern ingenuity supplies means for th6 organization of hostilities without open resort to armed vessels or to filibustering fili-bustering parties I see no reason why jVcrt preparations in the country forth for-th commission of crirainul acts such as arc here under consideration should not be alike punishable Whether such acts are intended to be committed in our country or in a foreign country with which we are at peace The prompt and thorough treatment ofthis question is one which intimately concerns the national honor I V V NaturalIzation Law I Q jar existing naturalization laws also need revision Those sections relating to persons residing within the limit of the United States within 1795 and 1798 have now only a historical interest inter-est Section 2172 recognizing the citienship of the children of naturalized parents is ambiguous l hi its terms and partly absolute There are special provisions of law favoring l the naturalization of those who serve in ihej riny or in merchant vessels while Lint similar privileges are granted those l who serve in the navy or marine corps An uniform rule of naturalization such as the Constitution contemplates should among other things clearly define the status of persons born within the United States subject to a foreign power Section 1992 and of minor children of father who have de I dared thpir intention of becoming itizens but have failccl to perfect their I naturalisation It migbt be wise to provide for a central bureau registry I wherein should be filed authenticated ransCriptt of every record of natur li iltlOl1 in fie several federal and State i cdtJlt and to make provision also for lha vacation or cancellation ot such i Record in cases where fraud had been 1 j racti > ed upon the court bv the appli jcant himself or where he had removed i forfeited his acquired citizenship A just and uniform law in this respect would strengthen the hands of the I government in protecting its citizens abroad and would pave the way for the I conclusion of treaties of naturalization I with foreign countries Diplomatic ami Consular Service The legislation of the last session I I effected in diplomatic and consular services certain changes and reductions which have been productive of embarrassment embar-rassment The population and commercial com-mercial activity of our country ars steadily on the increasp and are giving rise to new varying and often delicate relationship with other countries Our foreign establishment now embraces nearly double the area of operations that ft did twenty years ago The conferment con-ferment of such a service within the limits ertp V of the expenditure then established is not it seems to me in accordance with true economy A community com-munity of 60000000 of people should bead be-ad 1ately represented in its intercourse with foreign nations V V The Consular Service V A project for the reorganization the Vonsular service and for recasting the cime of extraterritorial jurisdiction is now before you If the limits of ash a-sh rt session will not allow its full consideration con-sideration I trust you will not fail to make suitable provisions for the present needs 9f the service It has been customary to define in the iropriation accounts the rank of each diplomatic office to which a salary is attached I suggest that this course he abandoned and that it be left to the President with the advice and consent of thcSenate to fix from time totime the diplomatic grade of the representatives representa-tives of this gOvernment abroailasmay seem advisable provision being definite defin-ite v made however as may seem ad visible as now fortlie amount salary to be attached to respective stations i V T Tile Treasury The condition our finance and the operations of the various branches of V public V ivic which connected with the Treasufy Denartment are very fully r discussed uT the report of the Secretary Secre-tary It appears that V V the ordinary ordin-ary revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30th 1884 were From castoms 19o067 897G from in tdPiial revenue 56Q7251 j I from all other sources 31866i30765 total ordinary I or-dinary revenues 31851950952 The public expenditures during the same I pqqlc cxedturC3 penAd were Fo CiVIl erpeises r 2 I 33O71 fcr foreign intercourse 1 l637 j Indians 64759SJor Jsions 542922836f2rfhe ruiIittry etabhishmen includiIt rve rtd hnr ta1lshme artenab t npvemcnts ar t i r V V 1 J < I I I S 42960338 for the naval establishment including vessels machinery and improvements I im-provements at jnavy yards 17292 L0144 for miscellaneous expenditures including public buildings lighthouses and collecting the revenue 13939 71000 for expenditures on account of the District of Columbia 340704902 for interest on the public debt 54 57X 37848 for the sinking fund 46790 22950 total ordinary expenditure 