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diff --git a/14137-h/14137-h.htm b/14137-h/14137-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1f70421 --- /dev/null +++ b/14137-h/14137-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,28880 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> +<meta content="pg2html (binary v0.18a)" name="generator" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of + The Messages and Papers of the Presidents, + by James D. Richardson. +</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + <!-- + body { margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; } + p { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { text-align: center; } + hr { width: 50%; } + hr.full { width: 100%; } + .foot { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 85%; } + .poem { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left; } + .poem .stanza { margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; } + .poem p { margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em; } + .poem p.i2 { margin-left: 2em; } + .poem p.i4 { margin-left: 4em; } + .quote { margin-left: 8%; margin-right: 8%; text-indent: 0em; font-size: 90%; } + .toc { margin-left: 15%; font-size: 80%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + .r { text-align: right; } + center { padding: 0.8em;} + td { vertical-align: top; } +/*]]>*/ + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14137 ***</div> + +<div style="height: 8em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<hr /> +<h2> +Grover Cleveland +</h2> +<h3> +March 4, 1893, to March 4, 1897 +</h3> +<hr /> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Grover Cleveland +</h2> +<center> + [For portrait and biographical sketch see Vol. VIII, pp. 296-299.] +</center> + + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + INAUGURAL ADDRESS. +</h2> +<p> +MY FELLOW-CITIZENS: In obedience to the mandate of my countrymen +I am about to dedicate myself to their service under the sanction of +a solemn oath. Deeply moved by the expression of confidence and personal +attachment which has called me to this service, I am sure my gratitude +can make no better return than the pledge I now give before God and +these witnesses of unreserved and complete devotion to the interests +and welfare of those who have honored me. +</p> +<p> +I deem it fitting on this occasion, while indicating the opinions I hold +concerning public questions of present importance, to also briefly refer +to the existence of certain conditions and tendencies among our people +which seem to menace the integrity and usefulness of their Government. +</p> +<p> +While every American citizen must contemplate with the utmost pride and +enthusiasm the growth and expansion of our country, the sufficiency of +our institutions to stand against the rudest shocks of violence, the +wonderful thrift and enterprise of our people, and the demonstrated +superiority of our free government, it behooves us to constantly watch +for every symptom of insidious infirmity that threatens our national +vigor. +</p> +<p> +The strong man who in the confidence of sturdy health courts the +sternest activities of life and rejoices in the hardihood of constant +labor may still have lurking near his vitals the unheeded disease that +dooms him to sudden collapse. +</p> +<p> +It can not be doubted that our stupendous achievements as a people and +our country's robust strength have given rise to heedlessness of those +laws governing our national health which we can no more evade than human +life can escape the laws of God and nature. +</p> +<p> +Manifestly nothing is more vital to our supremacy as a nation and to the +beneficent purposes of our Government than a sound and stable currency. +Its exposure to degradation should at once arouse to activity the most +enlightened statesmanship, and the danger of depreciation in the +purchasing power of the wages paid to toil should furnish the strongest +incentive to prompt and conservative precaution. +</p> +<p> +In dealing with our present embarrassing situation as related to this +subject we will be wise if we temper our confidence and faith in our +national strength and resources with the frank concession that even +these will not permit us to defy with impunity the inexorable laws +of finance and trade. At the same time, in our efforts to adjust +differences of opinion we should be free from intolerance or passion, +and our judgments should be unmoved by alluring phrases and unvexed +by selfish interests. +</p> +<p> +I am confident that such an approach to the subject will result in +prudent and effective remedial legislation. In the meantime, so far as +the executive branch of the Government can intervene, none of the powers +with which it is invested will be withheld when their exercise is deemed +necessary to maintain our national credit or avert financial disaster. +</p> +<p> +Closely related to the exaggerated confidence in our country's greatness +which tends to a disregard of the rules of national safety, another +danger confronts us not less serious. I refer to the prevalence of a +popular disposition to expect from the operation of the Government +especial and direct individual advantages. +</p> +<p> +The verdict of our voters which condemned the injustice of maintaining +protection for protection's sake enjoins upon the people's servants the +duty of exposing and destroying the brood of kindred evils which are +the unwholesome progeny of paternalism. This is the bane of republican +institutions and the constant peril of our government by the people. +It degrades to the purposes of wily craft the plan of rule our fathers +established and bequeathed to us as an object of our love and +veneration. It perverts the patriotic sentiments of our countrymen and +tempts them to pitiful calculation of the sordid gain to be derived +from their Government's maintenance. It undermines the self-reliance of +our people and substitutes in its place dependence upon governmental +favoritism. It stifles the spirit of true Americanism and stupefies +every ennobling trait of American citizenship. +</p> +<p> +The lessons of paternalism ought to be unlearned and the better lesson +taught that while the people should patriotically and cheerfully support +their Government its functions do not include the support of the people. +</p> +<p> +The acceptance of this principle leads to a refusal of bounties and +subsidies, which burden the labor and thrift of a portion of our +citizens to aid ill-advised or languishing enterprises in which they +have no concern. It leads also to a challenge of wild and reckless +pension expenditure, which overleaps the bounds of grateful recognition +of patriotic service and prostitutes to vicious uses the people's prompt +and generous impulse to aid those disabled in their country's defense. +</p> +<p> +Every thoughtful American must realize the importance of checking at its +beginning any tendency in public or private station to regard frugality +and economy as virtues which we may safely outgrow. The toleration of +this idea results in the waste of the people's money by their chosen +servants and encourages prodigality and extravagance in the home life +of our countrymen. +</p> +<p> +Under our scheme of government the waste of public money is a crime +against the citizen, and the contempt of our people for economy and +frugality in their personal affairs deplorably saps the strength and +sturdiness of our national character. +</p> +<p> +It is a plain dictate of honesty and good government that public +expenditures should be limited by public necessity, and that this should +be measured by the rules of strict economy; and it is equally clear that +frugality among the people is the best guaranty of a contented and +strong support of free institutions. +</p> +<p> +One mode of the misappropriation of public funds is avoided when +appointments to office, instead of being the rewards of partisan +activity, are awarded to those whose efficiency promises a fair return +of work for the compensation paid to them. To secure the fitness and +competency of appointees to office and remove from political action the +demoralizing madness for spoils, civil-service reform has found a place +in our public policy and laws. The benefits already gained through this +instrumentality and the further usefulness it promises entitle it to the +hearty support and encouragement of all who desire to see our public +service well performed or who hope for the elevation of political +sentiment and the purification of political methods. +</p> +<p> +The existence of immense aggregations of kindred enterprises and +combinations of business interests formed for the purpose of limiting +production and fixing prices is inconsistent with the fair field which +ought to be open to every independent activity. Legitimate strife in +business should not be superseded by an enforced concession to the +demands of combinations that have the power to destroy, nor should the +people to be served lose the benefit of cheapness which usually results +from wholesome competition. These aggregations and combinations +frequently constitute conspiracies against the interests of the people, +and in all their phases they are unnatural and opposed to our American +sense of fairness. To the extent that they can be reached and restrained +by Federal power the General Government should relieve our citizens from +their interference and exactions. +</p> +<p> +Loyalty to the principles upon which our Government rests positively +demands that the equality before the law which it guarantees to every +citizen should be justly and in good faith conceded in all parts of the +land. The enjoyment of this right follows the badge of citizenship +wherever found, and, unimpaired by race or color, it appeals for +recognition to American manliness and fairness. +</p> +<p> +Our relations with the Indians located within our border impose upon us +responsibilities we can not escape. Humanity and consistency require us +to treat them with forbearance and in our dealings with them to honestly +and considerately regard their rights and interests. Every effort should +be made to lead them, through the paths of civilization and education, +to self-supporting and independent citizenship. In the meantime, as the +nation's wards, they should be promptly defended against the cupidity of +designing men and shielded from every influence or temptation that +retards their advancement. +</p> +<p> +The people of the United States have decreed that on this day the +control of their Government in its legislative and executive branches +shall be given to a political party pledged in the most positive terms +to the accomplishment of tariff reform. They have thus determined in +favor of a more just and equitable system of Federal taxation. The +agents they have chosen to carry out their purposes are bound by their +promises not less than by the command of their masters to devote +themselves unremittingly to this service. +</p> +<p> +While there should be no surrender of principle, our task must be +undertaken wisely and without heedless vindictiveness. Our mission is +not punishment, but the rectification of wrong. If in lifting burdens +from the daily life of our people we reduce inordinate and unequal +advantages too long enjoyed, this is but a necessary incident of +our return to right and justice. If we exact from unwilling minds +acquiescence in the theory of an honest distribution of the fund of the +governmental beneficence treasured up for all, we but insist upon a +principle which underlies our free institutions. When we tear aside the +delusions and misconceptions which have blinded our countrymen to their +condition under vicious tariff laws, we but show them how far they have +been led away from the paths of contentment and prosperity. When we +proclaim that the necessity for revenue to support the Government +furnishes the only justification for taxing the people, we announce +a truth so plain that its denial would seem to indicate the extent to +which judgment may be influenced by familiarity with perversions of the +taxing power. And when we seek to reinstate the self-confidence and +business enterprise of our citizens by discrediting an abject dependence +upon governmental favor, we strive to stimulate those elements of +American character which support the hope of American achievement. +</p> +<p> +Anxiety for the redemption of the pledges which my party has made and +solicitude for the complete justification of the trust the people have +reposed in us constrain me to remind those with whom I am to cooperate +that we can succeed in doing the work which has been especially set +before us only by the most sincere, harmonious, and disinterested +effort. Even if insuperable obstacles and opposition prevent the +consummation of our task, we shall hardly be excused; and if failure can +be traced to our fault or neglect we may be sure the people will hold us +to a swift and exacting accountability. +</p> +<p> +The oath I now take to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of +the United States not only impressively defines the great responsibility +I assume, but suggests obedience to constitutional commands as the rule +by which my official conduct must be guided. I shall to the best of my +ability and within my sphere of duty preserve the Constitution by loyally +protecting every grant of Federal power it contains, by defending all +its restraints when attacked by impatience and restlessness, and by +enforcing its limitations and reservations in favor of the States and +the people. +</p> +<p> +Fully impressed with the gravity of the duties that confront me and +mindful of my weakness, I should be appalled if it were my lot to bear +unaided the responsibilities which await me. I am, however, saved from +discouragement when I remember that I shall have the support and the +counsel and cooperation of wise and patriotic men who will stand at my +side in Cabinet places or will represent the people in their legislative +halls. +</p> +<p> +I find also much comfort in remembering that my countrymen are just and +generous and in the assurance that they will not condemn those who by +sincere devotion to their service deserve their forbearance and +approval. +</p> +<p> +Above all, I know there is a Supreme Being who rules the affairs of men +and whose goodness and mercy have always followed the American people, +and I know He will not turn from us now if we humbly and reverently seek +His powerful aid. +</p> +<p class="r"> +MARCH 4, 1893. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + SPECIAL MESSAGES. +</h2> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, March 9, 1893</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a report submitted by the Secretary of State in +compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 3d instant, calling +for information relating to the capture and imprisonment of Captain +Pharos B. Brubaker by Honduras officials. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, March 9, 1893</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +For the purpose of reexamination I withdraw the treaty of annexation +between the United States and the Provisional Government of the Hawaiian +Islands, now pending in the Senate, which was signed February 14, 1893, +and transmitted to the Senate on the 15th of the same month, and +I therefore request that said treaty be returned to me. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + PROCLAMATIONS. +</h2> +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +The following provisions of the laws of the United States are hereby +published for the information of all concerned: +</p> +<p> +Section 1956, Revised Statutes, chapter 3, Title XXIII, enacts that— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + No person shall kill any otter, mink, marten, sable, or fur seal, or + other fur-bearing animal within the limits of Alaska Territory or in the + waters thereof; and every person guilty thereof shall for each offense + be fined not less than $200 nor more than $1,000, or imprisoned not + more than six months, or both; and all vessels, their tackle, apparel, + furniture, and cargo, found engaged in violation of this section shall + be forfeited; but the Secretary of the Treasury shall have power to + authorize the killing of any such mink, marten, sable, or other + fur-bearing animal, except fur seals, under such regulations as he may + prescribe; and it shall be the duty of the Secretary to prevent the + killing of any fur seal and to provide for the execution of the + provisions of this section until it is otherwise provided by law, nor + shall he grant any special privileges under this section. +</p> +<p> +Section 3 of the act entitled "An act to provide for the protection of +the salmon fisheries of Alaska," approved March 2, 1889, provides that— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 3. That section 1956 of the Revised Statutes of the United States + is hereby declared to include and apply to all the dominion of the + United States in the waters of Bering Sea; and it shall be the duty of + the President at a timely season in each year to issue his proclamation, + and cause the same to be published for one month in at least one + newspaper (if any such there be) published at each United States port of + entry on the Pacific coast, warning all persons against entering said + waters for the purpose of violating the provisions of said section; + and he shall also cause one or more vessels of the United States to + diligently cruise said waters and arrest all persons and seize all + vessels found to be or to have been engaged in any violation of the + laws of the United States therein. +</p> +<p> +Articles I, II, and III of a convention between the United States of +America and Great Britain for the renewal of the existing <i>modus +vivendi</i> in Bering Sea, concluded April 18, 1892, are published for +the same purpose: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ARTICLE I. Her Majesty's Government will prohibit during the pendency of + the arbitration seal killing in that part of Bering Sea lying eastward + of the line of demarcation described in Article No. I of the treaty of + 1867 between the United States and Russia, and will promptly use its + best efforts to insure the observance of this prohibition by British + subjects and vessels. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. II. The United States Government will prohibit seal killing for the + same period in the same part of Bering Sea and on the shores and islands + thereof the property of the United States (in excess of 7,500 to be + taken on the islands for the subsistence of the natives), and will + promptly use its best efforts to insure the observance of this + prohibition by United States citizens and vessels. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. III. Every vessel or person offending against this prohibition in + the said waters of Bering Sea outside of the ordinary territorial limits + of the United States may be seized and detained by the naval or other + duly commissioned officers of either of the high contracting parties, + but they shall be handed over as soon as practicable to the authorities + of the nation to which they respectively belong, who alone shall have + jurisdiction to try the offense and impose the penalties for the same. + The witnesses and proof necessary to establish the offense shall also + be sent with them. +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, +hereby warn all persons against entering the waters of Bering Sea within +the dominion of the United States for the purpose of violating the +provisions of said section 1936 of the Revised Statutes and of the said +articles of said convention, and I hereby proclaim that all persons +found to be or to have been engaged in any violation of the laws of the +United States or of the provisions of said convention in said waters +will be arrested, proceeded against, and punished as above provided. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 8th day of April, 1893, and of the +Independence of the United States the one hundred and seventeenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +W.Q. GRESHAM,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 13 of the act of Congress of March 3, +1891, entitled "An act to amend Title LX, chapter 3, of the Revised +Statutes of the United States, relating to copyrights," that said act +"shall only apply to a citizen or subject of a foreign state or nation +when such foreign state or nation permits to citizens of the United +States of America the benefit of copyright on substantially the same +basis as its own citizens, or when such foreign state or nation is a +party to an international agreement which provides for reciprocity in +the granting of copyright, by the terms of which agreement the United +States of America may at its pleasure become a party to such agreement;" +and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is also provided by said section that "the existence of +either of the conditions aforesaid shall be determined by the President +of the United States by proclamation made from time to time as the +purposes of this act may require;" and +</p> +<p> +Whereas satisfactory official assurances have been given that in Denmark +the law permits to citizens of the United States the benefit of +copyright on substantially the same basis as to the subjects of Denmark: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States of +America, do declare and proclaim that the first of the conditions +specified in section 13 of the act of March 3, 1891, now exists and is +fulfilled in respect to the subjects of Denmark. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 8th day of May, 1893, and of the +Independence of the United States the one hundred and seventeenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +W.Q. GRESHAM,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, D.C., June 30, 1893</i>. +</p> +<p> +Whereas the distrust and apprehension concerning the financial situation +which pervade all business circles have already caused great loss and +damage to our people and threaten to cripple our merchants, stop the +wheels of manufacture, bring distress and privation to our farmers, and +withhold from our workingmen the wage of labor; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas the present perilous condition is largely the result of a +financial policy which the executive branch of the Government finds +embodied in unwise laws, which must be executed until repealed by +Congress: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, in +performance of a constitutional duty, do by this proclamation declare +that an extraordinary occasion requires the convening of both Houses +of the Congress of the United States at the Capitol, in the city of +Washington, on the 7th day of August next, at 12 o'clock noon, to the +end that the people may be relieved through legislation from present +and impending danger and distress. +</p> +<p> +All those entitled to act as members of the Fifty-third Congress are +required to take notice of this proclamation and attend at the time and +place above stated. +</p> +<p> +Given under my hand and the seal of the United States, at the city of +Washington, on the 30th day of June, A.D. 1893, and of the Independence +of the United States the one hundred and seventeenth. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +ALVEY A. ADEE,<br /> +<i>Acting Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas an act of Congress amendatory of an act in relation to aiding +vessels wrecked or disabled in the waters conterminous to the United +States and the Dominion of Canada was approved May 24, 1890, the said +act being in the following words: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the + United States of America in Congress assembled</i>, That an act entitled + "An act to aid vessels wrecked or disabled in the waters conterminous to + the United States and the Dominion of Canada," approved June 19, 1878, + be, and the same is hereby, amended so that the same will read as + follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "That Canadian vessels and wrecking appurtenance may render aid and + assistance to Canadian or other vessels and property wrecked, disabled, + or in distress in the waters of the United States contiguous to the + Dominion of Canada: <i>Provided</i>, That this act shall not take effect + until proclamation by the President of the United States that the + privilege of aiding American or other vessels and property wrecked, + disabled, or in distress in Canadian waters contiguous to the United + States has been extended by the government of the Dominion of Canada to + American vessels and wrecking appliances of all descriptions. This act + shall be construed to apply to the Welland Canal, the canal and + improvement of the waters between Lake Erie and Lake Huron, and to the + waters of the St. Marys River and Canal: <i>And provided further</i>, + That this act shall cease to be in force from and after the date of the + proclamation of the President of the United States to the effect that + said reciprocal privilege has been withdrawn, revoked, or rendered + inoperative by the said government of the Dominion of Canada." +</p> +<p> +And whereas an act of Congress making appropriation for the legislative, +executive, and judicial expenses of the Government for the fiscal year +ending June 30, 1894, and for other purposes, approved March 3, 1893, +further amended the act of May 24, 1890, as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That an act approved May 24, 1890; entitled "An act to amend an act + entitled 'An act to aid vessels wrecked or disabled in the waters + conterminous to the United States and the Dominion of Canada,' approved + June 19,1878," be, and is hereby, amended by striking out the words + "the Welland Canal." +</p> +<p> +And whereas by an order in council dated May 17, 1893, the government of +the Dominion of Canada has proclaimed an act entitled "An act respecting +aid by United States wreckers in Canadian waters" to take effect June 1, +1893, said act reading as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the senate and house + of commons of Canada, enacts as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. United States vessels and wrecking appliances may salve any property + wrecked and may render aid and assistance to any vessels wrecked, + disabled, or in distress in the waters of Canada contiguous to the + United States. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. Aid and assistance include all necessary towing incident thereto. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. Nothing in the customs or coasting laws of Canada shall restrict the + salving operations of such vessels or wrecking appliances. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. This act shall come into force from and after a date to be named in a + proclamation by the Governor-General, which proclamation may be issued + when the Governor in council is advised that the privilege of salving + any property wrecked or of aiding any vessels wrecked, disabled, or in + distress in United States waters contiguous to Canada will be extended + to Canadian vessels and wrecking appliances to the extent to which such + privilege is granted by this act to United States vessels and wrecking + appliances. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. This act shall cease to be in force from and after a date to be named + in a proclamation to be issued by the Governor-General to the effect + that the said reciprocal privilege has been withdrawn, revoked, or + rendered inoperative with respect to Canadian vessels or wrecking + appliances in United States waters contiguous to Canada. +</p> +<p> +And whereas said proclamation of the Governor-General of Canada was +communicated to this Government by Her Britannic Majesty's ambassador on +the 2d day of June last: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, being thus satisfied that the privilege of aiding +American or other vessels and property wrecked, disabled, or in distress +in Canadian waters contiguous to the United States has been extended +by the government of the Dominion of Canada to American vessels and +wrecking appliances of all descriptions, I, Grover Cleveland, President +of the United States of America, in virtue of the authority conferred +upon me by the aforesaid act of Congress approved May 24, 1890, do +proclaim that the condition specified in the legislation of Congress +aforesaid now exists and is fulfilled, and that the provisions of said +act of May 24, 1890, whereby Canadian vessels and wrecking appliances +may render aid and assistance to Canadian and other vessels and property +wrecked, disabled, or in distress in the waters of the United States +contiguous to the Dominion of Canada, including the canal and improvement +of the waters between Lake Erie and Lake Huron and the waters of the St. +Marys River and Canal, are now in full force and effect. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States of America to be hereunto affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 17th day of July, A.D. 1893, and +of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and eighteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +W.Q. GRESHAM,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 13 of the act of Congress of March 3, +1891, entitled "An act to amend Title LX, chapter 3, of the Revised +Statutes of the United States, relating to copyrights," that said act +"shall only apply to a citizen or subject of a foreign state or nation +when such foreign state or nation permits to citizens of the United +States of America the benefit of copyright on substantially the same +basis as its own citizens, or when such foreign state or nation is a +party to an international agreement which provides for reciprocity in +the granting of copyright, by the terms of which agreement the United +States of America may at its pleasure become a party to such agreement;" +and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is also provided by said section that "the existence of +either of the conditions aforesaid shall be determined by the President +of the United States by proclamation made from time to time as the +purposes of this act may require;" and +</p> +<p> +Whereas satisfactory official assurances have been given that in +Portugal the law permits to citizens of the United States the benefit of +copyright on substantially the same basis as to the subjects of +Portugal: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States of +America, do declare and proclaim that the first of the conditions +specified in section 13 of the act of March 3, 1891, now exists and is +fulfilled in respect to the subjects of Portugal. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 20th day of July, A.D. 1893, and of +the Independence of the United States the one hundred and eighteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +W.Q. GRESHAM,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + EXECUTIVE ORDERS. +</h2> +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +Departmental Rule VII is hereby amended by adding thereto the following +section: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 8. The First Comptroller of the Treasury having advised the Secretary of + the Treasury that under the operation of section 5 of the legislative, + executive, and judicial appropriation act making appropriations for the + fiscal year ending June 30,1894, the employment of substitutes in the + departmental service must cease from and after July 1, 1893, it is + hereby ordered, in view of the fact that the substitutes now employed + were appointed by regular certification under section 7 of this rule, + that such of said substitutes as shall not be appointed to regular + places before the employment of substitutes shall cease shall be + eligible for appointment to regular places by reinstatement under the + provisions of Departmental Rule X, in the order of their employment as + substitutes as provided in said section 7, notwithstanding the + prohibition contained in the second proviso of said section; and said + substitutes shall have preference for appointment in the manner herein + provided over all other eligibles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + This section shall become inoperative and cease to be a part of the + civil-service rules when all of the substitutes now employed in the + several Departments shall have been appointed as herein provided or + shall have ceased to be eligible for appointment by reason of the + expiration of the time within which a reinstatement can be made under + Rule X. +</p> +<p> +Approved, April 12, 1893. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 8, 1893</i>. +</p> +<p> +It has become apparent after two months' experience that the rules +heretofore promulgated regulating interviews with the President have +wholly failed in their operation. The time which under these rules was +set apart for the reception of Senators and Representatives has been +almost entirely spent in listening to applications for office, which +have been bewildering in volume, perplexing and exhausting in their +iteration, and impossible of remembrance. +</p> +<p> +A due regard for public duty, which must be neglected if present +conditions continue, and an observance of the limitations placed upon +human endurance oblige me to decline from and after this date all +personal interviews with those seeking appointments to office, except as +I on my own motion may especially invite them. The same considerations +make it impossible for me to receive those who merely desire to pay +their respects except on the days and during the hours especially +designated for that purpose. +</p> +<p> +I earnestly request Senators and Representatives to aid me in securing +for them uninterrupted interviews by declining to introduce their +constituents and friends when visiting the Executive Mansion during the +hours designated for their reception. Applicants for office will only +prejudice their prospects by repeated importunity and by remaining in +Washington to await results. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 26, 1893</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>It is hereby ordered</i>, That the several Executive Departments and +the Government Printing Office be closed on Tuesday, the 30th instant, +to enable the employees to participate in the decoration of the graves +of the soldiers and sailors who fell in the defense of the Union during +the War of the Rebellion. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +Special Departmental Rule No. 1 is hereby amended as follows: Include +among the places excepted from examination therein the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. In the Department of Agriculture: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the office of the Secretary: The assistant chiefs of the following + divisions: Of economic ornithology and mammalogy, of pomology, of + microscopy, of vegetable pathology, of records and editing, and one + property clerk. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the Weather Bureau: The assistant chief of the Bureau, the three + professors of meteorology of highest grade, executive officer, + superintendent of telegraph lines, and one property clerk. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries the following: + Scientific or professional experts to be temporarily employed in + investigations authorized by Congress, but not to include any persons + regularly employed in that Commission nor any person whose duties are + not scientific or professional and who are not experts in the particular + line of scientific inquiry in which they are to be employed. +</p> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>June 6, 1893</i>. +</p> +<p> +The foregoing amendments are hereby approved. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +Postal Rule No. 2 is hereby amended as follows: +</p> +<p> +Strike out all of section 1 except the last paragraph, relating to +non-competitive examinations, and insert in lieu thereof the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. To test the fitness for admission to the classified postal service + one or more examinations shall be provided, as the Commission may + determine, which shall not include more than the following subjects: + Orthography, copying, penmanship, arithmetic (fundamental rules, + fractions, and percentage), elements of the geography of the United + States, local delivery, reading addresses, physical tests: <i>Provided</i>, + That when special examinations are needed to test fitness for any place + requiring special or technical knowledge or skill the examination shall + include, in addition to the special subjects required, such of the + subjects of the regular examination as the Commission may determine. +</p> +<p> +Strike out section 2 and insert in lieu thereof the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + No person shall be examined for the position of letter carrier if under + 21 or over 40 years of age, and no person shall be examined for any + other position in the classified postal service if under 18 years of + age. +</p> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>June 6, 1893</i>. +</p> +<p> +The foregoing amendments are hereby approved. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, June 16, 1893</i>. +</p> +<p> +In accordance with section 16 of the act of Congress approved April 25, +1890, and entitled "An act to provide for celebrating the four hundredth +anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus by +holding an international exhibition of arts, industries, manufactures, +and the product of the soil, mine, and sea in the city of Chicago, in +the State of Illinois," the designations of the following-named persons +as members of the board of control and management of the Government +exhibit at the World's Columbian Exhibition are hereby approved: +</p> +<p> +W.W. Rockhill, chief clerk of the Department of State, to represent that +Department, <i>vice</i> William E. Curtis. +</p> +<p> +Lieutenant-Commander E.D. Taussig, United States Navy, to represent the +Navy Department, <i>vice</i> Captain R.W. Meade, United States Navy. +</p> +<p> +Frank W. Clark, chemist, United States Geological Survey, to represent +the Department of the Interior, <i>vice</i> Horace A. Taylor. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + SPECIAL SESSION MESSAGE. +</h2> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>August 8, 1893</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +The existence of an alarming and extraordinary business situation, +involving the welfare and prosperity of all our people, has constrained +me to call together in extra session the people's representatives in +Congress, to the end that through a wise and patriotic exercise of the +legislative duty, with which they solely are charged, present evils may +be mitigated and dangers threatening the future may be averted. +</p> +<p> +Our unfortunate financial plight is not the result of untoward events +nor of conditions related to our natural resources, nor is it traceable +to any of the afflictions which frequently check national growth and +prosperity. With plenteous crops, with abundant promise of remunerative +production and manufacture, with unusual invitation to safe investment, +and with satisfactory assurance to business enterprise, suddenly +financial distrust and fear have sprung up on every side. Numerous +moneyed institutions have suspended because abundant assets were not +immediately available to meet the demands of frightened depositors. +Surviving corporations and individuals are content to keep in hand the +money they are usually anxious to loan, and those engaged in legitimate +business are surprised to find that the securities they offer for loans, +though heretofore satisfactory, are no longer accepted. Values supposed +to be fixed are fast becoming conjectural, and loss and failure have +invaded every branch of business. +</p> +<p> +I believe these things are principally chargeable to Congressional +legislation touching the purchase and coinage of silver by the General +Government. +</p> +<p> +This legislation is embodied in a statute passed on the 14th day of +July, 1890, which was the culmination of much agitation on the subject +involved, and which may be considered a truce, after a long struggle, +between the advocates of free silver coinage and those intending to be +more conservative. +</p> +<p> +Undoubtedly the monthly purchases by the Government of 4,500,000 +ounces of silver, enforced under that statute, were regarded by those +interested in silver production as a certain guaranty of its increase in +price. The result, however, has been entirely different, for immediately +following a spasmodic and slight rise the price of silver began to fall +after the passage of the act, and has since reached the lowest point +ever known. This disappointing result has led to renewed and persistent +effort in the direction of free silver coinage. +</p> +<p> +Meanwhile not only are the evil effects of the operation of the present +law constantly accumulating, but the result to which its execution must +inevitably lead is becoming palpable to all who give the least heed to +financial subjects. +</p> +<p> +This law provides that in payment for the 4,500,000 ounces of silver +bullion which the Secretary of the Treasury is commanded to purchase +monthly there shall be issued Treasury notes redeemable on demand in +gold or silver coin, at the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury, +and that said notes may be reissued. It is, however, declared in the act +to be "the established policy of the United States to maintain the two +metals on a parity with each other upon the present legal ratio or such +ratio as may be provided by law." This declaration so controls the +action of the Secretary of the Treasury as to prevent his exercising the +discretion nominally vested in him if by such action the parity between +gold and silver may be disturbed. Manifestly a refusal by the Secretary +to pay these Treasury notes in gold if demanded would necessarily result +in their discredit and depreciation as obligations payable only in +silver, and would destroy the parity between the two metals by +establishing a discrimination in favor of gold. +</p> +<p> +Up to the 15th day of July, 1893, these notes had been issued in payment +of silver-bullion purchases to the amount of more than $147,000,000. +While all but a very small quantity of this bullion remains uncoined and +without usefulness in the Treasury, many of the notes given in its +purchase have been paid in gold. This is illustrated by the statement +that between the 1st day of May, 1892, and the 15th day of July, 1893, +the notes of this kind issued in payment for silver bullion amounted to +a little more than $54,000,000, and that during the same period about +$49,000,000 were paid by the Treasury in gold for the redemption of such +notes. +</p> +<p> +The policy necessarily adopted of paying these notes in gold has not +spared the gold reserve of $100,000,000 long ago set aside by the +Government for the redemption of other notes, for this fund has already +been subjected to the payment of new obligations amounting to about +$150,000,000 on account of silver purchases, and has as a consequence +for the first time since its creation been encroached upon. +</p> +<p> +We have thus made the depletion of our gold easy and have tempted other +and more appreciative nations to add it to their stock. That the +opportunity we have offered has not been neglected is shown by the large +amounts of gold which have been recently drawn from our Treasury and +exported to increase the financial strength of foreign nations. The +excess of exports of gold over its imports for the year ending June 30, +1893, amounted to more than $87,500,000. +</p> +<p> +Between the 1st day of July, 1890, and the 15th day of July, 1893, the +gold coin and bullion in our Treasury decreased more than $132,000,000, +while during the same period the silver coin and bullion in the Treasury +increased more than $147,000,000. Unless Government bonds are to be +constantly issued and sold to replenish our exhausted gold, only to be +again exhausted, it is apparent that the operation of the +silver-purchase law now in force leads in the direction of the entire +substitution of silver for the gold in the Government Treasury, and that +this must be followed by the payment of all Government obligations in +depreciated silver. +</p> +<p> +At this stage gold and silver must part company and the Government must +fail in its established policy to maintain the two metals on a parity +with each other. Given over to the exclusive use of a currency greatly +depreciated according to the standard of the commercial world, we could +no longer claim a place among nations of the first class, nor could our +Government claim a performance of its obligation, so far as such an +obligation has been imposed upon it, to provide for the use of the +people the best and safest money. +</p> +<p> +If, as many of its friends claim, silver ought to occupy a larger +place in our currency and the currency of the world through general +international cooperation and agreement, it is obvious that the United +States will not be in a position to gain a hearing in favor of such an +arrangement so long as we are willing to continue our attempt to +accomplish the result single-handed. +</p> +<p> +The knowledge in business circles among our own people that our +Government can not make its fiat equivalent to intrinsic value nor keep +inferior money on a parity with superior money by its own independent +efforts has resulted in such a lack of confidence at home in the +stability of currency values that capital refuses its aid to new +enterprises, while millions are actually withdrawn from the channels of +trade and commerce to become idle and unproductive in the hands of timid +owners. Foreign investors, equally alert, not only decline to purchase +American securities, but make haste to sacrifice those which they +already have. +</p> +<p> +It does not meet the situation to say that apprehension in regard to the +future of our finances is groundless and that there is no reason for +lack of confidence in the purposes or power of the Government in the +premises. The very existence of this apprehension and lack of +confidence, however caused, is a menace which ought not for a moment to +be disregarded. Possibly, if the undertaking we have in hand were the +maintenance of a specific known quantity of silver at a parity with +gold, our ability to do so might be estimated and gauged, and perhaps, +in view of our unparalleled growth and resources, might be favorably +passed upon. But when our avowed endeavor is to maintain such parity in +regard to an amount of silver increasing at the rate of $50,000,000 +yearly, with no fixed termination to such increase, it can hardly be +said that a problem is presented whose solution is free from doubt. +</p> +<p> +The people of the United States are entitled to a sound and stable +currency and to money recognized as such on every exchange and in every +market of the world. Their Government has no right to injure them by +financial experiments opposed to the policy and practice of other +civilized states, nor is it justified in permitting an exaggerated and +unreasonable reliance on our national strength and ability to jeopardize +the soundness of the people's money. +</p> +<p> +This matter rises above the plane of party politics. It vitally concerns +every business and calling and enters every household in the land. There +is one important aspect of the subject which especially should never be +overlooked. At times like the present, when the evils of unsound finance +threaten us, the speculator may anticipate a harvest gathered from the +misfortune of others, the capitalist may protect himself by hoarding or +may even find profit in the fluctuations of values; but the wage +earner—the first to be injured by a depreciated currency and the last +to receive the benefit of its correction—is practically defenseless. He +relies for work upon the ventures of confident and contented capital. +This failing him, his condition is without alleviation, for he can +neither prey on the misfortunes of others nor hoard his labor. One of +the greatest statesmen our country has known, speaking more than fifty +years ago, when a derangement of the currency had caused commercial +distress, said: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The very man of all others who has the deepest interest in a sound + currency and who suffers most by mischievous legislation in money + matters is the man who earns his daily bread by his daily toil. +</p> +<p> +These words are as pertinent now as on the day they were uttered, and +ought to impressively remind us that a failure in the discharge of our +duty at this time must especially injure those of our countrymen who +labor, and who because of their number and condition are entitled to the +most watchful care of their Government. +</p> +<p> +It is of the utmost importance that such relief as Congress can afford +in the existing situation be afforded at once. The maxim "He gives twice +who gives quickly" is directly applicable. It may be true that the +embarrassments from which the business of the country is suffering +arise as much from evils apprehended as from those actually existing. +We may hope, too, that calm counsels will prevail, and that neither the +capitalists nor the wage earners will give way to unreasoning panic +and sacrifice their property or their interests under the influence of +exaggerated fears. Nevertheless, every day's delay in removing one of +the plain and principal causes of the present state of things enlarges +the mischief already done and increases the responsibility of the +Government for its existence. Whatever else the people have a right +to expect from Congress, they may certainly demand that legislation +condemned by the ordeal of three years' disastrous experience shall be +removed from the statute books as soon as their representatives can +legitimately deal with it. +</p> +<p> +It was my purpose to summon Congress in special session-early in the +coming September, that we might enter promptly upon the work of tariff +reform, which the true interests of the country clearly demand, which so +large a majority of the people, as shown by their suffrages, desire and +expect, and to the accomplishment of which every effort of the present +Administration is pledged. But while tariff reform has lost nothing of +its immediate and permanent importance and must in the near future +engage the attention of Congress, it has seemed to me that the financial +condition of the country should at once and before all other subjects be +considered by your honorable body. +</p> +<p> +I earnestly recommend the prompt repeal of the provisions of the act +passed July 14, 1890, authorizing the purchase of silver bullion, and +that other legislative action may put beyond all doubt or mistake the +intention and the ability of the Government to fulfill its pecuniary +obligations in money universally recognized by all civilized countries. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + SPECIAL MESSAGE. +</h2> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, October 18, 1893</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of the Senate of the 10th instant, +concerning the attitude of the Government of China with regard to an +extension of the time for the registration of Chinese laborers in the +United States under the act of May 5, 1892, I transmit a report of the +Secretary of State on the subject. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + PROCLAMATIONS. +</h2> +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas, pursuant to section 10 of the act of Congress approved March 3, +1893, entitled "An act making appropriations for current and contingent +expenses and fulfilling treaty stipulations with Indian tribes for +fiscal year ending June 30, 1894," the Cherokee Nation of Indians, by a +written agreement made on the 17th day of May, 1893, has ratified the +agreement for the cession of certain lands hereinafter described, as +amended by said act of March 3, 1893, and thereby ceded, conveyed, +transferred, relinquished, and surrendered all its title, claim, and +interest of every kind and character in and to that part of the Indian +Territory bounded on the west by the one hundredth degree (100 degree) +of west longitude, on the north by the State of Kansas, on the east by +the ninety-sixth degree (96 degree) of west longitude, and on the south +by the Creek Nation, the Territory of Oklahoma, and the Cheyenne and +Arapahoe Reservation created or defined by Executive order dated August +10, 1869: <i>Provided</i>, That any citizen of the Cherokee Nation who +prior to the 1st day of November, 1891, was a <i>bona fide</i> resident +upon and, further, had, as a farmer and for farming purposes, made +permanent and valuable improvements upon any part of the land so ceded, +and who has not disposed of the same, but desires to occupy the +particular lands so improved as a homestead and for farming purposes, +shall have the right to select one-eighth of a section of land, to +conform, however, to the United States surveys; such selection to +embrace, as far as the above limitation will admit, such improvements; +the wife and children of any such citizen shall have the same right of +selection that is above given to the citizen, and they shall have the +preference in making selections to take any lands improved by the +husband and father that he can not take until all of his improved land +shall be taken; and that any citizen of the Cherokee Nation not a +resident within the land so ceded who prior to the 1st day of November, +1891, had for farming purposes made valuable and permanent improvements +upon any of the land so ceded shall have the right to select one-eighth +of a section of land, to conform to the United States surveys; such +selection to embrace, as far as the above limitation will admit, such +improvements; but the allotments so provided for shall not exceed +seventy (70) in number and the land allotted shall not exceed five +thousand and six hundred (5,600) acres; and such allotments shall be +made and confirmed under such rules and regulations as shall be +prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, and when so made and +confirmed shall be conveyed to the allottees respectively by the United +States in fee simple; and from the price to be paid to the Cherokee +Nation for the cession so made there shall be deducted the sum of one +dollar and forty cents ($1.40) for each acre so taken in allotment: +<i>And provided</i>, That D.W. Bushyhead having made permanent or +valuable improvements prior to the 1st day of November, 1891, on the +lands so ceded, he may select a quarter section of the lands ceded, +whether reserved or otherwise, prior to the opening of said lands to +public settlement, but he shall be required to pay for such selection +at the same rate per acre as other settlers, into the Treasury of the +United States, in such manner as the Secretary of the Interior shall +direct; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is provided in section 10 of the aforesaid act of Congress +approved March 3, 1893, that— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Said lands, except the portion to be allotted as provided in said + agreement, shall, upon the payment of the sum of $295,736, herein + appropriated, to be immediately paid, become and be taken to be and + treated as a part of the public domain; but in any opening of the same + to settlement sections 16 and 36 in each township, whether surveyed or + unsurveyed, shall be, and are hereby, reserved for the use and benefit + of the public schools to be established within the limits of such lands, + under such conditions and regulations as may be hereafter enacted by + Congress. * * * +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Sections 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and the east + half of sections 17, 20, and 29, all in township No. 29 north of range + No. 2 east of the Indian meridian, the same being lands reserved by + Executive order dated July 12, 1884, for use of and in connection with + the Chilocco Indian Industrial School, in the Indian Territory, shall + not be subject to public settlement, but shall until the further action + of Congress continue to be reserved for the purposes for which they were + set apart in the said Executive order; and the President of the United + States, in any order or proclamation which he shall make for the opening + of the lands for settlement, may make such other reservations of lands + for public purposes as he may deem wise and desirable. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The President of the United States is hereby authorized, at any time + within six months after the approval of this act and the acceptance of + the same by the Cherokee Nation as herein provided, by proclamation, to + open to settlement any or all of the lands not allotted or reserved in + the manner provided in section 13 of the act of Congress approved March + 2, 1889, entitled "An act making appropriations for the current and + contingent expenses of the Indian Department and for fulfilling treaty + stipulations with various Indian tribes for the year ending June 30, + 1890, and for other purposes" (25 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. 