29091648383 leaving a surplus of 5700339309 As compared with the preceding fiscal year there was a net decrease of over 21000000 in the amount of expenditures V The aggregate receipts were less than tho e of the year previous by about 54000000 The fall ing off of revenue for customs made up neaily 20000000 of this deficiency and about 23000000 of the remainder re-mainder was due to the diminished dim-inished receipts from internal taxation The secretary estimates the total receipts re-ceipts for the fiscal year which H end June 30 1885 at 330000000 and the total expenditures at 29002020116 in which are incltuled the interest on the debt and the amount payable to the sinking fund This would leave a surplus sur-plus ior the entire year of about f39000000 Exports The value of exports from the United States to foreign countries during the I I year ending June 30r 1884 was a fol lows Domestic merchandise 724964 852 foreign merchandise 15548757 Total merchandise 740513609 specie 67133383 Total exports o merchandise merchan-dise and specie 807646920 The cotton cot-ton and cotton manufactured included in this statement were valued at 208 900415 the breadstuffs at 162544715 L the provisions at 114416547 t and the mineral oils at 547103748 During the same period the imports were as follows Merchandise 067697693 gold and sil ver 3742ti2t Total 705123955 More than ll per cent oi the entire value of imported merchandise consisted con-sisted of the iollowinff articles Sugar i and molasses 1036tJ274 wool and woolen manufactures 53542292 silk and its manufactures 49949yl23 coffee 96679 iron and steel and manufactures manufac-tures thereof 41644599 chemicals substances 38404965 flax and manufactures hemp jute and thereof like substnce 33463398 cotton and manufactures of cotton 30454476 hides and skins other than fur skins 22350906 Silver I I concur with the Secretary of the i Treasury in recommending the immediate I imme-diate suspension of the coinage of silver dollars and 7he issue of silver certificates certi-ficates This i a matter t which informer in-former communications I have more than once invoked the attention of the national legislature I appears that annually for the past six appars there have been coined in compliance with of the act of therrequirements the February 2f f h1878 more that 27000000 silver I d ifec The numbed now outstanding i i reported by Secretary to be nearly 185000000 whereof but little more than 40000000 or less than 22 percent in actual circulation The mere existence ex-istence of this fact seems to me to furnish fur-nish of itself a cogent argument for the repeal of the statute which has made such a fact possible but there ere other and graver considerations that tend i the same di cti The Secretary avows his conviction that unless this coinage and the issuance of silver certi ficates be suspended silver i likely at no distant day to become our sole metallic me-tallic standard The commercial disturbance dis-turbance and the impairment of national na-tional credit thai would b thus occa tonal t sioned can scarcely be over estimated I hope that the Secretarys suggestions respecting the withdrawal from circulation circula-tion of the 1 and the notes will receive re-ceive your approval I is likely that a considerable portion of the silver now incumberinguie vaults of the Treasury might thus n its way into the currency While trade dollars have ceased for the present at least to be an element of active disturbance in our currency System some provision should be made for their surrender to the government j in view of the circumstances under which they were coined and of the fact that they hava never had a legal tender quality there should b offered iqr qualit them only n slight advance over their bullion value The Secretary J in this course of his report considers the propriety pro-priety of beautifying the designs of oar subsidiary silver corns and of bo increasing increas-ing their weight that they may bear their due ratio of vajue of the standard t stan-dard dollar RiG conclusions iu i regard S awcordially approved r Excise Taxes In my annual message of 1882 If recommended re-commended the abolition of all excise tares except those relating to distilled spirits This recommendation is now renewed In case these taxes shall be ablsh the revenues that wiMtstill remain re-main togovernmentwillin myopinion not only suffice to meet its reasonable eentre but will afford a surplus large enough to permit such tar reduction re-duction as may seem to bo advisable ysabT whenthe results of recent revenue laws and commercial treaties shall have shown i what quarters these reduc ticns can be most judicially effected 4 Foreign Trao One jof the gravest of the pr blem which appeal to the wisdom of Congress for solution ia ascertainment of the most effective means of increasing ou foreign trade and relieving the de pression under which pur industries arc now Janguistting Tit secretary Or tne j TreasuryJadvises that the duty of investigating I inves-tigating thisjsubject entrusted in the i first instance to a competent comm 1 sioi Vhile fully recognizing the considerations I con-siderations that may be urged against I 1 thisxourse I nevelelheless of the pini nthat upon the wHole no other would bfe likely to effect speedier or better result I > y That portion ofthe Secretarys s report which concerns the condition of our shipping interests cannot fail to command com-mand your attention Be emphatically recommends that as an incentive to the investment of Amorican capital i American steamships government shall Illiberal payments for mailitra portation orqtherwise < Iend active assV tanceto individual enter mailt3i claresithis beluit ttw that cte lir ttiu5e 1 J t 7 r i 1 > < r 0 i > i pursuedour foreign carrying trade must remain as it i today almost exclusively in the lianas of foreigners One phas of this subject is now especially pi eminent emi-nent in view of the repeal of the act of June 23th Irfdl ot all salutary provisions V V ions arbitrarily compelling American vessels to carry the mails to and from the United States As it is necessary to make provisions to compensate the owners of such vessel for performing that service after April 15 it is hoped that the whole subject will receive early consideration that will lead to the enactment en-actment of such measure the revival of our merchant marine a the wisdom of Congress may devi e The Circulation The thrcepercent bonds of the government gov-ernment to the amount of more than alou o 1m tan 100OOQQOtf have smcoohy f annual message been redecxnedby the treasury The bonlLs of thHtissnestm outstanding amount to n little over 200000000 about oiiefourch oCwhich will b retired through the operations of the sinking sinkng fund during the coming year As these bonds still continue the chief basis for circulation of the isationraU banks the tn ank to question how to avert the con traction of the currency caused by their retirement is tone of eon stantly increasing importance t It f seems to b generally conceded that 311 the law governing this matter exacts I from the banks bank security and that upon their present bond deposits a larger circulation than i now allowed may be granted with safety I hope that the bill which passed the Senate at T Snate the last session permitting the issue oE permitng notes equal to the face value of deposited bonds will commend itself to the ap proval of the House ofJRepresentative War Department Expenses aIl In the expenses othe War Department Depart-ment the Secretary J reports a decrease Ic of more than 9000060 of which rednd V tion 560 was effected in the e V V penditures for rivers and harbors and 2700000 expenditures for the Quartermasters Quarter-masters department Outside of that department the annual expenses of all Cpne3 n the army bureaus proper except possibly pos-sibly the ordnance bureau are substantially sub-stantially fixed charges which cannot be materially diminished without materily dimimshe witout a V change in the numerical strength of the army The expenditures in the quartermasters quarter-masters department can readily b subjected to administrative discretiSn and it i reported by the Secretary of War that as a result of exercisinsuch eercingsucH discretion in reducing the numberof recng umbIo draught pack animals in the army the annual cost of and te supplying caring for such animalaiSnowl10808 uSOleas at than it was i 18S2 The reports of military commander show that the last year has been notable for its entire freedom from Indian out breaks In defiance of the Presidents proclamation July 1 1884 certain intruders in-truders sought to make n settlement in the Indian Territory They were promptly troops removed by a detachmentof During the past session of Congress > a bill to provide a suitable fireproof building build-ing for the army medical museum and I the library of the SurgeonGenerals office received the approval of the I I Senate A similar bill reported favorably reprted I to the House of favorably the e Representative by one I of its committees is still pending1 before that bQ dyIt i hoped that during the I coming session the measure may become be-come a law and thereafter immediate steps may be takenf o secure a place of safe deposit for theste valuable coUec taonsno7r in a state of insecurity i The funds with whSk the wow for the improvement of rivers and harbors f har-bors were prosecuted dnrirjj thfc pgst year were derived from the appropria hons o the act of August 2dt 1882to gethes with such few balances a were on hand from previous appropriations The balance in the treasury subject t requisition July 1st I8S3 was f 10021 