1005); + and also subject to the provisions of the act of Congress approved + May 2, 1890, entitled "An act to provide a temporary government for + the Territory of Oklahoma, to enlarge the jurisdiction of the United + States court in the Indian Territory, and for other purposes;" also + subject to the second proviso of section 17, the whole of section 18, + of the act of March 3, 1891, entitled "An act making appropriations + for the current expenses of the Indian Department and for fulfilling + treaty stipulations with various Indian tribes for the year ending + June 30, 1892, and for other purposes;" except as to so much of said + acts and sections as may conflict with the provisions of this act. + Each settler on the lands so to be opened to settlement as aforesaid + shall before receiving a patent for his homestead pay to the United + States for the lands so taken by him, in addition to the fees provided + by law, the sum of $2.50 per acre for any land east of 97-1/2° west + longitude, the sum of $1.50 per acre for any land between 97-1/2° west + longitude and 98-1/2° west longitude, and the sum of $1 per acre for + any land west of 98-1/2° west longitude, and shall also pay interest + upon the amount so to be paid for said land from the date of entry + to the date of final payment therefor at the rate of 4 per cent per + annum. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + No person shall be permitted to occupy or enter upon any of the lands + herein referred to except in the manner prescribed by the proclamation + of the President opening the same to settlement, and any person + otherwise occupying or entering upon any of said lands shall forfeit all + right to acquire any of said lands. The Secretary of the Interior shall, + under the direction of the President, prescribe rules and regulations, + not inconsistent with this act, for the occupation and settlement of + said lands, to be incorporated in the proclamation of the President, + which shall be issued at least twenty days before the time fixed for + the opening of said lands. +</p> +<p> +And whereas by a written agreement made on the 21st day of October, +1891, the Tonkawa tribe of Indians, in the Territory of Oklahoma, ceded, +conveyed, and forever relinquished to the United States all their right, +title, claim, and interest of every kind and character in and to the +lands particularly described in Article I of the agreement: +<i>Provided</i>, That the allotments of land to said Tonkawa tribe of +Indians theretofore made or to be made under said agreement and the +provisions of the general allotment act approved February 8, 1887, and +an act amendatory thereof, approved February 28, 1891, shall be +confirmed: <i>And provided</i>, That in all cases where the allottee has +died since land has been set off and scheduled to such person the law of +descent and partition in force in Oklahoma Territory shall apply +thereto, any existing law to the contrary notwithstanding; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas by a certain other agreement with the Pawnee tribe of Indians, +in said Territory, made on the 23d day of November, 1892, said tribe +ceded, conveyed, released, relinquished, and surrendered to the United +States all its title, claim, and interest of every kind and character in +and to the lands particularly described in Article I of the agreement: +<i>Provided</i>, That the allotments made or to be made to said Indians +in the manner and subject to the conditions contained in said agreement +shall be confirmed; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is provided in section 13 of the act of Congress accepting, +ratifying, and confirming said agreements with the Tonkawa Indians and +the Pawnee Indians, specified in sections 11 and 12 of the same act, +approved March 3, 1893, entitled "An act making appropriations for +current and contingent expenses and fulfilling treaty stipulations with +Indian tribes for fiscal year ending June 30, 1894"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the lands acquired by the agreements specified in the two preceding + sections are hereby declared to be a part of the public domain. Sections + 16 and 36 in each township, whether surveyed or unsurveyed, are hereby + reserved from settlement for the use and benefit of public schools, as + provided in section 10 relating to lands acquired from the Cherokee + Nation of Indians; and the lands so acquired by the agreements specified + in the two preceding sections not so reserved shall be opened to + settlement by proclamation of the President at the same time and in the + manner and subject to the same conditions and regulations provided in + section 10 relating to the opening of the lands acquired from the + Cherokee Nation of Indians; and each settler on the lands so to be + opened as aforesaid shall before receiving a patent for his homestead + pay to the United States for the lands so taken by him, in addition to + the fees provided by law, the sum of $2.50 per acre, and shall also pay + interest upon the amount so to be paid for said land from the date of + entry to the date of final payment at the rate of 4 per cent per annum. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the thirteenth section of the act approved March 2, 1889, +the act approved May 2, 1890, and the second proviso of section 17 and +the whole of section 18 of the act approved March 3, 1891, are referred +to in the tenth section of the act approved March 3, 1893, and thereby +made applicable in the disposal of the lands in the Cherokee Outlet +hereinbefore mentioned, the provisions of which acts, so far as they +affect the opening to settlement and the disposal of said lands, are +more particularly set forth hereinafter in connection with the rules +and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior for the +occupation and settlement of the lands hereby opened according to said +tenth section; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas the lands acquired by the three several agreements hereinbefore +mentioned have been divided into counties by the Secretary of the +Interior, as required by said last-mentioned act of Congress before the +same shall be opened to settlement, and lands have been reserved for +county-seat purposes, to be entered under sections 2387 and 2388 of the +Revised Statutes of the United States, as therein required, as follows, +to wit: +</p> +<p> +For County K, the southeast quarter of section 23 and the northeast +quarter of section 26, township 28 north, range 2 east of the Indian +meridian, excepting 4 acres reserved for the site of a court-house, to +be designated by lot and block upon the official plat of survey of said +reservation for county-seat purposes hereafter to be issued by the +Commissioner of the General Land Office; said reservation to be +additional to the reservations for parks, schools, and other public +purposes required to be made by section 22 of the act of May 2, 1890. +</p> +<p> +For County L, the southwest quarter of section 1 and the southeast +quarter of section 2, township 25 north, range 6 west of the Indian +meridian, excepting 4 acres reserved for the site of a court-house, +to be designated by lot and block upon the official plat of survey of +said reservation for county-seat purposes hereafter to be issued by +the Commissioner of the General Land Office; said reservation to be +additional to the reservations for parks, schools, and other public +purposes required to be made by section 22 of the act of May 2, 1890. +</p> +<p> +For County M, the south half of the northeast quarter and the north half +of the southeast quarter of section 23 and the south half of the +northwest quarter and the north half of the southwest quarter of section +24, township 27 north, range 14 west of the Indian meridian, excepting +1 acre reserved for Government use for the site of a land office and +4 acres to be reserved for the site of a court-house, which tracts are +to be contiguous and to be designated by lot and block upon the official +plat of survey of said reservation for county-seat purposes hereafter +to be issued by the Commissioner of the General Land Office; said +reservations to be additional to the reservations for parks, schools, +and other public purposes required to be made by section 22 of the act +of May 2, 1890. +</p> +<p> +For County N, the south half of section 25, township 23 north, range 21 +west of the Indian meridian, excepting 1 acre reserved for Government +use for the site of a land office and 4 acres to be reserved for the +site of a court-house, which tracts are to be contiguous and to be +designated by lot and block upon the official plat of survey of said +reservation for county-seat purposes hereafter to be issued by the +Commissioner of the General Land Office; said reservations to be +additional to the reservations for parks, schools, and other public +purposes required to be made by section 22 of the act of May 2, 1890. +</p> +<p> +For County O, the southeast quarter of section 7 and the southwest +quarter of section 8, township 22 north, range 6 west of the Indian +meridian, excepting 1 acre reserved for Government use for the site of +a land office and 4 acres to be reserved for the site of a court-house, +which tracts are to be contiguous and to be designated by lot and block +upon the official plat of survey of said reservation for county-seat +purposes hereafter to be issued by the Commissioner of the General Land +Office; said reservations to be additional to the reservations for +parks, schools, and other public purposes required to be made by section +22 of the act of May 2, 1890. +</p> +<p> +For County P, the northeast quarter of section 22 and the northwest +quarter of section 23, township 21 north, range 1 west of the Indian +meridian, excepting 1 acre reserved for Government use for the site of +a land office and 4 acres reserved for the site of a court-house, which +tracts are to be contiguous and to be designated by lot and block upon +the official plat of survey of said reservation for county-seat purposes +hereafter to be issued by the Commissioner of the General Land Office; +said reservations to be additional to the reservations for parks, +schools, and other public purposes required to be made by section 22 of +the act of May 2, 1890; and +</p> +<p> +For County Q, the southeast quarter of section 31, the west half of the +southwest quarter of section 32, township 22 north, range 5 east, lot +4 of section 5, and lot 1 of section 6, township 21 north, range 5 east +of the Indian meridian, excepting 4 acres reserved for the site of a +court-house, to be designated by lot and block upon the official plat +of survey of said reservation for county-seat purposes hereafter to be +issued by the Commissioner of the General Land Office; said reservation +to be additional to the reservations for parks, schools, and other +public purposes required to be made by section 22 of the act of May 2, +1890. +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by act of Congress for temporary government of +Oklahoma, approved May 2, 1890, section 23 (26 U.S. Statutes at Large, +p. 92), that there shall be reserved public highways 4 rods wide between +each section of land in said Territory, the section lines being the +center of said highways; but no deduction shall be made, where cash +payments are provided for, in the amount to be paid for each quarter +section of land by reason of such reservation; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas all the terms, conditions, and considerations required by said +agreements made with said nation and tribes of Indians and by the laws +relating thereto precedent to opening said lands to settlement have +been, as I hereby declare, complied with: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, by +virtue of the power in me vested by the statutes hereinbefore mentioned +and by other the laws of the United States and by said several +agreements, do hereby declare and make known that all the lands acquired +from the Cherokee Nation of Indians, the Tonkawa tribe of Indians, and +the Pawnee tribe of Indians by the three several agreements aforesaid +will at the hour of 12 o'clock noon (central standard time) on Saturday, +the 16th day of the month of September, A.D. 1893, and not before, be +opened to settlement under the terms of and subject to all the +conditions, limitations, reservations, and restrictions contained in +said agreements, the statutes above specified, the laws of the United +States applicable thereto, and the conditions prescribed by this +proclamation, saving and excepting lands described and identified as +follows, to wit: The lands set apart for the Osage and Kansas Indians, +being a tract of country bounded on the north by the State of Kansas, on +the east by the ninety-sixth degree of west longitude, on the south and +west by the Creek country and the main channel of the Arkansas River; +the lands set apart for the Confederated Otoe and Missouria tribes of +Indians, described as follows, to wit: Township 22 north, range 1 east; +township 23 north, range 1 east; township 22 north, range 2 east; +township 23 north, range 2 east; township 22 north, range 3 east; and +that portion of township 23 north, range 3 east, lying west of the +Arkansas River; and the lands set apart for the Ponca tribe of Indians, +described as follows, to wit: Township 24 north, range 1 east; township +25 north, range 1 east; fractional township 24 north, range 2 east; +fractional township 25 north, range 2 east; fractional township 24 +north, range 3 east; fractional township 25 north, range 3 east; +fractional township 24 north, range 4 east; fractional township 25 +north, range 4 east, the said fractional townships lying on the right +bank of the Arkansas River; excepting also the lands allotted to the +Indians as in said agreements provided; excepting also the lands +reserved by Executive orders dated April 18, 1882, and January 17, 1883 +(known as Camp Supply Military Reservation), described as follows, to +wit: Township 24 north, range 22 west; the south half of township 25 +north, range 22 west; and the southwest quarter of township 25 north, +range 21 west; excepting also 1 acre of land in each of the reservations +for county-seat purposes in Counties M, N, O, and P, which tracts are +hereby reserved for Government use as sites for land offices, and 4 +acres in each reservation for county-seat purposes hereinbefore named, +which tracts are hereby reserved as sites for court-houses; and +excepting also the reservations for the use of and in connection with +the Chilocco Indian Industrial School and for county-seat purposes +hereinbefore described; excepting also the saline lands covered by three +leases made by the Cherokee Nation prior to March 3, 1893, known as the +Eastern, Middle, and Western Saline reserves, under authority of the act +of Congress of August 7, 1882 (22 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. 349), said +lands being described and identified as follows: The Eastern Saline +Reserve embracing all of section 6; lots 3 and 4 of section 4; the south +half of the northeast quarter, the south half of the northwest quarter, +the north half of the southwest quarter, and lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 of +section 5; and the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter and lots 1 +and 2 of section 7, township 25 north, range 9 west. All of sections 6, +7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33; the southwest +quarter, the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter, and lots 2, 3, +4, 5, 6, and 7 of section 5; the southwest quarter, the southwest +quarter of the northwest quarter, the southwest quarter of the southeast +quarter, and lot 1 of section 9; the west half of the southwest quarter +of section 15; the west half, the southeast quarter, the west half of +the northeast quarter, and the southeast quarter of the northeast +quarter of section 16; the west half, the west half of the southeast +quarter, and the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section +22; the west half, the west half of the southeast quarter, the northeast +quarter of the southeast quarter, and the southwest quarter of the +northeast quarter of section 26; the northwest quarter, the north half +of the southwest quarter, the west half of the northeast quarter, and +the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 34; and the +northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 35, township 26 +north, range 9 west. All of section 31; the southwest quarter of the +southeast quarter, the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter, and +lot 4 of section 30; and lots 3 and 4 of section 32, township 27 north, +range 9 west. All of sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11; the southeast +quarter, the south half of the northeast quarter, the east half of the +southwest quarter, the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter, and +lots 1, 2, and 3 of section 5; the east half, the southwest quarter, and +the east half of the northwest quarter of section 8; the north half, +the north half of the southwest quarter, the southwest quarter of the +southwest quarter, and the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter +of section 12; the northwest quarter, the northwest quarter of the +northeast quarter, the north half of the southwest quarter, and the +southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 14; the north +half, the southeast quarter and the north half of the southwest quarter +of section 15; and the northeast quarter and the north half of the +northwest quarter of section 16, township 25 north, range 10 west. All +of sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, +27, 28, 33, 34, 35, and 36; the south half of the northeast quarter, the +southeast quarter of the northwest quarter, the southeast quarter, the +east half of the southwest quarter, and lots 1, 2, and 3 of section 4; +the east half, the southwest quarter, the east half of the northwest +quarter, and the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section +9; the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 17; the +east half of the northeast quarter and the east half of the southeast +quarter of section 20; the southeast quarter and the east half of the +northeast quarter of section 29; and the east half and the southeast +quarter of the southwest quarter of section 32 of township 26 north, +range 10 west. All of sections 22, 26, 27, 34, 35, and 36; the east half +of the northeast quarter and the east half of the southeast quarter +of section 21; the southwest quarter, the west half of the southeast +quarter, the south half of the northwest quarter, and lots 1 and 6 of +section 23; the southwest quarter, the west half of the southeast +quarter, the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter, the south half +of the northwest quarter, and lot 1 of section 25; the east half of +section 28; and the east half and the southeast quarter of the southwest +quarter of section 33, township 27 north, range 10 west. The Middle +Saline Reserve embracing the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter, +the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter, the west half of the +southeast quarter, the east half of the southwest quarter, and lots 2, +3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of section 6; and the northwest quarter of the +northeast quarter, the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter, and +lot 1 of section 7, township 26 north, range 18 west. The southwest +quarter of the southeast quarter, the southeast quarter of the southwest +quarter, and lot 7 of section 6; the west half of the northeast quarter, +the east half of the northwest quarter, the west half of the southeast +quarter, the east half of the southwest quarter, and lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 +of section 7; the west half of the northeast quarter, the east half of +the northwest quarter, the west half of the southeast quarter, the east +half of the southwest quarter, and lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 of section 18; +the west half of the northeast quarter, the east half of the northwest +quarter, the west half of the southeast quarter, the east half of the +southwest quarter, and lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 of section 19; the northwest +quarter of the northeast quarter, the northeast quarter of the northwest +quarter, and lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 of section 30; and the west +half of the northeast quarter, the east half of the northwest quarter, +the west half of the southeast quarter, the east half of the southwest +quarter, and lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 of section 31, township 27 north, +range 18 west. All of sections 1 to 6, inclusive; the north half of the +north half of sections 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12; and the north half of the +northeast quarter, the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter, and +lot 1 of section 7, township 26 north, range 19 west. All of sections 7 +to 36, inclusive; the south half of the south half of sections 1, 2, 3, +4, and 5, and the south half of the southeast quarter, the southeast of +the southwest quarter, and lot 7 of section 6, township 27 north, range +19 west. All of sections 1 and 2; the south half of the northeast +quarter, the southeast quarter, and lots 1 and 2 of section 3; the north +half of the northeast quarter of section 10; and the north half of the +north half of sections 11 and 12, township 26 north, range 20 west. All +of sections 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, and 36; the south half +of the southeast quarter and lot 7 of section 1; the southwest quarter +of the southwest quarter and lot 6 of section 2; the south half of the +southeast quarter of section 3; and the east half of sections 10, 15, +22, 27, and 34, township 27 north, range 20 west. And the Western Saline +Reserve embracing all of sections 18, 19, 30, and 31, township 29 north, +range 20 west; and all of sections 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, and 36, +township 29 north, range 21 west. Excepting also that section 13 in each +township, which has not been otherwise reserved or disposed of, is +hereby reserved for university, agricultural-college, and normal-school +purposes, subject to the action of Congress; excepting also that section +33 in each township, which has not been otherwise reserved or disposed +of, is hereby reserved for public buildings; excepting also sections +16 and 36 in each township, which are reserved by law for the use and +benefit of the public schools; excepting also all selections and +allotments made under the law and the agreements herein referred to, +the lands covered by said selections and allotments to be particularly +described and identified; said descriptions to be furnished by the +Commissioner of the General Land Office and posted in the several booths +hereinafter referred to as those where certain preliminary declarations +are to be made prior to the day named in this proclamation as that when +the strip will be open to settlement. +</p> +<p> +Said lands so to be opened as herein proclaimed shall be entered upon +and occupied only in the manner and under the provisions following, to +wit: +</p> +<p> +A strip of land 100 feet in width around and immediately within the +outer boundaries of the entire tract of country to be opened to +settlement under this proclamation is hereby temporarily set apart for +the following purposes and uses, viz: +</p> +<p> +Said strip, the inner boundary of which shall be 100 feet from the +exterior boundary of the country known as the Cherokee Outlet, shall be +open to occupancy in advance of the day and hour named for the opening +of said country by persons expecting and intending to make settlement +pursuant to this proclamation. Such occupancy shall not be regarded as +trespass or in violation of this proclamation or of the law under which +it is made, nor shall any settlement rights be gained thereby. +</p> +<p> +The Commissioner of the General Land Office shall, under the direction +of the Secretary of the Interior, establish on said 100-foot strip +booths, to be located as follows: One in township 29 north, range 2 +east; one in township 29 north, range 2 west; one in township 29 north, +range 4 west; one in township 29 north, range 8 west; one in township 29 +north, range 12 west; one in township 20 north, range 3 east; one in +township 20 north, range 2 west; one in township 20 north, range 7 west; +and one in township 20 north, range 26 west; and shall place in charge +thereof three officers to each booth, who shall be detailed from the +General Land Office. Said booths shall be open for the transaction of +business on and after Monday, the 11th day of the month of September, +A.D. 1893, from 7 a.m. to 12 m. and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. each business day +until the same shall be discontinued by the Secretary of the Interior, +who is hereby authorized to discontinue the same at his discretion. Each +party desiring to enter upon and occupy as a homestead any of the lands +hereby opened to settlement will be required to first appear at one of +the before-mentioned booths and make a declaration in writing, to be +signed by the party in the presence of one of the officers in charge +thereof, which shall be certified by such officer, according to the form +hereto attached and made a part hereof marked A, showing his or her +qualifications to make homestead entry for said lands, whereupon a +certificate will be issued by the officers in charge of the booth to the +party making the declaration, which shall be of the form hereto attached +and made a part hereof marked D. +</p> +<p> +Where a party desires to file a soldier's declaratory statement in +person, he will be required to make a declaration which shall be of the +form hereto attached and made a part hereof marked B, the same to be +made and subscribed before one of the officers in charge of the booth +and certified by such officer, independently of the affidavit (Form +4-546) to be filed when he presents the certificate of Form D, there +given him, to the district officers. Where a party desires to file a +declaratory statement through an agent, it will be necessary for him +previously to make the affidavit ordinarily required (Form 4-545) before +some officer authorized to administer oaths and place the same in the +hands of the agent, who, before being permitted to enter upon the lands +to be opened in said outlet for the purpose of making the desired +filing, will be required to appear before the officers in charge of +some one of the booths, to present the said affidavit of the party +authorizing him to act as such agent, and to make a declaration in +writing, to be subscribed by him in the presence of one of such +officers, which shall be certified by such officer, according to the +form hereto attached and made a part hereof marked C, whereupon a +certificate of Form D will be given him by said officer. The agent +should be provided with affidavits of Form 4-545 made in duplicate—one +for presentation to the officers in charge of the booth and the other +for presentation to the district officers when formal filing is to be +made. +</p> +<p> +Each party desiring to enter upon said lands for the purpose of settling +upon a town lot will be required to first appear at one of the +before-mentioned booths and make a declaration in writing, to be signed +by the party in the presence of one of the officers in charge thereof, +which shall be certified by such officer, according to the form hereto +attached and made a part hereof marked E, whereupon a certificate will +be issued by the officers in charge of the booth to the party making the +declaration, which shall be of the form hereto attached and made a part +hereof marked F. +</p> +<p> +The said declarations made before the officers in charge shall be given +consecutive numbers, beginning at No. 1 at each booth, and the +certificate issued to the party making the declaration shall be given +the same number as is given the declaration. The declaration shall be +carefully preserved by the officers in charge of the booths, and when +the booths are discontinued said declarations shall be transmitted, +together with the duplicate affidavits (Form 4-545) hereinbefore +required to be presented in case of agents proposing to act for soldiers +in filing declaratory statements, to the General Land Office for filing +as a part of the records pertaining to the disposal of said lands. +</p> +<p> +The certificate will be evidence only that the party named therein +is permitted to go in upon the lands opened to settlement by this +proclamation at the time specified herein, and the certificate of Form D +must be surrendered when application to enter or file is presented to +the district officers, and the party's right to make a filing, homestead +entry, or settlement shall be passed upon by the district land officers +at the proper time and in the usual manner. The holder of such +certificate will be required when he makes his homestead affidavit, or, +if a soldier or soldier's agent, when he files a declaratory statement +at the district office, to allege under oath before the officers taking +such homestead affidavit or to whom said declaratory statement is +presented for filing that all the statements contained in the +declaration made by him, upon which said certificate is based, are true +in every particular, such oath to be added to affidavit of Form 4-102, +as shown on form hereto attached and made a part hereof marked 102<i>d</i>. +</p> +<p> +After the hour and day hereinbefore named when said lands will be +opened to settlement all parties holding such certificates (Form D or F) +will be permitted to occupy or enter upon the lands so opened, and +parties holding a certificate of Form D may initiate a homestead claim, +either by settlement upon the land or by entry or filing at the proper +district office; but no person not holding any such certificate shall be +permitted to occupy or enter upon any of said lands until after the +booths shall have been discontinued by direction of the Secretary of the +Interior. Until then the officers of the United States are expressly +charged to permit no party without a certificate to occupy or enter upon +any of said lands. +</p> +<p> +The following rules and regulations have been prescribed by the +Secretary of the Interior, under the direction of the President, as +provided by section 10 of said act of March 3, 1893, for the occupation +and settlement of the lands hereby opened, to wit: +</p> +<p> +The thirteenth section of the act approved March 2, 1889, the act +approved May 2, 1890, the second proviso of section 17 and the whole of +section 18 of the act approved March 3, 1891, are by section 10 of the +act of March 3, 1893, made applicable in disposing of the lands under +said section 10, and said lands are thereby rendered subject to disposal +under the homestead and town-site laws only, with certain modifications, +which laws as so modified contain provisions substantially as follows: +</p> +<p> +1. Any party will be entitled to initiate a homestead claim to a tract +of said lands who is over 21 years of age or the head of a family; who +is a citizen of the United States or has declared his intention to +become such; who has not exhausted his homestead right either by +perfecting a homestead entry for 160 acres of land under any law, +excepting what is known as the commuted provision of the homestead law +contained in section 2301 of the United States Revised Statutes, or by +making or commuting a homestead entry since March 2, 1889; who has not +entered since August 30, 1890, under the land laws of the United States +or filed upon a quantity of land agricultural in character and not +mineral which with the tracts sought to be entered in any case would +make more than 320 acres; who is not the owner in fee simple of 160 +acres of land in any State or Territory, and who has not entered upon or +occupied the lands hereby opened in violation of this the President's +proclamation opening the same to settlement and entry. (See section +2289, U.S. Revised Statutes; act of March 2, 1889, 25 U.S. Statutes at +Large, p. 854; section 13 of the act of March 2, 1889, 25 U.S. Statutes +at Large, p. 1005; act of August 30, 1890, 26 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. +391; section 20, act of May 2, 1890, 26 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. 91, +and section 10, act of March 3, 1893, 27 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. +640.) +</p> +<p> +2. Each entry shall be in a compact body, according to the rectangular +subdivisions of the public surveys, and in a square form, as nearly as +reasonably practicable consistently with such surveys; and no person +shall be permitted to enter more than one quarter section in quantity of +said lands. (See section 13, act of March 2, 1889, 25 U.S. Statutes at +Large, p. 1005.) +</p> +<p> +3. Parties who own and reside upon land (not acquired by them under the +homestead law) not amounting in quantity to a quarter section may, if +otherwise qualified, enter other land lying contiguous to their own to +an amount which shall not with the land already owned by them exceed in +the aggregate 160 acres. (See section 2289, U.S. Revised Statutes.) +</p> +<p> +4. Any party who has made a homestead entry prior to March 2, 1889, for +less than one quarter section of land and who still owns and occupies +the land so entered may, if otherwise qualified, enter an additional +tract of land lying contiguous to the land embraced in the original +entry, which shall not with the land first entered exceed in the +aggregate 160 acres; but such additional entry will not be permitted, or +if permitted will be canceled, if the original entry should fail for any +reason prior to patent or should appear to be illegal or fraudulent. The +final proof of residence and cultivation made on the original entry, +together with the payment of the prescribed price for the land, will be +sufficient to entitle the party to a final certificate for the land so +entered without further proof. (See section 5 of the act of March 2, +1889, 25 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. 854.) +</p> +<p> +5. Parties who have complied with the conditions of the law with regard +to a homestead entry for less than 160 acres of land made prior to March +2, 1889, and have had the final papers issued therefor, may, if +otherwise qualified, make an additional entry, by legal subdivisions, of +so much land as added to the quantity previously so entered shall not +exceed 160 acres. Parties making entry under the provisions set forth in +this paragraph will be required to reside upon and cultivate the land +embraced therein for the prescribed period and to submit proof of +residence and cultivation of a like character with that required in +ordinary homestead entries before the issuance of a final certificate. +(See section 6, act of March 2, 1889, 25 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. +854.) +</p> +<p> +6. Any officer, soldier, seaman, or marine who served for not less than +ninety days in the Army or Navy of the United States during the War of +the Rebellion and who was honorably discharged and has remained loyal to +the Government, or, in case of his death, his widow, or, in case of her +death or remarriage, his minor orphan children, by a guardian duly +appointed and officially accredited at the Department of the Interior, +may, either in person or by agent, file a declaratory statement for a +tract of land and have six months thereafter within which to make actual +entry and commence residence and improvements upon the land. (See +sections 2304, 2307, and 2309, U.S. Revised Statutes.) +</p> +<p> +7. Every person entitled under the preceding paragraph to enter a +homestead who, or whose deceased husband or father, in case of the widow +or minor children, may have prior to June 22, 1874, entered under the +homestead laws a quantity of land less than 160 acres may, if otherwise +qualified, enter so much land as when added to the quantity previously +entered shall not exceed 160 acres; but the party must make affidavit +that the entry is made for actual settlement and cultivation, and the +proof of such settlement and cultivation prescribed by existing +homestead laws and regulations thereunder will be required to be +produced before the issue of final certificate. (See section 2306, U.S. +Revised Statutes, and section 18 of the act of May 2, 1890, 26 U.S. +Statutes at Large, p. 90.) +</p> +<p> +8. Parties may initiate claims under the homestead law either by +settlement on the land or by entry at the district office. In the former +case the party will have three months after settlement within which to +file his application for the tract at the district office; in the latter +case the party will have six months after entry at that office within +which to establish residence and begin improvements upon the land. (See +sections 2290 and 2297, U.S. Revised Statutes, and section 3 of the act +of May 14, 1880, 21 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. 140.) +</p> +<p> +9. The homestead affidavits required to be filed with the application +must be executed before the register or receiver of the proper district +land office (see section 2290, U.S. Revised Statutes) or before any +other officer who may be found duly qualified at the time to administer +such oaths, according to the provisions of the act of Congress of May +26, 1890 (26 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. 121). +</p> +<p> +10. Parties applying to make homestead entry will be required to tender +with the application the legal fee and commissions, which are as +follows: For an entry of over 80 acres a fee of $10, and for an entry of +80 acres or less a fee of $5, and in both cases, in addition, +commissions of 2 per cent upon the Government price of the land, +computed at the rate of $1.25 per acre, the ordinary minimum price of +public lands under the general provisions of section 2357, United States +Revised Statutes. (See sections 2238 and 2290, U.S. Revised Statutes.) +</p> +<p> +11. Homestead applicants appearing in great number at the local office +to make entry at the time of opening will be required to form in line, +in order that their applications may be presented and acted upon in +regular order. +</p> +<p> +12. Soldiers' declaratory statements can only be made by the parties +entitled or by their agents in person, and will not be received if sent +by mail. A party acting as agent and appearing in line, as contemplated +under the eleventh paragraph, will be allowed to make one entry or +filing in his individual character, if he so desires, and to file one +declaratory statement in his representative character as agent, if such +he shall be, and thereupon he will be required to step out of line, +giving place to the next person in order, and, if he desires to make any +other filings, to take his place at the end of the line and await his +proper turn before doing so, and thus to proceed in order until all the +filings desired by him shall be made. +</p> +<p> +13. Section 2301 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, providing +for commutation of homestead entries, is not applicable to said lands. +(See section 18 of the act of May 2, 1890, 26 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. +90.) +</p> +<p> +14. Proof of five years' residence, cultivation, and improvement and the +payment prescribed by the statute, as hereinbefore mentioned, must be +made before a party will be entitled to a patent under the homestead +law, and such proof is required to be made within seven years from the +date of the entry. Commissions equal to 2 per cent upon the Government +price for the land, computed at $1.25 per acre, under section 2357, +United States Revised Statutes, must also be tendered with the final +proof. Interest at 4 per cent per annum on the purchase price of the +land must be paid from the date of the entry to date of final payment of +purchase money. (See sections 2238 and 2291, U.S. Revised Statutes, and +sections 10 and 13 of the act of March 3, 1893, 27 U.S. Statutes at +Large, p. 640.) +</p> +<p> +15. The parties named in paragraph 6 of these regulations are entitled +to have the term of service in the Army or Navy under which the claim is +made, not exceeding four years, deducted from the period of five years' +residence or cultivation required as stated in the preceding paragraph, +or, if the party was discharged from service on account of wounds or +disabilities incurred in the line of duty, the whole term of enlistment, +not exceeding four years, may be deducted. (See section 2305, U.S. +Revised Statutes.) +</p> +<p> +16. Where a homestead settler dies before the consummation of his claim, +the widow, or, in case of her death, the heirs or devisee, may continue +settlement or cultivation and obtain title upon requisite proof at the +proper time. If the widow proves up, title will pass to her; if she dies +before proving up and the heirs or devisee make the proof, the title +will vest in them, respectively. (See section 2291, U.S. Revised +Statutes.) +</p> +<p> +17. Where both parents die, leaving infant children, the homestead may +be sold for cash for the benefit of such children, and the purchaser +will receive title from the United States. (See section 2292, U.S. +Revised Statutes.) +</p> +<p> +18. In case of the death of a person after having entered a homestead +the failure of the widow, children, or devisee of the deceased to +fulfill the demands of the letter of the law as to residence on the +lands will not necessarily subject the entry to forfeiture on the ground +of abandonment. If the land is cultivated in good faith, the law will be +considered as having been substantially complied with. +</p> +<p> +19. Town-site claims maybe initiated upon said lands under the statutes +by two methods, which are separate and distinct in character. The +regulations under the first method are hereinafter set forth in +paragraphs 20, 21, and 22, and under the second method in paragraphs 23 +to 28, inclusive. Provision is further made for town-site entries in +cases where lands entered under the homestead law are required for +town-site purposes, as set forth in paragraph 30. +</p> +<p> +20. Parties having founded or who desire to found a city or town on the +public lands must file with the recorder of the county in which land is +situate a plat thereof, describing the exterior boundaries of the land +according to the lines of public surveys. Such plat must state the name +of the city or town, exhibit the streets, squares, blocks, lots, and +alleys, and specify the size of the same, with measurements and area of +each municipal subdivision the lots in which shall not exceed 4,200 +square feet, with a statement of the extent and general character of the +improvements. The plat and statement must be verified by the oath of the +party, acting for and in behalf of the occupants and inhabitants of the +town or city. Within one month after filing the plat with the recorder +of the county a verified copy of said plat and statement must be sent to +the General Land Office, accompanied by the testimony of two witnesses +that such town or city has been established in good faith, and a similar +map and statement must be filed with the register and receiver of the +proper district office. Thereafter the President may cause the lots +embraced within the limits of such city or town to be offered at public +sale to the highest bidder, subject to a minimum of $10 for each lot; +and such lots as may not be disposed of at public sale shall thereafter +be liable to private entry at such minimum or at such reasonable +increase or diminution thereafter as the Secretary of the Interior may +order from time to time, after at least three months' notice, in view +of the increase or decrease in the value of the municipal property. Any +actual settler upon any lot and upon any additional lot upon which he +may have substantial improvements shall be entitled to prove up and +purchase the same as a preemption, at such minimum, at any time before +the day fixed for the public sale. (See section 2382, U.S. Revised +Statutes.) +</p> +<p> +21. In case the parties interested shall fail or refuse within twelve +months after founding a city or town to file in the General Land Office +a transcript map, with the statement and testimony, as required in +paragraph 20, the Secretary of the Interior may cause a survey and plat +to be made of said city or town, and thereafter the lots will be sold at +an increase of 50 per cent on the minimum price of $10 per lot. (See +section 2384, U.S. Revised Statutes.) +</p> +<p> +22. When lots vary in size from the limitation of 4,200 square feet and +the lots, buildings, and improvements cover an area greater than 640 +acres, such variance as to size of lots or excess in area will prove no +bar to entry, but the price of the lots may be increased to such +reasonable amount as the Secretary of the Interior may by rule +establish. (See section 2385, U.S. Revised Statutes.) +</p> +<p> +23. Under the second method lands actually settled upon and occupied as +a town site, and therefore not subject to entry under the homestead +laws, may be entered as a town site at the proper district land office. +(See section 2387, U.S. Revised Statutes.) +</p> +<p> +24. If the town is incorporated, the entry may be made by the corporate +authorities thereof through the mayor or other principal officer duly +authorized so to do. If the town is not incorporated, the entry may be +made by the judge of the county court for the county in which said town +is situated. In either case the entry must be made in trust for the use +and benefit of the occupants thereof according to their respective +interests. The execution of such trust as to the disposal of lots and +the proceeds of sales is to be conducted under regulations prescribed by +the territorial laws. Acts of trustees not in accordance with such +regulations are void. (See sections 2387 and 2391, U.S. Revised +Statutes.) +</p> +<p> +25. The officer authorized to enter a town site may make entry at once, +or he may initiate an entry by filing a declaratory statement of the +purpose of the inhabitants to make a town-site entry of the land +described. The entry or declaratory statement shall include only such +land as is actually occupied by the town and the title to which is in +the United States, and its exterior limits must conform to the legal +subdivisions of the public lands. (See sections 2388 and 2389, U.S. +Revised Statutes.) +</p> +<p> +26. The amount of land that may be entered under this method is +proportionate to the number of inhabitants. One hundred and less than +200 inhabitants may enter not to exceed 320 acres; 200 and less than +1,000 inhabitants may enter not to exceed 640 acres; and where the +inhabitants number 1,000 and over an amount not to exceed 1,280 acres +may be entered, and for each additional 1,000 inhabitants, not to exceed +5,000 in all, a further amount of 320 acres may be allowed. When the +number of inhabitants of a town is less than 100, the town site shall be +restricted to the land actually occupied for town purposes by legal +subdivisions. (See section 2389, U.S. Revised Statutes.) +</p> +<p> +27. Where an entry is made of less than the maximum quantity of land +allowed for town-site purposes, additional entries may be made of +contiguous tracts occupied for town purposes which when added to the +previous entry or entries will not exceed 2,560 acres; but no additional +entry can be allowed which will make the total area exceed the area to +which the town may be entitled by virtue of its population at date of +additional entry. (See section 4 of the act of March 3, 1877, 19 U.S. +Statutes at Large, p. 392.) +</p> +<p> +28. The land must be paid for at the Government price per acre, and +proof must be furnished relating, first, to municipal occupation of the +land; second, number of inhabitants; third, extent and value of town +improvements; fourth, date when land was first used for town-site +purposes; fifth, official character and authority of officer making +entry; sixth, if an incorporated town, proof of incorporation, which +should be a certified copy of the act of incorporation, and, seventh, +that a majority of the occupants or owners of the lots within the town +desire that such action be taken. Thirty days' publication of notice of +intention to make proof must be made and proof of publication furnished. +(See section 2387, U.S. Revised Statutes.) +</p> +<p> +29. All surveys for town sites on said lands shall contain reservations +for parks (of substantially equal area if more than one park) and for +schools and other public purposes, embracing in the aggregate not less +than 10 nor more than 20 acres, and patents for such reservations, to be +maintained for such purposes, will be issued to the towns respectively +when organized as municipalities. (See section 22, act of May 2, 1890, +26 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. 92.) +</p> +<p> +30. In case any of said lands which may be entered under the homestead +laws by a person who is entitled to perfect his title thereto under such +laws are required for town-site purposes, the entryman may apply to +the Secretary of the Interior to purchase the lands embraced in said +homestead, or any part thereof not less than a legal subdivision, for +town-site purposes. The party must file in the district office with +his application a plat of the proposed town site and evidence of his +qualifications to perfect title under the homestead law and of his +compliance with all the requirements of the law and the instructions +thereunder, and must deposit with the Secretary of the Interior the sum +of $10 per acre for all the lands embraced in such town site, except the +lands to be donated and maintained for public purposes as mentioned in +the preceding paragraph. (See section 22, act of May 2, 1890, 26 U.S. +Statutes at Large, p. 92.) +</p> +<p> +Notice, moreover, is hereby given that it is by law enacted that no +person shall be permitted to occupy or enter upon any of the lands +herein referred to except in the manner prescribed by this proclamation, +and any person otherwise occupying or entering upon any of said lands +shall forfeit all right to acquire any of said lands, and that the +officers of the United States will be required to enforce this +provision. +</p> +<p> +And further notice is hereby given that four land districts have been +established in Oklahoma Territory, with boundaries as follows: +</p> +<p> +The Perry district, bounded and described as follows: Beginning at the +middle of the main channel of the Arkansas River where the same is +intersected by the northern boundary of Oklahoma Territory; thence west +to the northwest corner of township 29 north, range 2 west of the Indian +meridian; thence south on the range line between ranges 2 and 3 west to +the southwest corner of lot 3 of section 31, township 20 north, range 2 +west; thence east to the southeast corner of lot 4 of section 36, +township 20 north, range 4 east; thence south on the range line between +ranges 4 and 5 east to the middle of the main channel of the Cimarron +River; thence down said river, in the middle of the main channel +thereof, to the western boundary of the Creek country; thence north to +the northwest corner of the Creek country; thence east on the northern +boundary of said Creek country to the middle of the main channel of the +Arkansas River; thence up said river, in the middle of the main channel +thereof, to the place of beginning; the local land, office of which will +be located at the town of Perry, in County P. +</p> +<p> +The Enid district, bounded and described as follows: Beginning at the +northeast corner of township 29 north, range 3 west of the Indian +meridian; thence west to the northwest corner of township 29 north, +range 8 west; thence south on the range line between ranges 8 and 9 west +to the southwest corner of lot 3 of section 31, township 20 north, range +8 west; thence east to the southeast corner of lot 4 of section 36, +township 20 north, range 3 west; thence north on the range line between +ranges 2 and 3 west to the place of beginning; the local land office of +which will be located at the town of Enid, in County O. +</p> +<p> +The Alva district, bounded and described as follows: Beginning at the +northeast corner of township 29 north, range 9 west of the Indian +meridian; thence west to the northwest corner of township 29 north, +range 16 west; thence south on the range line between ranges 16 and 17 +west to the southwest corner of lot 3 of section 31, township 20 north, +range 16 west; thence east to the southeast corner of lot 4 of section +36, township 20 north, range 9 west; thence north on the range line +between ranges 8 and 9 west to the place of beginning; the local land +office of which will be located at the town of Alva, in County M. +</p> +<p> +The Woodward land district, bounded and described as follows: Beginning +at the northeast corner of township 29 north, range 17 west of the +Indian meridian; thence west to the north west corner of township 29 +north, range 26 west; thence south to the southwest corner of lot 3 of +section 32, township 20 north, range 26 west; thence east to the +southeast corner of lot 4 of section 36, township 20 north, range 17 +west; thence north on the range line between ranges 16 and 17 west to +the place of beginning; the local land office of which will be located +at the town of Woodward, in County N. +</p> +<p> +And further notice is hereby given that the line of 97-1/2° west +longitude, named herein for the purpose of disposing of the land hereby +opened to settlement, is held to fall on the west line of sections 2, +11, 14, 23, 26, and 35 of the townships in range 3 west of the Indian +meridian, and the line of 98-1/2° of west longitude is held to fall on +the line running due north and south through the centers of sections 4, +9, 16, 21, 28, and 33 of the townships in range 12 west of the Indian +meridian, and said lines have been so laid down upon the township plats +on file in the General Land Office. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 19th day of August, A.D. 1893, and +of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and eighteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +W.Q. GRESHAM,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> + +<center> +A. +</center> +<p class="quote"> + DECLARATION REQUIRED BY PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION OF AUGUST 19, 1893, + PREPARATORY TO OCCUPYING OR ENTERING UPON THE LANDS OF THE CHEROKEE + OUTLET FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING A HOMESTEAD ENTRY. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + No. ——. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + BOOTH IN T. —— N., R. ——, ——, <i>1893</i>. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + I, ——, of ——, being desirous of occupying or entering upon the lands + opened to settlement by the President's proclamation of August 19, 1893, + for the purpose of making a homestead entry, do solemnly declare that I + am over 21 years of age or the head of a family; that I am a citizen of + the United States (or have declared my intention to become such); that + I have not perfected a homestead entry for 160 acres of land under any + law except what is known as the commuted provision of the homestead law + contained in section 2301, Revised Statutes, nor have I made or commuted + a homestead entry since March 2, 1889;[*] —— that I have not entered + since August 30, 1890, under the land laws of the United States or filed + upon a quantity of land agricultural in character and not mineral which + with the tracts now desired would make more than 320 acres; that I am + not the owner in fee simple of 160 acres of land in any State or + Territory; that I have not entered upon or occupied, nor will I enter + upon or occupy, the lands to be opened to settlement by the President's + proclamation of August 19, 1893, in violation of the requirements of + said proclamation; that I desire to make entry for the purpose of actual + settlement and cultivation, and not for the benefit of any other person, + persons, or corporation; that I will faithfully and honestly endeavor to + comply with all the requirements of law as to settlement, residence, and + cultivation necessary to acquire title to the land I may select; that I + am not acting as agent of any person, corporation, or syndicate in + entering upon said lands, nor in collusion with any person, corporation, + or syndicate to give them the benefit of the land I may enter, or any + part thereof, or the timber thereon; that I do not apply to enter upon + said lands for the purpose of speculation, but in good faith to obtain a + home for myself; and that I have not, directly or indirectly, made and + will not make any agreement or contract in any way or manner with any + person or persons, corporation, or syndicate whatsoever by which the + title which I may acquire from the Government of the United States + should inure in whole or in part to the benefit of any person except + myself. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + —————. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + I certify that the foregoing declaration was made and subscribed before + me this —— day of ——, 1893. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ———— —————, <i>Officer in Charge</i>. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + * NOTE.