64955 The amouni appropriated du 9 aoun aYxopr Ct rag tne uscai year 1884 was 13195 342J and the amonrjtt drawn f31 t1 Treasury durl the fiscal yeat8 2U5 leayt a balance o3Lt2 580a in the Treasury subject toremri sition July 1st 1S84 sG Ju 1 V Sea Coast Protection > The Secretary of War sabmjta thffr port of the Chief of Engineers asj tlra q probability oipiotectingioar important t cities on theseaboard by fortifications and other defenses able d dese tarepelmjadrn methods of attack The time has now come when such defenses cdnbe pdk pared with confidence ne cUb flat prove abortive and when the possiIe result of delpy m making suchprepara tions are seriously considered delay seems inexcusable for the most important impor-tant cities those whose destruction or capture would b anationalhamfliatio > adequate Defenses indtisiye of guns P may b made by the gradual expendi gadu exend tine oi OJ suiomach less than a victorious enemy could levy as a contribution con-tribution A appropriation of about onetsnth the amount is asked to begin V the work aod I concur with the Secretary Secre-tary of Wax in urging thatit be grantee The War Department proceeding with theconversion of teninch smooth bore guns into exght incbriB by lining the former wilh tubes of forged or of coiled wrought iron Fifty guns will be thus iN5 convertsd Within gns wifi thay ar TaiSj however how-ever does not obviate the necessity providing means for the q2nstructionof guns or the highest power bqth for file purpose o coast defense and for the armament of war vesselfe The reportof the fn fda boaf3 t appoiritedApTilS 1i83 irr ursjiance of i the actoi 3farch S J1883 teas transmitted I transmit-ted Congress i iuy anuualmessage I of February 8th 1884 In ray message I of March 261884 I called auentn to caled nfen1lmto the f eeommendationlfof the ooarcTthat V the government houj encmuagq Te I prouucfion of priateeel w tk requirecfeiaterialfor cannon a reCle ot av cnnn thawogovcrnientctories ope ort or-t onforfho navy houd be eltablished f i UhI fabrc on t gunsirqm such matjrinil VYI ct I i having 3pn takenfhlad w tb seckireconver t Ir ire fully pJans an i te necsary at for car mu Oit I eC6J1endatOn It had CQOtVCl in atQl whh indicate in-dicate tere a rtonsible ste I I nanufaos i U country who at L Ujough nOj lrovided ef1 wit tL tsugh I 1t a g aconstruti4 gfCn u It esarend to a s J contt wftb thegoTdtxIent w mpp v 1 i t I < 1 k I J 4 S L the requisite material for the heaviest guns adapted to modern warfare If a 1 guaranteed order of sufficient magnitude accompanied by a positive appropriation t extending over a series oi years should be made Jby Congress all doubts a to feasibility of the plan would be thus I removed I renew my recommendation that such action be taken by Congress as will enable the government to construct con-struct its own ordnance upon its own territory and so provide the armaments demanded by considerations of national I safety and honor I The Navy j I Thejreport ofthe Secretary of the Navy exhibits the progress which has been made on the new steel cruisers authorized I author-ized by the acts of August 5th 1882 and March 3d 1883 Of the four vessels under un-der contract one the Chicago of 4500 tons is more than half finished The Atlanta 3000 tons has been successfully I launched and her machinery is now fitting The Boston also a of 3000 tons is ready for launching and the Dolphin a dispatch steamer of 1500 tons is ready for delivery Certain adverse criticisms upon the designs de-signs of the cruisers are discussed by the Secretary who insists that the correctness cor-rectness of the conclusions reached by the advisory board and by the department depart-ment have been demonstrated by re i cent development in shipbuilding abroad The machinery of the double turreted monitors Puritan Terror and Atnphitrite contracted for under the act of March 3d 1883 is in process of construction con-struction No work has been done during dur-ing the past year on their armor for Jack of the necessary appropriations A fourth monitor the Jlonadnock still remains unfinished at the navy yard in California It is recommended that early steps be taken to complete these vessels and to provide also an armament arma-ment for the monitor Miantononwh The recommendation of the naval advisory I ad-visory board approved by the department depart-ment comprise the construction of one steel cruiser of 4500 tons one cruiser I of 3000 tons two heavilyarmed gunboats gun-boats one light cruising gunboat one dispatch vessel armed mh Hotchkiss cannon one armored ram and three torpedo boats The general designs all of which are calculated to meet the existing 1 I ex-isting wants of the service are now well advanced and the construction of the vessels can be undertaken as soon as you shall grant the necessary authority I au-thority The DeXiong Party j The act of Congress approved I August 7th 1882 authorized the removal L to the United States of the bodies of Lieutenant Commander George W De Iiong and his companions of the Jeannette expedition This removal has been successfully accomplished by iLieuten ants Harber and Scheutze The remains were taken from their graves in the I Lena delta in March 1883 and were retained at Yakutsk until the following 1 winter the season being too far advanced ad-vanced to admit of their immedate transportation They arrived at New York February 20th 1884 where they were received with suitable honors Lieutenant GreE1y In pursuance of the jaint resolution of Congress approved February 13t2i 1884 a naval expedition was fitted out for the relief of Lieutenant A W Greely United States army and of the party who had been engaged under his command in scientific obsecrations at Lady Franklin Bay The fleet consists of the steam sealer Thetis purchased from England the Bear purchased at St Johns N Ft and the Alert which c was generously provided by the British 1 government Preparations for theex pedition were promptly made by ithe 9 Secretary of the Navy with the active cooperation of the Secretary of War Commander George W Coffin was placed in ecaaimand of the A len and Lieutenant W H Emory in command of the Bear The Thetis WAS entrusted to the command of VTInfield S Copely to whom also was assigned the superial tendency of the entire expedition 5 ImmedlatclN upon its arrfaral at Upper navik the fleet began the dangerous navigation of Melville Bay and in spite of every obstacle reached Littleton Island on June 22 a fortnight earlier than any ve eLbefore had obtained that point On the same day it enessed over 30 Cape Sabine here Lieutenant Greely and the survivors of his party were discovered c dis-covered After taking on boand the liv ing and the bodies thedead tihe relief ships sailed for St Johns where they arnved on July 4f3i They were appropriately ap-propriately received at Portsmouth N H on Auguct 1st and at Keasr York I on August 8th One of the bodies was landed at the former place tfee others were put on shone at Governors eland and with the exception ef one wMda was interred in the natiqnalcenietery were forwarded tbence the destination in jiicated by friende jTihe organization andrconductof this relief xpedixs reflects re-flects great credit jipon all who con tributed to its success In this the last of i2 staged messages that I shall have the jkonor to transmit to theCongrsss of the United States I cannot too strongly car e on your attention atten-tion the duty of restermg < < our navy as rapidly as possible to tJJe high state of efficiency which formerly characterized it As the long peace U1at4as lulled us I into a sense of fancied security may at i any time be disturbed 5t is jftain that the policy of strengthening this arm of the service is dictated byvepnsiderations of use economy of just regard for our future tranquillity and oif the true appreciation I ap-preciation the dignity and hAnor of It the Republic Poeioffice Department The report the PostmasterGeneral acquaints yon with the present condition ii condi-tion and needs of the postal service tt discloses the gratifying fact that the mass of revenue from the reduction of the Tate in letter postage as recommended recom-mended in m y message of December 1882t and effected by the act of Ma h3f ISSS has been much less than was gen rally anticipated My recommendation of the reduction was Based upon the Belief Be-lief that the actualtfalling off in receipts from letter packages for the year immediately im-mediately succeeding the change ffiJJba rate wonldbe 3GGQ < pQO It has proved to be only 2275000 This is a trust J worthy indication that the revenue 55 W soonbe reduced to its former volume by the natural increase of sealed con j respondenee I confidently repeat therefore the recommendation of my last annual message that te t single rate postage on drop letters be reduced to one cent werever payment of two cents is now required by law The double rate is only exacted afc offices where the carrier system is fn operation opera-tion ani it appears that at these offices tftft iiicreaee in the tax upOn local Jesters defrays the cost not only of j Jits own collection and delivery bni jjhe cpllection afldJ f 4 livery of all other mail matter This is an inequality that ought no longer to exist 1 approve the recommendations of the PostmasterGeneral thatthe unit weight in the rating of firstclass matter I mat-ter should be one ounce instead of one half ounce as it now is In view of the statistics furnished by the department it may well be dqubted whether the change would result in any loss of revenue That it would greatly promote the convenience of the public is beyond dispute The free delivery system has been IninlV