—If the party has made a homestead entry since March + 2, 1889, but has failed or is unable to perfect title to the land + covered thereby because of a valid adverse claim or other invalidity + existing at the date of its inception, strike out the words "made or" + and insert in the blank space <i>that I have made a homestead entry + since March 2, 1889, but have failed or am unable to perfect title to + the land covered thereby because of a valid adverse claim or other + invalidity existing at the date of its inception</i>. +</p> +<center> +B. +</center> +<p class="quote"> + DECLARATION REQUIRED BY PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION OF AUGUST 19, 1893, + PREPARATORY TO OCCUPYING OR ENTERING UPON THE LANDS OF THE CHEROKEE + OUTLET FOR THE PURPOSE OF FILING A SOLDIER'S DECLARATORY STATEMENT IN + PERSON. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + No. ——. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + BOOTH IN T. —— N., R. ——, ——, <i>1893</i>. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + I, ——, of —— County and State or Territory of ——, do solemnly + declare that I served for a period of —— in the Army of the United + States during the War of the Rebellion and was honorably discharged + therefrom, as shown by a statement of such service herewith, and that I + have remained loyal to the Government; that I have not perfected a + homestead entry for 160 acres of land under any law except what is known + as the commuted provision of the homestead law contained in section + 2301, Revised Statutes, nor have I filed a declaratory statement under + sections 2304 and 2309 of the Revised Statutes or made or commuted a + homestead entry since March 2, 1889;[*] —— that I have not entered + since August 30, 1890, under the land laws of the United States or filed + upon a quantity of land agricultural in character and not mineral which + with the tracts now desired would make more than 320 acres; that I am + not the owner in fee simple of 160 acres of land in any State or + Territory; that I have not entered upon or occupied, nor will I enter + upon or occupy, the lands to be opened to settlement by the President's + proclamation of August 19, 1893, in violation of said proclamation; that + I intend to file a soldier's declaratory statement upon said lands, + which location will be made for my exclusive use and benefit, for the + purpose of my actual settlement and cultivation, and not, either + directly or indirectly, for the use and benefit of any other person. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ———— —————. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + I certify that the foregoing declaration was made and subscribed before + me this ——— day of ————, 1893. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ———— —————, <i>Officer in Charge</i>. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + * NOTE.—If the party has made an entry or filing since March 2, 1889, + to which he is unable to perfect title because of a valid adverse claim + or other invalidity existing at the date of its inception, strike out + the words "filed a declaratory statement under sections 2304 and 2309 of + the Revised Statutes, or made or" and insert in the blank space <i>that + I have made an entry or filing since March 2, 1889, but have failed or + am unable to perfect title to the land covered thereby because of a + valid adverse claim or other invalidity existing at the date of its + inception</i>. +</p> +<center> +C. +</center> +<p class="quote"> +DECLARATION REQUIRED BY PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION OF AUGUST 19, 1893 +PREPARATORY TO ENTERING UPON THE LANDS OF THE CHEROKEE OUTLET FOR THE +PURPOSE OF FILING A SOLDIER'S DECLARATORY STATEMENT AS AGENT +</p> +<p class="quote"> + No. ———. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + BOOTH IN T. ———- N., R. ———-, ———-, <i>1893</i>. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + I, ———— of ————, desiring to enter upon the Cherokee Outlet for + the purpose of filing a soldier's declaratory statement under sections + 2304 and 2309, United States Revised Statutes, as agent of ————, do + hereby declare that I have no interest or authority in the matter, + present or prospective, beyond the filing of such declaratory statement + as the true and lawful attorney of the said ———— as provided by said + sections 2304 and 2309. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ———— —————. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + I certify that the foregoing declaration was made and subscribed before + me this ——- day of ————, 1893. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ———— —————, <i>Officer in Charge</i>. +</p> +<center> +D. +</center> +<p class="quote"> + CERTIFICATE THAT MUST BE HELD BY PARTY DESIRING TO OCCUPY OR TO ENTER + UPON THE LANDS OPENED TO SETTLEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION OF + AUGUST 19, 1893, FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING A HOMESTEAD ENTRY OR FILING + A SOLDIER'S DECLARATORY STATEMENT. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + No. ——-. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + BOOTH IN T. ———- N., R. ———-, ———-, <i>1893</i>. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + This certifies that ———— has this day made the declaration before me + required by the President's proclamation of August 19, 1893, and he is + therefore permitted to go in upon the lands opened to settlement by said + proclamation at the time named therein for the purpose of making a + homestead entry or filing a soldier's declaratory statement. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + It is agreed and understood that this certificate will not prevent the + district land officers from passing upon the holder's qualifications to + enter or file for any of said lands at the proper time and in the usual + manner, and that the holder will be required when he makes his homestead + affidavit, or, if a soldier or a soldier's agent, when he files a + declaratory statement at the district office, to allege under oath + before the officer taking such homestead affidavit or to whom said + declaratory statement is presented for filing that all of the statements + contained in the declaration made by him, upon which this certificate is + based, are true in every particular. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ———— —————, <i>Officer in Charge</i>. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + This certificate is not transferable. The holder will display the + certificate, if demanded, after locating on claim. +</p> +<center> +E. +</center> +<p class="quote"> + DECLARATION REQUIRED BY PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION OF AUGUST 19, 1893, + PREPARATORY TO OCCUPYING OR ENTERING UPON THE LANDS OF THE CHEROKEE + OUTLET FOR THE PURPOSE OF SETTLING UPON A TOWN LOT. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + No. ——. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + BOOTH IN T. ——N., R. ——,——, <i>1893</i>. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + I, ——, of ——, being desirous of occupying or entering upon lands + opened to settlement by the President's proclamation of August 19, 1893, + do solemnly declare that I have not entered upon or occupied, nor will I + enter upon or occupy, any of the lands to be opened to settlement by the + President's proclamation of August 19, 1893, in violation of the + requirements of said proclamation, and that I desire to go in upon said + lands for the purpose of settling upon a town lot. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ———— ————. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + I certify that the foregoing declaration was made and subscribed before + me this —— day of ——, 1893. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ———— —————, <i>Officer in Charge</i>. +</p> +<center> +F. +</center> +<p class="quote"> + CERTIFICATE THAT MUST BE HELD BY PARTY DESIRING TO OCCUPY OR ENTER UPON + THE LANDS OPENED TO SETTLEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION OF AUGUST + 19, 1893, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SETTLING UPON A TOWN LOT. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + No. ——. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + BOOTH IN T. ——N., R. ——,——, <i>1893</i>. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + This certifies that —— has this day made the declaration before me + required by the President's proclamation of August 19, 1893, and he is + therefore permitted to go in upon the lands opened to settlement by said + proclamation at the time named therein for the purpose of settling upon + a town lot. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ———— —————, <i>Officer in Charge</i>. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + This certificate is not transferable. The holder will display the + certificate, if demanded, after locating on claim. +</p> +<center> +4-102d. +</center> +<p class="quote"> + AFFIDAVIT. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + LAND OFFICE AT ————, ————, 1893. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + I, ——, of ——, applying to enter (or file for) a homestead, do + solemnly swear that I did not enter upon and occupy any portion of + the lands described and declared open to entry in the President's + proclamation dated August 19, 1893, prior to 12 o'clock noon of + September 16, 1893; also that all of the statements contained in a + certain declaration made by me as foundation for obtaining permission + to enter upon the Cherokee Outlet in pursuance of requirements of the + President's proclamation opening said outlet to settlement are true + in every particular. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ———— ————. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Sworn to and subscribed before me this —— day of ——, 189—. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ———— ————. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + NOTE.—This affidavit must be made before the register or receiver of + the proper district land office or before some officer authorized to + administer oaths and using a seal. +</p> +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 24 of the act of Congress approved +March 3, 1891, entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for +other purposes"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the President of the United States may from time to time set + apart and reserve in any State or Territory having public land bearing + forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered + with timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as + public reservations; and the President shall by public proclamation + declare the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the public lands in the State of Oregon within the limits +hereinafter described are in part covered with timber, and it appears +that the public good would be promoted by setting apart and reserving +said lands as a public reservation: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, +by virtue of the power in me vested by section 24 of the aforesaid act +of Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that there is hereby +reserved from entry or settlement and set apart as a public reservation +all those certain tracts, pieces, or parcels of land lying and being +situate in the State of Oregon and particularly described as follows, +to wit: +</p> +<p> +Beginning at the meander corner at the intersection of the range line +between ranges six (6) and seven (7) east, township two (2) north, +Willamette meridian, Oregon, with the mean high-water mark on the south +bank of the Columbia River in said State; thence northeasterly along +said mean high-water mark to its intersection with the township line +between townships two (2) and three (3) north; thence easterly along +said township line to the northeast corner of township two (2) north, +range eight (8) east; thence southerly along the range line between +ranges eight (8) and nine (9) east to the southwest corner of township +two (2) north, range nine (9) east; thence westerly along the township +line between townships one (1) and two (2) north to the northwest corner +of township one (1) north, range nine (9) east; thence southerly along +the range line between ranges eight (8) and nine (9) east to the +southwest corner of township one (1) north, range nine (9) east; thence +easterly along the base line to the northeast corner of township one +(1) south, range ten (10) east; thence southerly along the range line +between ranges ten (10) and eleven (11) east to the southeast corner of +township four (4) south, range ten (10) east; thence westerly along the +township line between townships four (4) and five (5) south to the +southwest corner of township four (4) south, range nine (9) east; thence +southerly along the west boundary of township five (5) south, range nine +(9) east, to its intersection with the west boundary of the Warm Springs +Indian Reservation; thence southwesterly along said Indian-reservation +boundary to the southwest corner of said reservation; thence +southeasterly along the south boundary of said Indian reservation to a +point on the north line of section three (3), township twelve (12) +south, range nine (9) east, where said boundary crosses the township +line between townships eleven (11) and twelve (12) south, range nine (9) +east; thence easterly to the northeast corner of township twelve (12) +south, range nine (9) east; thence southerly along the range line +between ranges nine (9) and ten (10) east to the southeast corner of +township thirteen (13) south, range nine (9) east; thence westerly along +the third (3d) standard parallel south to the northeast corner of +township fourteen (14) south, range nine (9) east; thence southerly +along the range line between ranges nine (9) and ten (10) east to the +southeast corner of township fifteen (15) south, range nine (9) east; +thence easterly along the third (3d) standard parallel south to the +northeast corner of township sixteen (16) south, range nine (9) east; +thence southerly along the range line between ranges nine (9) and ten +(10) east to the southeast corner of township twenty (20) south, range +nine (9) east; thence easterly along the fourth (4th) standard parallel +south to the northeast corner of township twenty-one (21) south, range +nine (9) east; thence southerly along the range line between ranges nine +(9) and ten (10) east to the southeast corner of township twenty-three +(23) south, range nine (9) east; thence westerly along the township line +between townships twenty-three (23) and twenty-four (24) south to the +southeast corner of township twenty-three (23) south, range six (6) +east; thence southerly along the range line between ranges six (6) and +seven (7) east to the southwest corner of township twenty-five (25) +south, range seven (7) east; thence westerly along the fifth (5th) +standard parallel south to the point for the northwest corner of +township twenty-six (26) south, range seven (7) east; thence southerly +along the surveyed and unsurveyed west boundaries of townships +twenty-six (26), twenty-seven (27), twenty-eight (28), twenty-nine (29), +and thirty (30) south to the southwest corner of township thirty (30) +south, range seven (7) east; thence westerly along the unsurveyed sixth +(6th) standard parallel south to the point for the northwest corner of +township thirty-one (31) south, range seven and one-half (7-1/2) east; +thence southerly along the surveyed and unsurveyed west boundaries of +townships thirty-one (31), thirty-two (32), and thirty-three (33) south, +range seven and one-half (7-1/2) east, to the southwest corner of +township thirty-three (33) south, range seven and one-half (7-1/2) east; +thence easterly along the township line between townships thirty-three +(33) and thirty-four (34) south to the northeast corner of township +thirty-four (34) south, range six (6) east; thence southerly along the +east boundaries of townships thirty-four (34) and thirty-five (35) +south, range six (6) east, to the point of intersection of the east +boundary of township thirty-five (35) south, range six (6) east, with +the west shore of Upper Klamath Lake; thence along said shore of said +lake to its intersection with the range line between ranges six (6) and +seven (7) east in township thirty-six (36) south; thence southerly along +the range line between ranges six (6) and seven (7) east to the +southeast corner of township thirty-seven (37) south, range six (6) +east; thence westerly along the township line between townships +thirty-seven (37) and thirty-eight (38) south to the southwest corner of +township thirty-seven (37) south, range four (4) east; thence northerly +along the range line between ranges three (3) and four (4) east to the +northwest corner of township thirty-six (36) south, range four (4) east; +thence easterly along the eighth (8th) standard parallel south to the +southwest corner of township thirty-five (35) south, range four (4) +east; thence northerly along the range line between ranges three (3) and +four (4) east to the southwest corner of township thirty-one (31) south, +range four (4) east; thence westerly along the township line between +townships thirty-one (31) and thirty-two (32) south to the southwest +corner of township thirty-one (31) south, range one (1) east; thence +northerly along the surveyed and unsurveyed Willamette meridian to the +northwest corner, of township twenty (20) south, range one (1) east; +thence easterly along the township line between townships nineteen (19) +and twenty (20) south to the northeast corner of township twenty (20) +south, range one (1) east; thence northerly along the range line between +ranges one (1) and two (2) east to the northwest corner of township +eighteen (18) south, range two (2) east; thence easterly along the +township line between townships seventeen (17) and eighteen (18) south +to the southeast corner of township seventeen (17) south, range two (2) +east; thence northerly along the range line between ranges two (2) and +three (3) east to the southwest corner of township seventeen (17) south, +range three (3) east; thence easterly along the surveyed and unsurveyed +township line between townships seventeen (17) and eighteen (18) south +to the point for the southeast corner of township seventeen (17) south, +range four (4) east; thence northerly along the surveyed and unsurveyed +range line between ranges four (4) and five (5) east, subject to the +proper easterly or westerly offsets on the third (3d), second (2d), and +first (1st) standard parallels south, to the northwest corner of +township five (5) south, range five (5) east; thence easterly along the +township line between townships four (4) and five (5) south to the +southeast corner of township four (4) south, range six (6) east; thence +northerly along the range line between ranges six (6) and seven (7) east +to the northwest corner of township four (4) south, range seven (7) +east; thence easterly along the township line between townships three +(3) and four (4) south to the southwest corner of section thirty-four +(34), township three (3) south, range seven (7) east; thence northerly +along the surveyed and unsurveyed section line between sections +thirty-three (33) and thirty-four (34), twenty-seven (27) and +twenty-eight (28), twenty-one (21) and twenty-two (22), fifteen (15) and +sixteen (16), nine (9) and ten (10), and three (3) and four (4) to the +northwest corner of section three (3) of said township and range; thence +easterly along the surveyed and unsurveyed township line between +townships two (2) and three (3) south to the point for the southeast +corner of township two (2) south, range eight (8) east; thence northerly +along the unsurveyed range line between ranges eight (8) and nine (9) +east to the southeast corner of township one (1) south, range eight (8) +east; thence westerly along the township line between townships one (1) +and two (2) south to the southeast corner of section thirty-four (34), +township one (1) south, range eight (8) east; thence northerly along the +section line between sections thirty-four (34) and thirty-five (35), +twenty-six (26) and twenty-seven (27), and twenty-two (22) and +twenty-three (23) to the northeast corner of section twenty-two (22); +thence westerly along the section line between sections fifteen (15) and +twenty-two (22) to the southeast corner of section sixteen (16); thence +northerly on the section line between sections fifteen (15) and sixteen +(16) to the point for the northeast corner of section sixteen (16); +thence westerly along the section line between sections nine (9) and +sixteen (16) to the southeast corner of section eight (8); thence +northerly along the section line between sections eight (8) and nine (9) +and four (4) and five (5) to the northwest corner of section four (4), +township one (1) south, range eight (8) east; thence easterly along the +base line to the southeast corner of section thirty-three (33), township +one (1) north, range eight (8) east; thence along the unsurveyed section +lines northerly to the point for the northeast corner of section +thirty-three (33), westerly to the point for the northeast corner of +section thirty-two (32), northerly to the point for the northeast corner +of section eight (8), westerly to the point for the southwest corner of +section six (6); thence northerly along the unsurveyed range line +between ranges seven (7) and eight (8) east to the point for the +northwest corner of township one (1) north, range eight (8) east; thence +westerly along the unsurveyed township line between townships one (1) +and two (2) north to the northwest corner of township one (1) north, +range seven (7) east; thence northerly along the surveyed and unsurveyed +range line between ranges six (6) and seven (7) east to the meander +corner at its intersection with the mean high-water mark on the south +bank of the Columbia River, the place of beginning. +</p> +<p> +Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which +may have been prior to the date hereof embraced in any legal entry or +covered by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States +land office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant +to law and the statutory period within which to make entry or filing of +record has not expired, and all mining claims duly located and held +according to the laws of the United States and rules and regulations not +in conflict therewith. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That this exception shall not continue to apply to any +particular tract of land unless the entryman, settler, or claimant +continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing, +settlement, or location was made. +</p> +<p> +Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to enter or make +settlement upon the tract of land reserved by this proclamation. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 28th day of September, A.D. 1893, +and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +eighteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> + ALVEY A. ADEE,<br /> + <i>Acting Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 24 of the act of Congress approved +March 3, 1891, entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for +other purposes"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the President of the United States may from time to time set + apart and reserve in any State or Territory having public land bearing + forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with + timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public + reservations; and the President shall by public proclamation declare + the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the public lands in the State of Oregon within the limits +hereinafter described, are in part covered with timber, and it appears +that the public good would be promoted by setting apart and reserving +said lands as a public reservation: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, by +virtue of the power in me vested by section 24 of the aforesaid act of +Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that there is hereby +reserved from entry or settlement and set apart as a public reservation +all those certain tracts, pieces, or parcels of land lying and being +situate in the State of Oregon and within the boundaries particularly +described as follows, to wit: +</p> +<p> +Beginning at the northeast corner of section twenty-seven (27), township +thirty-nine (39) south, range one (1) east, Willamette meridian; thence +westerly along the surveyed and unsurveyed section line to the northwest +corner of section twenty-five (25), township thirty-nine (39) south, +range one (1) west; thence southerly along the section line to the +southwest corner of section thirty-six (36), said township and range; +thence westerly along the ninth (9th) standard parallel south to the +northwest corner of section one (1), township forty (40) south, range +one (1) west; thence southerly along the section line to the southwest +corner of section thirteen (13), said township and range; thence +easterly along the surveyed and unsurveyed section line to the point for +the southeast corner of section fourteen (14), township forty (40) +south, range one (1) east; thence northerly along the surveyed and +unsurveyed section line to the northeast corner of section thirty-five +(35), township thirty-nine (39) south, range one (1) east; thence +westerly to the northwest corner of said section thirty-five (35); +thence northerly to the northeast corner of section twenty-seven (27), +said township and range, the place of beginning. +</p> +<p> +Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which +may have been prior to the date hereof embraced in any legal entry or +covered by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States +land office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant +to law and the statutory period within which to make entry or filing +of record has not expired, and all mining claims duly located and held +according to the laws of the United States and rules and regulations not +in conflict therewith. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That this exception shall not continue to apply to any +particular tract of land unless the entryman, settler, or claimant +continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing, +settlement, or location was made. +</p> +<p> +Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to enter or make +settlement upon the tract of land reserved by this proclamation. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 28th day of September, A.D. 1893, +and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +eighteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> + ALVEY A. ADEE,<br /> + <i>Acting Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +While the American people should every day remember with praise and +thanksgiving the divine goodness and mercy which have followed them +since their beginning as a nation, it is fitting that one day in each +year should be especially devoted to the contemplation of the blessings +we have received from the hand of God and to the grateful acknowledgment +of His loving kindness. +</p> +<p> +Therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, do +hereby designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th day of the present +month of November, as a day of thanksgiving and praise to be kept and +observed by all the people of our land. On that day let us forego our +ordinary work and employments and assemble in our usual places of +worship, where we may recall all that God has done for us and where from +grateful hearts our united tribute of praise and song may reach the +Throne of Grace. Let the reunion of kindred and the social meeting of +friends lend cheer and enjoyment to the day, and let generous gifts of +charity for the relief of the poor and needy prove the sincerity of our +thanksgiving. +</p> +<p> +Witness my hand and the seal of the United States, which I have caused +to be hereto affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington on the 3d day of November, A.D. 1893, and +of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and eighteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> + W.Q. GRESHAM,<br /> + <i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + EXECUTIVE ORDER. +</h2> +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, <i>Washington, D.C</i>. +</p> +<p> +Clause 2 of Departmental Rule VIII is hereby amended by inserting after +the letter "<i>d</i>" in parentheses in line 2 the following: "until +after absolute appointment and," and by striking out all after the word +"transferred" in line 4 to and including the word "made" in line 7; so +that as amended the clause will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. No person may be transferred as herein authorized, except as provided + in section 1, clause (<i>d</i>), until after absolute appointment and + until the Commission shall have certified to the officer making the + transfer requisition that the person whom it is proposed to transfer has + passed an examination to test fitness for the place to which he is to be + transferred: <i>Provided</i>, That no person who has been appointed from + the copyist register shall be transferred to a place the salary of which + is more than $900 per annum until one year after appointment. +</p> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, August 19, 1893</i>. +</p> +<p> +The above amendments to clause 2 of Departmental Rule VIII and said rule +as so amended are hereby approved. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE. +</h2> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, December 4, 1893</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +The constitutional duty which requires the President from time to time +to give to the Congress information of the state of the Union and +recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge +necessary and expedient is fittingly entered upon by commending to the +Congress a careful examination of the detailed statements and +well-supported recommendations contained in the reports of the heads of +Departments, who are chiefly charged with the executive work of the +Government. In an effort to abridge this communication as much as is +consistent with its purpose I shall supplement a brief reference to the +contents of these departmental reports by the mention of such executive +business and incidents as are not embraced therein and by such +recommendations as appear to be at this particular time appropriate. +</p> +<p> +While our foreign relations have not at all times during the past year +been entirely free from perplexity, no embarrassing situation remains +that will not yield to the spirit of fairness and love of justice which +joined with consistent firmness, characterize a truly American foreign +policy. +</p> +<p> +My predecessor having accepted the office of arbitrator of the +longstanding Missions boundary dispute, tendered to the President by the +Argentine Republic and Brazil, it has been my agreeable duty to receive +the special envoys commissioned by those States to lay before me +evidence and arguments in behalf of their respective Governments. +</p> +<p> +The outbreak of domestic hostilities in the Republic of Brazil found +the United States alert to watch the interests of our citizens in that +country, with which we carry on important commerce. Several vessels of +our new Navy are now and for some time have been stationed at Rio de +Janeiro. The struggle being between the established Government, which +controls the machinery of administration, and with which we maintain +friendly relations, and certain officers of the navy employing the +vessels of their command in an attack upon the national capital and +chief seaport, and lacking as it does the elements of divided +administration, I have failed to see that the insurgents can reasonably +claim recognition as belligerents. +</p> +<p> +Thus far the position of our Government has been that of an attentive +but impartial observer of the unfortunate conflict. Emphasizing our +fixed policy of impartial neutrality in such a condition of affairs +as now exists, I deemed it necessary to disavow in a manner not to +be misunderstood the unauthorized action of our late naval commander +in those waters in saluting the revolted Brazilian admiral, being +indisposed to countenance an act calculated to give gratuitous sanction +to the local insurrection. +</p> +<p> +The convention between our Government and Chile having for its object +the settlement and adjustment of the demands of the two countries +against each other has been made effective by the organization of the +claims commission provided for. The two Governments failing to agree +upon the third member of the commission, the good offices of the +President of the Swiss Republic were invoked, as provided in the +treaty, and the selection of the Swiss representative in this country +to complete the organization was gratifying alike to the United States +and Chile. +</p> +<p> +The vexatious question of so-called legation asylum for offenders +against the state and its laws was presented anew in Chile by the +unauthorized action of the late United States minister in receiving into +his official residence two persons who had just failed in an attempt at +revolution and against whom criminal charges were pending growing out +of a former abortive disturbance. The doctrine of asylum as applied to +this case is not sanctioned by the best precedents, and when allowed +tends to encourage sedition and strife. Under no circumstances can the +representatives of this Government be permitted, under the ill-defined +fiction of extraterritoriality, to interrupt the administration of +criminal justice in the countries to which they are accredited. A +temperate demand having been made by the Chilean Government for the +correction of this conduct in the instance mentioned, the minister +was instructed no longer to harbor the offenders. +</p> +<p> +The legislation of last year known as the Geary law, requiring the +registration of all Chinese laborers entitled to residence in the United +States and the deportation of all not complying with the provisions +of the act within the time prescribed, met with much opposition from +Chinamen in this country. Acting upon the advice of eminent counsel +that the law was unconstitutional, the great mass of Chinese laborers, +pending judicial inquiry as to its validity, in good faith declined to +apply for the certificates required by its provisions. A test case upon +proceeding by <i>habeas corpus</i> was brought before the Supreme Court, +and on May 15, 1893, a decision was made by that tribunal sustaining +the law. +</p> +<p> +It is believed that under the recent amendment of the act extending the +time for registration the Chinese laborers thereto entitled who desire +to reside in this country will now avail themselves of the renewed +privilege thus afforded of establishing by lawful procedure their right +to remain, and that thereby the necessity of enforced deportation may +to a great degree be avoided. +</p> +<p> +It has devolved upon the United States minister at Peking, as dean of +the diplomatic body, and in the absence of a representative of Sweden +and Norway, to press upon the Chinese Government reparation for the +recent murder of Swedish missionaries at Sung-pu. This question is of +vital interest to all countries whose citizens engage in missionary work +in the interior. +</p> +<p> +By Article XII of the general act of Brussels, signed July 2, 1890, +for the suppression of the slave trade and the restriction of certain +injurious commerce in the Independent State of the Kongo and in the +adjacent zone of central Africa, the United States and the other +signatory powers agreed to adopt appropriate means for the punishment +of persons selling arms and ammunition to the natives and for the +confiscation of the inhibited articles. It being the plain duty of this +Government to aid in suppressing the nefarious traffic, impairing as +it does the praiseworthy and civilizing efforts now in progress in that +region, I recommend that an act be passed prohibiting the sale of arms +and intoxicants, to natives in the regulated zone by our citizens. +</p> +<p> +Costa Rica has lately testified its friendliness by surrendering to the +United States, in the absence of a convention of extradition, but upon +duly submitted evidence of criminality, a noted fugitive from justice. +It is trusted that the negotiation of a treaty with that country to meet +recurring cases of this kind will soon be accomplished. In my opinion +treaties for reciprocal extradition should be concluded with all those +countries with which the United States has not already conventional +arrangements of that character. +</p> +<p> +I have deemed it fitting to express to the Governments of Costa Rica +and Colombia the kindly desire of the United States to see their pending +boundary dispute finally closed by arbitration in conformity with the +spirit of the treaty concluded between them some years ago. +</p> +<p> +Our relations with the French Republic continue to be intimate and +cordial. I sincerely hope that the extradition treaty with that country, +as amended by the Senate, will soon be operative. +</p> +<p> +While occasional questions affecting our naturalized citizens returning +to the land of their birth have arisen in our intercourse with Germany, +our relations with that country continue satisfactory. +</p> +<p> +The questions affecting our relations with Great Britain have been +treated in a spirit of friendliness. +</p> +<p> +Negotiations are in progress between the two Governments with a view to +such concurrent action as will make the award and regulations agreed +upon by the Bering Sea Tribunal of Arbitration practically effective, +and it is not doubted that Great Britain will cooperate freely with this +country for the accomplishment of that purpose. +</p> +<p> +The dispute growing out of the discriminating tolls imposed in the +Welland Canal upon cargoes of cereals bound to and from the lake ports +of the United States was adjusted by the substitution of a more +equitable schedule of charges, and my predecessor thereupon suspended +his proclamation imposing discriminating tolls upon British transit +through our canals.<a href="#note-1" name="noteref-1"><small>1</small></a> +</p> +<p> +A request for additions to the list of extraditable offenses covered by +the existing treaty between the two countries is under consideration. +</p> +<p> +During the past year an American citizen employed in a subordinate +commercial position in Hayti, after suffering a protracted imprisonment +on an unfounded charge of smuggling, was finally liberated on judicial +examination. Upon urgent representation to the Haytian Government a +suitable indemnity was paid to the sufferer. +</p> +<p> +By a law of Hayti a sailing vessel, having discharged her cargo, is +refused clearance until the duties on such cargo have been paid. The +hardship of this measure upon American shipowners, who conduct the bulk +of the carrying trade of that country, has been insisted on with a view +of securing the removal of this cause of complaint. +</p> +<p> +Upon receiving authentic information of the firing upon an American mail +steamer touching at the port of Amapala because her captain refused to +deliver up a passenger in transit from Nicaragua to Guatemala upon +demand of the military authorities of Honduras, our minister to that +country, under instructions, protested against the wanton act and +demanded satisfaction. The Government of Honduras, actuated by a sense +of justice and in a spirit of the utmost friendship, promptly disavowed +the illegal conduct of its officers and expressed sincere regret for the +occurrence. +</p> +<p> +It is confidently anticipated that a satisfactory adjustment will +soon be reached of the questions arising out of the seizure and use of +American vessels by insurgents in Honduras and the subsequent denial by +the successful Government of commercial privileges to those vessels on +that account. +</p> +<p> +A notable part of the southeasterly coast of Liberia between the Cavally +and San Pedro rivers, which for nearly half a century has been generally +recognized as belonging to that Republic by cession and purchase, has +been claimed to be under the protectorate of France in virtue of +agreements entered into by the native tribes, over whom Liberia's +control has not been well maintained. +</p> +<p> +More recently negotiations between the Liberian representative and the +French Government resulted in the signature at Paris of a treaty whereby +as an adjustment certain Liberian territory is ceded to France. This +convention at last advices had not been ratified by the Liberian +Legislature and Executive. +</p> +<p> +Feeling a sympathetic interest in the fortunes of the little +Commonwealth, the establishment and development of which were largely +aided by the benevolence of our countrymen, and which constitutes the +only independently sovereign state on the west coast of Africa, this +Government has suggested to the French Government its earnest concern +lest territorial impairment in Liberia should take place without her +unconstrained consent. +</p> +<p> +Our relations with Mexico continue to be of that close and friendly +nature which should always characterize the intercourse of two +neighboring republics. +</p> +<p> +The work of relocating the monuments marking the boundary between the +two countries from Paso del Norte to the Pacific is now nearly +completed. +</p> +<p> +The commission recently organized under the conventions of 1884 and 1889 +it is expected will speedily settle disputes growing out of the shifting +currents of the Rio Grande River east of El Paso. +</p> +<p> +Nicaragua has recently passed through two revolutions, the party at +first successful having in turn been displaced by another. Our newly +appointed minister by his timely good offices aided in a peaceful +adjustment of the controversy involved in the first conflict. The large +American interests established in that country in connection with the +Nicaragua Canal were not molested. +</p> +<p> +The canal company has unfortunately become financially seriously +embarrassed, but a generous treatment had been extended to it by the +Government of Nicaragua. The United States are especially interested +in the successful achievement of the vast undertaking this company +has in charge. That it should be accomplished under distinctively +American auspices, and its enjoyment assured not only to the vessels +of this country as a channel of communication between our Atlantic and +Pacific seaboards, but to the ships of the world in the interests of +civilization, is a proposition which, in my judgment, does not admit +of question. +</p> +<p> +Guatemala has also been visited by the political vicissitudes which +have afflicted her Central American neighbors, but the dissolution of +its Legislature and the proclamation of a dictatorship have been +unattended with civil war. +</p> +<p> +An extradition treaty with Norway has recently been exchanged and +proclaimed. +</p> +<p> +The extradition treaty with Russia signed in March, 1887, and amended +and confirmed by the Senate in February last, was duly proclaimed last +June. +</p> +<p> +Led by a desire to compose differences and contribute to the restoration +of order in Samoa, which for some years previous had been the scene of +conflicting foreign pretensions and native strife, the United States, +departing from its policy consecrated by a century of observance, +entered four years ago into the treaty of Berlin, thereby becoming +jointly bound with England and Germany to establish and maintain +Malietoa Laupepa as King of Samoa. The treaty provided for a foreign +court of justice; a municipal council for the district of Apia, with a +foreign president thereof, authorized to advise the King; a tribunal for +the settlement of native and foreign land titles, and a revenue system +for the Kingdom. It entailed upon the three powers that part of the cost +of the new Government not met by the revenue of the islands. +</p> +<p> +Early in the life of this triple protectorate the native dissensions it +was designed to quell revived. Rivals defied the authority of the new +King, refusing to pay taxes and demanding the election of a ruler by +native suffrage. Mataafa, an aspirant to the throne, and a large number +of his native adherents were in open rebellion on one of the islands. +Quite lately, at the request of the other powers and in fulfillment of +its treaty obligation, this Government agreed to unite in a joint +military movement of such dimensions as would probably secure the +surrender of the insurgents without bloodshed. +</p> +<p> +The war ship <i>Philadelphia</i> was accordingly put under orders for +Samoa, but before she arrived the threatened conflict was precipitated +by King Malietoa's attack upon the insurgent camp. Mataafa was defeated +and a number of his men killed. The British and German naval vessels +present subsequently secured the surrender of Mataafa and his adherents. +The defeated chief and ten of his principal supporters were deported to +a German island of the Marshall group, where they are held as prisoners +under the joint responsibility and cost of the three powers. +</p> +<p> +This incident and the events leading up to it signally illustrate the +impolicy of entangling alliances with foreign powers. +</p> +<p> +More than fifteen years ago this Government preferred a claim against +Spain in behalf of one of our citizens for property seized and +confiscated in Cuba. In 1886 the claim was adjusted, Spain agreeing to +pay unconditionally, as a fair indemnity, $1,500,000. A respectful but +earnest note was recently addressed to the Spanish Government insisting +upon prompt fulfillment of its long-neglected obligation. +</p> +<p> +Other claims preferred by the United States against Spain in behalf of +American citizens for property confiscated in Cuba have been pending for +many years. +</p> +<p> +At the time Spain's title to the Caroline Islands was confirmed by +arbitration that Government agreed that the rights which had been +acquired there by American missionaries should be recognized and +respected. It is sincerely hoped that this pledge will be observed by +allowing our missionaries, who were removed from Ponape to a place of +safety by a United States war ship during the late troubles between the +Spanish garrison and the natives, to return to their field of +usefulness. +</p> +<p> +The reproduced caravel <i>Santa Maria</i>, built by Spain and sent to +the Columbian Exposition, has been presented to the United States in +token of amity and in commemoration of the event it was designed to +celebrate. I recommend that in accepting this gift Congress make +grateful recognition of the sincere friendship which prompted it. +</p> +<p> +Important matters have demanded attention in our relations with the +Ottoman Porte. +</p> +<p> +The firing and partial destruction by an unrestrained mob of one of the +school buildings of Anatolia College, established by citizens of the +United States at Marsovan, and the apparent indifference of the Turkish +Government to the outrage, notwithstanding the complicity of some of its +officials, called for earnest remonstrance, which was followed by +promise of reparation and punishment of the offenders. +</p> +<p> +Indemnity for the injury to the buildings has already been paid, +permission to rebuild given, registration of the school property in the +name of the American owners secured, and efficient protection +guaranteed. +</p> +<p> +Information received of maltreatment suffered by an inoffensive American +woman engaged in missionary work in Turkish Koordistan was followed by +such representations to the Porte as resulted in the issuance of orders +for the punishment of her assailants, the removal of a delinquent +official, and the adoption of measures for the protection of our +citizens engaged in mission and other lawful work in that quarter. +</p> +<p> +Turkey complains that her Armenian subjects obtain citizenship in this +country not to identify themselves in good faith with our people, but +with the intention of returning to the land of their birth and there +engaging in sedition. This complaint is not wholly without foundation. +A journal published in this country in the Armenian language openly +counsels its readers to arm, organize, and participate in movements +for the subversion of Turkish authority in the Asiatic provinces. +The Ottoman Government has announced its intention to expel from its +dominions Armenians who have obtained naturalization in the United +States since 1868. +</p> +<p> +The right to exclude any or all classes of aliens is an attribute of +sovereignty. It is a right asserted and, to a limited extent, enforced +by the United States, with the sanction of our highest court. There +being no naturalization treaty between the United States and Turkey, our +minister at Constantinople has been instructed that, while recognizing +the right of that Government to enforce its declared policy against +naturalized Armenians, he is expected to protect them from unnecessary +harshness of treatment. +</p> +<p> +In view of the impaired financial resources of Venezuela consequent upon +the recent revolution there, a modified arrangement for the satisfaction +of the awards of the late revisory claims commission, in progressive +installments, has been assented to, and payments are being regularly +made thereunder. +</p> +<p> +The boundary dispute between Venezuela and British Guiana is yet +unadjusted. A restoration of diplomatic intercourse between that +Republic and Great Britain and reference of the question to impartial +arbitration would be a most gratifying consummation. +</p> +<p> +The ratification by Venezuela of the convention for the arbitration of +the long-deferred claim of the Venezuelan Transportation Company is +awaited. +</p> +<p> +It is hardly necessary for me to state that the questions arising +from our relations with Hawaii have caused serious embarrassment. +Just prior to the installation of the present Administration the +existing Government of Hawaii had been suddenly overthrown and a treaty +of annexation had been negotiated between the Provisional Government +of the islands and the United States and submitted to the Senate for +ratification. This treaty I withdrew for examination and dispatched +Hon. James H. Blount, of Georgia, to Honolulu as a special commissioner +to make an impartial investigation of the circumstances attending the +change of government and of all the conditions bearing upon the subject +of the treaty. After a thorough and exhaustive examination Mr. Blount +submitted to me his report, showing beyond all question that the +constitutional Government of Hawaii had been subverted with the +active aid of our representative to that Government and through the +intimidation caused by the presence of an armed naval force of the +United States, which was landed for that purpose at the instance of our +minister. Upon the facts developed it seemed to me the only honorable +course for our Government to pursue was to undo the wrong that had been +done by those representing us and to restore as far as practicable the +status existing at the time of our forcible intervention. With a view of +accomplishing this result within the constitutional limits of executive +power, and recognizing all our obligations and responsibilities growing +out of any changed conditions brought about by our unjustifiable +interference, our present minister at Honolulu has received appropriate +instructions to that end. Thus far no information of the accomplishment +of any definite results has been received from him. +</p> +<p> +Additional advices are soon expected. When received they will be +promptly sent to the Congress, together with all other information at +hand, accompanied by a special Executive message fully detailing all the +facts necessary to a complete understanding of the case and presenting a +history of all the material events leading up to the present situation. +</p> +<p> +By a concurrent resolution passed by the Senate February 14, 1890, +and by the House of Representatives on the 3d of April following the +President was requested to "invite from time to time, as fit occasions +may arise, negotiations with any government with which the United States +has or may have diplomatic relations, to the end that any differences or +disputes arising between the two governments which can not be adjusted +by diplomatic agency may be referred to arbitration and be peaceably +adjusted by such means." April 18, 1890, the International American +Conference of Washington by resolution expressed the wish that all +controversies between the republics of America and the nations of Europe +might be settled by arbitration, and recommended that the government of +each nation represented in that conference should communicate this wish +to all friendly powers. A favorable response has been received from +Great Britain in the shape of a resolution adopted by Parliament July 16 +last, cordially sympathizing with the purpose in view and expressing the +hope that Her Majesty's Government will lend ready cooperation to the +Government of the United States upon the basis of the concurrent +resolution above quoted. +</p> +<p> +It affords me signal pleasure to lay this parliamentary resolution +before the Congress and to express my sincere gratification that the +sentiment of two great and kindred nations is thus authoritatively +manifested in favor of the rational and peaceable settlement of +international quarrels by honorable resort to arbitration. +</p> +<p> +Since the passage of the act of March 3, 1893, authorizing the President +to raise the grade of our envoys to correspond with the rank in which +foreign countries accredit their agents here, Great Britain, France, +Italy, and Germany have conferred upon their representatives at this +capital the title of ambassador, and I have responded by accrediting the +agents of the United States in those countries with the same title. A +like elevation of mission is announced by Russia, and when made will be +similarly met. This step fittingly comports with the position the United +States hold in the family of nations. +</p> +<p> +During my former Administration I took occasion to recommend a recast of +the laws relating to the consular service, in order that it might become +a more efficient agency in the promotion of the interests it was +intended to subserve. The duties and powers of consuls have been +expanded with the growing requirements of our foreign trade. Discharging +important duties affecting our commerce and American citizens abroad, +and in certain countries exercising judicial functions, these officers +should be men of character, intelligence, and ability. +</p> +<p> +Upon proof that the legislation of Denmark secures copyright to American +citizens on equal footing with its own, the privileges of our copyright +laws have been extended by proclamation to subjects of that country.