OT rltol tn flUl > r f t AO nn the total number ef offices in which it is now in operation is 159 Experience shows that its adoption under proper conditions is equally an accommodation to the public and an advantage to the postal service It is more than seif sustaining and for the reasons urged by the PostmasterGeneral may pry perly be extended It is the opinion of that officer that itis proper to provide means whereby exceptional dispatch in dealing withletters in free delivery offices may be secured by the payment of ex traordinary postage This scheme might be made effective by the employ ment of a special stamp wtose cost should be commensurate with the expense ex-pense of the extra service In some of the large cities private express comnanies have iinrlm taKen to outstrip the government mail carriers by affording for the prompt transmission of letters better facilities than hive hereto been at the command of the postoffice It has always been the policy of the government to discourage dis-courage such enterprises and no better way can that policy be maintained than in supplying the public with the most efficient mail service that with due regard re-gard to its own best interests can be furnished for its accommodations Departraent Justice The AttorneyGeneral renews the recommendation rec-ommendation contained in his report of fast year touching the fees of witnesses and jurors He favors radical changes in the fee bill the adoption of a system by which attorneys and marshals of the United States should be compensated compen-sated solely by salaries and the erection by the government of a penitentiary for the confinement of offenders against its laws The Tnterior Department Of the varied governmental concerns in charge of the Interior Department the reports of Secretary present an interesting summary Among the top ics deserving particular attention I re fer you to his observations respecting our Indian affairs rthe preemption and I timber culture acts the failure of railroad rail-road companies to take title to lands granted by > the government and the operations of the pension office the census bureau and the bureau of education edu-cation The Indians Allusion has been made already to the circumstances that both as between different tribes and as between Indians and the whites the past year has been one of unbroken peace In this circumstance circum-stance the President is glad to find justification for the policy of the government govern-ment in dealing with the Indian ques ton and confirmation of the views which were fullv exnressed in his fisf com7aunication to the FortySeventh Congress The Secretary urges ariew the enactment of a statute for ike I punishment of crimes committed l Indian reservations and recommends passage of a bill now pending in the House of Representatives for the purchase pur-chase of a tract of 18000 square miles from the Sioux reservation Both these measures are worthy of approval I concur with him also in advising the repeal of the preemption law the enactment en-actment of statutes resolving the present legal complications touching lapsed grantsto railroad companies and ihe fundingof thedebt of the several Pacific railroads under such guaranty as shall effectually insure its ultimate payment The Utah Question The report of the Utah Commission will be read woo interest 2t l discloses the results of recent iegislarfaon looking to the presentation and punishment of polygamy in that Territory I still believe that if that abominable practice can be suppressed by law itcan only be bythe most radicallegislation consistent with the restraints of the Constitution I again recommend therefore that Congress assume absolute poEtical con strol of the Territory of Utah and pro I TOde for the appointment of a commission commis-sion with such government lwower as on its judgment may justly and wisely bep into their hands Foreign JTrade hiecourse of this communication reJerencehas more than once been made to the policy of this government as regards re-gards ithe extension of our foreign trade It saeoas proper to declare the general principles that should in my opinion underlie our national < effor in this direction The main conditions of the problem may be thus staled We area are-a peopleiengagedin mechaaaieal pursuits and teriile in invention We coyer a vast extent of territory rich in agricultural agricul-tural products and in nearly all the raw matecils necessary for successful manufacture We have a system of productive establishments more than sufficient to supply our own demands The wages < jf iabor are nowhere else so great The scale of Jiving of our artisan classes is such as tends to secure their personal comfort and the development of those higher morals and intellectual i qualities thai go to the making of good citizens Our system of tax and tariff legislation is yielding revenue which is inexcess of the present needs of the goveigament These are elements from which is sought to devise scheme by wincii without unfavqrabJy changing the condition of fte workingmen our merchant marine ghali be raised from its enfeebled condition and a new market be provided forte for-te sale beyond out borders of the i manifold frnits of our isdustriai enterprises enter-prises The problem is complex and can be solved by no singte measure of innoyation or reform Te countries of the American continent ajjd the adjacent ad-jacent islands are for the United States the natural market of supply and demand de-mand It is from that we EhDnldob tein what we do not produce or do sot produce in sufficiency and it is to them I tit the surplus prO < uction of our fields our mills and workshops should flow Sd under conditions that will equalise or favor them in comparison with foreign for-eign competition Four paths of policy seem to point to this end First a series of reciprocal commercial commer-cial treaties with the countries of Amer ca which shall fasten between us and them > an unhampered movement of trade The conditions of these treaties 1 should be thQ free fldrnfovion of Mich If CO 0 merchandise as this country does not produce in return for the admission free or under a favored scheme of duties of our products the benefits of such exchange uctsl change to apply on these goods carried under the flag of the parties to the contract con-tract The removal on both sides from vessels so privileged of all tonnage dues and national imports so that then vessels ves-sels may ply unhindered between our I ports and those of the other contracting parties though without infringing on the reserve home coasting trade the removal re-moval or reduction of burdens on the exported produ ts of those countries coming within the benefits of the treaties and the avoidance of the technical restrictions res-trictions and penalties by which our intercourse in-tercourse with those countries is at I f present hampered Secondly the establishment of the consular service of the United States on a salaried footing permitting the relinquishment relin-quishment of consular fees nbt only as respects vessels under the national flag but also as respects vessels of the treaty nations carrying goods entitled to the benefits of the treaties Thirdly the enactment of measures to favor the construction and maintenance main-tenance of a steam carrying marine under the flag of the United States Fourthly the establishment an uniform uni-form currencv basis for the countries of America so that the coined products of our mines may circulate on equal terms throughout the whole system of commonwealths This would require a monetary union of America whereby the output of the bullion producing countries and the circulation of those which yield neither gold nor silver could be adjusted in conformity with the population wealth and commercial need of each As many of the countries 1 coun-tries furnish no bullion to the common com-mon stock the surplus production I of our mines and mints might thus be utilized and a step taken toward the general remonetization of silver To the accomplishment of these ends so far as they can be attained by separate treaties the negotiations already concluded con-cluded and now in progress have been directed and the favor with which this enlarged policy has thus far been received re-ceived warrants the belief that its operations op-erations will ere long embrace all or nearly all the countries of this hemisphere hemis-phere It is by no means desirable however that the policy under consideration consid-eration should be applied to these countries coun-tries alone The healthful enlargement pf our trade with Europe Asia and Africa should be sought by reducing the tariff burdens on such of their wares as neither we nor the other American States are fitted to produce2 and thus enabling ourselves to obtain in return a better market for our supplies of food of raw material and of the manufactures manufac-tures in which we excel It seems tome to-me that many of the embarrassing elements ele-ments in the great national conflict between be-tween protection and free trade may thus be turned to good account that the revenue may be red ced so as no longer to overtax the people That protective pro-tective duties may be retained without becoming burdensome that our shipping ship-ping interests may be judiciously arranged ar-ranged the currency fixed on a firm basis and aLove all such an unity of interests esrablished among the States of the American system as will be of great and everincreasing advantage to them all All treaties in the line of this policy which have been negotiated or are in process of negotiation contain a provision deemed to be requisite under the clause of the Constitution limiting to the House of Representatives the authority to originate for raising rEt Avenue The Civil Service On the 29th ofFebruary last I transmitted trans-mitted to Congress the first annual report re-port of the civil service commission together to-gether with communications from the heads of the several executive departments depart-ments of the governmentrespecting the practical workings of the law under which the commission has been acting The government results therein foreshadowed fore-shadowed have been more than realized The system has fully answered an-swered the anticipations of its friends in securing competent and faithful public servants and in protecting the appointing officers of the government from the pressure of personal importunity importun-ity and from the labor of examining the claims and pretensions of rival candidates candi-dates for public employment The law has had the unqualified support of the President and of the heads of the several sev-eral departments and the members of the commission have performed their duties with zeal and fidelity Their report re-port will shortly be submitted and will be accompanied by such recommendation recommenda-tion for enlarging the scope of the existing exist-ing statute as shall commend themselves them-selves to the executive and the commissioners commis-sioners with its administration I Miscellaneous In view of the genet l and persistent demand throughout the commercial eeommunity for a general bankrupt law J hope the differences of sentiment svhichhave hitherto prevented its enactment I enact-ment may not outlast the present session ses-sion The pestilence which for the past two years has been raging in the countries of theeast recently made its appearance in European ports with which we are in constant Communication The then Secretary of the Treasurv in pursuance of a jproclamation of there the-re ident issued certain regulations restricting and for a time prohibiting the importation oLcags and the admission admis-sion 01 the emIgrantsand of travelers arriving from infectedquarters Lest thiacourse may have been without strict warrant of law I approved ihe recommendation re-commendation of the present Secretary that the Congress take action In the > premises and I also recommend the immediate adoption tof such measures as will beiHkely to wand off the dreaded epidemic and to mitigate its severity in case il hall unhappily extend to our shores TfeeannujI report of the commissioners commission-ers of the District of Columbia reviews the operations of the several departments depart-ments of its municipal government I ask your teareful consideration of its suggestions in repect to legislation especially es-pecially commending such as relate to a revision of the civil and criminal code the performance of labor by persons per-sons sentenced to imprisonment in the jail the construction and occupation of wharves along the river front and the erection of a suitable building for dis trict offices I recommend that in recognition of the eminent servicesof Ulysses S Grant late General of the armies ofthe United States and twice President of the na tion the Congress confer on him a suitable suit-able pension I 1 Finale i I JITI certain of the measures that i emto me necessary and expedient I have now in obDyance to the Constitution Constitu-tion recorniiHjnded for your adoptiQn As reapeets others of no less import < < content myself with renewing ance I shall recommendatio already newing the Congress without restating the made to grounds upon which stating the were based such niSvatUW recommendations of forests in the public The preserve the granting of government domain amend ffioTpo education the aid for popular m J the federal Constitution so as of ment O make effective the disapproval by the to President of particular items in appro of statutes bills the enactment priation Fn regard to the filling of vacancies in III the Presidential office and the determining deter-mining of the vexed questions respecting respect-ing the Presidential inability are measures which may justly receive your serious consideration t t T n As the time araws Ulgu HUGH JL um w retire from the public service I cannot refrain from expressing to the members of the national legislature with whom I have been brought into personal and official intercourse my sincere appreciation appreci-ation of their unfailing courtesy and of their harmonious cooperation with the executive in so many measures calculated cal-culated to promote the best interests of the nations and to my fellow citizens generally I acknowledge a deep sense of obligation for the support which they have accorded me in my administration admin-istration of the executive department of the government Signed CHESTER A ARTIiuR WASHINGTON December 1st 1884 I |