<a href="#note-2" name="noteref-2"><small>2</small></a> +</p> +<p> +The Secretary of the Treasury reports that the receipts of the +Government from all sources during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1893, +amounted to $461,716,561.94 and its expenditures to $459,374,674.29. +There was collected from customs $205,355,016.73 and from internal +revenue $161,027,623.93. Our dutiable imports amounted to $421,856,711, +an increase of $52,453,907 over the preceding year, and importations +free of duty amounted to $444,544,211, a decrease from the preceding +year of $13,455,447. Internal-revenue receipts exceeded those of the +preceding year by $7,147,445.32. The total tax collected on distilled +spirits was $94,720,260.55, on manufactured tobacco $31,889,711.74, and +on fermented liquors $32,548,983.07. We exported merchandise during the +year amounting to $847,665,194, a decrease of $182,612,954 from the +preceding year. The amount of gold exported was larger than any previous +year in the history of the Government, amounting to $108,680,844, and +exceeding the amount exported during the preceding year by $58,485,517. +</p> +<p> +The sum paid from the Treasury for sugar bounty was $9,375,130.88, an +increase over the preceding year of $2,033,053.09. +</p> +<p> +It is estimated upon the basis of present revenue laws that the receipts +of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1894, will be +$430,121,365.38 and its expenditures $458,121,365.28, resulting in a +deficiency of $28,000,000. +</p> +<p> +On the 1st day of November, 1893, the amount of money of all kinds in +circulation, or not included in Treasury holdings, was $1,718,544,682, +an increase for the year of $112,404,947. Estimating our population at +67,426,000 at the time mentioned, the per capita circulation was $25.49. +On the same date there was in the Treasury gold bullion amounting to +$96,657,273 and silver bullion which was purchased at a cost of +$126,261,553. +</p> +<p> +The purchases of silver under the law of July 14, 1890, during the last +fiscal year aggregated 54,008,162.59 fine ounces, which cost +$45,531,374.53. The total amount of silver purchased from the time that +law became operative until the repeal of its purchasing clause, on the +1st day of November, 1893, was 168,674,590.46 fine ounces, which cost +$155,930,940.84. Between the 1st day of March, 1873, and the 1st day of +November, 1893, the Government purchased under all laws 503,003,717 fine +ounces of silver, at a cost of $516,622,948. The silver dollars that +have been coined under the act of July 14, 1890, number 36,087,285. The +seigniorage arising from such coinage was $6,977,098.39, leaving on hand +in the mints 140,699,760 fine ounces of silver, which cost $126,758,218. +</p> +<p> +Our total coinage of all metals during the last fiscal year consisted +of 97,280,875 pieces, valued at $43,685,178.80, of which there was +$30,038,140 in gold coin, $5,343,715 in silver dollars, $7,217,220.90 +in subsidiary silver coin, and $1,086,102.90 in minor coins. +</p> +<p> +During the calendar year 1892 the production of precious metals in the +United States was estimated to be 1,596,375 fine ounces of gold of the +commercial and coinage value of $33,000,000 and 58,000,000 fine ounces +of silver of the bullion or market value of $50,750,000 and of the +coinage value of $74,989,900. +</p> +<p> +It is estimated that on the 1st day of July, 1893, the metallic stock of +money in the United States, consisting of coin and bullion, amounted to +$1,213,559,169, of which $597,697,685 was gold and $615,861,484 was +silver. +</p> +<p> +One hundred and nineteen national banks were organized during the +year ending October 31, 1893, with a capital of $11,230,000. Forty-six +went into voluntary liquidation and 158 suspended. Sixty-five of the +suspended banks were insolvent, 86 resumed business, and 7 remain in the +hands of the bank examiners, with prospects of speedy resumption. Of the +new banks organized, 44 were located in the Eastern States, 41 west of +the Mississippi River, and 34 in the Central and Southern States. The +total number of national banks in existence on October 31, 1893, was +3,796, having an aggregate capital of $695,558,120. The net increase +in the circulation of these banks during the year was $36,886,972. +</p> +<p> +The recent repeal of the provision of law requiring the purchase of +silver bullion by the Government as a feature of our monetary scheme has +made an entire change in the complexion of our currency affairs. I do +not doubt that the ultimate result of this action will be most salutary +and far-reaching. In the nature of things, however, it is impossible to +know at this time precisely what conditions will be brought about by the +change, or what, if any, supplementary legislation may in the light of +such conditions appear to be essential or expedient. Of course, after +the recent financial perturbation, time is necessary for the +reestablishment of business confidence. When, however, through this +restored confidence, the money which has been frightened into hoarding +places is returned to trade and enterprise, a survey of the situation +will probably disclose a safe path leading to a permanently sound +currency, abundantly sufficient to meet every requirement of our +increasing population and business. +</p> +<p> +In the pursuit of this object we should resolutely turn away from +alluring and temporary expedients, determined to be content with nothing +less than a lasting and comprehensive financial plan. In these +circumstances I am convinced that a reasonable delay in dealing with +this subject, instead of being injurious, will increase the probability +of wise action. +</p> +<p> +The monetary conference which assembled at Brussels upon our invitation +was adjourned to the 30th day of November of the present year. The +considerations just stated and the fact that a definite proposition +from us seemed to be expected upon the reassembling of the conference +led me to express a willingness to have the meeting still further +postponed. +</p> +<p> +It seems to me that it would be wise to give general authority to the +President to invite other nations to such a conference at any time when +there should be a fair prospect of accomplishing an international +agreement on the subject of coinage. +</p> +<p> +I desire also to earnestly suggest the wisdom of amending the existing +statutes in regard to the issuance of Government bonds. The authority +now vested in the Secretary of the Treasury to issue bonds is not as +clear as it should be, and the bonds authorized are disadvantageous to +the Government both as to the time of their maturity and rate of +interest. +</p> +<p> +The Superintendent of Immigration, through the Secretary of the +Treasury, reports that during the last fiscal year there arrived at our +ports 440,793 immigrants. Of these, 1,063 were not permitted to land +under the limitations of the law and 577 were returned to the countries +from whence they came by reason of their having become public charges. +The total arrivals were 141,034 less than for the previous year. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary in his report gives an account of the operation of the +Marine-Hospital Service and of the good work done under its supervision +in preventing the entrance and spread of contagious diseases. +</p> +<p> +The admonitions of the last two years touching our public health and the +demonstrated danger of the introduction of contagious diseases from +foreign ports have invested the subject of national quarantine with +increased interest. A more general and harmonious system than now +exists, acting promptly and directly everywhere and constantly operating +by preventive means to shield our country from the invasion of disease, +and at the same time having due regard to the rights and duties of local +agencies, would, I believe, add greatly to the safety of our people. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary of War reports that the strength of the Army on the 30th +day of September last was 25,778 enlisted men and 2,144 officers. +</p> +<p> +The total expenditures of the Department for the year ending June 30, +1893, amounted to $51,966,074.89. Of this sum $1,992,581.95 was for +salaries and contingent expenses, $23,377,828.35 for the support of the +military establishment, $6,077,033.18 for miscellaneous objects, and +$20,518,631.41 for public works. This latter sum includes $15,296,876.46 +for river and harbor improvements and $3,266,141.20 for fortifications +and other works of defense. +</p> +<p> +The total enrollment of the militia of the several States was on the +31st of October of the current year 112,597 officers and enlisted men. +The officers of the Army detailed for the inspection and instruction of +this reserve of our military force report that increased interest and +marked progress are apparent in the discipline and efficiency of the +organization. +</p> +<p> +Neither Indian outbreaks nor domestic violence have called the +Army into service during the year, and the only active military duty +required of it has been in the Department of Texas, where violations of +the neutrality laws of the United States and Mexico were promptly and +efficiently dealt with by the troops, eliciting the warm approval of the +civil and military authorities of both countries. +</p> +<p> +The operation of wise laws and the influences of civilization constantly +tending to relieve the country from the dangers of Indian hostilities, +together with the increasing ability of the States, through the +efficiency of the National Guard organizations, to protect their +citizens from domestic violence, lead to the suggestion that the time is +fast approaching when there should be a reorganization of our Army on +the lines of the present necessities of the country. This change +contemplates neither increase in number nor added expense, but a +redistribution of the force and an encouragement of measures tending to +greater efficiency among the men and improvement of the service. +</p> +<p> +The adoption of battalion formations for infantry regiments, the +strengthening of the artillery force, the abandonment of smaller and +unnecessary posts, and the massing of the troops at important and +accessible stations all promise to promote the usefulness of the Army. +In the judgment of army officers, with but few exceptions, the operation +of the law forbidding the reenlistment of men after ten years' service +has not proved its wisdom, and while the arguments that led to its +adoption were not without merit the experience of the year constrains me +to join in the recommendation for its repeal. +</p> +<p> +It is gratifying to note that we have begun to attain completed results +in the comprehensive scheme of seacoast defense and fortification +entered upon eight years ago. A large sum has been already expended, but +the cost of maintenance will be inconsiderable as compared with the +expense of construction and ordnance. At the end of the current calendar +year the War Department will have nine 12-inch guns, twenty 10-inch, and +thirty-four 8-inch guns ready to be mounted on gun lifts and carriages, +and seventy-five 12-inch mortars. In addition to the product of the Army +Gun Factory, now completed at Watervliet, the Government has contracted +with private parties for the purchase of one hundred guns of these +calibers, the first of which should be delivered to the Department for +test before July 1, 1894. +</p> +<p> +The manufacture of heavy ordnance keeps pace with current needs, but to +render these guns available for the purposes they are designed to meet +emplacements must be prepared for them. Progress has been made in this +direction, and it is desirable that Congress by adequate appropriations +should provide for the uninterrupted prosecution of this necessary work. +</p> +<p> +After much preliminary work and exhaustive examination in accordance +with the requirements of the law, the board appointed to select a +magazine rifle of modern type with which to replace the obsolete +Springfield rifle of the infantry service completed its labors during +the last year, and the work of manufacture is now in progress at the +national armory at Springfield. It is confidently expected that by the +end of the current year our infantry will be supplied with a weapon +equal to that of the most progressive armies of the world. +</p> +<p> +The work on the projected Chickamauga and Chattanooga National +Military Park has been prosecuted with zeal and judgment, and its +opening will be celebrated during the coming year. Over 9 square miles +of the Chickamauga battlefield have been acquired, 25 miles of roadway +have been constructed, and permanent tablets have been placed at many +historical points, while the invitation to the States to mark the +positions of their troops participating in the battle has been very +generally accepted. +</p> +<p> +The work of locating and preserving the lines of battle at the +Gettysburg battlefield is making satisfactory progress on the plans +directed by the last Congress. +</p> +<p> +The reports of the Military Academy at West Point and the several +schools for special instruction of officers show marked advance in the +education of the Army and a commendable ambition among its officers to +excel in the military profession and to fit themselves for the highest +service to the country. +</p> +<p> +Under the supervision of Adjutant-General Robert Williams, lately +retired, the Bureau of Military Information has become well established +and is performing a service that will put in possession of the +Government in time of war most valuable information, and at all times +serve a purpose of great utility in keeping the Army advised of the +world's progress in all matters pertaining to the art of war. +</p> +<p> +The report of the Attorney-General contains the usual summary of the +affairs and proceedings of the Department of Justice for the past year, +together with certain recommendations as to needed legislation on +various subjects. I can not too heartily indorse the proposition that +the fee system as applicable to the compensation of United States +attorneys, marshals, clerks of Federal courts, and United States +commissioners should be abolished with as little delay as possible. It +is clearly in the interest of the community that the business of the +courts, both civil and criminal, shall be as small and as inexpensively +transacted as the ends of justice will allow. +</p> +<p> +The system is therefore thoroughly vicious which makes the compensation +of court officials depend upon the volume of such business, and thus +creates a conflict between a proper execution of the law and private +gain, which can not fail to be dangerous to the rights and freedom of +the citizen and an irresistible temptation to the unjustifiable +expenditure of public funds. If in addition to this reform another was +inaugurated which would give to United States commissioners the final +disposition of petty offenses within the grade of misdemeanors, +especially those coming under the internal-revenue laws, a great advance +would be made toward a more decent administration of the criminal law. +</p> +<p> +In my first message to Congress, dated December 8, 1885,<a href="#note-3" name="noteref-3"><small>3</small></a> I strongly +recommended these changes and referred somewhat at length to the evils +of the present system. Since that time the criminal business of the +Federal courts and the expense attending it have enormously increased. +The number of criminal prosecutions pending in the circuit and district +courts of the United States on the 1st day of July, 1885, was 3,808, of +which 1,884 were for violations of the internal-revenue laws, while the +number of such prosecutions pending on the 1st day of July, 1893, was +9,500, of which 4,200 were for violations of the internal-revenue laws. +The expense of the United States courts, exclusive of judges' salaries, +for the year ending July 1, 1885, was $2,874,733.11 and for the year +ending July 1, 1893, $4,528,676.87. +</p> +<p> +It is therefore apparent that the reasons given in 1885 for a change in +the manner of enforcing the Federal criminal law have gained cogency and +strength by lapse of time. +</p> +<p> +I also heartily join the Attorney-General in recommending legislation +fixing degrees of the crime of murder within Federal jurisdiction, as +has been done in many of the States; authorizing writs of error on +behalf of the Government in cases where final judgment is rendered +against the sufficiency of an indictment or against the Government upon +any other question arising before actual trial; limiting the right of +review in cases of felony punishable only by fine and imprisonment to +the circuit court of appeals, and making speedy provision for the +construction of such prisons and reformatories as may be necessary for +the confinement of United States convicts. +</p> +<p> +The report of the Postmaster-General contains a detailed statement of +the operations of the Post-Office Department during the last fiscal year +and much interesting information touching this important branch of the +public service. +</p> +<p> +The business of the mails indicates with absolute certainty the +condition of the business of the country, and depression in financial +affairs inevitably and quickly reduces the postal revenues. Therefore +a larger discrepancy than usual between the post-office receipts and +expenditures is the expected and unavoidable result of the distressing +stringency which has prevailed throughout the country during much of the +time covered by the Postmaster-General's report. At a date when better +times were anticipated it was estimated by his predecessor that the +deficiency on the 30th day of June, 1893, would be but a little over +a million and a half dollars. It amounted, however, to more than five +millions. At the same time and under the influence of like anticipations +estimates were made for the current fiscal year, ending June 30, 1894, +which exhibited a surplus of revenue over expenditures of $872,245.71; +but now, in view of the actual receipts and expenditures during that +part of the current fiscal year already expired, the present +Postmaster-General estimates that at its close instead of a surplus +there will be a deficiency of nearly $8,000,000. +</p> +<p> +The post-office receipts for the last fiscal year amounted to +$75,896,933.16 and its expenditures to $81,074,104.90. This post-office +deficiency would disappear or be immensely decreased if less matter were +carried free through the mails, an item of which is upward of 300 tons +of seeds and grain from the Agricultural Department. +</p> +<p> +The total number of post-offices in the United States on the 30th day of +June, 1893, was 68,403, an increase of 1,284 over the preceding year. Of +these, 3,360 were Presidential, an increase in that class of 204 over +the preceding year. +</p> +<p> +Forty-two free-delivery offices were added during the year to those +already existing, making a total of 610 cities and towns provided with +free delivery on June 30, 1893. Ninety-three other cities and towns are +now entitled to this service under the law, but it has not been accorded +them on account of insufficient funds to meet the expenses of its +establishment. +</p> +<p> +I am decidedly of the opinion that the provisions of the present law +permit as general an introduction of this feature of mail service as +is necessary or justifiable, and that it ought not to be extended to +smaller communities than are now designated. +</p> +<p> +The expenses of free delivery for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, +will be more than $11,000,000, and under legislation now existing there +must be a constant increase in this item of expenditure. +</p> +<p> +There were 6,401 additions to the domestic money-order offices during +the last fiscal year, being the largest increase in any year since the +inauguration of the system. The total number of these offices at the +close of the year was 18,434. There were 13,309,735 money orders issued +from these offices, being an increase over the preceding year of +1,240,293, and the value of these orders amounted to $127,576,433.65, an +increase of $7,509,632.58. There were also issued during the year postal +notes amounting to $12,903,076.73. +</p> +<p> +During the year 195 international money-order offices were added to +those already provided, making a total of 2,407 in operation on June 30, +1893. The number of international money orders issued during the year +was 1,055,999, an increase over the preceding year of 72,525, and their +value was $16,341,837.86, an increase of $1,221,506.31. The number of +orders paid was 300,917, an increase over the preceding year of 13,503, +and their value was $5,283,375.70, an increase of $94,094.83. +</p> +<p> +From the foregoing statements it appears that the total issue of money +orders and postal notes for the year amounted to $156,821,348.24. +</p> +<p> +The number of letters and packages mailed during the year for special +delivery was 3,375,693, an increase over the preceding year of nearly +22 per cent. The special-delivery stamps used upon these letters and +packages amounted to $337,569.30, and the messengers' fees paid for +their delivery amounted to $256,592.71, leaving a profit to the +Government of $80,976.59. +</p> +<p> +The Railway Mail Service not only adds to the promptness of +mail delivery at all offices, but it is the especial instrumentality +which puts the smaller and way places in the service on an equality +in that regard with the larger and terminal offices. This branch +of the postal service has therefore received much attention from the +Postmaster-General, and though it is gratifying to know that it is in +a condition of high efficiency and great usefulness, I am led to agree +with the Postmaster-General that there is room for its further +improvement. +</p> +<p> +There are now connected to the Post-Office establishment 28,324 +employees who are in the classified service. The head of this great +Department gives conclusive evidence of the value of civil-service +reform when, after an experience that renders his judgment on the +subject absolutely reliable, he expresses the opinion that without +the benefit of this system it would be impossible to conduct the vast +business intrusted to him. +</p> +<p> +I desire to commend as especially worthy of prompt attention the +suggestions of the Postmaster-General relating to a more sensible and +businesslike organization and a better distribution of responsibility +in his Department. +</p> +<p> +The report of the Secretary of the Navy contains a history of the +operations of his Department during the past year and exhibits a most +gratifying condition of the personnel of our Navy. He presents a +satisfactory account of the progress which has been made in the +construction of vessels and makes a number of recommendations to which +attention is especially invited. +</p> +<p> +During the past six months the demands for cruising vessels have been +many and urgent. There have been revolutions calling for vessels to +protect American interests in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica, +Honduras, Argentina, and Brazil, while the condition of affairs in +Honolulu has required the constant presence of one or more ships. With +all these calls upon our Navy it became necessary, in order to make up a +sufficient fleet to patrol the Bering Sea under the <i>modus vivendi</i> +agreed upon with Great Britain, to detail to that service one vessel +from the Fish Commission and three from the Revenue Marine. +</p> +<p> +Progress in the construction of new vessels has not been as rapid as +was anticipated. There have been delays in the completion of unarmored +vessels, but for the most part they have been such as are constantly +occurring even in countries having the largest experience in naval +shipbuilding. The most serious delays, however, have been in the work +upon armored ships. The trouble has been the failure of contractors to +deliver armor as agreed. The difficulties seem now, however, to have +been all overcome, and armor is being delivered with satisfactory +promptness. As a result of the experience acquired by shipbuilders and +designers and material men, it is believed that the dates when vessels +will be completed can now be estimated with reasonable accuracy. Great +guns, rapid-fire guns, torpedoes, and powder are being promptly +supplied. +</p> +<p> +The following vessels of the new Navy have been completed and are +now ready for service: The double-turreted coast-defense monitor +<i>Miantonomoh</i>, the double-turreted coast-defense monitor <i>Monterey</i>, +the armored cruiser <i>New York</i>, the protected cruisers <i>Baltimore</i>, +<i>Chicago</i>, <i>Philadelphia</i>, <i>Newark</i>, <i>San Francisco</i>, <i>Charleston</i>, +<i>Atlanta</i>, and <i>Boston</i>, the cruiser <i>Detroit</i>, the gunboats <i>Yorktown</i>, +<i>Concord</i>, <i>Bennington</i>, <i>Machias</i>, <i>Castine</i>, and <i>Petrel</i>, the +dispatch vessel <i>Dolphin</i>, the practice vessel <i>Bancroft</i>, and the +dynamite gunboat <i>Vesuvius</i>. Of these the <i>Bancroft</i>, <i>Machias</i>, +<i>Detroit</i>, and <i>Castine</i> have been placed in commission during the current +calendar year. +</p> +<p> +The following vessels are in process of construction: The second-class +battle ships <i>Maine</i> and <i>Texas</i>, the cruisers <i>Montgomery</i> and +<i>Marblehead</i>, and the coast-defense monitors <i>Terror</i>, <i>Puritan</i>, +<i>Amphitrite</i>, and <i>Monadnock</i>, all of which will be completed within one +year; the harbor-defense ram <i>Katahdin</i> and the protected cruisers +<i>Columbia</i>, <i>Minneapolis</i>, <i>Olympia</i>, <i>Cincinnati</i>, and <i>Raleigh</i>, all +of which will be completed prior to July 1, 1895; the first-class battle +ships <i>Iowa</i>, <i>Indiana</i>, <i>Massachusetts</i>, and <i>Oregon</i>, which will be +completed February 1, 1896, and the armored cruiser <i>Brooklyn</i>, which +will be completed by August 1 of that year. It is also expected that the +three gunboats authorized by the last Congress will be completed in less +than two years. +</p> +<p> +Since 1886 Congress has at each session authorized the building of one +or more vessels, and the Secretary of the Navy presents an earnest plea +for the continuance of this plan. He recommends the authorization of at +least one battle ship and six torpedo boats. +</p> +<p> +While I am distinctly in favor of consistently pursuing the policy we +have inaugurated of building up a thorough and efficient Navy, I can not +refrain from the suggestion that the Congress should carefully take into +account the number of unfinished vessels on our hands and the depleted +condition of our Treasury in considering the propriety of an +appropriation at this time to begin new work. +</p> +<p> +The method of employing mechanical labor at navy-yards through boards of +labor and making efficiency the sole test by which laborers are employed +and continued is producing the best results, and the Secretary is +earnestly devoting himself to its development. Attention is invited to +the statements of his report in regard to the workings of the system. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary of the Interior has the supervision of so many important +subjects that his report is of especial value and interest. +</p> +<p> +On the 30th day of June, 1893, there were on the pension rolls 966,012 +names, an increase of 89,944 over the number on the rolls June 30, 1892. +Of these there were 17 widows and daughters of Revolutionary soldiers, +86 survivors of the War of 1812, 5,425 widows of soldiers of that war, +21,518 survivors and widows of the Mexican War, 3,882 survivors and +widows of Indian wars, 284 army nurses, and 475,645 survivors and +widows and children of deceased soldiers and sailors of the War of the +Rebellion. The latter number represents those pensioned on account of +disabilities or death resulting from army and navy service. The number +of persons remaining on the rolls June 30, 1893, who were pensioned +under the act of June 27, 1890, which allows pensions on account of +death and disability not chargeable to army service, was 459,155. +</p> +<p> +The number added to the rolls during the year was 123,634 and the number +dropped was 33,690. The first payments on pensions allowed during the +year amounted to $33,756,549.98. This includes arrears, or the +accumulation between the time from which the allowance of pension dates +and the time of actually granting the certificate. +</p> +<p> +Although the law of 1890 permits pensions for disabilities not related +to military service, yet as a requisite to its benefits a disability +must exist incapacitating applicants "from the performance of manual +labor to such a degree as to render them unable to earn a support." The +execution of this law in its early stages does not seem to have been in +accord with its true intention, but toward the close of the last +Administration an authoritative construction was given to the statute, +and since that time this construction has been followed. This has had +the effect of limiting the operation of the law to its intended purpose. +The discovery having been made that many names had been put upon the +pension roll by means of wholesale and gigantic frauds, the Commissioner +suspended payments upon a number of pensions which seemed to be +fraudulent or unauthorized pending a complete examination, giving notice +to the pensioners, in order that they might have an opportunity to +establish, if possible, the justice of their claims notwithstanding +apparent invalidity. +</p> +<p> +This, I understand, is the practice which has for a long time prevailed +in the Pension Bureau; but after entering upon these recent +investigations the Commissioner modified this rule so as not to allow +until after a complete examination interference with the payment of a +pension apparently not altogether void, but which merely had been fixed +at a rate higher than that authorized by law. +</p> +<p> +I am unable to understand why frauds in the pension rolls should +not be exposed and corrected with thoroughness and vigor. Every name +fraudulently put upon these rolls is a wicked imposition upon the +kindly sentiment in which pensions have their origin; every fraudulent +pensioner has become a bad citizen; every false oath in support of +a pension has made perjury more common, and false and undeserving +pensioners rob the people not only of their money, but of the patriotic +sentiment which the survivors of a war fought for the preservation of +the Union ought to inspire. Thousands of neighborhoods have their +well-known fraudulent pensioners, and recent developments by the Bureau +establish appalling conspiracies to accomplish pension frauds. By no +means the least wrong done is to brave and deserving pensioners, who +certainly ought not to be condemned to such association. Those who +attempt in the line of duty to rectify these wrongs should not be +accused of enmity or indifference to the claims of honest veterans. +</p> +<p> +The sum expended on account of pensions for the year ending June 30, +1893, was $156,740,467.14. +</p> +<p> +The Commissioner estimates that $165,000,000 will be required to pay +pensions during the year ending June 30, 1894. +</p> +<p> +The condition of the Indians and their ultimate fate are subjects which +are related to a sacred duty of the Government and which strongly appeal +to the sense of justice and the sympathy of our people. +</p> +<p> +Our Indians number about 248,000. Most of them are located on 161 +reservations, containing 86,116,531 acres of land. About 110,000 of +these Indians have to a large degree adopted civilized customs. Lands in +severalty have been allotted to many of them. Such allotments have been +made to 10,000 individuals during the last fiscal year, embracing about +1,000,000 acres. The number of Indian Government schools opened during +the year was 195, an increase of 12 over the preceding year. Of this +total 170 were on reservations, of which 73 were boarding schools and 97 +were day schools. Twenty boarding schools and 5 day schools supported by +the Government were not located on reservations. The total number of +Indian children enrolled during the year as attendants of all schools +was 21,138, an increase of 1,231 over the enrollment for the previous +year. +</p> +<p> +I am sure that secular education and moral and religious teaching must +be important factors in any effort to save the Indian and lead him to +civilization. I believe, too, that the relinquishment of tribal +relations and the holding of land in severalty may in favorable +conditions aid this consummation. It seems to me, however, that +allotments of land in severalty ought to be made with great care and +circumspection. If hastily done, before the Indian knows its meaning, +while yet he has little or no idea of tilling a farm and no conception +of thrift, there is great danger that a reservation life in tribal +relations may be exchanged for the pauperism of civilization instead of +its independence and elevation. +</p> +<p> +The solution of the Indian problem depends very largely upon good +administration. The personal fitness of agents and their adaptability to +the peculiar duty of caring for their wards are of the utmost importance. +</p> +<p> +The law providing that, except in special cases, army officers shall be +detailed as Indian agents it is hoped will prove a successful experiment. +</p> +<p> +There is danger of great abuses creeping into the prosecution of claims +for Indian depredations, and I recommend that every possible safeguard +be provided against the enforcement of unjust and fictitious claims of +this description. +</p> +<p> +The appropriations on account of the Indian Bureau for the year ending +June 30, 1894, amount to $7,954,962.99, a decrease as compared with the +year preceding it of $387,131.95. +</p> +<p> +The vast area of land which but a short time ago constituted the public +domain is rapidly falling into private hands. It is certain that in +the transfer the beneficent intention of the Government to supply from +its domain homes to the industrious and worthy home seekers is often +frustrated. Though the speculator, who stands with extortionate purpose +between the land office and those who, with their families, are invited +by the Government to settle on the public lands, is a despicable +character who ought not to be tolerated, yet it is difficult to thwart +his schemes. The recent opening to settlement of the lands in the +Cherokee Outlet, embracing an area of 6,500,000 acres, notwithstanding +the utmost care in framing the regulations governing the selection of +locations and notwithstanding the presence of United States troops, +furnished an exhibition, though perhaps in a modified degree, of the +mad scramble, the violence, and the fraudulent occupation which have +accompanied previous openings of public land. +</p> +<p> +I concur with the Secretary in the belief that these outrageous +incidents can not be entirely prevented without a change in the laws on +the subject, and I hope his recommendations in that direction will be +favorably considered. +</p> +<p> +I especially commend to the attention of the Congress the statements +contained in the Secretary's report concerning forestry. The time has +come when efficient measures should be taken for the preservation of +our forests from indiscriminate and remediless destruction. +</p> +<p> +The report of the Secretary of Agriculture will be found exceedingly +interesting, especially to that large part of our citizens intimately +concerned in agricultural occupations. +</p> +<p> +On the 7th day of March, 1893, there were upon its pay rolls 2,430 +employees. This number has been reduced to 1,850 persons. In view of a +depleted public Treasury and the imperative demand of the people for +economy in the administration of their Government, the Secretary has +entered upon the task of rationally reducing expenditures by the +elimination from the pay rolls of all persons not needed for an +efficient conduct of the affairs of the Department. +</p> +<p> +During the first quarter of the present year the expenses of the +Department aggregated $345,876.76, as against $402,012.42 for the +corresponding period of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. The +Secretary makes apparent his intention to continue this rate of +reduction by submitting estimates for the next fiscal year less by +$994,280 than those for the present year. +</p> +<p> +Among the heads of divisions in this Department the changes have been +exceedingly few. Three vacancies occurring from death and resignations +have been filled by the promotion of assistants in the same divisions. +</p> +<p> +These promotions of experienced and faithful assistants have not only +been in the interest of efficient work, but have suggested to those in +the Department who look for retention and promotion that merit and +devotion to duty are their best reliance. +</p> +<p> +The amount appropriated for the Bureau of Animal Industry for the +current fiscal year is $850,000. The estimate for the ensuing year is +$700,000. +</p> +<p> +The regulations of 1892 concerning Texas fever have been enforced during +the last year and the large stock yards of the country have been kept +free from infection. Occasional local outbreaks have been largely such +as could have been effectually guarded against by the owners of the +affected cattle. +</p> +<p> +While contagious pleuro-pneumonia in cattle has been eradicated, animal +tuberculosis, a disease widespread and more dangerous to human life than +pleuro-pneumonia, is still prevalent. Investigations have been made +during the past year as to the means of its communication and the method +of its correct diagnosis. Much progress has been made in this direction +by the studies of the division of animal pathology, but work ought to be +extended, in cooperation with local authorities, until the danger to +human life arising from this cause is reduced to a minimum. +</p> +<p> +The number of animals arriving from Canada during the year and inspected +by Bureau officers was 462,092, and the number from transatlantic +countries was 1,297. No contagious diseases were found among the +imported animals. +</p> +<p> +The total number of inspections of cattle for export during the past +fiscal year was 611,542. The exports show a falling off of about 25 per +cent from the preceding year, the decrease occurring entirely in the +last half of the year. This suggests that the falling off may have been +largely due to an increase in the price of American export cattle. +</p> +<p> +During the year ending June 30, 1893, exports of inspected pork +aggregated 20,677,410 pounds, as against 38,152,874 pounds for the +preceding year. The falling off in this export was not confined, +however, to inspected pork, the total quantity exported for 1892 being +665,490,616 pounds, while in 1893 it was only 527,308,695 pounds. +</p> +<p> +I join the Secretary in recommending that hereafter each applicant for +the position of inspector or assistant inspector in the Bureau of Animal +Industry be required, as a condition precedent to his appointment, to +exhibit to the United States Civil Service Commission his diploma from +an established, regular, and reputable veterinary college, and that this +be supplemented by such an examination in veterinary science as the +Commission may prescribe. +</p> +<p> +The exports of agricultural products from the United States for the +fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, attained the enormous figure of +$800,000,000, in round numbers, being 78.7 per cent of our total +exports. In the last fiscal year this aggregate was greatly reduced, but +nevertheless reached 615,000,000, being 75.1 per cent of all American +commodities exported. +</p> +<p> +A review of our agricultural exports with special reference to their +destination will show that in almost every line the United Kingdom of +Great Britain and Ireland absorbs by far the largest proportion. Of +cattle the total exports aggregated in value for the fiscal year ending +June 30, 1893, $26,000,000, of which Great Britain took considerably +over $25,000,000. Of beef products of all kinds our total exports were +$28,000,000, of which Great Britain took $24,000,000. Of pork products +the total exports were $84,000,000, of which Great Britain took +$53,000,000. In breadstuffs, cotton, and minor products like proportions +sent to the same destination are shown. +</p> +<p> +The work of the statistical division of the Department of Agriculture +deals with all that relates to the economics of farming. +</p> +<p> +The main purpose of its monthly reports is to keep the farmers informed +as fully as possible of all matters having any influence upon the +world's markets, in which their products find sale. Its publications +relate especially to the commercial side of farming. +</p> +<p> +It is therefore of profound importance and vital concern to the farmers +of the United States, who represent nearly one-half of our population, +and also of direct interest to the whole country, that the work of this +division be efficiently performed and that the information it has +gathered be promptly diffused. +</p> +<p> +It is a matter for congratulation to know that the Secretary will not +spare any effort to make this part of his work thoroughly useful. +</p> +<p> +In the year 1839 the Congress appropriated $1,000, to be taken from the +Patent Office funds, for the purpose of collecting and distributing +rare and improved varieties of seeds and for prosecuting agricultural +investigations and procuring agricultural statistics. From this small +beginning the seed division of the Department of Agriculture has grown +to its present unwieldy and unjustifiably extravagant proportions. +</p> +<p> +During the last fiscal year the cost of seeds purchased was $66,548.61. +The remainder of an appropriation of $135,000 was expended in putting +them up and distributing them. It surely never could have entered the +minds of those who first sanctioned appropriations of public money for +the purchase of new and improved varieties of seeds for gratuitous +distribution that from this would grow large appropriations for the +purchase and distribution by members of Congress of ordinary seeds, +bulbs, and cuttings which are common in all the States and Territories +and everywhere easily obtainable at low prices. +</p> +<p> +In each State and Territory an agricultural experiment station has been +established. These stations, by their very character and name, are the +proper agencies to experiment with and test new varieties of seeds; and +yet this indiscriminate and wasteful distribution by legislation and +legislators continues, answering no purpose unless it be to remind +constituents that their representatives are willing to remember them +with gratuities at public cost. +</p> +<p> +Under the sanction of existing legislation there was sent out from the +Agricultural Department during the last fiscal year enough of cabbage +seed to plant 19,200 acres of land, a sufficient quantity of beans to +plant 4,000 acres, beet seed enough to plant 2,500 acres, sweet corn +enough to plant 7,800 acres, sufficient cucumber seed to cover 2,025 +acres with vines, and enough muskmelon and watermelon seeds to plant +2,675 acres. The total quantity of flower and vegetable seeds thus +distributed was contained in more than 9,000,000 packages, and they were +sufficient if planted to cover 89,596 acres of land. +</p> +<p> +In view of these facts this enormous expenditure without legitimate +returns of benefit ought to be abolished. Anticipating a consummation so +manifestly in the interest of good administration, more than $100,000 +has been stricken from the estimate made to cover this object for the +year ending June 30, 1895; and the Secretary recommends that the +remaining $35,000 of the estimate be confined strictly to the purchase +of new and improved varieties of seeds, and that these be distributed +through experiment stations. +</p> +<p> +Thus the seed will be tested, and after the test has been completed by +the experiment station the propagation of the useful varieties and the +rejection of the valueless may safely be left to the common sense of the +people. +</p> +<p> +The continued intelligent execution of the civil-service law and the +increasing approval by the people of its operation are most gratifying. +The recent extension of its limitations and regulations to the employees +at free-delivery post-offices, which has been honestly and promptly +accomplished by the Commission, with the hearty cooperation of the +Postmaster-General, is an immensely important advance in the usefulness +of the system. +</p> +<p> +I am, if possible, more than ever convinced of the incalculable benefits +conferred by the civil-service law, not only in its effect upon the +public service, but also, what is even more important, in its effect in +elevating the tone of political life generally. +</p> +<p> +The course of civil-service reform in this country instructively and +interestingly illustrates how strong a hold a movement gains upon our +people which has underlying it a sentiment of justice and right and +which at the same time promises better administration of their +Government. +</p> +<p> +The law embodying this reform found its way to our statute book +more from fear of the popular sentiment existing in its favor than +from any love for the reform itself on the part of legislators, and +it has lived and grown and flourished in spite of the covert as well +as open hostility of spoilsmen and notwithstanding the querulous +impracticability of many self-constituted guardians. Beneath all +the vagaries and sublimated theories which are attracted to it there +underlies this reform a sturdy common-sense principle not only suited to +this mundane sphere, but whose application our people are more and more +recognizing to be absolutely essential to the most successful operation +of their Government, if not to its perpetuity. +</p> +<p> +It seems to me to be entirely inconsistent with the character of this +reform, as well as with its best enforcement, to oblige the Commission +to rely for clerical assistance upon clerks detailed from other +Departments. There ought not to be such a condition in any Department +that clerks hired to do work there can be spared to habitually work +at another place, and it does not accord with a sensible view of +civil-service reform that persons should be employed on the theory that +their labor is necessary in one Department when in point of fact their +services are devoted to entirely different work in another Department. +</p> +<p> +I earnestly urge that the clerks necessary to carry on the work of the +Commission be regularly put upon its roster and that the system of +obliging the Commissioners to rely upon the services of clerks belonging +to other Departments be discontinued. This ought not to increase the +expense to the Government, while it would certainly be more consistent +and add greatly to the efficiency of the Commission. +</p> +<p> +Economy in public expenditure is a duty that can not innocently be +neglected by those intrusted with the control of money drawn from the +people for public uses. It must be confessed that our apparently endless +resources, the familiarity of our people with immense accumulations +of wealth, the growing sentiment among them that the expenditure of +public money should in some manner be to their immediate and personal +advantage, the indirect and almost stealthy manner in which a large +part of our taxes is exacted, and a degenerated sense of official +accountability have led to growing extravagance in governmental +appropriations. +</p> +<p> +At this time, when a depleted public Treasury confronts us, when many +of our people are engaged in a hard struggle for the necessaries of +life, and when enforced economy is pressing upon the great mass of our +countrymen, I desire to urge with all the earnestness at my command that +Congressional legislation be so limited by strict economy as to exhibit +an appreciation of the condition of the Treasury and a sympathy with the +straitened circumstances of our fellow-citizens. +</p> +<p> +The duty of public economy is also of immense importance in its intimate +and necessary relation to the task now in hand of providing revenue to +meet Government expenditures and yet reducing the people's burden of +Federal taxation. +</p> +<p> +After a hard struggle tariff reform is directly before us. Nothing so +important claims our attention and nothing so clearly presents itself as +both an opportunity and a duty—an opportunity to deserve the gratitude +of our fellow-citizens and a duty imposed upon us by our oft-repeated +professions and by the emphatic mandate of the people. After full +discussion our countrymen have spoken in favor of this reform, and they +have confided the work of its accomplishment to the hands of those who +are solemnly pledged to it. +</p> +<p> +If there is anything in the theory of a representation in public places +of the people and their desires, if public officers are really the +servants of the people, and if political promises and professions have +any binding force, our failure to give the relief so long awaited will +be sheer recreancy. Nothing should intervene to distract our attention +or disturb our effort until this reform is accomplished by wise and +careful legislation. +</p> +<p> +While we should stanchly adhere to the principle that only the necessity +of revenue justifies the imposition of tariff duties and other Federal +taxation and that they should be limited by strict economy, we can not +close our eyes to the fact that conditions have grown up among us which +in justice and fairness call for discriminating care in the distribution +of such duties and taxation as the emergencies of our Government +actually demand. +</p> +<p> +Manifestly if we are to aid the people directly through tariff reform, +one of its most obvious features should be a reduction in present tariff +charges upon the necessaries of life. The benefits of such a reduction +would be palpable and substantial, seen and felt by thousands who would +be better fed and better clothed and better sheltered. These gifts +should be the willing benefactions of a Government whose highest +function is the promotion of the welfare of the people. +</p> +<p> +Not less closely related to our people's prosperity and well-being is +the removal of restrictions upon the importation of the raw materials +necessary to our manufactures. The world should be open to our national +ingenuity and enterprise. This can not be while Federal legislation +through the imposition of high tariff forbids to American manufacturers +as cheap materials as those used by their competitors. It is quite +obvious that the enhancement of the price of our manufactured products +resulting from this policy not only confines the market for these +products within our own borders, to the direct disadvantage of our +manufacturers, but also increases their cost to our citizens. +</p> +<p> +The interests of labor are certainly, though indirectly, involved in +this feature of our tariff system. The sharp competition and active +struggle among our manufacturers to supply the limited demand for their +goods soon fill the narrow market to which they are confined. Then +follows a suspension of work in mills and factories, a discharge of +employees, and distress in the homes of our workingmen. +</p> +<p> +Even if the often-disproved assertion could be made good that a lower +rate of wages would result from free raw materials and low tariff +duties, the intelligence of our workmen leads them quickly to discover +that their steady employment, permitted by free raw materials, is the +most important factor in their relation to tariff legislation. +</p> +<p> +A measure has been prepared by the appropriate Congressional committee +embodying tariff reform on the lines herein suggested, which will be +promptly submitted for legislative action. It is the result of much +patriotic and unselfish work, and I believe it deals with its subject +consistently and as thoroughly as existing conditions permit. +</p> +<p> +I am satisfied that the reduced tariff duties provided for in the +proposed legislation, added to existing internal-revenue taxation, will +in the near future, though perhaps not immediately, produce sufficient +revenue to meet the needs of the Government. +</p> +<p> +The committee, after full consideration and to provide against a +temporary deficiency which may exist before the business of the country +adjusts itself to the new tariff schedules, have wisely embraced in +their plan a few additional internal-revenue taxes, including a small +tax upon incomes derived from certain corporate investments. +</p> +<p> +These new adjustments are not only absolutely just and easily borne, but +they have the further merit of being such as can be remitted without +unfavorable business disturbance whenever the necessity of their +imposition no longer exists. +</p> +<p> +In my great desire for the success of this measure I can not restrain +the suggestion that its success can only be attained by means of +unselfish counsel on the part of the friends of tariff reform and as a +result of their willingness to subordinate personal desires and +ambitions to the general good. The local interests affected by the +proposed reform are so numerous and so varied that if all are insisted +upon the legislation embodying the reform must inevitably fail. +</p> +<p> +In conclusion my intense feeling of responsibility impels me to invoke +for the manifold interests of a generous and confiding people the most +scrupulous care and to pledge my willing support to every legislative +effort for the advancement of the greatness and prosperity of our +beloved country. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + SPECIAL MESSAGES. +</h2> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, December 18, 1893</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +In my recent annual message to the Congress I briefly referred to our +relations with Hawaii and expressed the intention of transmitting +further information on the subject when additional advices permitted. +</p> +<p> +Though I am not able now to report a definite change in the actual +situation, I am convinced that the difficulties lately created both +here and in Hawaii, and now standing in the way of a solution through +Executive action of the problem presented, render it proper and +expedient that the matter should be referred to the broader authority +and discretion of Congress, with a full explanation of the endeavor +thus far made to deal with the emergency and a statement of the +considerations which have governed my action. +</p> +<p> +I suppose that right and justice should determine the path to be +followed in treating this subject. If national honesty is to be +disregarded and a desire for territorial extension or dissatisfaction +with a form of government not our own ought to regulate our conduct, I +have entirely misapprehended the mission and character of our Government +and the behavior which the conscience of our people demands of their +public servants. +</p> +<p> +When the present Administration entered upon its duties, the Senate +had under consideration a treaty providing for the annexation of the +Hawaiian Islands to the territory of the United States. Surely under our +Constitution and laws the enlargement of our limits is a manifestation +of the highest attribute of sovereignty, and if entered upon as an +Executive act all things relating to the transaction should be clear and +free from suspicion. Additional importance attached to this particular +treaty of annexation because it contemplated a departure from unbroken +American tradition in providing for the addition to our territory of +islands of the sea more than 2,000 miles removed from our nearest coast. +</p> +<p> +These considerations might not of themselves call for interference with +the completion of a treaty entered upon by a previous Administration, +but it appeared from the documents accompanying the treaty when +submitted to the Senate that the ownership of Hawaii was tendered to us +by a Provisional Government set up to succeed the constitutional ruler +of the islands, who had been dethroned, and it did not appear that such +Provisional Government had the sanction of either popular revolution or +suffrage. Two other remarkable features of the transaction naturally +attracted attention. One was the extraordinary haste, not to say +precipitancy, characterizing all the transactions connected with the +treaty. It appeared that a so-called committee of safety, ostensibly the +source of the revolt against the constitutional Government of Hawaii, +was organized on Saturday, the 14th day of January; that on Monday, the +16th, the United States forces were landed at Honolulu from a naval +vessel lying in its harbor; that on the 17th the scheme of a Provisional +Government was perfected, and a proclamation naming its officers was +on the same day prepared and read at the Government building; that +immediately thereupon the United States minister recognized the +Provisional Government thus created; that two days afterwards, on the +19th day of January, commissioners representing such Government sailed +for this country in a steamer especially chartered for the occasion, +arriving in San Francisco on the 28th day of January and in Washington +on the 3d day of February; that on the next day they had their first +interview with the Secretary of State, and another on the 11th, when the +treaty of annexation was practically agreed upon, and that on the 14th +it was formally concluded and on the 15th transmitted to the Senate. +Thus between the initiation of the scheme for a Provisional Government +in Hawaii, on the 14th day of January, and the submission to the Senate +of the treaty of annexation concluded with such Government the entire +interval was thirty-two days, fifteen of which were spent by the +Hawaiian commissioners in their journey to Washington. +</p> +<p> +In the next place, upon the face of the papers submitted with the treaty +it clearly appeared that there was open and undetermined an issue of +fact of the most vital importance. The message of the President +accompanying the treaty<a href="#note-4" name="noteref-4"><small>4</small></a> declared that "the overthrow of the monarchy +was not in any way promoted by this Government," and in a letter to the +President from the Secretary of State, also submitted to the Senate with +the treaty, the following passage occurs: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + At the time the Provisional Government took possession of the Government + buildings no troops or officers of the United States were present or + took any part whatever in the proceedings. No public recognition was + accorded to the Provisional Government by the United States minister + until after the Queen's abdication and when they were in effective + possession of the Government buildings, the archives, the treasury, the + barracks, the police station, and all the potential machinery of the + Government. +</p> +<p> +But a protest also accompanied said treaty, signed by the Queen and her +ministers at the time she made way for the Provisional Government, which +explicitly stated that she yielded to the superior force of the United +States, whose minister had caused United States troops to be landed at +Honolulu and declared that he would support such Provisional Government. +</p> +<p> +The truth or falsity of this protest was surely of the first importance. +If true, nothing but the concealment of its truth could induce our +Government to negotiate with the semblance of a government thus created, +nor could a treaty resulting from the acts stated in the protest have +been knowingly deemed worthy of consideration by the Senate. Yet the +truth or falsity of the protest had not been investigated. +</p> +<p> +I conceived it to be my duty, therefore, to withdraw the treaty from the +Senate for examination, and meanwhile to cause an accurate, full, and +impartial investigation to be made of the facts attending the subversion +of the constitutional Government of Hawaii and the installment in +its place of the Provisional Government. I selected for the work of +investigation the Hon. James H. Blount, of Georgia, whose service of +eighteen years as a member of the House of Representatives and whose +experience as chairman of the Committee of Foreign Affairs in that body, +and his consequent familiarity with international topics, joined with +his high character and honorable reputation, seemed to render him +peculiarly fitted for the duties intrusted to him. His report detailing +his action under the instructions given to him and the conclusions +derived from his investigation accompany this message. +</p> +<p> +These conclusions do not rest for their acceptance entirely upon +Mr. Blount's honesty and ability as a man, nor upon his acumen and +impartiality as an investigator. They are accompanied by the evidence +upon which they are based, which evidence is also herewith transmitted, +and from which it seems to me no other deductions could possibly be +reached than those arrived at by the commissioner. +</p> +<p> +The report, with its accompanying proofs and such other evidence as is +now before the Congress or is herewith submitted, justifies, in my +opinion, the statement that when the President was led to submit the +treaty to the Senate with the declaration that "the overthrow of the +monarchy was not in any way promoted by this Government," and when the +Senate was induced to receive and discuss it on that basis, both +President and Senate were misled. +</p> +<p> +The attempt will not be made in this communication to touch upon all +the facts which throw light upon the progress and consummation of this +scheme of annexation. A very brief and imperfect reference to the facts +and evidence at hand will exhibit its character and the incidents in +which it had its birth. +</p> +<p> +It is unnecessary to set forth the reasons which in January, 1893, led +a considerable proportion of American and other foreign merchants and +traders residing at Honolulu to favor the annexation of Hawaii to the +United States. It is sufficient to note the fact and to observe that +the project was one which was zealously promoted by the minister +representing the United States in that country. He evidently had an +ardent desire that it should become a fact accomplished by his agency +and during his ministry, and was not inconveniently scrupulous as to the +means employed to that end. On the 19th day of November, 1892, nearly +two months before the first overt act tending toward the subversion of +the Hawaiian Government and the attempted transfer of Hawaiian territory +to the United States, he addressed a long letter to the Secretary of +State, in which the case for annexation was elaborately argued on moral, +political, and economical grounds. He refers to the loss to the Hawaiian +sugar interests from the operation of the McKinley bill and the tendency +to still further depreciation of sugar property unless some positive +measure of relief is granted. He strongly inveighs against the existing +Hawaiian Government and emphatically declares for annexation. He says: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In truth, the monarchy here is an absurd anachronism. It has nothing on + which it logically or legitimately stands. The feudal basis on which it + once stood no longer existing, the monarchy now is only an impediment to + good government—an obstruction to the prosperity and progress of the + islands. +</p> +<p> +He further says: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + As a Crown colony of Great Britain or a Territory of the United States + the government modifications could be made readily and good + administration of the law secured. Destiny and the vast future interests + of the United States in the Pacific clearly indicate who at no distant + day must be responsible for the government of these islands. Under a + Territorial government they could be as easily governed as any of the + existing Territories of the United States. * * * Hawaii has reached + the parting of the ways. She must now take the road which leads to Asia, + or the other, which outlets her in America, gives her an American + civilization, and binds her to the care of American destiny. +</p> +<p> +He also declares: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + One of two courses seems to me absolutely necessary to be + followed—either bold and vigorous measures for annexation or a "customs + union," an ocean cable from the Californian coast to Honolulu, Pearl + Harbor perpetually ceded to the United States, with an implied but not + expressly stipulated American protectorate over the islands. I believe + the former to be the better, that which will prove much the more + advantageous to the islands and the cheapest and least embarrassing in + the end to the United States. If it was wise for the United States, + through Secretary Marcy, thirty-eight years ago, to offer to expend + $100,000 to secure a treaty of annexation, it certainly can not be + chimerical or unwise to expend $100,000 to secure annexation in the near + future. To-day the United States has five times the wealth she possessed + in 1854, and the reasons now existing for annexation are much stronger + than they were then. I can not refrain from expressing the opinion with + emphasis that the golden hour is near at hand. +</p> +<p> +These declarations certainly show a disposition and condition of mind +which may be usefully recalled when interpreting the significance of the +minister's conceded acts or when considering the probabilities of such +conduct on his part as may not be admitted. +</p> +<p> +In this view it seems proper to also quote from a letter written by the +minister to the Secretary of State on the 8th day of March, 1892, nearly +a year prior to the first step taken toward annexation. After stating +the possibility that the existing Government of Hawaii might be +overturned by an orderly and peaceful revolution, Minister Stevens +writes as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Ordinarily, in like circumstances, the rule seems to be to limit the + landing and movement of United States forces in foreign waters and + dominion exclusively to the protection of the United States legation + and of the lives and property of American citizens; but as the relations + of the United States to Hawaii are exceptional, and in former years + the United States officials here took somewhat exceptional action in + circumstances of disorder, I desire to know how far the present minister + and naval commander may deviate from established international rules + and precedents in the contingencies indicated in the first part of this + dispatch. +</p> +<p> +To a minister of this temper, full of zeal for annexation, there seemed +to arise in January, 1893, the precise opportunity for which he was +watchfully waiting—an opportunity which by timely "deviation from +established international rules and precedents" might be improved to +successfully accomplish the great object in view; and we are quite +prepared for the exultant enthusiasm with which, in a letter to the +State Department dated February 1, 1893, he declares: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The Hawaiian pear is now fully ripe, and this is the golden hour for + the United States to pluck it. +</p> +<p> +As a further illustration of the activity of this diplomatic +representative, attention is called to the fact that on the day the +above letter was written, apparently unable longer to restrain his +ardor, he issued a proclamation whereby, "in the name of the United +States," he assumed the protection of the Hawaiian Islands and declared +that said action was "taken pending and subject to negotiations at +Washington." Of course this assumption of a protectorate was promptly +disavowed by our Government, but the American flag remained over the +Government building at Honolulu and the forces remained on guard until +April, and after Mr. Blount's arrival on the scene, when both were +removed. +</p> +<p> +A brief statement of the occurrences that led to the subversion of the +constitutional Government of Hawaii in the interests of annexation to +the United States will exhibit the true complexion of that transaction. +</p> +<p> +On Saturday, January 14, 1893, the Queen of Hawaii, who had been +contemplating the proclamation of a new constitution, had, in deference +to the wishes and remonstrances of her cabinet, renounced the project +for the present at least. Taking this relinquished purpose as a basis +of action, citizens of Honolulu numbering from fifty to one hundred, +mostly resident aliens, met in a private office and selected a so-called +committee of safety, composed of thirteen persons, seven of whom were +foreign subjects, and consisted of five Americans, one Englishman, +and one German. This committee, though its designs were not revealed, +had in view nothing less than annexation to the United States, and +between Saturday, the 14th, and the following Monday, the 16th of +January—though exactly what action was taken may not be clearly +disclosed—they were certainly in communication with the United States +minister. On Monday morning the Queen and her cabinet made public +proclamation, with a notice which was specially served upon the +representatives of all foreign governments, that any changes in the +constitution would be sought only in the methods provided by that +instrument. Nevertheless, at the call and under the auspices of the +committee of safety, a mass meeting of citizens was held on that day to +protest against the Queen's alleged illegal and unlawful proceedings and +purposes. Even at this meeting the committee of safety continued to +disguise their real purpose and contented themselves with procuring +the passage of a resolution denouncing the Queen and empowering the +committee to devise ways and means "to secure the permanent maintenance +of law and order and the protection of life, liberty, and property +in Hawaii." This meeting adjourned between 3 and 4 o'clock in the +afternoon. On the same day, and immediately after such adjournment, the +committee, unwilling to take further steps without the cooperation of +the United States minister, addressed him a note representing that the +public safety was menaced and that lives and property were in danger, +and concluded as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + We are unable to protect ourselves without aid, and therefore pray for + the protection of the United States forces. +</p> +<p> +Whatever may be thought of the other contents of this note, the absolute +truth of this latter statement is incontestable. When the note was +written and delivered the committee, so far as it appears, had neither +a man nor a gun at their command, and after its delivery they became so +panic-stricken at their position that they sent some of their number to +interview the minister and request him not to land the United States +forces till the next morning. But he replied that the troops had been +ordered and whether the committee were ready or not the landing should +take place. And so it happened that on the 16th day of January, 1893, +between 4 and 5 o'clock in the afternoon, a detachment of marines from +the United States steamer <i>Boston</i>, with two pieces of artillery, +landed at Honolulu. The men, upward of 160 in all, were supplied with +double cartridge belts filled with ammunition and with haversacks and +canteens, and were accompanied by a hospital corps with stretchers and +medical supplies. +</p> +<p> +This military demonstration upon the soil of Honolulu was of itself an +act of war, unless made either with the consent of the Government of +Hawaii or for the <i>bona fide</i> purpose of protecting the imperiled +lives and property of citizens of the United States. But there is no +pretense of any such consent on the part of the Government of the Queen, +which at that time was undisputed and was both the <i>de facto</i> and +the <i>de jure</i> Government. In point of fact the existing Government, +instead of requesting the presence of an armed force, protested against +it. There is as little basis for the pretense that such forces were +landed for the security of American life and property. If so, they would +have been stationed in the vicinity of such property and so as to +protect it, instead of at a distance and so as to command the Hawaiian +Government building and palace. Admiral Skerrett, the officer in command +of our naval force on the Pacific station, has frankly stated that in +his opinion the location of the troops was inadvisable if they were +landed for the protection of American citizens, whose residences and +places of business, as well as the legation and consulate, were in a +distant part of the city; but the location selected was a wise one if +the forces were landed for the purpose of supporting the Provisional +Government. If any peril to life and property calling for any such +martial array had existed, Great Britain and other foreign powers +interested would not have been behind the United States in activity to +protect their citizens. But they made no sign in that direction. When +these armed men were landed the city of Honolulu was in its customary +orderly and peaceful condition. There was no symptom of riot or +disturbance in any quarter. Men, women, and children were about the +streets as usual, and nothing varied the ordinary routine or disturbed +the ordinary tranquillity except the landing of the <i>Boston's</i> +marines and their march through the town to the quarters assigned them. +Indeed, the fact that after having called for the landing of the United +States forces on the plea of danger to life and property the committee +of safety themselves requested the minister to postpone action exposed +the untruthfulness of their representations of present peril to life and +property. The peril they saw was an anticipation growing out of guilty +intentions on their part and something which, though not then existing, +they knew would certainly follow their attempt to overthrow the +Government of the Queen without the aid of the United States forces. +</p> +<p> +Thus it appears that Hawaii was taken possession of by the United States +forces without the consent or wish of the Government of the islands, +or of anybody else so far as shown except the United States minister. +Therefore the military occupation of Honolulu by the United States +on the day mentioned was wholly without justification, either as an +occupation by consent or as an occupation necessitated by dangers +threatening American life and property. It must be accounted for in some +other way and on some other ground, and its real motive and purpose are +neither obscure nor far to seek. +</p> +<p> +The United States forces being now on the scene and favorably +stationed, the committee proceeded to carry out their original scheme. +They met the next morning, Tuesday, the 17th, perfected the plan of +temporary government, and fixed upon its principal officers, ten of whom +were drawn from the thirteen members of the committee of safety. Between +1 and 2 o'clock, by squads and by different routes to avoid notice, and +having first taken the precaution of ascertaining whether there was +anyone there to oppose them, they proceeded to the Government building +to proclaim the new Government. No sign of opposition was manifest, and +thereupon an American citizen began to read the proclamation from the +steps of the Government building, almost entirely without auditors. +It is said that before the reading was finished quite a concourse of +persons, variously estimated at from 50 to 100, some armed and some +unarmed, gathered about the committee to give them aid and confidence. +This statement is not important, since the one controlling factor in the +whole affair was unquestionably the United States marines, who, drawn +up under arms and with artillery in readiness only 76 yards distant, +dominated the situation. +</p> +<p> +The Provisional Government thus proclaimed was by the terms of the +proclamation "to exist until terms of union with the United States had +been negotiated and agreed upon." The United States minister, pursuant +to prior agreement, recognized this Government within an hour after the +reading of the proclamation, and before 5 o'clock, in answer to an +inquiry on behalf of the Queen and her cabinet, announced that he had +done so. +</p> +<p> +When our minister recognized the Provisional Government, the only basis +upon which it rested was the fact that the committee of safety had in +the manner above stated declared it to exist. It was neither a +government <i>de facto</i> nor <i>de jure</i>. That it was not in such possession +of the Government property and agencies as entitled it to recognition is +conclusively proved by a note found in the files of the legation at +Honolulu, addressed by the declared head of the Provisional Government +to Minister Stevens, dated January 17, 1893, in which he acknowledges +with expressions of appreciation the minister's recognition of the +Provisional Government, and states that it is not yet in the possession +of the station house (the place where a large number of the Queen's +troops were quartered), though the same had been demanded of the Queen's +officers in charge. Nevertheless, this wrongful recognition by our +minister placed the Government of the Queen in a position of most +perilous perplexity. On the one hand she had possession of the palace, +of the barracks, and of the police station, and had at her command at +least 500 fully armed men and several pieces of artillery. Indeed, the +whole military force of her Kingdom was on her side and at her disposal, +while the committee of safety, by actual search, had discovered that +there were but very few arms in Honolulu that were not in the service of +the Government. +</p> +<p> +In this state of things, if the Queen could have dealt with the +insurgents alone, her course would have been plain and the result +unmistakable. But the United States had allied itself with her enemies, +had recognized them as the true Government of Hawaii, and had put +her and her adherents in the position of opposition against lawful +authority. She knew that she could not withstand the power of the United +States, but she believed that she might safely trust to its justice. +Accordingly, some hours after the recognition of the Provisional +Government by the United States minister, the palace, the barracks, and +the police station, with all the military resources of the country, were +delivered up by the Queen upon the representation made to her that her +cause would thereafter be reviewed at Washington, and while protesting +that she surrendered to the superior force of the United States, whose +minister had caused United States troops to be landed at Honolulu and +declared that he would support the Provisional Government, and that she +yielded her authority to prevent collision of armed forces and loss of +life, and only until such time as the United States, upon the facts +being presented to it, should undo the action of its representative and +reinstate her in the authority she claimed as the constitutional +sovereign of the Hawaiian Islands. +</p> +<p> +This protest was delivered to the chief of the Provisional Government, +who indorsed thereon his acknowledgment of its receipt. The terms of the +protest were read without dissent by those assuming to constitute the +Provisional Government, who were certainly charged with the knowledge +that the Queen, instead of finally abandoning her power, had appealed to +the justice of the United States for reinstatement in her authority; and +yet the Provisional Government, with this unanswered protest in its +hand, hastened to negotiate with the United States for the permanent +banishment of the Queen from power and for a sale of her Kingdom. +</p> +<p> +Our country was in danger of occupying the position of having actually +set up a temporary government on foreign soil for the purpose of +acquiring through that agency territory which we had wrongfully put in +its possession. The control of both sides of a bargain acquired in such +a manner is called by a familiar and unpleasant name when found in +private transactions. We are not without a precedent showing how +scrupulously we avoided such accusations in former days. After the +people of Texas had declared their independence of Mexico they resolved +that on the acknowledgment of their independence by the United States +they would seek admission into the Union. Several months after the +battle of San Jacinto, by which Texan independence was practically +assured and established, President Jackson declined to recognize it, +alleging as one of his reasons that in the circumstances it became us +"to beware of a too early movement, as it might subject us, however +unjustly, to the imputation of seeking to establish the claim of our +neighbors to a territory with a view to its subsequent acquisition by +ourselves." This is in marked contrast with the hasty recognition of a +government openly and concededly set up for the purpose of tendering to +us territorial annexation. +</p> +<p> +I believe that a candid and thorough examination of the facts will force +the conviction that the Provisional Government owes its existence to +an armed invasion by the United States. Fair-minded people, with the +evidence before them, will hardly claim that the Hawaiian Government +was overthrown by the people of the islands or that the Provisional +Government had ever existed with their consent. I do not understand that +any member of this Government claims that the people would uphold it by +their suffrages if they were allowed to vote on the question. +</p> +<p> +While naturally sympathizing with every effort to establish a republican +form of government, it has been the settled policy of the United States +to concede to people of foreign countries the same freedom and +independence in the management of their domestic affairs that we have +always claimed for ourselves, and it has been our practice to recognize +revolutionary governments as soon as it became apparent that they were +supported by the people. For illustration of this rule I need only to +refer to the revolution in Brazil in 1889, when our minister was +instructed to recognize the Republic "so soon as a majority of the +people of Brazil should have signified their assent to its establishment +and maintenance;" to the revolution in Chile in 1891, when our minister +was directed to recognize the new Government "if it was accepted by the +people," and to the revolution in Venezuela in 1892, when our +recognition was accorded on condition that the new Government was "fully +established, in possession of the power of the nation, and accepted by +the people." +</p> +<p> +As I apprehend the situation, we are brought face to face with the +following conditions: +</p> +<p> +The lawful Government of Hawaii was overthrown without the drawing of a +sword or the firing of a shot by a process every step of which, it may +safely be asserted, is directly traceable to and dependent for its +success upon the agency of the United States acting through its +diplomatic and naval representatives. +</p> +<p> +But for the notorious predilections of the United States minister for +annexation the committee of safety, which should be called the committee +of annexation, would never have existed. +</p> +<p> +But for the landing of the United States forces upon false pretexts +respecting the danger to life and property the committee would never +have exposed themselves to the pains and penalties of treason by +undertaking the subversion of the Queen's Government. +</p> +<p> +But for the presence of the United States forces in the immediate +vicinity and in position to afford all needed protection and support the +committee would not have proclaimed the Provisional Government from the +steps of the Government building. +</p> +<p> +And finally, but for the lawless occupation of Honolulu under false +pretexts by the United States forces, and but for Minister Stevens's +recognition of the Provisional Government when the United States forces +were its sole support and constituted its only military strength, the +Queen and her Government would never have yielded to the Provisional +Government, even for a time and for the sole purpose of submitting her +case to the enlightened justice of the United States. +</p> +<p> +Believing, therefore, that the United States could not, under the +circumstances disclosed, annex the islands without justly incurring the +imputation of acquiring them by unjustifiable methods, I shall not again +submit the treaty of annexation to the Senate for its consideration, and +in the instructions to Minister Willis, a copy of which accompanies this +message, I have directed him to so inform the Provisional Government. +</p> +<p> +But in the present instance our duty does not, in my opinion, end with +refusing to consummate this questionable transaction. It has been the +boast of our Government that it seeks to do justice in all things +without regard to the strength or weakness of those with whom it deals. +I mistake the American people if they favor the odious doctrine that +there is no such thing as international morality; that there is one law +for a strong nation and another for a weak one, and that even by +indirection a strong power may with impunity despoil a weak one of its +territory. +</p> +<p> +By an act of war, committed with the participation of a diplomatic +representative of the United States and without authority of Congress, +the Government of a feeble but friendly and confiding people has been +overthrown. A substantial wrong has thus been done which a due regard +for our national character as well as the rights of the injured people +requires we should endeavor to repair. The Provisional Government has +not assumed a republican or other constitutional form, but has remained +a mere executive council or oligarchy, set up without the assent of the +people. It has not sought to find a permanent basis of popular support +and has given no evidence of an intention to do so. Indeed, the +representatives of that Government assert that the people of Hawaii are +unfit for popular government and frankly avow that they can be best +ruled by arbitrary or despotic power. +</p> +<p> +The law of nations is founded upon reason and justice, and the rules of +conduct governing individual relations between citizens or subjects of a +civilized state are equally applicable as between enlightened nations. +</p> +<p> +The considerations that international law is without a court for its +enforcement and that obedience to its commands practically depends upon +good faith instead of upon the mandate of a superior tribunal only +give additional sanction to the law itself and brand any deliberate +infraction of it not merely as a wrong, but as a disgrace. A man of +true honor protects the unwritten word which binds his conscience more +scrupulously, if possible, than he does the bond a breach of which +subjects him to legal liabilities, and the United States, in aiming to +maintain itself as one of the most enlightened nations, would do its +citizens gross injustice if it applied to its international relations +any other than a high standard of honor and morality. On that ground the +United States can not properly be put in the position of countenancing a +wrong after its commission any more than in that of consenting to it in +advance. On that ground it can not allow itself to refuse to redress an +injury inflicted through an abuse of power by officers clothed with its +authority and wearing its uniform; and on the same ground, if a feeble +but friendly state is in danger of being robbed of its independence and +its sovereignty by a misuse of the name and power of the United States, +the United States can not fail to vindicate its honor and its sense of +justice by an earnest effort to make all possible reparation. +</p> +<p> +These principles apply to the present case with irresistible force when +the special conditions of the Queen's surrender of her sovereignty are +recalled. She surrendered, not to the Provisional Government, but to +the United States. She surrendered, not absolutely and permanently, but +temporarily and conditionally until such time as the facts could be +considered by the United States. Furthermore, the Provisional Government +acquiesced in her surrender in that manner and on those terms, not only +by tacit consent, but through the positive acts of some members of that +Government, who urged her peaceable submission, not merely to avoid +bloodshed, but because she could place implicit reliance upon the +justice of the United States and that the whole subject would be finally +considered at Washington. +</p> +<p> +I have not, however, overlooked an incident of this unfortunate affair +which remains to be mentioned. The members of the Provisional Government +and their supporters, though not entitled to extreme sympathy, have been +led to their present predicament of revolt against the Government of the +Queen by the indefensible encouragement and assistance of our diplomatic +representative. This fact may entitle them to claim that in our effort +to rectify the wrong committed some regard should be had for their +safety. This sentiment is strongly seconded by my anxiety to do nothing +which would invite either harsh retaliation on the part of the Queen or +violence and bloodshed in any quarter. In the belief that the Queen, +as well as her enemies, would be willing to adopt such a course as +would meet these conditions, and in view of the fact that both the Queen +and the Provisional Government had at one time apparently acquiesced +in a reference of the entire case to the United States Government, +and considering the further fact that in any event the Provisional +Government by its own declared limitation was only "to exist until terms +of union with the United States of America have been negotiated and +agreed upon," I hoped that after the assurance to the members of that +Government that such union could not be consummated I might compass a +peaceful adjustment of the difficulty. +</p> +<p> +Actuated by these desires and purposes, and not unmindful of the +inherent perplexities of the situation nor of the limitations upon +my power, I instructed Minister Willis to advise the Queen and her +supporters of my desire to aid in the restoration of the status existing +before the lawless landing of the United States forces at Honolulu on +the 16th of January last if such restoration could be effected upon +terms providing for clemency as well as justice to all parties +concerned. The conditions suggested, as the instructions show, +contemplate a general amnesty to those concerned in setting up the +Provisional Government and a recognition of all its <i>bona fide</i> +acts and obligations. In short, they require that the past should be +buried and that the restored Government should reassume its authority as +if its continuity had not been interrupted. These conditions have not +proved acceptable to the Queen, and though she has been informed that +they will be insisted upon and that unless acceded to the efforts of the +President to aid in the restoration of her Government will cease, I have +not thus far learned that she is willing to yield them her acquiescence. +The check which my plans have thus encountered has prevented their +presentation to the members of the Provisional Government, while +unfortunate public misrepresentations of the situation and exaggerated +statements of the sentiments of our people have obviously injured the +prospects of successful Executive mediation. +</p> +<p> +I therefore submit this communication, with its accompanying exhibits, +embracing Mr. Blount's report, the evidence and statements taken by him +at Honolulu, the instructions given to both Mr. Blount and Minister +Willis, and correspondence connected with the affair in hand. +</p> +<p> +In commending this subject to the extended powers and wide discretion of +the Congress I desire to add the assurance that I shall be much +gratified to cooperate in any legislative plan which may be devised for +the solution of the problem before us which is consistent with American +honor, integrity, and morality. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, December 18, 1893</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In compliance with a resolution passed by the Senate on the 6th instant, +I hereby transmit reports of the Secretaries of State and of the Navy, +with copies of all instructions given to the respective diplomatic and +naval representatives of the United States in the Hawaiian Islands since +the 4th day of March, 1881, touching the matters specified in the +resolution. +</p> +<p> +It has seemed convenient to include in the present communication to the +Senate copies of the diplomatic correspondence concerning the political +condition of Hawaii, prepared for transmission to the House of +Representatives in response to a later resolution passed by that body on +the 13th instant. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, December 18, 1893</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +In compliance with a resolution passed by your honorable body on the +13th instant, I hereby transmit a report of the Secretary of State, +with copies of the instructions given to Mr. Albert S. Willis, the +representative of the United States now in the Hawaiian Islands, and +also the correspondence since the 4th day of March, 1889, concerning +the relations of this Government to those islands. +</p> +<p> +In making this communication I have withheld only a dispatch from the +former minister to Hawaii, numbered 70, under date of October 8, 1892, +and a dispatch from the present minister, numbered 3, under date of +November 16, 1893, because in my opinion the publication of these two +papers would be incompatible with the public interest. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 4, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State, submitted in +compliance with the resolution of October 17 last, in the matter of the +claim of certain persons against the Government of Spain for illegal +arrest off the coast of Yucatan in the year 1850, and subsequent +imprisonment. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 13, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith copies of all dispatches from our minister at Hawaii +relating in any way to political affairs in that country, except such as +have been heretofore laid before the Congress. +</p> +<p> +I also transmit a copy of the last instructions sent to our minister, +dated January 12, 1894, being the only instructions to him not already +sent to the Congress. +</p> +<p> +In transmitting certain correspondence with my message dated December +18, 1893, I withheld a dispatch from our present minister, numbered +3 and dated November 16, 1893, and also a dispatch from our former +minister, numbered 70 and dated October 8, 1892. Inasmuch as the +contents of the dispatch of November 16, 1893, are referred to in the +dispatches of a more recent date, now sent to Congress, and inasmuch +as there seems no longer to be sufficient reason for withholding said +dispatch, a copy of the same is herewith submitted. The dispatch +numbered 70 and dated October 8, 1892, above referred to, is still +withheld for the reason that such a course still appears to be +justifiable and proper. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 20, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith dispatches received yesterday from our minister +at Hawaii, with certain correspondence which accompanied the same, +including a most extraordinary letter, dated December 27, 1893, signed +by Sanford B. Dole, minister of foreign affairs of the Provisional +Government, addressed to our minister, Mr. Willis, and delivered to him +a number of hours after the arrival at Honolulu of a copy of my message +to Congress on the Hawaiian question, with copies of instructions given +to our minister. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 22, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith copies of dispatches received from our minister to +Hawaii after the arrival of those copies which accompanied my message +of the 20th instant. I also inclose, for the information of Congress, +copies of reports and a copy of an order just received by the Secretary +of the Navy from Rear-Admiral Irwin, commanding our naval forces at +Honolulu. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 2, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit a communication from the Secretary of State, accompanying a +dispatch received a few days ago from our minister at Hawaii. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 12, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith two dispatches received a few days ago from our +minister at Hawaii, and a reply to one of them from the Secretary of +State, in which a correct version is given of an interview which +occurred November 14, 1893, between the Secretary of State and Mr. +Thurston, representing the Provisional Government at Washington. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 16, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, for the information of Congress, a communication +from the Secretary of State, covering the report of the Director of the +Bureau of the American Republics for the year 1893. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 19, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith transmit copies of certain dispatches recently received from +our minister at Honolulu. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 19, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +On the evening of the 16th instant I received a copy of a resolution +passed by the Senate, requesting the transmission to that body of all +reports and dispatches from our minister at Hawaii, and especially a +certain letter written to him by Mr. Dole, President of the Provisional +Government. +</p> +<p> +On the same day I received from the State Department a copy of a +dispatch from Minister Willis, accompanied by various exhibits. I was +not able to send them to the Senate on that day. The Senate adjourned +that afternoon until to-day, and thus prevented the submission until now +of these papers. +</p> +<p> +The next day after the receipt of the Senate resolution, and on the 17th +instant, other dispatches were received from Mr. Willis at the State +Department. They were copied with all possible haste, and are now +submitted at the first meeting of the Senate since their receipt. They +include the letter mentioned in the Senate resolution and the answer of +Minister Willis to the same. +</p> +<p> +Since the 18th day of December last, when I submitted to the "broader +authority and discretion of the Congress" all matters connected with our +relations with Hawaii, I have with the utmost promptness transmitted +to the Congress all dispatches and reports relative to the subject, +and I am not aware of any dispatches or documents in the remotest way +connected with these relations which have come to the possession of the +State Department or the Executive and been withheld from the Senate. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, March 7, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a report submitted by the Secretary of State in +response to the resolution of the Senate dated January 23, 1894, +requesting communication of correspondence exchanged between the +Government of the United States and the Governments of Colombia, +Venezuela, and Hayti. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>March 7, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith copies of certain dispatches lately received from +our minister at Hawaii, together with copies of the inclosures which +accompanied such dispatches. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>March 8, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a report furnished by the Secretary of State in +response to a resolution of the Senate of the 1st instant, making +inquiry respecting the present condition of the <i>Virginius</i> +indemnity fund. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, D.C., March 14, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith transmit a report<a href="#note-5" name="noteref-5"><small>5</small></a> of the Secretary of State of the 14th +instant, concerning the several inquiries in the resolution of the +Senate addressed to him under date of the 9th instant. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, March 19, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, with a view to its ratification, a convention +concluded at this capital on the 17th instant between the United States +and China concerning the subject of emigration between those two +countries. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, March 19, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State, concerning the +landing of British troops at Bluefields, Nicaragua, in answer to the +resolution of the Senate of the 7th instant on that subject. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>March 19, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a copy of a dispatch received from our minister at +Hawaii, together with copies of the inclosures which accompanied said +dispatch. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, April 3, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith report from the Secretary of State, inclosing +the final report of the agent of the United States before the Paris +Tribunal, also the protocols thus far received and certain other papers +relating to that arbitration. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, April 13, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith copies of certain dispatches from the United States +minister at Honolulu, received by the Secretary of State since my +message of March 19, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, April 21, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State, +covering a dispatch from the United States minister at Honolulu and +reply thereto. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, D.C., May 1, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith the ninth annual report of the Commissioner of +Labor. This report relates entirely to building and loan associations in +the United States. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, May 9, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to the resolution of the Senate of +April 6, 1894, a report of the Secretary of State, containing the +requested information as to the present condition of affairs in the +Samoan Islands, with copies of the correspondence in relation thereto, +including that with the Governments of Great Britain and Germany. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, May 9, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State, in +regard to recent dispatches from the United States minister at Honolulu, +received since my message of April 21, 1894, and also a dispatch from +the minister dated April 14, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, May 29, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith transmit, having regard to my message of May 9, 1894, a +communication from the Secretary of State, covering a dispatch from the +United States minister at Honolulu. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, June 20, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to the resolution of the Senate of +December 20, 1893, a report from the Acting Secretary of State, covering +the desired copies of correspondence in the matter of the claim of +Antonio Maximo Mora against Spain. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, June 23, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith transmit a communication covering dispatches from the United +States minister at Honolulu. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>June 25, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +The shocking intelligence has been received that the President of the +French Republic met his death yesterday at the hands of an assassin. +This terrible event which has overtaken a sister Republic can not fail to +deeply arouse the sympathies of the American nation, while the violent +termination of a career promising so much in aid of liberty and advancing +civilization should be mourned as an affliction to mankind. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>June 29, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +Answering a resolution of your honorable body dated the 13th instant, +I transmit herewith a report<a href="#note-6" name="noteref-6"><small>6</small></a> of the Secretary of State, with an +accompanying document, which contain all the information in my +possession touching the matters embraced in said resolution. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, July 9, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in further response to the Senate resolution of +April 6, 1894, a report from the Secretary of State, accompanied by +copies of certain correspondence relating to Samoan affairs. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>July 19, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 18th instant, +the House of Representatives concurring, I return herewith the bill +(S. 1105) entitled "An act for the relief of Albert Redstone." +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, July 24, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of State, +covering a dispatch from the United States minister at Honolulu. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, D.C., July 27, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith the seventh special report of the Commissioner of +Labor. This report relates to what is generally known as the slums of +cities, and has been prepared in accordance with a joint resolution +approved July 20, 1892. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, July 30, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of State, +covering two dispatches from the United States minister at Honolulu. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + VETO MESSAGES. +</h2> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 17, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return without my approval House bill No. 71, entitled "An act for the +relief of purchasers of timber and stone lands under the act of June 3, +1878." +</p> +<p> +This bill permits the proofs and affidavits which under present statutes +parties desiring to acquire certain public lands are required to make +before the registers and receivers of the land offices within which such +lands are located to be made before any commissioner of the United +States circuit court or before the judge or clerk of any court of +records of the county or parish in which the lands are situated. +</p> +<p> +A similar bill was passed by the Fifty-second Congress and was +disapproved by the Commissioner of the General Land Office and the +Secretary of the Interior. The successors of these officers oppose the +present bill on the ground that in its operation it would open the door +to fraud and to a perversion of the intentions of the Government in +relation to the public lands. +</p> +<p> +It is difficult, with the most scrupulous care, to guard the alienation +of our public lands from fraud and illegal practices. It is perfectly +plain, however, that the prospect of accomplishing this result is better +under present laws, which require the necessary proofs to be made before +land officers who are appointed for that purpose and who are under the +control of the General Land Office and amenable to its regulations, than +it would be by substituting other officers over whom the Land Office has +no control. +</p> +<p> +Certain rules and orders of the Land Office are now in force which +regulate the taking of the necessary proofs and permit oral examinations +by registers and receivers. These regulations are of the utmost +importance if our land laws are to be justly and honestly administered. +</p> +<p> +I fully concur in the objections made to this bill by the officers +having charge of the public lands in the last Administration and by +their successors who are now charged with that responsibility. I am +convinced that such a relaxation of our existing land laws as is +contemplated by the bill under consideration would not be in the +interest of good administration. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 20, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I hereby return without my approval House bill No. 3289, entitled +"An act to authorize the New York and New Jersey Bridge Companies +to construct and maintain a bridge across the Hudson River between +New York City and the State of New Jersey." +</p> +<p> +This bill authorizes the construction of a bridge over the North River +between the States of New York and New Jersey, the terminus of which +in the city of New York shall not be below Sixty-sixth street. It +contemplates the construction of a bridge upon piers placed in the +river. No mention is made of a single span crossing the entire river, +nor is there anything in the bill indicating that it was within the +intention of the Congress that there should be a bridge built without +piers. I am by no means certain that the Secretary of War, who is +invested by the terms of the bill with considerable discretion so far as +the plans for the structure are concerned, would have the right to exact +of the promoters of this enterprise the erection of a bridge spanning +the entire river. +</p> +<p> +Much objection has been made to the location of any piers in the river +for the reason that they would seriously interfere with the commerce +which seeks the port of New York through that channel. It is certainly +very questionable whether piers should be permitted at all in the North +River at the point designated for the location of this bridge. It seems +absolutely certain that within a few years a great volume of shipping +will extend to that location, which would be seriously embarrassed by +such obstruction. +</p> +<p> +I appreciate fully the importance of securing some means by which +railroad traffic can cross this river, and no one can fail to realize +the serious inconvenience to travel caused by lack of facilities of +that character. At the same time, it is a plain dictate of wisdom and +expediency that the commerce of the river be not unnecessarily +interfered with by bridges or in any other manner. +</p> +<p> +Engineers whose judgment upon the matter can not be questioned, +including the engineer of the company proposing to build this bridge, +have expressed the opinion that the entire river can be spanned safely +and effectively by a suspension bridge, or a construction not needing +the use of piers. +</p> +<p> +The company to which the permission to bridge the river is granted in +the bill under consideration was created by virtue of an act of the +legislature of the State of New York which became a law, by reason of +the failure of the governor to either approve or veto the same, on the +30th day of April, 1890. It may be safely assumed that the members of +the legislature which passed this law knew what was necessary for the +protection of the commerce of the city of New York and had informed +themselves concerning the plan of a bridge that should be built in view +of all the interests concerned. +</p> +<p> +By paragraph 24 of the law creating this company it is provided that +"the said bridge shall be constructed with a single span over the entire +river between towers or piers located between the span and the existing +pier-head lines in either State," and that "no pier or tower or other +obstruction of a permanent character shall be placed or built in the +river between said towers or piers under this act." +</p> +<p> +In view of such professional judgment, and considering the interests +which would be interfered with by the location of piers in the river, +and having due regard to the judgment of the legislature of the State +of New York, it seems to me that a plan necessitating the use of piers +in the bed of the river should be avoided. The question of increased +expense of construction or the compromise of conflicting interests +should not outweigh the other important considerations involved. +</p> +<p> +I notice the bill provides that the companies availing themselves of +its privileges shall receive no greater pay for transporting the mails +across the bridge than is allowed per mile to railroads using the same. +If this is intended, as the language seems to import, to authorize this +bridge company to charge the United States Government a toll for the +carriage of its mails across the bridge equal to the amount which may +be paid per mile by the Government for carrying the mails by railroads +crossing the bridge, it seems to me it should not be allowed. The +expense to the Government for carrying the mails over the structure +should beyond any doubt be limited to the compensation paid the +railroads for transportation. +</p> +<p> +An exceedingly important objection to the bill remains to be considered. +In 1890 the North River Bridge Company was incorporated by an act of +Congress for the purpose of constructing a bridge across the North +River, the New York terminus of which was located at or near +Twenty-third street in the city of New York. The proposition to +construct the bridge at that point was a subject very carefully and +thoroughly examined at that time and during the agitation of the project +for a number of years prior to the passage of the act. As a result of +such examination and much discussion, Congress granted permission to +this company to construct a bridge having a single span and suspended +from towers on each side of the river, and in the act especially +prohibited the placing of any piers in the river, either of a temporary +or of a permanent character, in connection with said bridge. This plan +to bridge the river without piers was at that time considered feasible +by the engineers of the company, and it accepted the terms of the act. +Before this permission was finally granted a number of bills were +introduced in the Congress covering the same subject, which were +referred to Government engineers. Reports were made by these officers in +every case insisting upon a construction with a single span and without +piers in the bed of the river. +</p> +<p> +The eighth subdivision of the bill herewith returned provides that any +company heretofore created for the purpose of bridging the river may +avail itself of the provisions of the act, and makes such company +subject to all its provisions. This, of course, has reference to +the North River Bridge Company and releases that company from the +prohibition of the act under which it was permitted to span the river +and permits it to construct piers in the river. It seems to me that +the language of the bill under consideration, so far as it relates to +this particular feature, is equivalent to a new grant to that company, +differing very materially from the grant which was thought expedient at +the time it was before the Congress, and removes the guaranty that in +the construction of its bridge there shall be no obstructions in the +river such as were especially guarded against by the bill originally +passed for its benefit. In effect a new charter is granted to a company +not named in the bill, and with no apparent reason for the important +enlargement of its privileges thus accomplished. It is entirely apparent +that the reasons against obstructions in the North River which might +interfere with commerce and navigation and the beneficial use of the +harbor of New York are immensely strengthened when they are applied to +a location in the river far below the location of the bridge which is +permitted in the bill now before me. +</p> +<p> +Whatever question there may be about the injurious character of the +obstruction at Sixty-sixth street in New York City, I believe there can +be no doubt whatever that piers placed in the river more than 2 miles +below, at Twenty-third street, would be very serious impediments. If +this thoroughfare, so important to the commerce of the country and the +State of New York, is to be crossed by bridges, each scheme for that +purpose should be considered by itself and its merits and advisability +determined by the circumstances which naturally belong to it. The +objection to piers in the river for the purpose of supporting bridges is +in any event so serious that the considerations which would determine +the question of a bridge located at Sixty-sixth street ought not in +such an indirect manner as is done by this bill be applied to a like +structure at Twenty-third street. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>March 29, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return without my approval House bill No. 4956, entitled "An act +directing the coinage of the silver bullion held in the Treasury, and +for other purposes." +</p> +<p> +My strong desire to avoid disagreement with those in both Houses of +Congress who have supported this bill would lead me to approve it if I +could believe that the public good would not be thereby endangered and +that such action on my part would be a proper discharge of official +duty. Inasmuch, however, as I am unable to satisfy myself that the +proposed legislation is either wise or opportune, my conception of the +obligations and responsibilities attached to the great office I hold +forbids the indulgence of my personal desire and inexorably confines me +to that course which is dictated by my reason and judgment and pointed +out by a sincere purpose to protect and promote the general interests of +our people. +</p> +<p> +The financial disturbance which swept over the country during the last +year was unparalleled in its severity and disastrous consequences. There +seemed to be almost an entire displacement of faith in our financial +ability and a loss of confidence in our fiscal policy. Among those who +attempted to assign causes for our distress it was very generally +conceded that the operation of a provision of law then in force which +required the Government to purchase monthly a large amount of silver +bullion and issue its notes in payment therefor was either entirely or +to a large extent responsible for our condition. This led to the repeal +on the 1st day of November, 1893, of this statutory provision. +</p> +<p> +We had, however, fallen so low in the depths of depression and timidity +and apprehension had so completely gained control in financial circles +that our rapid recuperation could not be reasonably expected. Our +recovery has, nevertheless, steadily progressed, and though less than +five months have elapsed since the repeal of the mischievous +silver-purchase requirement a wholesome improvement is unmistakably +apparent. Confidence in our absolute solvency is to such an extent +reinstated and faith in our disposition to adhere to sound financial +methods is so far restored as to produce the most encouraging results +both at home and abroad. The wheels of domestic industry have been +slowly set in motion and the tide of foreign investment has again +started in our direction. +</p> +<p> +Our recovery being so well under way, nothing should be done to check +our convalescence; nor should we forget that a relapse at this time +would almost surely reduce us to a lower stage of financial distress +than that from which we are just emerging. +</p> +<p> +I believe that if the bill under consideration should become a law it +would be regarded as a retrogression from the financial intentions +indicated by our recent repeal of the provision forcing silver-bullion +purchases; that it would weaken, if it did not destroy, returning +faith and confidence in our sound financial tendencies, and that +as a consequence our progress to renewed business health would be +unfortunately checked and a return to our recent distressing plight +seriously threatened. +</p> +<p> +This proposed legislation is so related to the currency conditions +growing out of the law compelling the purchase of silver by the +Government that a glance at such conditions and a partial review of the +law referred to may not be unprofitable. +</p> +<p> +Between the 14th day of August, 1890, when the law became operative, and +the 1st day of November, 1893, when the clause it contained directing +the purchase of silver was repealed, there were purchased by the +Secretary of the Treasury more than 168,000,000 ounces of silver +bullion. In payment for this bullion the Government issued its Treasury +notes, of various denominations, amounting to nearly $156,000,000, which +notes were immediately added to the currency in circulation among our +people. Such notes were by the law made legal tender in payment of all +debts, public and private, except when otherwise expressly stipulated, +and were made receivable for customs, taxes, and all public dues, +and when so received might be reissued. They were also permitted to be +held by banking associations as a part of their lawful reserves. +</p> +<p> +On the demand of the holders these Treasury notes were to be redeemed in +gold or silver coin, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury; +but it was declared as a part of this redemption provision that it was +"the established policy of the United States to maintain the two metals +on a parity with each other upon the present legal ratio or such ratio +as may be provided by law." The money coined from such bullion was to be +standard silver dollars, and after directing the immediate coinage of a +little less than 28,000,000 ounces the law provided that as much of the +remaining bullion should be thereafter coined as might be necessary to +provide for the redemption of the Treasury notes issued on its purchase, +and that "any gain or seigniorage arising from such coinage shall be +accounted for and paid into the Treasury." +</p> +<p> +This gain or seigniorage evidently indicates so much of the bullion +owned by the Government as should remain after using a sufficient amount +to coin as many standard silver dollars as should equal in number the +dollars represented by the Treasury notes issued in payment of the +entire quantity of bullion. These Treasury notes now outstanding and in +circulation amount to $152,951,280, and although there has been thus +far but a comparatively small amount of this bullion coined, yet the +so-called gain or seigniorage, as above defined, which would arise +from the coinage of the entire mass has been easily ascertained to be a +quantity of bullion sufficient to make when coined 55,156,681 standard +silver dollars. +</p> +<p> +Considering the present intrinsic relation between gold and silver, the +maintenance of the parity between the two metals, as mentioned in this +law, can mean nothing less than the maintenance of such a parity in the +estimation and confidence of the people who use our money in their daily +transactions. Manifestly the maintenance of this parity can only be +accomplished, so far as it is affected by these Treasury notes and in +the estimation of the holders of the same, by giving to such holders +on their redemption the coin, whether it is gold or silver, which they +prefer. It follows that while in terms the law leaves the choice of coin +to be paid on such redemption to the discretion of the Secretary of the +Treasury, the exercise of this discretion, if opposed to the demands of +the holder, is entirely inconsistent with the effective and beneficial +maintenance of the parity between the two metals. +</p> +<p> +If both gold and silver are to serve us as money and if they together +are to supply to our people a safe and stable currency, the necessity of +preserving this parity is obvious. Such necessity has been repeatedly +conceded in the platforms of both political parties and in our Federal +statutes. It is nowhere more emphatically recognized than in the recent +law which repealed the provision under which the bullion now on hand was +purchased. This law insists upon the "maintenance of the parity in value +of the coins of the two metals and the equal power of every dollar at +all times in the markets and in the payment of debts." +</p> +<p> +The Secretary of the Treasury has therefore, for the best of reasons, +not only promptly complied with every demand for the redemption of these +Treasury notes in gold, but the present situation as well as the letter +and spirit of the law appear plainly to justify, if they do not enjoin +upon him, a continuation of such redemption. +</p> +<p> +The conditions I have endeavored to present may be thus summarized: +</p> +<p> +First. The Government has purchased and now has on hand sufficient +silver bullion to permit the coinage of all the silver dollars necessary +to redeem in such dollars the Treasury notes issued for the purchase of +said silver bullion, and enough besides to coin, as gain or seigniorage, +55,156,681 additional standard silver dollars. +</p> +<p> +Second. There are outstanding and now in circulation Treasury notes +issued in payment of the bullion purchased amounting to $152,951,280. +These notes are legal tender in payment of all debts, public and +private, except when otherwise expressly stipulated; they are receivable +for customs, taxes, and all public dues; when held by banking +associations they may be counted as part of their lawful reserves, +and they are redeemed by the Government in gold at the option of the +holders. These advantageous attributes were deliberately attached to +these notes at the time of their issue. They are fully understood by our +people to whom such notes have been distributed as currency, and have +inspired confidence in their safety and value, and have undoubtedly thus +induced their continued and contented use as money, instead of anxiety +for their redemption. +</p> +<p> +Having referred to some incidents which I deem relevant to the subject, +it remains for me to submit a specific statement of my objections to the +bill now under consideration. +</p> +<p> +This bill consists of two sections, excluding one which merely +appropriates a sum sufficient to carry the act into effect. The first +section provides for the immediate coinage of the silver bullion in the +Treasury which represents the so-called gain or seigniorage, or which +would arise from the coinage of all the bullion on hand, which gain or +seigniorage this section declares to be $55,156,681. It directs that the +money so coined or the certificates issued thereon shall be used in the +payment of public expenditures, and provides that if the needs of the +Treasury demand it the Secretary of the Treasury may, in his discretion, +issue silver certificates in excess of such coinage, not exceeding the +amount of seigniorage in said section authorized to be coined. +</p> +<p> +The second section directs that as soon as possible after the coinage of +this seigniorage the remainder of the bullion held by the Government +shall be coined into legal-tender standard silver dollars, and that they +shall be held in the Treasury for the redemption of the Treasury notes +issued in the purchase of said bullion. It provides that as fast as the +bullion shall be coined for the redemption of said notes they shall not +be reissued, but shall be canceled and destroyed in amounts equal to the +coin held at any time in the Treasury derived from the coinage provided +for, and that silver certificates shall be issued on such coin in the +manner now provided by law. It is, however, especially declared in said +section that the act shall not be construed to change existing laws +relating to the legal-tender character or mode of redemption of the +Treasury notes issued for the purchase of the silver bullion to be +coined. +</p> +<p> +The entire bill is most unfortunately constructed. Nearly every sentence +presents uncertainty and invites controversy as to its meaning and +intent. The first section is especially faulty in this respect, and it +is extremely doubtful whether its language will permit the consummation +of its supposed purposes. I am led to believe that the promoters of the +bill intended in this section to provide for the coinage of the bullion +constituting the gain or seigniorage, as it is called, into standard +silver dollars, and yet there is positively nothing in the section to +prevent its coinage into any description of silver coins now authorized +under any existing law. +</p> +<p> +I suppose this section was also intended, in case the needs of the +Treasury called for money faster than the seigniorage bullion could +actually be coined, to permit the issue of silver certificates in +advance of such coinage; but its language would seem to permit the +issuance of such certificates to double the amount of seigniorage as +stated, one-half of which would not represent an ounce of silver in +the Treasury. The debate upon this section in the Congress developed +an earnest and positive difference of opinion as to its object and +meaning. In any event, I am clear that the present perplexities and +embarrassments of the Secretary of the Treasury ought not to be +augmented by devolving upon him the execution of a law so uncertain +and confused. +</p> +<p> +I am not willing, however, to rest my objection to this section solely +on these grounds. In my judgment sound finance does not commend a +further infusion of silver into our currency at this time unaccompanied +by further adequate provision for the maintenance in our Treasury of a +safe gold reserve. +</p> +<p> +Doubts also arise as to the meaning and construction of the second +section of the bill. If the silver dollars therein directed to be coined +are, as the section provides, to be held in the Treasury for the +redemption of Treasury notes, it is suggested that, strictly speaking, +certificates can not be issued on such coin "in the manner now provided +by law," because these dollars are money held in the Treasury for the +express purpose of redeeming Treasury notes on demand, which would +ordinarily mean that they were set apart for the purpose of substituting +them for these Treasury notes. They are not, therefore, held in such a +way as to furnish a basis for certificates according to any provision of +existing law. +</p> +<p> +If however, silver certificates can properly be issued upon these +dollars, there is nothing in the section to indicate the characteristics +and functions of these certificates. If they were to be of the same +character as silver certificates in circulation under existing laws, +they would at best be receivable only for customs, taxes, and all public +dues; and under the language of this section it is, to say the least, +extremely doubtful whether the certificates it contemplates would be +lawfully received even for such purposes. +</p> +<p> +Whatever else may be said of the uncertainties of expression in this +bill, they certainly ought not to be found in legislation affecting +subjects so important and far-reaching as our finances and currency. +In stating other and more important reasons for my disapproval of this +section I shall, however, assume that under its provisions the Treasury +notes issued in payment for silver bullion will continue to be redeemed +as heretofore, in silver or gold, at the option of the holders, and that +if when they are presented for redemption or reach the Treasury in any +other manner there are in the Treasury coined silver dollars equal in +nominal value to such Treasury notes, then and in that case the notes +will be destroyed and silver certificates to an equal amount be +substituted. +</p> +<p> +I am convinced that this scheme is ill advised and dangerous. As an +ultimate result of its operation Treasury notes, which are legal tender +for all debts, public and private, and which are redeemable in gold +or silver at the option of the holder, will be replaced by silver +certificates, which, whatever may be their character and description, +will have none of these qualities. In anticipation of this result and +as an immediate effect the Treasury notes will naturally appreciate in +value and desirability. The fact that gold can be realized upon them and +the further fact that their destruction has been decreed when they reach +the Treasury must tend to their withdrawal from general circulation +to be immediately presented for gold redemption or to be hoarded for +presentation at a more convenient season. The sequel of both operations +will be a large addition to the silver currency in our circulation and a +corresponding reduction of gold in the Treasury. The argument has been +made that these things will not occur at once, because a long time must +elapse before the coinage of anything but the seigniorage can be entered +upon. If the physical effects of the execution of the second section +of this bill are not to be realized until far in the future, this may +furnish a strong reason why it should not be passed so much in advance; +but the postponement of its actual operation can not prevent the fear +and loss of confidence and nervous precaution which would immediately +follow its passage and bring about its worst consequences. I regard this +section of the bill as embodying a plan by which the Government will be +obliged to pay out its scanty store of gold for no other purpose than +to force an unnatural addition of silver money into the hands of our +people. This is an exact reversal of the policy which safe finance +dictates if we are to preserve parity between gold and silver and +maintain sensible bimetallism. +</p> +<p> +We have now outstanding more than $338,000,000 in silver certificates +issued under existing laws. They are serving the purpose of money +usefully and without question. Our gold reserve, amounting to only a +little more than $100,000,000, is directly charged with the redemption +of $346,000,000 of United States notes. When it is proposed to inflate +our silver currency it is a time for strengthening our gold reserve +instead of depleting it. I can not conceive of a longer step toward +silver monometallism than we take when we spend our gold to buy silver +certificates for circulation, especially in view of the practical +difficulties surrounding the replenishment of our gold. +</p> +<p> +This leads me to earnestly present the desirability of granting to the +Secretary of the Treasury a better power than now exists to issue bonds +to protect our gold reserve when for any reason it should be necessary. +Our currency is in such a confused condition and our financial affairs +are apt to assume at any time so critical a position that it seems to me +such a course is dictated by ordinary prudence. +</p> +<p> +I am not insensible to the arguments in favor of coining the bullion +seigniorage now in the Treasury, and I believe it could be done safely +and with advantage if the Secretary of the Treasury had the power to +issue bonds at a low rate of interest under authority in substitution of +that now existing and better suited to the protection of the Treasury. +</p> +<p> +I hope a way will present itself in the near future for the adjustment +of our monetary affairs in such a comprehensive and conservative manner +as will accord to silver its proper place in our currency; but in the +meantime I am extremely solicitous that whatever action we take on this +subject may be such as to prevent loss and discouragement to our people +at home and the destruction of confidence in our financial management +abroad. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>August 7, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without approval House bill No. 2637, entitled "An act +for the relief of Eugene Wells, late captain, Twelfth Infantry, and +second lieutenant, First Artillery, United States Army." +</p> +<p> +This bill authorizes the President to nominate and, by and with the +advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint the beneficiary therein +named a second lieutenant of artillery in the Army of the United States, +and it directs that when so appointed he shall be placed upon the +retired list on account of disability, thus dispensing with the usual +examination and finding by a retiring board and all other ordinary +prerequisites of retirement. +</p> +<p> +Appointments to the Army under the authority of special legislation +which names the proposed appointee, and the purpose of which is the +immediate retirement of the appointee, are open to serious objections, +though I confess I have been persuaded through sympathy and sentiment on +a number of occasions to approve such legislation. When, however, it is +proposed to make the retirement compulsory and without reference to age +or previous examination, a most objectionable feature is introduced. +</p> +<p> +The cases covered by the special enactments referred to are usually such +as should, if worthy of any consideration, be provided for under general +or private pension laws, leaving the retired list of the Army to serve +the legitimate purpose for which it was established. +</p> +<p> +A recent discussion in the House of Representatives upon a bill similar +to the one now before me drew from a member of the House Committee on +Military Affairs the declaration that hundreds of such bills were before +that committee and that there were fifty precedents for the passage of +the particular one then under discussion. +</p> +<p> +It seems to me that this condition suggests such an encroachment upon +the retired list of the Army as should lead to the virtual abandonment +of the legislation referred to. +</p> +<p> +In addition to the objections to such legislation based upon sound +policy and good administration, there are facts connected with the case +covered by the bill now before me which, in my judgment, forbid its +favorable consideration. +</p> +<p> +The beneficiary named in this bill entered the military service as first +lieutenant in 1861. In September or October, 1870, then being a captain, +a charge of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman was preferred +against him with a view to his trial on said charge before a +court-martial. +</p> +<p> +The Articles of War provide that any officer convicted of this offense +shall be dismissed the service. +</p> +<p> +The first specification under this charge alleged that Captain Wells did +violently and without just cause or provocation assault First Lieutenant +P.H. Breslin "by furiously striking and hitting him (Lieutenant Breslin) +upon the head with a hickory stick, the butt end of a billiard cue, and +did continue the assault (upon Lieutenant Breslin) until forced to +desist therefrom by First Lieutenant Carl Veitenhimer, Fourth United +States Infantry, thereby endangering the life of Lieutenant Breslin and +disgracing himself (Captain Wells) as an officer of the United States +Army." +</p> +<p> +The second specification alleged that Captain Wells "did become so much +under the influence of intoxicating liquor as to behave himself in a +scandalous manner by violently attacking the person of First Lieutenant +P.H. Breslin, Fourth United States Infantry." +</p> +<p> +These offenses were charged to have been committed on the 3d day of +September, 1870, at Fort Fetterman, in Wyoming Territory. +</p> +<p> +On the 15th day of July, 1870, a law was passed, among other things, +to bring about a reduction of the Army, which law provided that the +President should before the 1st day of July, 1871, reduce the number of +enlisted men in the Army to 30,000, and authorized him in his discretion +to honorably discharge from the service of the United States officers of +the Army who might apply therefor on or before January 1, 1871. +</p> +<p> +Before the trial by court-martial upon the charge then pending against +him Captain Wells applied for his discharge under the provision of the +law above recited, whereupon the charge against him was withdrawn and +canceled, and on the 27th day of October, 1870, his application for a +discharge was granted. +</p> +<p> +On the 6th day of July, 1875, he was again appointed to the Army as +second lieutenant in the artillery, against which a remonstrance was +made by certain officers in the Army. +</p> +<p> +In August, 1877, Second Lieutenant Wells was charged with being "drunk +on duty, in violation of the thirty-eighth article of war." +</p> +<p> +He was also charged with "conduct to the prejudice of good order and +military discipline." +</p> +<p> +The first specification under the latter charge alleged that the accused +did "engage in an affray with First Lieutenant E. Van A. Andruss, First +Artillery." The second specification under said charge alleged that the +accused addressed his superior officer in a defiant and disrespectful +manner and neglected and hesitated to promptly obey the order of said +superior officer. +</p> +<p> +All these offenses were alleged to have been committed at Reading, Pa., +on the 2d day of August, 1877. +</p> +<p> +Soon after these charges were preferred a court-martial was convened for +the trial of the accused thereon. He pleaded not guilty to the charges +and specifications, but was convicted of them all and sentenced "to be +dismissed the service of the United States." +</p> +<p> +On the 6th day of October the proceedings, findings, and sentence of the +court-martial were approved by the President, who ordered the sentence +to be executed; and on the 13th day of October, 1877, in pursuance +thereof, Lieutenant Eugene Wells was dismissed from the service. +</p> +<p> +Since that time repeated efforts have been made to vacate this judgment +and restore the dismissed officer to the service. While a number of +committees in Congress have made reports favorable to such action, at +least two committees have recommended a denial of legislative relief. +Both of these reports were made on behalf of House Committees on +Military Affairs by distinguished soldiers, who, after patient +examination and with an inclination to be not only just but generous to +a fellow-soldier, were constrained to recommend a refusal of the +application for restoration. One of these reports was made to the +Forty-seventh and the other to the Forty-ninth Congress. +</p> +<p> +I am impressed with the belief that legislation of the kind proposed is +of extremely doubtful expediency in any save very exceptional cases, and +I am thoroughly convinced by the facts now before me that the discipline +and efficiency of our Army, as well as justice to its meritorious +members, do not permit my approval on any ground of the bill herewith +returned. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>August 11, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I hereby return without my approval Senate bill No. 1438, entitled +"An act for the relief of Louis A. Yorke." +</p> +<p> +In the year 1886 the beneficiary named in this bill was a passed +assistant paymaster in the Navy. In December of that year he appeared +before a naval examining board convened pursuant to law for the purpose +of passing upon his fitness to be promoted to the grade of paymaster. +</p> +<p> +The investigation of the board was conducted fairly and thoroughly. Much +of the evidence relating to the candidate's moral fitness for promotion +was documentary, and the examination touching his professional +competency was of the usual character in such cases. +</p> +<p> +Considerable evidence was before the board showing quite a large amount +of personal indebtedness owing by the candidate, and it appeared that +in a few instances his accounts with the Navy Department had not been +promptly settled. It was also shown that he had not at all times +deposited the Government money intrusted to his care in the places +required by law and the regulations of the Navy. In connection with his +personal indebtedness incidents and circumstances were brought to light +which certainly indicated that he entertained very lax ideas of honest +dealing and fairness and which developed a disregard of the obligations +and requirements of his position as an officer in the Navy. He was given +abundant opportunity to meet and explain every damaging allegation and +every adverse inference arising from the evidence, and his claim, not +without foundation it appeared, that the charges against him were +instigated by malice was doubtless given full weight. +</p> +<p> +The examining board on the evidence made the following decisions and +findings: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The written examination of the candidate shows that he is deficient in + his knowledge of the duties appertaining to the next higher grade; and + the record evidence puts in question his moral fitness, and he has + failed to establish both his professional and moral qualifications for + promotion to the satisfaction of the board. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Therefore we hereby certify that Passed Assistant Paymaster Louis A. + Yorke, United States Navy, has the mental fitness to perform efficiently + all the duties, both at sea and on shore, of the next higher grade, but + he has not the professional and moral qualifications required, and we do + not recommend him for promotion. +</p> +<p> +After the board had thus disposed of the case and had adjourned it was, +at the request of the candidate, reconvened by order of the Secretary of +the Navy, who issued for its guidance the following directions, among +others: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The board will inform Passed Assistant Paymaster Yorke of its findings + and of the evidence upon which it finds him to be not morally qualified + for promotion, and will afford him a further hearing and an opportunity + to present such evidence as he may desire as to his moral fitness for + promotion. +</p> +<p> +The board met pursuant to such order on the 4th day of January, 1887, +when the findings of the board were read to the candidate for promotion, +and also the evidence upon which said findings were based, and he was +informed that the board would accord him a further hearing as to his +moral fitness for promotion and would afford him a reasonable time in +which to submit his case. Thereupon he requested the board to allow him +until the 26th day of January to produce the necessary witnesses in his +behalf. This request was granted, but on the day appointed, upon his +representation that he was then unable to submit his defense, he was +upon his request allowed another day for that purpose. +</p> +<p> +In availing himself of the opportunity thus afforded him to present +evidence in defense or explanation of the matters charged against him +he examined no witnesses and contented himself with presenting his own +statement, containing little more than a reiteration of statements he +had already made before the board at previous hearings, supplemented by +slight documentary evidence which established no new facts in his favor. +</p> +<p> +The board thereupon reviewed all the evidence and proofs which had been +submitted during the entire examination, and after full consideration +decided that there was nothing in the additional evidence produced to +warrant a modification of the original finding, and the board therefore +again certified and decided that the candidate had not the moral +qualifications to perform efficiently the duties of the grade to which +he sought promotion. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary of the Navy transmitted the record, proceedings, and +findings of said examining board to the President, with a recommendation +that the same be approved and that the candidate be discharged from the +Navy with one year's pay, pursuant to a statute passed on the 5th day of +August, 1882, directing a discharge from the service in such cases. +</p> +<p> +Thereupon, and on the 19th day of February, 1887, the record, +proceedings, and findings of said board were approved by the President, +and Passed Assistant Paymaster Yorke was ordered discharged from the +naval service with one year's pay. +</p> +<p> +The bill now under consideration provides that the action of the +examining board above recited "be set aside and declared null and void." +It also authorizes the President "to appoint the beneficiary to the +office to which he would have been promoted but for said action and to +retire him in that grade as of the date he was wholly retired." +</p> +<p> +The authority attempted by the bill to be given to the President to thus +make an appointment to the office of paymaster in the Navy without the +interposition of the Senate appears to be inadmissible under that clause +of the Constitution which only permits the President to appoint certain +officers "by and with the advice and consent of the Senate." +</p> +<p> +The bill provides for the immediate retirement of the beneficiary. +He is now but 47 years old, thus lacking fifteen years of the time +when he would be entitled to retirement on account of age. There is no +suggestion that he is physically incapacitated. On the contrary, when +he was examined for promotion a medical board certified that he was +physically qualified to perform all his duties at sea, and the candidate +himself not only certified to the same thing, but further declared that +he was "free from all bodily ailments." If this condition continues and +if he should be restored to the Navy at all, he should be sent to duty +on the active list instead of being retired. On the facts as presented +he would seem to be out of place among those who, though still +compensated by the Government, have been on account of age, long and +honorable service, or disabilities incurred in the discharge of duty +relieved from further activity. +</p> +<p> +A careful investigation of the facts submitted to the examining board +and a consideration of all the statements made on behalf of the +beneficiary named in the bill utterly fail, in my opinion, to justify +the impeachment of the findings and determination of the board. +</p> +<p> +I have no doubt malicious feeling growing out of domestic difficulties +entered into the affair and gave impetus to the search after inculpating +evidence, but facts were nevertheless established beyond any reasonable +doubt which abundantly uphold these findings. +</p> +<p> +I feel obliged to disapprove the bill herewith returned because I +believe the power to appoint a paymaster in the Navy ought not, under +the Constitution, be conferred upon the President alone; because if the +beneficiary were restored to the Navy there would be no justice or +propriety in placing him upon the retired list, and because upon the +merits of the case I am of the opinion the judgment of the examining +board ought not to be reversed. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + PROCLAMATIONS. +</h2> +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas an act of Congress entitled "An act to give effect to the award +rendered by the Tribunal of Arbitration at Paris under the treaty +between the United States and Great Britain concluded at Washington +February 29, 1892, for the purpose of submitting to arbitration certain +questions concerning the preservation of the fur seals," was approved +April 6, 1894, and reads as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Whereas the following articles of the award of the Tribunal of + Arbitration constituted under the treaty concluded at Washington the + 29th of February, 1892, between the United States of America and Her + Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland + were delivered to the agents of the respective Governments on the + 15th day of August, 1893: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "ARTICLE 1. The Governments of the United States and Great Britain shall + forbid their citizens and subjects, respectively, to kill, capture, or + pursue at any time and in any manner whatever the animals commonly + called fur seals within a zone of 60 miles around the Pribilof Islands, + inclusive of the territorial waters. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "The miles mentioned in the preceding paragraph are geographical miles, + of 60 to a degree of latitude. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "ART. 2. The two Governments shall forbid their citizens and subjects, + respectively, to kill, capture, or pursue in any manner whatever during + the season extending each year from the 1st of May to the 31st of July, + both inclusive, the fur seals on the high sea in the part of the Pacific + Ocean, inclusive of the Bering Sea, which is situated to the north of + the thirty-fifth degree of north latitude and eastward of the one + hundred and eightieth degree of longitude from Greenwich till it strikes + the water boundary described in Article I of the treaty of 1867 between + the United States and Russia, and following that line up to Bering + Strait. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "ART. 3. During the period of time and in the waters in which the + fur-seal fishing is allowed only sailing vessels shall be permitted + to carry on or take part in fur-seal fishing operations. They will, + however, be at liberty to avail themselves of the use of such canoes or + undecked boats, propelled by paddles, oars, or sails, as are in common + use as fishing boats. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "ART. 4. Each sailing vessel authorized to fish for fur seals must + be provided with a special license issued for that purpose by its + Government, and shall be required to carry a distinguishing flag to + be prescribed by its Government. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "ART. 5. The masters of the vessels engaged in fur-seal fishing shall + enter accurately in their official log book the date and place of each + fur-seal fishing operation, and also the number and sex of the seals + captured upon each day. These entries shall be communicated by each of + the two Governments to the other at the end of each fishing season. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "ART. 6. The use of nets, firearms, and explosives shall be forbidden in + the fur-seal fishing. This restriction shall not apply to shotguns when + such fishing takes place outside of Bering Sea during the season when it + may be lawfully carried on. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "ART. 7. The two Governments shall take measures to control the fitness + of the men authorized to engage in fur-seal fishing. These men shall + have been proved fit to handle with sufficient skill the weapons by + means of which this fishing may be carried on. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "ART. 8. The regulations contained in the preceding articles shall not + apply to Indians dwelling on the coast of the territory of the United + States or of Great Britain and carrying on fur-seal fishing in canoes + or undecked boats not transported by or used in connection with other + vessels, and propelled wholly by paddles, oars, or sails and manned by + not more than five persons each in the way hitherto practiced by the + Indians, provided such Indians are not in the employment of other + persons, and provided that when so hunting in canoes or undecked boats + they shall not hunt fur seals outside of territorial waters under + contract for the delivery of the skins to any person. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "This exemption shall not be construed to affect the municipal law of + either country, nor shall it extend to the waters of Bering Sea or the + waters of the Aleutian passes. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Nothing herein contained is intended to interfere with the employment + of Indians as hunters or otherwise in connection with fur-sealing + vessels as heretofore. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "ART. 9. The concurrent regulations hereby determined with a view to the + protection and preservation of the fur seals shall remain in force until + they have been in whole or in part abolished or modified by common + agreement between the Governments of the United States and of Great + Britain. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "The said concurrent regulations shall be submitted every five years + to a new examination, so as to enable both interested Governments to + consider whether in the light of past experience, there is occasion + for any modification thereof." +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Now, therefore, be it enacted by the Senate and House of + Representatives of the United States of America in Congress + assembled</i>, That no citizen of the United States or person owing the + duty of obedience to the laws or the treaties of the United States, nor + any person belonging to or on board of a vessel of the United States, + shall kill, capture, or pursue at any time or in any manner whatever + outside of territorial waters any fur seal in the waters surrounding the + Pribilof Islands within a zone of 60 geographical miles (60 to a degree + of latitude) around said islands, exclusive of the territorial waters. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 2. That no citizen of the United States or person above described + in section 1 of this act, nor any person belonging to or on board of a + vessel of the United States, shall kill, capture, or pursue in any + manner whatever during the season extending from the 1st day of May to + the 31st day of July, both inclusive, in each year any fur seal on the + high seas outside of the zone mentioned in section 1, and in that part + of the Pacific Ocean, including Bering Sea, which is situated to the + north of the thirty-fifth degree of north latitude and to the east of + the one hundred and eightieth degree of longitude from Greenwich till it + strikes the water boundary described in Article I of the treaty of 1867 + between the United States and Russia, and following that line up to + Bering Strait. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 3. No citizen of the United States or person above described in the + first section of this act shall during the period and in the waters in + which by section 2 of this act the killing of fur seals is not + prohibited use or employ any vessel, nor shall any vessel of the United + States be used or employed, in carrying on or taking part in fur-seal + fishing operations, other than a sailing vessel propelled by sails + exclusively and such canoes or undecked boats propelled by paddles, + oars, or sails as may belong to and be used in connection with such + sailing vessels; nor shall any sailing vessel carry on or take part in + such operations without a special license obtained from the Government + for that purpose and without carrying a distinctive flag prescribed by + the Government for the same purpose. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 4. That every master of a vessel licensed under this act to engage + in fur-seal fishing operations shall accurately enter in his official + log book the date and place of every such operation, and also the number + and sex of the seals captured each day; and on coming into port and + before landing cargo the master shall verify on oath such official log + book as containing a full and true statement of the number and character + of his fur-seal fishing operations, including the number and sex of + seals captured; and for any false statement willfully made by a person + so licensed by the United States in this behalf he shall be subject to + the penalties of perjury, and any seal skins found in excess of the + statement in the official log book shall be forfeited to the United + States. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 5. That no person or vessel engaging in fur-seal fishing operations + under this act shall use or employ in such operations any net, firearm, + air gun, or explosive: <i>Provided, however</i>, That this prohibition + shall not apply to the use of shotguns in such operations outside of + Bering Sea during the season when the killing of fur seals is not there + prohibited by this act. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 6. That the foregoing sections of this act shall not apply to + Indians dwelling on the coast of the United States and taking fur seals + in canoes or undecked boats propelled wholly by paddles, oars, or sails, + and not transported by or used in connection with other vessels or + manned by more than five persons, in the manner heretofore practiced by + the said Indians: <i>Provided, however</i>, That the exception made in + this section shall not apply to Indians in the employment of other + persons, or who shall kill, capture, or pursue fur seals outside of + territorial waters under contract to deliver the skins to other persons, + nor to the waters of Bering Sea or of the passes between the Aleutian + Islands. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 7. That the President shall have power to make regulations + respecting the special license and the distinctive flag mentioned in + this act, and regulations otherwise suitable to secure the due execution + of the provisions of this act, and from time to time to add to, modify, + amend, or revoke such regulations as in his judgment may seem expedient. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 8. That, except in the case of a master making a false statement + under oath in violation of the provisions of the fourth section of this + act, every person guilty of a violation of the provisions of this act or + of the regulations made thereunder shall for each offense be fined not + less than $200 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both; and all + vessels, their tackle, apparel, furniture, and cargo, at any time used + or employed in violation of this act or of the regulations made + thereunder shall be forfeited to the United States. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 9. That any violation of this act or the regulations made + thereunder may be prosecuted either in the district court of Alaska or + in any district court of the United States in California, Oregon, or + Washington. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 10. That if any unlicensed vessel of the United States shall be + found within the waters to which this act applies, and at a time when + the killing of fur seals is by this act there prohibited, having on + board seal skins or bodies of seals or apparatus or implements suitable + for killing or taking seals, or if any licensed vessel shall be found + in the waters to which this act applies having on board apparatus or + implements suitable for taking seals, but forbidden then and there to + be used, it shall be presumed that the vessel in the one case and the + apparatus or implements in the other was or were used in violation of + this act until it is otherwise sufficiently proved. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 11. That it shall be the duty of the President to cause a + sufficient naval force to cruise in the waters to which this act is + applicable to enforce its provisions; and it shall be the duty of the + commanding officer of any vessel belonging to the naval or revenue + service of the United States, when so instructed by the President, to + seize and arrest all vessels of the United States found by him to be + engaged, used, or employed in the waters last aforesaid in violation + of any of the prohibitions of this act or of any regulations made + thereunder, and to take the same, with all persons on board thereof, to + the most convenient port in any district of the United States mentioned + in this act, there to be dealt with according to law. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 12. That any vessel or citizen of the United States or person + described in the first section of this act offending against the + prohibitions of this act or the regulations thereunder may be seized and + detained by the naval or other duly commissioned officers of Her Majesty + the Queen of Great Britain, but when so seized and detained they shall + be delivered as soon as practicable, with any witnesses and proofs on + board, to any naval or revenue officer or other authorities of the + United States, whose courts alone shall have jurisdiction to try the + offense and impose the penalties for the came: <i>Provided, however</i>, + That British officers shall arrest and detain vessels and persons as in + this section specified only after, by appropriate legislation, Great + Britain shall have authorized officers of the United States duly + commissioned and instructed by the President to that end to arrest, + detain, and deliver to the authorities of Great Britain vessels and + subjects of that Government offending against any statutes or + regulations of Great Britain enacted or made to enforce the award of + the treaty mentioned in the title of this act. +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, be it known that I, Grover Cleveland, President of the +United States of America, have caused the said act specially to be +proclaimed, to the end that its provisions may be known and observed; +and I hereby proclaim that every person guilty of a violation of the +provisions of said act will be arrested and punished as therein +provided, and all vessels so employed, their tackle, apparel, furniture, +and cargo, will be seized and forfeited. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 9th day of April, A.D. 1894, and of +the Independence of the United States the one hundred and eighteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +W.Q. GRESHAM,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas satisfactory proof has been given to me that no light-house and +light dues, tonnage dues, beacon and buoy dues, or other equivalent +taxes of any kind are imposed upon vessels of the United States in the +ports of the island of Grenada, one of the British West India Islands: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States of +America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by section 11 of the +act of Congress entitled "An act to abolish certain fees for official +services to American vessels and to amend the laws relating to shipping +commissioners, seamen, and owners of vessels, and for other purposes," +approved June 19, 1886, and in virtue of the further act amendatory +thereof, entitled "An act to amend the laws relating to navigation, +and for other purposes," approved April 4, 1888, do hereby declare and +proclaim that from and after the date of this my proclamation shall +be suspended the collection of the whole of the tonnage duty which +is imposed by said section 11 of the act approved June 19, 1886, upon +vessels entered in the ports of the United States from any of the ports +of the island of Grenada. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That there shall be excluded from the benefits of the +suspension hereby declared and proclaimed the vessels of any foreign +country in whose ports the fees or dues of any kind or nature imposed on +vessels of the United States or the import or export duties on their +cargoes are in excess of the fees, dues, or duties imposed on the +vessels of such country or on the cargoes of such vessels; but this +proviso shall not be held to be inconsistent with the special regulation +by foreign countries of duties and other charges on their own vessels +and the cargoes thereof engaged in their coasting trade, or with the +existence between such countries and other states of reciprocal +stipulations founded on special conditions and equivalents, and thus not +within the treatment of American vessels under the most-favored-nation +clause in treaties between the United States and such countries. +</p> +<p> +And the suspension hereby declared and proclaimed shall continue so long +as the reciprocal exemption of vessels belonging to citizens of the +United States and their cargoes shall be continued in the said ports of +the island of Grenada, and no longer. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 2d day of May, A.D. 1894, and of +the Independence of the United States the one hundred and eighteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +W.Q. GRESHAM,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas, by reason of unlawful obstructions, combinations, and +assemblages of persons, it has become impracticable, in the judgment of +the President, to enforce by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings +the laws of the United States within the State of Illinois, and +especially in the city of Chicago within said State; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas, for the purpose of enforcing the faithful execution of +the laws of the United States and protecting its property and removing +obstructions to the United States mails in the State and city aforesaid, +the President has employed a part of the military forces of the United +States: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, do +hereby admonish all good citizens and all persons who may be or may come +within the city and State aforesaid against aiding, countenancing, +encouraging, or taking any part in such unlawful obstructions, +combinations, and assemblages; and I hereby warn all persons engaged in +or in any way connected with such unlawful obstructions, combinations, +and assemblages to disperse and retire peaceably to their respective +abodes on or before 12 o'clock noon on the 9th day of July instant. +</p> +<p> +Those who disregard this warning and persist in taking part with a +riotous mob in forcibly resisting and obstructing the execution of +the laws of the United States or interfering with the functions of the +Government or destroying or attempting to destroy the property belonging +to the United States or under its protection can not be regarded +otherwise than as public enemies. +</p> +<p> +Troops employed against such a riotous mob will act with all the +moderation and forbearance consistent with the accomplishment of the +desired end, but the stern necessities that confront them will not with +certainty permit discrimination between guilty participants and those +who are mingled with them from curiosity and without criminal intent. +The only safe course, therefore, for those not actually unlawfully +participating is to abide at their homes, or at least not to be found +in the neighborhood of riotous assemblages. +</p> +<p> +While there will be no hesitation or vacillation in the decisive +treatment of the guilty, this warning is especially intended to protect +and save the innocent. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be hereto affixed. +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 8th day of July, A.D. 1894, and of +the Independence of the United States the one hundred and nineteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +W.Q. GRESHAM,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas, by reason of unlawful obstructions, combinations, and +assemblages of persons, it has become impracticable, in the judgment of +the President, to enforce by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings +the laws of the United States at certain points and places within the +States of North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Wyoming, Colorado, +and California and the Territories of Utah and New Mexico, and +especially along the lines of such railways traversing said States and +Territories as are military roads and post routes and are engaged in +interstate commerce and in carrying United States mails; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas, for the purpose of enforcing the faithful execution of the laws +of the United States and protecting property belonging to the United +States or under its protection, and of preventing obstructions of the +United States mails and of commerce between the States and Territories, +and of securing to the United States the right guaranteed by law to the +use of such roads for postal, military, naval, and other Government +service, the President has employed a part of the military forces of the +United States: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, do +hereby command all persons engaged in or in any way connected with such +unlawful obstructions, combinations, and assemblages to disperse and +retire peaceably to their respective abodes on or before 3 o'clock in +the afternoon on the 10th day of July instant. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be hereto affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 9th day of July, A.D. 1894, and of +the Independence of the United States the one hundred and nineteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +W.Q. GRESHAM,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas an act of Congress entitled "An act to adopt regulations for +preventing collisions at sea" was approved August 19, 1890, the said act +being in the following words: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the + United States of America in Congress assembled</i>, That the following + regulations for preventing collisions at sea shall be followed by all + public and private vessels of the United States upon the high seas and + in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + PRELIMINARY. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the following rules every steam vessel which is under sail and not + under steam is to be considered a sailing vessel, and every vessel under + steam, whether under sail or not, is to be considered a steam vessel. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The words "steam vessel" shall include any vessel propelled by + machinery. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + A vessel is "under way" within the meaning of these rules when she is + not at anchor or made fast to the shore or aground. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULES CONCERNING LIGHTS, ETC. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The word "visible" in these rules when applied to lights shall mean + visible on a dark night with a clear atmosphere. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ARTICLE 1. The rules concerning lights shall be complied with in all + weathers from sunset to sunrise, and during such time no other lights + which may be mistaken for the prescribed lights shall be exhibited. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 2. A steam vessel when under way shall carry— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) On or in front of the foremast, or if a vessel without a + foremast, then in the fore part of the vessel, at a height above the + hull of not less than 20 feet, and if the breadth of the vessel exceeds + 20 feet, then at a height above the hull not less than such breadth, so, + however, that the light need not be carried at a greater height above + the hull than 40 feet a bright white light so constructed as to show + an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 20 points of the + compass, so fixed as to throw the light 10 points on each side of the + vessel—namely, from right ahead to 2 points abaft the beam on either + side—and of such a character as to be visible at a distance of at least + 5 miles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) On the starboard side a green light so constructed as to show + an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points of the + compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to 2 points + abaft the beam on the starboard side, and of such a character as to be + visible at a distance of at least 2 miles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) On the port side a red light so constructed as to show an + unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points of the compass, + so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to 2 points abaft the + beam on the port side, and of such a character as to be visible at a + distance of at least 2 miles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) The said green and red side lights shall be fitted with + inboard screens projecting at least 3 feet forward from the light, so as + to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>e</i>) A steam vessel when under way may carry an additional white + light similar in construction to the light mentioned in subdivision + (<i>a</i>). These two lights shall be so placed in line with the keel + that one shall be at least 15 feet higher than the other and in such a + position with reference to each other that the lower light shall be + forward of the upper one. The vertical distance between these lights + shall be less than the horizontal distance. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 3. A steam vessel when towing another vessel shall, in addition to + her side lights, carry two bright white lights in a vertical line one + over the other, not less than 6 feet apart, and when towing more than + one vessel shall carry an additional bright white light 6 feet above or + below such light if the length of the tow measuring from the stern of + the towing vessel to the stern of the last vessel towed exceeds 600 + feet. Bach of these lights shall be of the same construction and + character and shall be carried in the same position as the white light + mentioned in article 2 (<i>a</i>), excepting the additional light, which + may be carried at a height of not less than 14 feet above the hull. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Such steam vessel may carry a small white light abaft the funnel or + aftermast for the vessel towed to steer by, but such light shall not be + visible forward of the beam. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 4. (<i>a</i>) A vessel which from any accident is not under command + shall carry at the same height as a white light mentioned in article 2 + (<i>a</i>), where they can best be seen, and if a steam vessel in lieu + of that light, two red lights in a vertical line one over the other, not + less than 6 feet apart, and of such a character as to be visible all + around the horizon at a distance of at least 2 miles; and shall by day + carry in a vertical line one over the other, not less than 6 feet apart, + where they can best be seen, two black balls or shapes each 2 feet in + diameter. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) A vessel employed in laying or in picking up a telegraph + cable shall carry in the same position as the white light mentioned in + article 2 (<i>a</i>), and if a steam vessel in lieu of that light, three + lights in a vertical line one over the other, not less than 6 feet + apart. The highest and lowest of these lights shall be red and the + middle light shall be white, and they shall be of such a character as to + be visible all around the horizon at a distance of at least 2 miles. By + day she shall carry in a vertical line one over the other, not less than + 6 feet apart, where they can best be seen, three shapes not less than 2 + feet in diameter, of which the highest and lowest shall be globular in + shape and red in color and the middle one diamond in shape and white. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) The vessels referred to in this article, when not making way + through the water, shall not carry the side lights, but when making way + shall carry them. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) The lights and shapes required to be shown by this article + are to be taken by other vessels as signals that the vessel showing them + is not under command and can not, therefore, get out of the way. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + These signals are not signals of vessels in distress and requiring + assistance. Such signals are contained in article 31. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 5. A sailing vessel under way and any vessel being towed shall + carry the same lights as are prescribed by article 2 for a steam vessel + under way, with the exception of the white lights mentioned therein, + which they shall never carry. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 6. Whenever, as in the case of small vessels under way during bad + weather, the green and red side lights can not be fixed, these lights + shall be kept at hand, lighted and ready for use, and shall on the + approach of or to other vessels be exhibited on their respective sides, + in sufficient time to prevent collision, in such manner as to make them + most visible and so that the green light shall not be seen on the port + side nor the red light on the starboard side, nor, if practicable, more + than 2 points abaft the beam on their respective sides. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + To make the use of these portable lights more certain and easy the + lanterns containing them shall each be painted outside with the color of + the light they respectively contain and shall be provided with proper + screens. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 7. Steam vessels of less than 40 and vessels under oars or sails of + less than 20 tons gross tonnage, respectively, when under way shall not + be obliged to carry the lights mentioned in article 2 (<i>a</i>), + (<i>b</i>), and (<i>c</i>), but if they do not carry them they shall be + provided with the following lights: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + First. Steam vessels of less than 40 tons shall carry— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) In the fore part of the vessel or on or in front of the + funnel, where it can best be seen, and at a height above the gunwale of + not less than 9 feet, a bright white light constructed and fixed as + prescribed in article 2 (<i>a</i>) and of such a character as to be + visible at a distance of at least 2 miles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) Green and red side lights constructed and fixed as prescribed + in article 2 (<i>b</i>) and (<i>c</i>) and of such a character as to be + visible at a distance of at least 1 mile, or a combined lantern showing + a green light and a red light from right ahead to 2 points abaft the + beam on their respective sides. Such lanterns shall be carried not less + than 3 feet below the white light. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Second. Small steamboats, such as are carried by seagoing vessels, may + carry the white light at a less height than 9 feet above the gunwale, + but it shall be carried above the combined lantern mentioned in + subdivision 1 (<i>b</i>). +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Third. Vessels under oars or sails of less than 20 tons shall have ready + at hand a lantern with a green glass on one side and a red glass on the + other, which on the approach of or to other vessels shall be exhibited, + in sufficient time to prevent collision, so that the green light shall + not be seen on the port side nor the red light on the starboard side. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The vessels referred to in this article shall not be obliged to carry + the lights prescribed by article 4 (<i>a</i>) and article 11, last + paragraph. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 8. Pilot vessels when engaged on their station on pilotage duty + shall not show the lights required for other vessels, but shall carry a + white light at the masthead, visible all around the horizon, and shall + also exhibit a flare-up light or flare-up lights at short intervals, + which shall never exceed fifteen minutes. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + On the near approach of or to other vessels they shall have their side + lights lighted, ready for use, and shall flash or show them at short + intervals to indicate the direction in which they are heading; but the + green light shall not be shown on the port side nor the red light on the + starboard side. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + A pilot vessel of such a class as to be obliged to go alongside of a + vessel to put a pilot on board may show the white light instead of + carrying it at the masthead, and may, instead of the colored lights + above mentioned, have at hand, ready for use, a lantern with a green + glass on the one side and a red glass on the other, to be used as + prescribed above. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Pilot vessels when not engaged on their station on pilotage duty shall + carry lights similar to those of other vessels of their tonnage. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 9. Fishing vessels and fishing boats when under way and when not + required by this article to carry or show the lights therein named shall + carry or show the lights prescribed for vessels of their tonnage under + way. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) Vessels and boats when fishing with drift nets shall exhibit + two white lights from any part of the vessel where they can best be + seen. Such lights shall be placed so that the vertical distance between + them shall be not less than 6 feet and not more than 10 feet, and so + that the horizontal distance between them measured in a line with the + keel shall be not less than 5 feet and not more than 10 feet. The lower + of these two lights shall be the more forward, and both of them shall be + of such a character as to show all around the horizon and to be visible + at a distance of not less than 3 miles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) Vessels when engaged in trawling, by which is meant the + dragging of an apparatus along the bottom of the sea— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + First. If steam vessels, shall carry in the same position as the white + light mentioned in article 2 (<i>a</i>) a tricolored lantern so + constructed and fixed as to show a white light from right ahead to 2 + points on each bow and a green light and a red light over an arc of the + horizon from 2 points on either bow to 2 points abaft the beam on the + starboard and port sides, respectively, and not less than 6 nor more + than 12 feet below the tricolored lantern, a white light in a lantern so + constructed as to show a clear, uniform, and unbroken light all around + the horizon. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Second. If sailing vessels of 7 tons gross tonnage and upward, shall + carry a white light in a lantern so constructed as to show a clear, + uniform, and unbroken light all around the horizon, and shall also be + provided with a sufficient supply of red pyrotechnic lights, which shall + each burn for at least 30 seconds, and shall be shown on the approach of + or to other vessels in sufficient time to prevent collision. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the Mediterranean Sea the vessels referred to in subdivision + (<i>b</i>) 2 may use a flare-up light in lieu of a pyrotechnic light. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + All lights mentioned in subdivision (<i>b</i>) 1 and 2 shall be visible + at a distance of at least 2 miles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Third. If sailing vessels of less than 7 tons gross tonnage, shall not + be obliged to carry the white light mentioned in subdivision (<i>b</i>) + 2 of this article, but if they do not carry such light they shall have + at hand, ready for use, a lantern showing a bright white light, which + shall on the approach of or to other vessels be exhibited where it can + best be seen, in sufficient time to prevent collision; and they shall + also show a red pyrotechnic light, as prescribed in subdivision + (<i>b</i>) 2, or in lieu thereof a flare-up light. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) Vessels and boats when line fishing with their lines out and + attached to their lines, and when not at anchor or stationary, shall + carry the same lights as vessels fishing with drift nets. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) Fishing vessels and fishing boats may at any time use a + flare-up light in addition to the lights which they are by this article + required to carry and show. All flare-up lights exhibited by a vessel + when trawling or fishing with any kind of dragnet shall be shown at the + after part of the vessel, excepting that if the vessel is hanging by the + stern to her fishing gear they shall be exhibited from the bow. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>e</i>) Every fishing vessel and every boat when at anchor shall + exhibit a white light visible all around the horizon at a distance of at + least 1 mile. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>f</i>) If a vessel or boat when fishing becomes stationary in + consequence of her gear getting fast to a rock or other obstruction, she + shall show the light and make the fog signal prescribed for a vessel at + anchor, respectively. (See article 15 (<i>d</i>), (<i>e</i>), and last + paragraph.) +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>g</i>) In fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain storms drift-net + vessels attached to their nets, and vessels when trawling, dredging, or + fishing with any kind of dragnet, and vessels line fishing with their + lines out shall, if of 20 tons gross tonnage or upward, respectively, at + intervals of not more than one minute make a blast—if steam vessels, + with the whistle or siren, and if sailing vessels, with the fog + horn—each blast to be followed by ringing the bell. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>h</i>) Sailing vessels or boats fishing with nets or lines or trawls + when under way shall in daytime indicate their occupation to an + approaching vessel by displaying a basket or other efficient signal + where it can best be seen. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The vessels referred to in this article shall not be obliged to carry + the lights prescribed by article 4 (<i>a</i>) and article 11, last + paragraph. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 10. A vessel which is being overtaken by another shall show from + her stern to such last-mentioned vessel a white light or a flare-up + light. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The white light required to be shown by this article may be fixed + and carried in a lantern, but in such case the lantern shall be so + constructed, fitted, and screened that it shall throw an unbroken light + over an arc of the horizon of 12 points of the compass—namely, for 6 + points from right aft on each side of the vessel—so as to be visible at + a distance of at least 1 mile. Such light shall be carried as nearly as + practicable on the same level as the side lights. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 11. A vessel under 150 feet in length when at anchor shall carry + forward, where it can best be seen, but at a height not exceeding 20 + feet above the hull, a white light in a lantern so constructed as to + show a clear, uniform, and unbroken light visible all around the horizon + at a distance of at least 1 mile. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + A vessel of 150 feet or upward in length when at anchor shall carry in + the forward part of the vessel, at a height of not less than 20 and not + exceeding 40 feet above the hull, one such light, and at or near the + stern of the vessel, and at such a height that it shall be not less than + 15 feet lower than the forward light, another such light. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The length of a vessel shall be deemed to be the length appearing in her + certificate of registry. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + A vessel aground in or near a fairway shall carry the above light or + lights and the two red lights prescribed by article 4 (<i>a</i>). +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 12. Every vessel may, if necessary in order to attract attention, + in addition to the lights which she is by these rules required to carry, + show a flare-up light or use any detonating signal that can not be + mistaken for a distress signal. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 13. Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the operation of + any special rules made by the government of any nation with respect to + additional station and signal lights for two or more ships of war or for + vessels sailing under convoy, or with the exhibition of recognition + signals adopted by shipowners which have been authorized by their + respective governments and duly registered and published. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 14. A steam vessel proceeding under sail only, but having her + funnel up, shall carry in daytime forward, where it can best be seen, + one black ball or shape 2 feet in diameter. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SOUND SIGNALS FOR FOG, ETC. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 15. All signals prescribed by this article for vessels under way + shall be given— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. By "steam vessels," on the whistle or siren. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. By "sailing vessels" and "vessels towed," on the fog horn. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The words "prolonged blast" used in this article shall mean a blast of + from four to six seconds' duration. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + A steam vessel shall be provided with an efficient whistle or siren, + sounded by steam or by some substitute for steam, so placed that the + sound may not be intercepted by any obstruction, and with an efficient + fog horn, to be sounded by mechanical means, and also with an efficient + bell. (In all cases where the rules require a bell to be used a drum may + be substituted on board Turkish vessels or a gong where such articles + are used on board small seagoing vessels.) A sailing vessel of 20 tons + gross tonnage or upward shall be provided with a similar fog horn and + bell. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain storms, whether by day or + night, the signals described in this article shall be used as follows, + viz: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) A steam vessel having way upon her shall sound at intervals + of not more than two minutes a prolonged blast. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) A steam vessel under way, but stopped and having no way upon + her, shall sound at intervals of not more than two minutes two prolonged + blasts with an interval of about one second between them. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) A sailing vessel under way shall sound at intervals of not + more than one minute, when on the starboard tack one blast, when on the + port tack two blasts in succession, and when with the wind abaft the + beam three blasts in succession. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) A vessel when at anchor shall at intervals of not more than + one minute ring the bell rapidly for about five seconds. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>e</i>) A vessel at anchor at sea, when not in ordinary anchorage + ground and when in such a position as to be an obstruction to vessels + under way, shall sound, if a steam vessel, at intervals of not more than + two minutes, two prolonged blasts with her whistle or siren, followed by + ringing her bell; or, if a sailing vessel, at intervals of not more than + one minute two blasts with her fog horn, followed by ringing her bell. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>f</i>) A vessel when towing shall, instead of the signals prescribed + in subdivisions (<i>a</i>) and (<i>c</i>) of this article, at intervals + of not more than two minutes sound three blasts in succession, namely, + one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. A vessel towed may + give this signal, and she shall not give any other. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>g</i>) A steam vessel wishing to indicate to another "The way is off + my vessel; you may feel your way past me" may sound three blasts in + succession, namely, short, long, short, with intervals of about one + second between them. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>h</i>) A vessel employed in laying or picking up a telegraph cable + shall on hearing the fog signal of an approaching vessel sound in answer + three prolonged blasts in succession. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>i</i>) A vessel under way which is unable to get out of the way of + an approaching vessel through being not under command or unable to + maneuver as required by these rules shall on hearing the fog signal of + an approaching vessel sound in answer four short blasts in succession. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Sailing vessels and boats of less than 20 tons gross tonnage shall not + be obliged to give the above-mentioned signals, but if they do not they + shall make some other efficient sound signal at intervals of not more + than one minute. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SPEED OF SHIPS TO BE MODERATE IN FOG, ETC. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 16. Every vessel shall in a fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain + storm go at a moderate speed, having careful regard to the existing + circumstances and conditions. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + A steam vessel hearing, apparently forward of her beam, the fog signal + of a vessel the position of which is not ascertained shall, so far as + the circumstances of the case admit, stop her engines, and then navigate + with caution until danger of collision is over. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + STEERING AND SAILING RULES. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + PRELIMINARY.—RISK OF COLLISION. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Risk of collision can, when circumstances permit, be ascertained by + carefully watching the compass bearing of an approaching vessel. If the + bearing does not appreciably change, such risk should be deemed to + exist. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 17. When two sailing vessels are approaching one another so as to + involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep out of the way of the + other as follows, namely: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) A vessel which is running free shall keep out of the way of a + vessel which is closehauled. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) A vessel which is closehauled on the port tack shall keep out + of the way of a vessel which is closehauled on the starboard tack. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) When both are running free with the wind on different sides, + the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way + of the other. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) When both are running free with the wind on the same side, + the vessel which is to the windward shall keep out of the way of the + vessel which is to leeward. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>e</i>) A vessel which has the wind aft shall keep out of the way of + the other vessel. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 18. When two steam vessels are meeting end on or nearly end on, so + as to involve risk of collision, each shall alter her course to + starboard, so that each may pass on the port side of the other. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + This article only applies to cases where vessels are meeting end on or + nearly end on in such a manner as to involve risk of collision, and does + not apply to two vessels which must if both keep on their respective + courses pass clear of each other. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The only cases to which it does apply are when each of the two vessels + is end on or nearly end on to the other; in other words, to cases in + which by day each vessel sees the masts of the other in a line or nearly + in a line with her own, and by night to cases in which each vessel is in + such a position as to see both the side lights of the other. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + It does not apply by day to cases in which a vessel sees another ahead + crossing her own course, or by night to cases where the red light of one + vessel is opposed to the red light of the other, or where the green + light of one vessel is opposed to the green light of the other, or where + a red light without a green light or a green light without a red light + is seen ahead, or where both green and red lights are seen anywhere but + ahead. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 19. When two steam vessels are crossing, so as to involve risk of + collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side + shall keep out of the way of the other. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 20. When a steam vessel and a sailing vessel are proceeding in such + directions as to involve risk of collision, the steam vessel shall keep + out of the way of the sailing vessel. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 21. Where by any of these rules one of two vessels is to keep out + of the way, the other shall keep her course and speed. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 22. Every vessel which is directed by these rules to keep out of + the way of another vessel shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, + avoid crossing ahead of the other. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 23. Every steam vessel which is directed by these rules to keep out + of the way of another vessel shall on approaching her, if necessary, + slacken her speed or stop or reverse. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 24. Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules every vessel + overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the overtaken vessel. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Every vessel coming up with another vessel from any direction more than + 2 points abaft her beam—that is, in such a position with reference to + the vessel which she is overtaking, that at night she would be unable to + see either of that vessel's side lights—shall be deemed to be an + overtaking vessel, and no subsequent alteration of the bearing between + the two vessels shall make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessel + within the meaning of these rules or relieve her of the duty of keeping + clear of the overtaken vessel until she is finally past and clear. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + As by day the overtaking vessel can not always know with certainty + whether she is forward of or abaft this direction from the other vessel, + she should if in doubt assume that she is an overtaking vessel and keep + out of the way. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 25. In narrow channels every steam vessel shall, when it is safe + and practicable, keep to that side of the fairway or mid-channel which + lies on the starboard side of such vessel. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 26. Sailing vessels under way shall keep out of the way of sailing + vessels or boats fishing with nets or lines or trawls. This rule shall + not give to any vessel or boat engaged in fishing the right of + obstructing a fairway used by vessels other than fishing vessels or + boats. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 27. In obeying and construing these rules due regard shall be had + to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special + circumstances which may render a departure from the above rules + necessary in order to avoid immediate danger. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SOUND SIGNALS FOR VESSELS IN SIGHT OF ONE ANOTHER. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 28. The words "short blast" used in this article shall mean a blast + of about one second's duration. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + When vessels are in sight of one another, a steam vessel under way, in + taking any course authorized or required by these rules, shall indicate + that course by the following signals on her whistle or siren, namely: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + One short blast to mean, "I am directing my course to starboard." +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Two short blasts to mean, "I am directing my course to port." +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Three short blasts to mean, "My engines are going at full speed astern." +</p> +<p class="quote"> + NO VESSEL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TO NEGLECT PROPER PRECAUTIONS. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 29. Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any vessel or the owner + or master or crew thereof from the consequences of any neglect to carry + lights or signals, or of any neglect to keep a proper lookout, or of the + neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice + of seamen or by the special circumstances of the case. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RESERVATION OF RULES FOR HARBORS AND INLAND NAVIGATION. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 30. Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the operation of a + special rule duly made by local authority relative to the navigation of + any harbor, river, or inland waters. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + DISTRESS SIGNALS. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 31. When a vessel is in distress and requires assistance from other + vessels or from the shore, the following shall be the signals to be used + or displayed by her, either together or separately, namely: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the daytime— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + First. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Second. The international code signal of distress, indicated by N.C. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Third. The distance signal, consisting of a square flag, having either + above or below it a ball or anything resembling a ball. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Fourth. Rockets or shells as prescribed below for use at night. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Fifth. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + At night— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + First. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Second. Flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, + etc.). +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Third. Rockets or shells bursting in the air with a loud report and + throwing stars of any color or description, fired one at a time at short + intervals. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Fourth. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 2. That all laws or parts of laws inconsistent with the foregoing + regulations for preventing collisions at sea for the navigation of all + public and private vessels of the United States upon the high seas and + in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels are + hereby repealed. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 3. That this act shall take effect at a time to be fixed by the + President by proclamation issued for that purpose. +</p> +<p> +And whereas an act of Congress entitled "An act to amend an act approved +August 19, 1890, entitled 'An act to adopt regulations for preventing +collisions at sea,'" was approved May 28, 1894, the said act being in +the following words: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the + United States of America in Congress assembled</i>, That article 7 of + the act approved August 19, 1890, entitled "An act to adopt regulations + for preventing collisions at sea," be amended to read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "ART. 7. Steam vessels of less than 40 and vessels under oars or sails + of less than 20 tons gross tonnage, respectively, and rowing boats, when + under way, shall not be required to carry the lights mentioned in + article 2 (<i>a</i>), (<i>b</i>), and (<i>c</i>), but if they do not + carry them they shall be provided with the following lights: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "First. Steam vessels of less than 40 tons shall carry— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "(<i>a</i>) In the fore part of the vessel or on or in front of the + funnel where it can best be seen, and at a height above the gunwale of + not less than 9 feet, a bright white light constructed and fixed as + prescribed in article 2 (<i>a</i>) and of such a character as to be + visible at a distance of at least 2 miles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "(<i>b</i>) Green and red side lights constructed and fixed as + prescribed in article 2 (<i>b</i>) and (<i>c</i>) and of such a + character as to be visible at a distance of at least 1 mile, or a + combined lantern showing a green light and a red light from right ahead + to 2 points abaft the beam on their respective sides. Such lanterns + shall be carried not less than 3 feet below the white light. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Second. Small steamboats, such as are carried by seagoing vessels, may + carry the white light at a less height than 9 feet above the gunwale, + but it shall be carried above the combined lantern mentioned in + subdivision 1 (<i>b</i>). +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Third. Vessels under oars or sails of less than 20 tons shall have + ready at hand a lantern with a green glass on one side and a red glass + on the other, which on the approach of or to other vessels shall be + exhibited, in sufficient time to prevent collision, so that the green + light shall not be seen on the port side nor the red light on the + starboard side. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Fourth. Rowing boats, whether under oars or sail, shall have ready at + hand a lantern showing a white light, which shall be temporarily + exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "The vessels referred to in this article shall not be obliged to carry + the lights prescribed by article 4 (a) and article 11, last paragraph." +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That article 9 be hereby repealed. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That article 21 be amended to read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "ART. 21. Where by any of these rules one of two vessels is to keep out + of the way the other shall keep her course and speed. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "NOTE.—When, in consequence of thick weather or other causes, such + vessel finds herself so close that collision can not be avoided by the + action of the giving-way vessel alone, she also shall take such action + as will best aid to avert collision." (See articles 27 and 29.) +</p> +<p> +That article 31 be amended to read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "DISTRESS SIGNALS. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "ART. 31. When a vessel is in distress and requires assistance from + other vessels or from the shore the following shall be the signals to + be used or displayed by her, either together or separately, namely: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "In the daytime— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "First. A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a + minute. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Second. The international code signal of distress indicated by N.C. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Third. The distance signal, consisting of a square flag, having either + above or below it a ball or anything resembling a ball. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Fourth. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "At night— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "First. A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a + minute. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Second. Flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, + etc.). +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Third. Rockets or shells throwing stars of any color or description, + fired one at a time at short intervals. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Fourth. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus." +</p> +<p> +And whereas it is provided by section 3 of the act approved August 19, +1890, that it shall take effect at a time to be fixed by the President +by proclamation issued for that purpose: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States of +America, do hereby, in virtue of the authority vested in me by section 3 +of the act aforesaid, proclaim the 1st day of March, 1895, as the day on +which the said act approved August 19, 1890, as amended by the act +approved May 28, 1894, shall take effect. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States of America to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 13th day of July, 1894, and of the +Independence of the United States the one hundred and nineteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +W.Q. GRESHAM,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas Congress by a statute approved March 22, 1882, and by statutes +in furtherance and amendment thereof defined the crimes of bigamy, +polygamy, and unlawful cohabitation in the Territories and other places +within the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States and prescribed a +penalty for such crimes; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas on or about the 6th day of October, 1890, the Church of the +Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church, through its +president issued a manifesto proclaiming the purpose of said church no +longer to sanction the practice of polygamous marriages and calling upon +all members and adherents of said church to obey the laws of the United +States in reference to said subject-matter; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas on the 4th day of January, A.D. 1893,<a href="#note-7" name="noteref-7"><small>7</small></a> Benjamin Harrison, then +President of the United States, did declare and grant a full pardon and +amnesty to certain offenders under said acts upon condition of future +obedience to their requirements, as is fully set forth in said +proclamation of amnesty and pardon; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas upon the evidence now furnished me I am satisfied that the +members and adherents of said church generally abstain from plural +marriages and polygamous cohabitation and are now living in obedience to +the laws, and that the time has now arrived when the interests of public +justice and morality will be promoted by the granting of amnesty and +pardon to all such offenders as have complied with the conditions of +said proclamation, including such of said offenders as have been +convicted under the provisions of said act: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, by +virtue of the powers in me vested, do hereby declare and grant a full +amnesty and pardon to all persons who have in violation of said acts +committed either of the offenses of polygamy, bigamy, adultery, or +unlawful cohabitation under the color of polygamous or plural marriage, +or who, having been convicted of violations of said acts, are now +suffering deprivation of civil rights in consequence of the same, +excepting all persons who have not complied with the conditions +contained in said executive proclamation of January 4, 1893. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 25th day of September, A.D. 1894, +and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +nineteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +W.Q. GRESHAM,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +The American people should gratefully render thanksgiving and praise to +the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, who has watched over them with +kindness and fostering care during the year that has passed; they should +also with humility and faith supplicate the Father of All Mercies for +continued blessings according to their needs, and they should by deeds +of charity seek the favor of the Giver of Every Good and Perfect Gift. +</p> +<p> +Therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, do +hereby appoint and set apart Thursday, the 29th day of November instant, +as a day of thanksgiving and prayer to be kept and observed by all the +people of the land. +</p> +<p> +On that day let our ordinary work and business be suspended and let us +meet in our accustomed places of worship and give thanks to Almighty God +for our preservation as a nation, for our immunity from disease and +pestilence, for the harvests that have rewarded our husbandry, for a +renewal of national prosperity, and for every advance in virtue and +intelligence that has marked our growth as a people. +</p> +<p> +And with our thanksgiving let us pray that these blessings may be +multiplied unto us, that our national conscience may be quickened to a +better recognition of the power and goodness of God, and that in our +national life we may clearer see and closer follow the path of +righteousness. +</p> +<p> +And in our places of worship and praise, as well as in the happy +reunions of kindred and friends on that day, let us invoke divine +approval by generously remembering the poor and needy. Surely He who has +given us comfort and plenty will look upon our relief of the destitute +and our ministrations of charity as the work of hearts truly grateful +and as proofs of the sincerity of our thanksgiving. +</p> +<p> +Witness my hand and the seal of the United States, which I have caused +to be hereto affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington on the 1st day of November, A.D. 1894, +and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +nineteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +W.Q. GRESHAM,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<h3> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h3> +<p> +Whereas by the sixteenth section of the act of Congress approved March +2, 1889 (25 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. 888), the agreements entered into +between the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Company and the +Sioux Indians for the right of way and occupation of certain lands for +station purposes in that portion of the Sioux Reservation, in the State +of South Dakota, relinquished by said Indians were ratified upon the +condition that said railway company shall within three years after the +said act takes effect construct, complete, and put into operation its +line of road as therein provided for, due location of which was to be +made within nine months after said act took effect; and in case of +failure to so construct said road "the lands granted for right of way, +station grounds, or other railway purposes as in this act provided shall +without any further act or ceremony be declared by proclamation of the +President forfeited, and shall without entry or further action on the +part of the United States revert to the United States and be subject to +entry under the other provisions of this act;" and +</p> +<p> +Whereas under previous proclamation<a href="#note-8" name="noteref-8"><small>8</small></a> said act took effect on February +10, 1890, and more than three years have elapsed and no construction has +been reported of the said road beyond the town of Chamberlain, in the +State of South Dakota, as evidenced by the report of the Secretary of +the Interior dated December 3, 1894: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, do +declare that the said lands granted for right of way and station +purposes, to wit, that tract of land known as lots 2, 3, and 4 and the +southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 10, and lots 1 and +9 in section 15, township 104 north, range 71 west, containing 188 +acres, as shown by a plat approved January 24, 1891, being the tract +selected by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Company under +the sixteenth section of the act of March 2, 1889 (25 U.S. Statutes at +Large, p. 888), also the 640 acres in said township 104 north, ranges 71 +and 72 west, fifth principal meridian, in the State of South Dakota, +plat of which was approved by the Secretary of the Interior January 24, +1889, and now on file in the General Land Office, are forfeited to the +United States and will be subject to entry under the homestead laws as +provided by said act of March 2, 1889, whenever the Secretary of the +Interior shall give due notice to the local officers of this declaration +of forfeiture. +</p> +<p> +Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, this 5th day of +December, A.D. 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND,<br /> <i>President of the United States</i>. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +S.W. LAMOREUX,<br /> +<i>Commissioner of the General Land Office</i>. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + EXECUTIVE ORDERS. +</h2> +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE.—REVOCATION OF PROMOTION REGULATIONS. +</center> +<p class="r"> +DECEMBER 11, 1893. +</p> +<p> +The promotion regulations applied to the War Department May 7, 1887, +under authority contained in amended Civil-Service Rule VI are hereby +revoked, and hereafter promotions in that Department, until otherwise +provided, will be made in accordance with the provisions of Departmental +Rule IX and the order of the Secretary of War of March 2, 1892, or such +other and further orders as the said Secretary may make not inconsistent +with the civil-service rules and the order of the President of December +4, 1891, directing the keeping of an efficiency record with a view to +the placing of promotions wholly upon the basis of merit. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<center> +GENERAL RULE III. +</center> +<p> +Amend General Rule III by striking out clause (<i>e</i>) of section 2. +</p> +<center> +DEPARTMENTAL RULE II. +</center> +<p> +Amend Departmental Rule II by striking out the whole of section 1 and +substituting therefor the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. To test fitness for the classified departmental service there shall + be a clerk-copyist examination and such supplementary and special + examinations as the Commission may provide to meet the special + requirements of the service. The clerk-copyist examination shall not + include more than the following subjects: Orthography, copying, + penmanship, arithmetic (fundamental rules, fractions, percentage, + interest, and discount), elements of bookkeeping and accounts, elements + of the English language, letter writing, elements of the geography, + history, and government of the United States. +</p> +<center> +DEPARTMENTAL RULE VI. +</center> +<p> +Amend Departmental Rule VI as follows: +</p> +<p> +In section 1, line 1, strike out the words "copyist and of the clerk" +and insert in lieu thereof the words "clerk-copyist," and in the same +line strike out the final letter in the word "examinations." In section +4 strike out all after the word "the" where it occurs the second time in +line 6 down to and including the word "separated" in line 8 and insert +in lieu thereof the words "clerk-copyist," and strike out the final +letter of the word "examinations" in line 9. In section 9, line 1, +strike out the words "the copyist and the clerk" and insert in lieu +thereof the word "all," and strike out all after the word "register" in +line 3 to the end of the section. +</p> +<center> +DEPARTMENTAL RULE VII. +</center> +<p> +Amend Departmental Rule VII as follows: +</p> +<p> +In section 1, after the word "clerk" in line 3, insert a hyphen and the +word "copyist." In section 3, after the word "the" where it occurs the +second time in line 1, strike out the words "copyist or the clerk" and +insert in lieu thereof the words "clerk-copyist." Strike out all of +section 4 and change the numbering of the sections following as +required. +</p> +<center> +DEPARTMENTAL RULE IX. +</center> +<p> +Amend Departmental Rule IX as follows: +</p> +<p> +In section 2, after the word "clerk" in line 1, insert a hyphen and the +word "copyist." In section 3, after the word "clerk" in line 1, insert +a hyphen and the word "copyist." Strike out the period at the end of +section 5 and insert in lieu thereof a comma, and add to the section +the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + But the provisions of clause I of this rule shall cease to be operative + when, by reason of the consolidation of the clerk and copyist + examinations, there shall no longer be any persons in the departmental + service to whom they apply. +</p> +<center> +DEPARTMENTAL RULE IV. +</center> +<p> +Postal Rule IV is hereby amended by adding thereto the following +section: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. In case of the sudden occurrence of a vacancy in a position within + the classified service of any post-office which the public interest + requires shall be immediately filled, and which can not be so filled by + certification from the eligible registers, such vacancy may be filled by + temporary appointment until a regular appointment can be made under the + provisions of sections 1 and 2 of this rule: <i>Provided</i>, Such + temporary appointment shall in no case continue longer than ninety days: + <i>And provided further</i>, That no person shall serve more than ninety + days in any one year under such temporary appointment. Every such + temporary appointment and also the discontinuance of the same shall at + once be reported to the Commission. +</p> +<p> +Approved, January 5, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +Departmental Rule VII is hereby amended by adding thereto the following +section: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 9. In case of the sudden occurrence of a vacancy in the position of + observer in the Weather Bureau of the Department of Agriculture which + the public interest requires shall be immediately filled, and which can + not be so filled by certification from the eligible registers of the + Commission, the Secretary of Agriculture may fill such vacancy by + temporary appointment until a regular appointment can be made under the + provisions of sections 1, 2, and 3 of this rule: <i>Provided</i>, Such + temporary appointment shall in no case continue longer than ninety days. + Every such temporary appointment and the discontinuance of the same + shall at once be reported to the Commission. +</p> +<p> +Approved, January 5, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE.—EXECUTIVE ORDER WITHDRAWING FISH CULTURISTS FROM THE +LIST OF PLACES TO BE FILLED BY NONCOMPETITIVE EXAMINATION. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 20, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +So much of Executive orders heretofore issued under General Rule III, +section 2, clause (d), as provides for the appointment of fish +culturists upon noncompetitive examination is hereby revoked, and +hereafter fish culturists will be appointed upon competitive +examination. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<center> +SPECIAL INDIAN RULE NO. 1. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>March 6, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +Exceptions from examination are hereby made as follows: One +superintendent and the necessary teachers, not exceeding four in number, +for the organization and equipment of a normal school to be established +at Albuquerque, N. Mex., this rule to expire by limitation six months +after the date of its approval. +</p> +<p class="r"> +Approved: GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>March 20, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +So much of clause 6 of Special Departmental Rule No. 1, providing for +exceptions from examination in the office of the Secretary in the +Department of Agriculture, as excepts "clerk to act as appointment +clerk" is hereby revoked, and that position will hereafter be treated as +subject to competitive examination. +</p> +<p class="r"> +Approved: GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> + +<p> +Section 6 of Special Departmental Rule No. 1 is hereby amended by +striking from the list of excepted places in the Weather Bureau of the +Department of Agriculture enumerated therein the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> +The three professors of meteorology of highest grade. +</p> + +<p> +Said section is further amended by adding thereto the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Noncompetitive examinations shall be held, on such dates and at such + places as the Commission may from time to time determine, to test the + competency of inspectors and assistant inspectors in the Bureau of + Animal Industry in the Department of Agriculture employed elsewhere + than at Washington, who were so employed on the date inspectors and + assistant inspectors were included in the classified service and have + been continued in the service of the Department until opportunity has + been provided for their noncompetitive examination. The results of + such examination shall be reported by the Commission to the Secretary + of Agriculture. +</p> +<p> +Approved, May 1, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 11, 1894</i>. +</p> +<center> +SPECIAL DEPARTMENTAL RULE NO. I. +</center> +<p> +Special Departmental Rule No. I is hereby amended by adding to the +exceptions from examination therein made in the Department of the +Treasury the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the office of the Second Auditor: One skilled laborer with duties + exclusively of a carpenter and cabinetmaker. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the Bureau of Engraving and Printing: Custodian of proving presses + and modeler. +</p> +<center> +SPECIAL CUSTOMS RULE NO. I. +</center> +<p> +Special Customs Rule No. I, authorizing certain exceptions from +examination in the classified customs service, is hereby amended by +adding to the statement of places therein excepted the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the customs district of Vermont: One deputy collector and inspector, + to be stationed at Halifax during the winter and at Quebec during the + time the St. Lawrence River is open to navigation. +</p> +<center> +RAILWAY MAIL RULE IV. +</center> +<p> +Railway Mail Rule IV, section 2, clause (b), of the civil-service rules +is hereby amended by striking out all after the word "averages" in line +3 to and including the word "territory" in line 10, and the word +"further" in line 10; so that as amended the clause will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The Commission shall certify from the register of the State or Territory + in which the vacancy exists the names of the three eligibles thereon + having the highest averages: <i>Provided</i>, That if upon the register + of the State or Territory in which the vacancy exists there are the + names of eligibles having a claim of preference under section 1754, + Revised Statutes, the names of such eligibles shall be certified before + the names of other eligibles of higher grade: <i>Provided further</i>, + That on a line on which the service does not require the full time of a + clerk, and one can be employed jointly with the railroad company, the + appointment may be made without examination and certification, with the + consent of the Commission, upon a statement of the facts by the general + superintendent; but no clerk so appointed shall be eligible for transfer + or appointment to any other place in the service. +</p> +<p> +Section 6 of said rule is hereby amended by adding after the word +"substitutes" in line 6 the words "resident in the counties which are +supplied wholly or in part by the road on which the vacancy exists;" so +that as amended the section will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. There may be certified and appointed in each State and Territory, in + the manner provided for in this rule, such number of substitute clerks, + not exceeding the ratio of one substitute to ten regular clerks, in + such State or Territory as the Postmaster-General may authorize, and + any vacancies occurring in class I in any State or Territory in which + substitutes have been appointed shall be filled by the appointment + thereto of those substitutes resident in the counties which are + supplied wholly or in part by the road on which the vacancy exists, + in the order of their appointment as substitutes, without further + certification. The time during which any substitute is actually + employed in the service shall be counted as part of his probation. +</p> +<center> +GENERAL RULE III. +</center> +<p> +Section 2 of General Rule III is hereby amended by adding thereto the +following clause: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>h</i>) For the appointment of an Indian as assistant teacher in + the Indian-school service. +</p> +<center> +INDIAN RULE IV. +</center> +<p> +Indian Rule IV is hereby amended by adding thereto the following +section: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. Upon the nomination by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, through + the Secretary of the Interior, of an Indian for appointment as + assistant teacher, the Commission shall give such Indian noncompetitive + examination under General Rule III, section 2, clause (<i>h</i>), upon + passing which at the required grade he shall be certified and appointed + for the probationary period provided for in section 3 of this rule, at + the end of which period he shall be absolutely appointed or discharged + from the service in accordance with the provisions of said section. Any + Indian appointed assistant teacher as herein provided may be, any time + after absolute appointment, appointed teacher upon the certification of + the Commission that he has passed the teacher's examination. +</p> +<p class="r"> +Approved: GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE.—AMENDMENT OF CLASSIFICATION OF THE INDIAN SERVICE AS +MADE BY THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR APRIL 13, 1891. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 11, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +In the exercise of the power vested in the President by the third +paragraph of section 6 of the act entitled "An act to regulate and +improve the civil service of the United States," approved January 16, +1883, I hereby direct the Secretary of the Interior to revise the +classification of the Indian service made by him, by direction of the +President, on the 13th day of April, 1891, and to include in class 3 +of said classification assistant teachers. +</p> +<p class="r"> +Approved: GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. +</h3> +<h4> +EXECUTIVE ORDER. +</h4> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 26, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>It is hereby ordered</i>, That the several Executive Departments and +the Government Printing Office be closed on Wednesday, the 30th instant, +to enable the employees to participate in the decoration of the graves +of the soldiers and sailors who fell in defense of the Union during the +War of the Rebellion. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +Special Indian Rule No. 1 is hereby amended by adding to the places +excepted from examination therein the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Kindergarten teachers, to be employed as such, not exceeding twenty + in number. +</p> +<p> +Approved, June 21, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +Special Customs Rule No. 1 is hereby amended by adding to the places +excepted from examination therein the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> +In the customs district of Boston, office of the collector: One +superintendent of warehouses. +</p> +<p class="quote"> +In the customs district of Philadelphia, office of the collector: +Five chiefs of division. +</p> +<p> +Approved, June 21, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>July 9, 1894</i>. +</p> +<center> +DEPARTMENTAL RULE II. +</center> +<p> +Departmental Rule II, clause 3 (<i>f</i>), is hereby amended by adding +at the end thereof the following words: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Except in the Department of Agriculture the chiefs of the following + divisions: Entomology and economic ornithology and mammalogy. +</p> +<center> +SPECIAL DEPARTMENTAL RULE NO. I. +</center> +<p> +Special Departmental Rule No. 1 is hereby amended by dropping from among +the places therein excepted from examination the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the Department of Agriculture, office of the Secretary, the + assistant chiefs of the following divisions: Of entomology and of + economic ornithology and mammalogy. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE.—AMENDMENT OF CLASSIFICATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE +INTERIOR. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>July 25, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +In the exercise of the power vested in the President by the third +paragraph of section 6 of the act entitled "An act to regulate and +improve the civil service of the United States," approved January 16, +1883, I hereby direct the Secretary of the Interior to revise the +classification of the Department of the Interior so as to include +therein the chief clerk and the assistant chief clerk at the Indian +warehouse at New York. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +Special Departmental Rule No. 1 is hereby amended by adding to the +places therein excepted from examination in the Department of the +Treasury the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the Bureau of Statistics: One expert in mechanical designs and in + diagramming commercial and financial facts. +</p> +<p> +Approved, November 2, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<center> +DEPARTMENTAL RULE II. +</center> +<p> +Departmental Rule II, clause 3 (<i>f</i>), is hereby amended by adding +at the end thereof the following words: "and of pomology;" so that as +amended the paragraph will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>f</i>) Chiefs of divisions, except in the Department of Agriculture + the chiefs of the following divisions: Entomology, economic ornithology + and mammalogy, and of pomology. +</p> +<center> +SPECIAL DEPARTMENTAL RULE NO. I. +</center> +<p> +Special Departmental Rule No. I is hereby amended by dropping from among +the places therein excepted from examination the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the Department of Agriculture, office of the Secretary: The assistant + chief of the division of pomology. +</p> +<p> +Approved, November 2, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>November 2, 1894</i>. +</p> +<center> +INDIAN RULE IV. +</center> +<p> +Section 6 of Indian Rule IV is hereby amended by inserting the following +proviso at the end of the first sentence: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Provided</i>, That the certificates of graduation of the Indian + graduates of the normal classes at Santa Fe, N. Mex.; Salem, Oreg.; + Haskell Institute, Lawrence, Kans.; Carlisle, Pa., and Hampton, Va., + may be accepted by the Commission as the basis of certification in + lieu of the examination herein provided. +</p> +<p> +As amended the section will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. Upon the nomination by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, through + the Secretary of the Interior, of an Indian for appointment as + assistant teacher, the Commission shall give such Indian noncompetitive + examination, under General Rule III, section 2, clause (<i>h</i>), upon + passing which at the required grade he shall be certified and appointed + for the probationary period provided for in section 3 of this rule, at + the end of which period he shall be absolutely appointed or discharged + from the service in accordance with the provisions of said section: + <i>Provided</i>, That the certificates of graduation of the Indian + graduates of the normal classes at Santa Fe, N. Mex.; Salem, Oreg.; + Haskell Institute, Lawrence, Kans.; Carlisle, Pa., and Hampton, Va., + may be accepted by the Commission as the basis of certification in lieu + of the examination herein provided for. Any Indian appointed assistant + teacher as herein provided may at any time after absolute appointment + be appointed teacher upon the certification of the Commission that he + has passed the teacher examination. +</p> +<center> +SPECIAL INDIAN RULE NO. 1. +</center> +<p> +Special Indian Rule No. 1 is hereby amended by inserting after the words +"New Mexico" in line 3 the words "also one normal teacher each at the +Salem (Oreg.) school and the Haskell Institute, Lawrence, Kans." As +amended the rule will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Exceptions from examination are hereby made as follows: One + superintendent and the necessary teachers, not exceeding four in + number, for the organization and equipment of one normal school to be + established at Santa Fe, N. Mex.; also one normal teacher each at the + Salem (Oreg.) school and the Haskell Institute, Lawrence, Kans.; this + rule to expire by limitation six months after the date of its approval. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +Postal Rule II is hereby amended by striking put all of section 5 and +inserting in lieu thereof the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. Exceptions from examination in the classified postal service are + hereby made as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) Assistant postmaster or the chief assistant to the + postmaster, by whatever designation known. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) One secretary to the postmaster, when authorized by law and + allowed by the Post-Office Department. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) Cashier, when authorized by law and employed under that + roster title. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) Assistant cashier, when authorized by law and employed under + that roster title. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>e</i>) Superintendents of station or branch post-offices at which + letter carriers are employed. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>f</i>) Printers and pressmen, when authorized by law and allowed by + the Post-Office Department and employed as such. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. No person appointed to a place under any exception made by any postal + rule shall be transferred to any other place not also excepted from + examination. +</p> +<p> +Postal Rule IV is hereby amended by inserting after the word "manner," +in section 1, line 3, the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Provided</i>, That superintendents of mail shall be selected from + among the employees of the railway mail service or of the mailing + division of the post-office at which they are respectively to serve. +</p> +<p> +Postal Rule VIII is hereby amended as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In clause (<i>a</i>), line 2, after the word "by," insert the word + "any," and in the same line strike out "II, clause 5." +</p> +<p> +Approved, November 2, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>November 2, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +Departmental Rule VII, clause 1, is hereby amended by inserting at the +end of line 6 the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Vacancies in places authorized to be filled by noncompetitive + examination may be filled without examination for a period not exceeding + thirty days, until a regular appointment can be made upon certification + made by the Commission. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Every such appointment and the reasons therefor shall be at once + reported to the Commission. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE.—AMENDMENT OF CLASSIFICATION. +</center> +<p> +In pursuance of the authority contained in the third paragraph of +section 6 of the act entitled "An act to regulate and improve the civil +service of the United States," approved January 16, 1883, the heads of +the several Executive Departments are hereby directed to amend their +several classifications so as to include among the employees classified +thereunder messengers, assistant messengers, and watchmen. +</p> +<p> +Approved, November 2, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE.—AMENDMENT OF CLASSIFICATION. +</center> +<p> +In pursuance of the authority contained in the third paragraph of +section 6 of the act entitled "An act to regulate and improve the +civil service of the United States," approved January 16, 1883, the +Postmaster-General is hereby directed to amend the classification of +the Post-Office Department so as to include among the classes covered +thereby clerks to post-office inspectors. +</p> +<p> +Approved, November 2, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<center> +GENERAL RULE III. +</center> +<p> +General Rule III is hereby amended by striking out clause (<i>b</i>) of +section 2 and relettering the remaining clauses of the section +accordingly. +</p> +<center> +DEPARTMENTAL RULES. +</center> +<p> +Departmental Rule II is hereby amended as follows: +</p> +<p> +In section 4, line 1, strike out the word "hereby," and insert after +the word "made," at the end of the line, the words "by any departmental +rule;" in line 2, after the word "shall," strike out the words "within +one year after appointment;" substitute a period for the semicolon in +line 3 and strike out the remainder of the section. As amended the +section will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. No person appointed to a place under the exceptions to examination + made by any departmental rule shall be transferred from such place to + a place not also excepted from examination. +</p> +<p> +Departmental Rule XI is hereby amended as follows: +</p> +<p> +In clause (<i>a</i>) line 2, insert the word "any" before the word +"departmental," and strike out in line 3 all after the word "rule." +</p> +<center> +RAILWAY MAIL RULES. +</center> +<p> +Railway Mail Rule II is hereby amended as follows: +</p> +<p> +In section 6, line 2, after the word "shall," strike out the words +"within one year after appointment;" substitute a period for the +semicolon in line 3 and strike out the remainder of the section. As +amended the section will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. No person appointed to a place under any exception to examination + hereby made shall be transferred to another place not also excepted + from examination. +</p> +<p> +Approved, November 2, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +Customs Rule I is hereby amended as follows: +</p> +<p> +In section 2, line 2, strike out the word "fifty" and insert in lieu +thereof the word "twenty." +</p> +<p> +Customs Rule II is hereby amended as follows: +</p> +<p> +In section 6, line 1, strike out the word "hereby," and after the word +"made," at the end of the line, insert the words "by any customs rule;" +in line 2, after the word "shall," strike out the words "within one year +after appointment;" substitute a period for the semicolon in line 3 and +strike out the remainder of the section. As amended the clause will +read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + No person appointed to a place under any exception to examination made + by any customs rule shall be transferred from such place to another + place not also excepted from examination. +</p> +<p> +Customs Rule VIII is hereby amended as follows: +</p> +<p> +In clause (<i>a</i>), line 2, after the word "by," insert the word +"any," and in the same line strike out "II, clause 5." +</p> +<p> +Approved, November 2, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<center> +DEPARTMENTAL RULE VII. +</center> +<p> +Departmental Rule VII is hereby amended by adding to the first paragraph +of section 1 the following proviso: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Provided further</i>, That sea post clerks in the Post-Office + Department shall be appointed by transfer from the classified railway + mail service or the classified postal service, and shall be eligible + at any time for retransfer to the service from which transferred, but + shall not be transferred to any other department or branch of the + service, nor to any other place in the Post-Office Department, without + examination and certification by the Commission. +</p> +<center> +RAILWAY MAIL RULE II. +</center> +<p> +Railway Mail Rule II is hereby amended as follows: +</p> +<p> +In section 5 strike out clauses (<i>e</i>) and (<i>f</i>). +</p> +<center> +RAILWAY MAIL RULE IV. +</center> +<p> +Railway Mail Rule IV is hereby amended as follows: +</p> +<p> +In the last proviso of clause (<i>b</i>) of section 2, in line 2 of +that proviso, after the word "line," insert the words "or at a transfer +station or on a steamboat;" in the same line strike out the words "on +which" and substitute therefor the word "where," and in line 3, after +the word "railroad," insert the words "or steamboat;" so that as amended +the proviso will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Provided further</i>, That on a line or at a transfer station or on a + steamboat where the service does not require the full time of a clerk, + and one can be employed jointly with the railroad or steamboat company, + the appointment may be made without examination and certification, with + the consent of the Commission, upon a statement of the facts by the + general superintendent; but no clerk so appointed shall be eligible for + transfer or appointment to any other place in the service. +</p> +<p> +Approved, November 17, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + SECOND ANNUAL MESSAGE. +</h2> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>December 3, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +The assemblage within the nation's legislative halls of those charged +with the duty of making laws for the benefit of a generous and free +people impressively suggests the exacting obligation and inexorable +responsibility involved in their task. At the threshold of such labor +now to be undertaken by the Congress of the United States, and in the +discharge of an executive duty enjoined by the Constitution, I submit +this communication, containing a brief statement of the condition of +our national affairs and recommending such legislation as seems to me +necessary and expedient. +</p> +<p> +The history of our recent dealings with other nations and our peaceful +relations with them at this time additionally demonstrate the advantage +of consistently adhering to a firm but just foreign policy, free from +envious or ambitious national schemes and characterized by entire +honesty and sincerity. +</p> +<p> +During the past year, pursuant to a law of Congress, commissioners were +appointed to the Antwerp Industrial Exposition. Though the participation +of American exhibitors fell far short of completely illustrating our +national ingenuity and industrial achievements, yet it was quite +creditable in view of the brief time allowed for preparation. +</p> +<p> +I have endeavored to impress upon the Belgian Government the +needlessness and positive harmfulness of its restrictions upon the +importation of certain of our food products, and have strongly urged +that the rigid supervision and inspection under our laws are amply +sufficient to prevent the exportation from this country of diseased +cattle and unwholesome meat. +</p> +<p> +The termination of the civil war in Brazil has been followed by the +general prevalence of peace and order. It appearing at an early stage of +the insurrection that its course would call for unusual watchfulness on +the part of this Government, our naval force in the harbor of Rio de +Janeiro was strengthened. This precaution, I am satisfied, tended to +restrict the issue to a simple trial of strength between the Brazilian +Government and the insurgents and to avert complications which at times +seemed imminent. Our firm attitude of neutrality was maintained to the +end. The insurgents received no encouragement of eventual asylum from +our commanders, and such opposition as they encountered was for the +protection of our commerce and was clearly justified by public law. +</p> +<p> +A serious tension of relations having arisen at the close of the war +between Brazil and Portugal by reason of the escape of the insurgent +admiral Da Gama and his followers, the friendly offices of our +representatives to those countries were exerted for the protection of +the subjects of either within the territory of the other. +</p> +<p> +Although the Government of Brazil was duly notified that the commercial +arrangement existing between the United States and that country based on +the third section of the tariff act of 1890 was abrogated on August 28, +1894, by the taking effect of the tariff law now in force, that +Government subsequently notified us of its intention to terminate such +arrangement on the 1st day of January, 1895, in the exercise of the +right reserved in the agreement between the two countries. I invite +attention to the correspondence between the Secretary of State and the +Brazilian minister on this subject. +</p> +<p> +The commission organized under the convention which we had entered +into with Chile for the settlement of the outstanding claims of each +Government against the other adjourned at the end of the period +stipulated for its continuance leaving undetermined a number of American +cases which had been duly presented. These claims are not barred, and +negotiations are in progress for their submission to a new tribunal. +</p> +<p> +On the 17th of March last a new treaty with China in further regulation +of emigration was signed at Washington, and on August 13 it received the +sanction of the Senate. Ratification on the part of China and formal +exchange are awaited to give effect to this mutually beneficial +convention. +</p> +<p> +A gratifying recognition of the uniform impartiality of this country +toward all foreign states was manifested by the coincident request of +the Chinese and Japanese Governments that the agents of the United +States should within proper limits afford protection to the subjects of +the other during the suspension of diplomatic relations due to a state +of war. This delicate office was accepted, and a misapprehension which +gave rise to the belief that in affording this kindly unofficial +protection our agents would exercise the same authority which the +withdrawn agents of the belligerents had exercised was promptly +corrected. Although the war between China and Japan endangers no policy +of the United States, it deserves our gravest consideration by reason of +its disturbance of our growing commercial interests in the two countries +and the increased dangers which may result to our citizens domiciled or +sojourning in the interior of China. +</p> +<p> +Acting under a stipulation in our treaty with Korea (the first concluded +with a western power), I felt constrained at the beginning of the +controversy to tender our good offices to induce an amicable arrangement +of the initial difficulty growing out of the Japanese demands for +administrative reforms in Korea, but the unhappy precipitation of actual +hostilities defeated this kindly purpose. +</p> +<p> +Deploring the destructive war between the two most powerful of the +eastern nations and anxious that our commercial interests in those +countries may be preserved and that the safety of our citizens there +shall not be jeopardized, I would not hesitate to heed any intimation +that our friendly aid for the honorable termination of hostilities would +be acceptable to both belligerents. +</p> +<p> +A convention has been finally concluded for the settlement by +arbitration of the prolonged dispute with Ecuador growing out of the +proceedings against Emilio Santos, a naturalized citizen of the United +States. +</p> +<p> +Our relations with the Republic of France continue to be such as should +exist between nations so long bound together by friendly sympathy and +similarity in their form of government. +</p> +<p> +The recent cruel assassination of the President of this sister Republic +called forth such universal expressions of sorrow and condolence from +our people and Government as to leave no doubt of the depth and +sincerity of our attachment. The resolutions passed by the Senate and +House of Representatives on the occasion have been communicated to the +widow of President Carnot. +</p> +<p> +Acting upon the reported discovery of Texas fever in cargoes of American +cattle, the German prohibition against importations of live stock and +fresh meats from this country has been revived. It is hoped that Germany +will soon become convinced that the inhibition is as needless as it is +harmful to mutual interests. +</p> +<p> +The German Government has protested against that provision of the +customs tariff act which imposes a discriminating duty of one-tenth of +1 cent a pound on sugars coming from countries paying an export bounty +thereon, claiming that the exaction of such duty is in contravention of +Articles V and IX of the treaty of 1828 with Prussia. +</p> +<p> +In the interests of the commerce of both countries and to avoid even the +accusation of treaty violation, I recommend the repeal of so much of the +statute as imposes that duty, and I invite attention to the accompanying +report of the Secretary of State, containing a discussion of the +questions raised by the German protests. +</p> +<p> +Early in the present year an agreement was reached with Great Britain +concerning instructions to be given to the naval commanders of the two +Governments in Bering Sea and the contiguous North Pacific Ocean for +their guidance in the execution of the award of the Paris Tribunal of +Arbitration and the enforcement of the regulations therein prescribed +for the protection of seal life in the waters mentioned. An +understanding has also been reached for the payment by the United States +of $425,000 in full satisfaction of all claims which may be made by +Great Britain for damages growing out of the controversy as to fur seals +in Bering Sea or the seizure of British vessels engaged in taking seal +in those waters. The award and findings of the Paris Tribunal to a great +extent determined the facts and principles upon which these claims +should be adjusted, and they have been subjected by both Governments to +a thorough examination upon the principles as well as the facts which +they involve. I am convinced that a settlement upon the terms mentioned +would be an equitable and advantageous one, and I recommend that +provision be made for the prompt payment of the stated sum. +</p> +<p> +Thus far only France and Portugal have signified their willingness to +adhere to the regulations established under the award of the Paris +Tribunal of Arbitration. +</p> +<p> +Preliminary surveys of the Alaskan boundary and a preparatory +examination of the question of protection of food fish in the contiguous +waters of the United States and the Dominion of Canada are in progress. +</p> +<p> +The boundary of British Guiana still remains in dispute between Great +Britain and Venezuela. Believing that its early settlement on some just +basis alike honorable to both parties is in the line of our established +policy to remove from this hemisphere all causes of difference with +powers beyond the sea, I shall renew the efforts heretofore made to +bring about a restoration of diplomatic relations between the disputants +and to induce a reference to arbitration—a resort which Great Britain +so conspicuously favors in principle and respects in practice and which +is earnestly sought by her weaker adversary. +</p> +<p> +Since communicating the voluminous correspondence in regard to Hawaii +and the action taken by the Senate and House of Representatives on +certain questions submitted to the judgment and wider discretion of +Congress the organization of a government in place of the provisional +arrangement which followed the deposition of the Queen has been +announced, with evidence of its effective operation. The recognition +usual in such cases has been accorded the new Government. +</p> +<p> +Under our present treaties of extradition with Italy miscarriages +of justice have occurred owing to the refusal of that Government to +surrender its own subjects. Thus far our efforts to negotiate an amended +convention obviating this difficulty have been unavailing. +</p> +<p> +Apart from the war in which the Island Empire is engaged, Japan attracts +increasing attention in this country by her evident desire to cultivate +more liberal intercourse with us and to seek our kindly aid in +furtherance of her laudable desire for complete autonomy in her domestic +affairs and full equality in the family of nations. The Japanese Empire +of to-day is no longer the Japan of the past, and our relations with +this progressive nation should not be less broad and liberal than those +with other powers. +</p> +<p> +Good will, fostered by many interests in common, has marked our +relations with our nearest southern neighbor. Peace being restored along +her northern frontier, Mexico has asked the punishment of the late +disturbers of her tranquillity. There ought to be a new treaty of +commerce and navigation with that country to take the place of the one +which terminated thirteen years ago. The friendliness of the intercourse +between the two countries is attested by the fact that during this long +period the commerce of each has steadily increased under the rule of +mutual consideration, being neither stimulated by conventional +arrangements nor retarded by jealous rivalries or selfish distrust. +</p> +<p> +An indemnity tendered by Mexico as a gracious act for the murder in 1887 +of Leon Baldwin, an American citizen, by a band of marauders in Durango +has been accepted and is being paid in installments. +</p> +<p> +The problem of the storage and use of the waters of the Rio Grande for +irrigation should be solved by appropriate concurrent action of the two +interested countries. Rising in the Colorado heights, the stream flows +intermittently, yielding little water during the dry months to the +irrigation channels already constructed along its course. This scarcity +is often severely felt in the regions where the river forms a common +boundary. Moreover, the frequent changes in its course through level +sands often raise embarrassing questions of territorial jurisdiction. +</p> +<p> +Prominent among the questions of the year was the Bluefields incident, +in what is known as the Mosquito Indian Strip, bordering on the Atlantic +Ocean and within the jurisdiction of Nicaragua. By the treaty of 1860 +between Great Britain and Nicaragua the former Government expressly +recognized the sovereignty of the latter over the strip, and a limited +form of self-government was guaranteed to the Mosquito Indians, to be +exercised according to their customs, for themselves and other dwellers +within its limits. The so-called native government, which grew to be +largely made up of aliens, for many years disputed the sovereignty of +Nicaragua over the strip and claimed the right to maintain therein a +practically independent municipal government. Early in the past year +efforts of Nicaragua to maintain sovereignty over the Mosquito territory +led to serious disturbances, culminating in the suppression of the +native government and the attempted substitution of an impracticable +composite administration in which Nicaragua and alien residents were to +participate. Failure was followed by an insurrection, which for a time +subverted Nicaraguan rule, expelling her officers and restoring the old +organization. This in turn gave place to the existing local government +established and upheld by Nicaragua. +</p> +<p> +Although the alien interests arrayed against Nicaragua in these +transactions have been largely American and the commerce of that region +for some time has been and still is chiefly controlled by our citizens, +we can not for that reason challenge the rightful sovereignty of +Nicaragua over this important part of her domain. +</p> +<p> +For some months one, and during part of the time two, of our naval ships +have been stationed at Bluefields for the protection of all legitimate +interests of our citizens. In September last the Government at Managua +expelled from its territory twelve or more foreigners, including two +Americans, for alleged participation in the seditious or revolutionary +movements against the Republic at Bluefields already mentioned; but +through the earnest remonstrance of this Government the two Americans +have been permitted to return to the peaceful management of their +business. Our naval commanders at the scene of these disturbances by +their constant exhibition of firmness and good judgment contributed +largely to the prevention of more serious consequences and to the +restoration of quiet and order. I regret that in the midst of these +occurrences there happened a most grave and irritating failure of +Nicaraguan justice. An American citizen named Wilson, residing at Rama, +in the Mosquito territory, was murdered by one Argüello, the acting +governor of the town. After some delay the murderer was arrested, but so +insecurely confined or guarded that he escaped, and notwithstanding our +repeated demands it is claimed that his recapture has been impossible by +reason of his flight beyond Nicaraguan jurisdiction. +</p> +<p> +The Nicaraguan authorities, having given notice of forfeiture of their +concession to the canal company on grounds purely technical and not +embraced in the contract, have receded from that position. +</p> +<p> +Peru, I regret to say, shows symptoms of domestic disturbance, due +probably to the slowness of her recuperation from the distresses of +the war of 1881. Weakened in resources, her difficulties in facing +international obligations invite our kindly sympathy and justify our +forbearance in pressing long-pending claims. I have felt constrained +to testify this sympathy in connection with certain demands urgently +preferred by other powers. +</p> +<p> +The recent death of the Czar of Russia called forth appropriate +expressions of sorrow and sympathy on the part of our Government with +his bereaved family and the Russian people. As a further demonstration +of respect and friendship our minister at St. Petersburg was directed to +represent our Government at the funeral ceremonies. +</p> +<p> +The sealing interests of Russia in Bering Sea are second only to our +own. A <i>modus vivendi</i> has therefore been concluded with the +Imperial Government restrictive of poaching on the Russian rookeries and +of sealing in waters which were not comprehended in the protected area +defined in the Paris award. +</p> +<p> +Occasion has been found to urge upon the Russian Government equality of +treatment for our great life-insurance companies whose operations have +been extended throughout Europe. Admitting as we do foreign corporations +to transact business in the United States, we naturally expect no less +tolerance for our own in the ample fields of competition abroad. +</p> +<p> +But few cases of interference with naturalized citizens returning to +Russia have been reported during the current year. One Krzeminski was +arrested last summer in a Polish province on a reported charge of +unpermitted renunciation of Russian allegiance, but it transpired +that the proceedings originated in alleged malfeasance committed by +Krzeminski while an imperial official a number of years ago. Efforts for +his release, which promised to be successful, were in progress when his +death was reported. +</p> +<p> +The Government of Salvador having been overthrown by an abrupt popular +outbreak, certain of its military and civil officers, while hotly +pursued by infuriated insurgents, sought refuge on board the United +States war ship <i>Bennington</i>, then lying in a Salvadorean port. +Although the practice of asylum is not favored by this Government, yet +in view of the imminent peril which threatened the fugitives and solely +from considerations of humanity they were afforded shelter by our naval +commander, and when afterwards demanded under our treaty of extradition +with Salvador for trial on charges of murder, arson, and robbery I +directed that such of them as had not voluntarily left the ship be +conveyed to one of our nearest ports where a hearing could be had before +a judicial officer, in compliance with the terms of the treaty. On their +arrival at San Francisco such a proceeding was promptly instituted +before the United States district judge, who held that the acts +constituting the alleged offenses were political and discharged all the +accused except one Cienfuegos, who was held for an attempt to murder. +Thereupon I was constrained to direct his release for the reason that an +attempt to murder was not one of the crimes charged against him and upon +which his surrender to the Salvadorean authorities had been demanded. +</p> +<p> +Unreasonable and unjust fines imposed by Spain on the vessels and +commerce of the United States have demanded from time to time during the +last twenty years earnest remonstrance on the part of our Government. +In the immediate past exorbitant penalties have been imposed upon our +vessels and goods by customs authorities of Cuba and Puerto Rico for +clerical errors of the most trivial character in the manifests or bills +of lading. In some cases fines amounting to thousands of dollars have +been levied upon cargoes or the carrying vessels when the goods in +question were entitled to free entry. Fines have been exacted even when +the error had been detected and the Spanish authorities notified before +the arrival of the goods in port. +</p> +<p> +This conduct is in strange contrast with the considerate and liberal +treatment extended to Spanish vessels and cargoes in our ports in like +cases. No satisfactory settlement of these vexatious questions has yet +been reached. +</p> +<p> +The Mora case, referred to in my last annual message, remains unsettled. +From the diplomatic correspondence on this subject which has been laid +before the Senate it will be seen that this Government has offered to +conclude a convention with Spain for disposal by arbitration of +outstanding claims between the two countries, except the Mora claim, +which, having been long ago adjusted, now only awaits payment as +stipulated, and of course it could not be included in the proposed +convention. It was hoped that this offer would remove parliamentary +obstacles encountered by the Spanish Government in providing payment of +the Mora indemnity. I regret to say that no definite reply to this offer +has yet been made and all efforts to secure payment of this settled +claim have been unavailing. +</p> +<p> +In my last annual message I adverted to the claim on the part of Turkey +of the right to expel as persons undesirable and dangerous Armenians +naturalized in the United States and returning to Turkish +jurisdiction.<a href="#note-9" name="noteref-9"><small>9</small></a> Numerous questions in this relation have arisen. While +this Government acquiesces in the asserted right of expulsion, it will +not consent that Armenians may be imprisoned or otherwise punished for +no other reason than having acquired without imperial consent American +citizenship. +</p> +<p> +Three of the assailants of Miss Melton, an American teacher in Mosul, +have been convicted by the Ottoman courts, and I am advised that an +appeal against the acquittal of the remaining five has been taken by the +Turkish prosecuting officer. +</p> +<p> +A convention has been concluded with Venezuela for the arbitration of a +long-disputed claim growing out of the seizure of certain vessels the +property of citizens of the United States. Although signed, the treaty +of extradition with Venezuela is not yet in force, owing to the +insistence of that Government that when surrendered its citizens shall +in no case be liable to capital punishment. +</p> +<p> +The rules for the prevention of collisions at sea which were framed +by the maritime conference held in this city in 1889, having been +concurrently incorporated in the statutes of the United States and +Great Britain, have been announced to take effect March 1, 1895, and +invitations have been extended to all maritime nations to adhere to +them. Favorable responses have thus far been received from Austria, +France, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. +</p> +<p> +In my last annual message I referred briefly to the unsatisfactory state +of affairs in Samoa under the operation of the Berlin treaty as signally +illustrating the impolicy of entangling alliances with foreign +powers,<a href="#note-10" name="noteref-10"><small>10</small></a> and on May 9, 1894, in response to a resolution of the +Senate, I sent a special message <a href="#note-11" name="noteref-11"><small>11</small></a> and documents to that body on the +same subject, which emphasized my previously expressed opinions. Later +occurrences, the correspondence in regard to which will be laid before +the Congress, further demonstrate that the Government which was devised +by the three powers and forced upon the Samoans against their inveterate +hostility can be maintained only by the continued presence of foreign +military force and at no small sacrifice of life and treasure. +</p> +<p> +The suppression of the Mataafa insurrection by the powers and the +subsequent banishment of the leader and eleven other chiefs, as recited +in my last message, did not bring lasting peace to the islands. +Formidable uprisings continued, and finally a rebellion broke out in +the capital island, Upolu, headed in Aana, the western district, by the +younger Tamasese, and in Atua, the eastern district, by other leaders. +The insurgents ravaged the country and fought the Government's troops +up to the very doors of Apia. The King again appealed to the powers +for help, and the combined British and German naval forces reduced the +Atuans to apparent subjection, not, however, without considerable loss +to the natives. A few days later Tamasese and his adherents, fearing the +ships and the marines, professed submission. +</p> +<p> +Reports received from our agents at Apia do not justify the belief +that the peace thus brought about will be of long duration. It is +their conviction that the natives are at heart hostile to the present +Government, that such of them as profess loyalty to it do so from fear +of the powers, and that it would speedily go to pieces if the war ships +were withdrawn. In reporting to his Government on the unsatisfactory +situation since the suppression of the late revolt by foreign armed +forces, the German consul at Apia stated: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That peace will be lasting is hardly to be presumed. The lesson given + by firing on Atua was not sufficiently sharp and incisive to leave + a lasting impression on the forgetful Samoan temperament. In fact, + conditions are existing which show that peace will not last and is not + seriously intended. Malietoa, the King, and his chiefs are convinced + that the departure of the war ships will be a signal for a renewal of + war. The circumstance that the representatives of the villages of all + the districts which were opposed to the Government have already + withdrawn to Atua to hold meetings, and that both Atua and Aana have + forbidden inhabitants of those districts which fought on the side of the + Government to return to their villages, and have already partly burned + down the latter, indicates that a real conciliation of the parties is + still far off. +</p> +<p> +And in a note of the 10th ultimo, inclosing a copy of that report for +the information of this Government, the German ambassador said: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The contents of the report awakened the Imperial Government's + apprehension that under existing circumstances the peace concluded + with the rebels will afford no assurance of the lasting restoration + of tranquillity in the islands. +</p> +<p> +The present Government has utterly failed to correct, if indeed it has +not aggravated, the very evils it was intended to prevent. It has not +stimulated our commerce with the islands. Our participation in its +establishment against the wishes of the natives was in plain defiance of +the conservative teachings and warnings of the wise and patriotic men +who laid the foundations of our free institutions, and I invite an +expression of the judgment of Congress on the propriety of steps being +taken by this Government looking to the withdrawal from its engagements +with the other powers on some reasonable terms not prejudicial to any of +our existing rights. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary of the Treasury reports that the receipts of the +Government from all sources of revenue during the fiscal year ending +June 30, 1894, amounted to $372,802,498.29 and its expenditures to +$442,605,758.87, leaving a deficit of $69,803,260.58. There was a +decrease of $15,952,674.66 in the ordinary expense of the Government as +compared with the fiscal year 1893. +</p> +<p> +There was collected from customs $131,818,530.62 and from internal +revenue $147,168,449.70. The balance of the income for the year, +amounting to $93,815,517.97, was derived from the sales of lands and +other sources. +</p> +<p> +The value of our total dutiable imports amounted to $275,199,086, being +$146,657,625 less than during the preceding year, and the importations +free of duty amounted to $379,795,536, being $64,748,675 less than +during the preceding year. The receipts from customs were $73,536,486.11 +less and from internal revenue $13,836,539.97 less than in 1893. +</p> +<p> +The total tax collected from distilled spirits was $85,259,250.25, on +manufactured tobacco $28,617,898.62, and on fermented liquors +$31,414,788.04. +</p> +<p> +Our exports of merchandise, domestic and foreign, amounted during the +year to $892,140,572, being an increase over the preceding year of +$44,495,378. +</p> +<p> +The total amount of gold exported during the fiscal year was +$76,898,061, as against $108,680,444 during the fiscal year 1893. The +amount imported was $72,449,119, as against $21,174,381 during the +previous year. +</p> +<p> +The imports of silver were $13,286,552 and the exports were $50,451,265. +</p> +<p> +The total bounty paid upon the production of sugar in the United +States for the fiscal year was $12,100,208.89, being an increase of +$2,725,078.01 over the payments made during the preceding year. The +amount of bounty paid from July 1, 1894, to August 28, 1894, the time +when further payments ceased by operation of law, was $966,185.84. The +total expenses incurred in the payment of the bounty upon sugar during +the fiscal year was $130,140.85. +</p> +<p> +It is estimated that upon the basis of the present revenue laws the +receipts of the Government during the current fiscal year, ending June +30, 1895, will be $424,427,748.44 and its expenditures $444,427,748.44, +resulting in a deficit of $20,000,000. +</p> +<p> +On the 1st day of November, 1894, the total stock of money of all kinds +in the country was $2,240,773,888, as against $2,204,651,000 on the 1st +day of November, 1893, and the money of all kinds in circulation, or not +included in the Treasury holdings, was $1,672,093,422, or $24.27 per +capita upon an estimated population of 68,887,000. At the same date +there was held in the Treasury gold bullion amounting to $44,615,177.55 +and silver bullion which was purchased at a cost of $127,772,988. The +purchase of silver bullion under the act of July 14, 1890, ceased on the +1st day of November, 1893, and up to that time there had been purchased +during the fiscal year 11,917,658.78 fine ounces, at a cost of +$8,715,521.32, an average cost of $O.7313 per fine ounce. The total +amount of silver purchased from the time that law took effect until the +repeal of its purchasing clause, on the date last mentioned, was +168,674,682.53 fine ounces, which cost $155,931,002.25, the average +price per fine ounce being $0.9244. +</p> +<p> +The total amount of standard silver dollars coined at the mints of the +United States since the passage of the act of February 28, 1878, is +$421,776,408, of which $378,166,793 were coined under the provisions of +that act, $38,531,143 under the provisions of the act of July 14, 1890, +and $5,078,472 under the act providing for the coinage of trade-dollar +bullion. +</p> +<p> +The total coinage of all metals at our mints during the last fiscal year +consisted of 63,485,220 pieces, valued at $106,216,730.06, of which +there were $99,474,912.50 in gold coined, $758 in standard silver +dollars, $6,024,140.30 in subsidiary silver coin, and $716,919.26 in +minor coin. +</p> +<p> +During the calendar year 1893 the production of precious metals in the +United States was estimated at 1,739,323 fine ounces of gold of the +commercial and coinage value of $35,955,000 and 60,000,000 fine ounces +of silver of the bullion or market value of $46,800,000 and of the +coinage value of $77,576,000. It is estimated that on the 1st day of +July, 1894, the stock of metallic money in the United States, consisting +of coin and bullion, amounted to $1,251,640,958, of which $627,923,201 +was gold and $624,347,757 was silver. +</p> +<p> +Fifty national banks were organized during the year ending October +31, 1894, with a capital of $5,285,000, and 79, with a capital of +$10,475,000, went into voluntary liquidation. Twenty-one banks, with a +capital of $2,770,000, were placed in the hands of receivers. The total +number of national banks in existence on the 31st day of October last +was 3,756, being 40 less than on the 31st day of October, 1893. The +capital stock paid in was $672,671,365, being $9,678,491 less than at +the same time in the previous year, and the surplus fund and individual +profits, less expenses and taxes paid, amounted to $334,121,082.10, +which was $16,089,780 less than on October 31, 1893. The circulation was +decreased $1,741,563. The obligations of the banks to each other were +increased $117,268,334 and the individual deposits were $277,294,489 +less than at the corresponding date in the previous year. Loans and +discounts were $161,206,923 more than at the same time the previous +year, and checks and other cash items were $90,349,963 more. The total +resources of the banks at the date mentioned amounted to $3,473,922,055, +as against $3,109,563,284.36 in 1893. +</p> +<p> +From the report of the Secretary of War it appears that the strength of +the Army on September 30, 1894, was 2,135 officers and 25,765 enlisted +men. Although this is apparently a very slight decrease compared with +the previous year, the actual effective force has been increased to the +equivalent of nearly two regiments through the reorganization of the +system of recruiting and the consequent release to regimental duty of +the large force of men hitherto serving at the recruiting depots. The +abolition of these depots, it is predicted, will furthermore effect an +annual reduction approximating $250,000 in the direct expenditures, +besides promoting generally the health, morale, and discipline of the +troops. +</p> +<p> +The execution of the policy of concentrating the Army at important +centers of population and transportation, foreshadowed in the last +annual report of the Secretary, has resulted in the abandonment of +fifteen of the smaller posts, which was effected under a plan which +assembles organizations of the same regiments hitherto widely separated. +This renders our small forces more readily effective for any service +which they may be called upon to perform, increases the extent of the +territory under protection without diminishing the security heretofore +afforded to any locality, improves the discipline, training, and +<i>esprit de corps</i> of the Army, besides considerably decreasing the +cost of its maintenance. +</p> +<p> +Though the forces of the Department of the East have been somewhat +increased, more than three-fourths of the Army is still stationed west +of the Mississippi. This carefully matured policy, which secures the +best and greatest service in the interests of the general welfare from +the small force comprising our Regular Army, should not be thoughtlessly +embarrassed by the creation of new and unnecessary posts through acts of +Congress to gratify the ambitions or interests of localities. +</p> +<p> +While the maximum legal strength of the Army is 25,000 men, the +effective strength, through various causes, is but little over 20,000 +men. The purpose of Congress does not, therefore, seem to be fully +attained by the existing condition. While no considerable increase in +the Army is, in my judgment, demanded by recent events, the policy of +seacoast fortification, in the prosecution of which we have been +steadily engaged for some years, has so far developed as to suggest that +the effective strength of the Army be now made at least equal to the +legal strength. Measures taken by the Department during the year, as +indicated, have already considerably augmented the effective force, +and the Secretary of War presents a plan, which I recommend to the +consideration of Congress, to attain the desired end. Economies effected +in the Department in other lines of its work will offset to a great +extent the expenditure involved in the proposition submitted. Among +other things this contemplates the adoption of the three-battalion +formation of regiments, which for several years has been indorsed by +the Secretaries of War and the Generals Commanding the Army. Compact +in itself, it provides a skeleton organization, ready to be filled out +in the event of war, which is peculiarly adapted to our strength and +requirements; and the fact that every other nation, with a single +exception, has adopted this formation to meet the conditions of +modern warfare should alone secure for the recommendation an early +consideration. +</p> +<p> +It is hardly necessary to recall the fact that in obedience to the +commands of the Constitution and the laws, and for the purpose of +protecting the property of the United States, aiding the process of +Federal courts, and removing lawless obstructions to the performance +by the Government of its legitimate functions, it became necessary in +various localities during the year to employ a considerable portion of +the regular troops. The duty was discharged promptly, courageously, and +with marked discretion by the officers and men, and the most gratifying +proof was thus afforded that the Army deserves that complete confidence +in its efficiency and discipline which the country has at all times +manifested. +</p> +<p> +The year has been free from disturbances by Indians, and the chances of +further depredations on their part are constantly becoming more remote +and improbable. +</p> +<p> +The total expenditures for the War Department for the year ended June +30, 1894, amounted to $56,039,009.34. Of this sum $2,000,614.99 was for +salaries and contingent expenses, $23,665,156.16 for the support of the +military establishment, $5,001,682.23 for miscellaneous objects, and +$25,371,555.96 for public works. This latter sum includes $19,494,037.49 +for river and harbor improvements and $3,947,863.56 for fortifications +and other works of defense. The appropriations for the current year +aggregate $52,429,112.78, and the estimates submitted by the Secretary +of War for the next fiscal year call for appropriations amounting to +$52,318,629.55. +</p> +<p> +The skill and industry of our ordnance officers and inventors have, it +is believed, overcome the mechanical obstacles which have heretofore +delayed the armament of our coasts, and this great national undertaking +upon which we have entered may now proceed as rapidly as Congress shall +determine. With a supply of finished guns of large caliber already +on hand, to which additions should now rapidly follow, the wisdom of +providing carriages and emplacements for their mount can not be too +strongly urged. +</p> +<p> +The total enrollment of the militia of the several States is 117,533 +officers and enlisted men, an increase of 5,343 over the number reported +at the close of the previous year. The reports of militia inspections by +Regular Army officers show a marked increase in interest and efficiency +among the State organizations, and I strongly recommend a continuance of +the policy of affording every practical encouragement possible to this +important auxiliary of our military establishment. +</p> +<p> +The condition of the Apache Indians held as prisoners by the Government +for eight years at a cost of half a million dollars has been changed +during the year from captivity to one which gives them an opportunity +to demonstrate their capacity for self-support and at least partial +civilization. Legislation enacted at the late session of Congress gave +the War Department authority to transfer the survivors, numbering 346, +from Mount Vernon Barracks, in Alabama, to any suitable reservation. The +Department selected as their future home the military lands near Fort +Sill, Ind. T., where, under military surveillance, the former prisoners +have been established in agriculture under conditions favorable to their +advancement. +</p> +<p> +In recognition of the long and distinguished military services and +faithful discharge of delicate and responsible civil duties by +Major-General John M. Schofield, now the General Commanding the Army, +it is suggested to Congress that the temporary revival of the grade of +lieutenant-general in his behalf would be a just and gracious act and +would permit his retirement, now near at hand, with rank befitting his +merits. +</p> +<p> +The report of the Attorney-General notes the gratifying progress made +by the Supreme Court in overcoming the arrears of its business and in +reaching a condition in which it will be able to dispose of cases as +they arise without any unreasonable delay. This result is of course very +largely due to the successful working of the plan inaugurating circuit +courts of appeals. In respect to these tribunals the suggestion is made +in quarters entitled to the highest consideration that an additional +circuit judge for each circuit would greatly strengthen these courts and +the confidence reposed in their adjudications, and that such an addition +would not create a greater force of judges than the increasing business +of such courts requires. I commend the suggestion to the careful +consideration of the Congress. Other important topics are adverted to +in the report, accompanied by recommendations, many of which have been +treated at large in previous messages, and at this time, therefore, need +only be named. I refer to the abolition of the fee system as a measure +of compensation to Federal officers; the enlargement of the powers of +United States commissioners, at least in the Territories; the allowance +of writs of error in criminal cases on behalf of the United States, and +the establishment of degrees in the crime of murder. A topic dealt +with by the Attorney-General of much importance is the condition of +the administration of justice in the Indian Territory. The permanent +solution of what is called the Indian problem is probably not to be +expected at once, but meanwhile such ameliorations of present conditions +as the existing system will admit of ought not to be neglected. I am +satisfied there should be a Federal court established for the Territory, +with sufficient judges, and that this court should sit within the +Territory and have the same jurisdiction as to Territorial affairs as +is now vested in the Federal courts sitting in Arkansas and Texas. +</p> +<p> +Another subject of pressing moment referred to by the Attorney-General +is the reorganization of the Union Pacific Railway Company on a basis +equitable as regards all private interests and as favorable to the +Government as existing conditions will permit. The operation of a +railroad by a court through a receiver is an anomalous state of things +which should be terminated on all grounds, public and private, at the +earliest possible moment. Besides, not to enact the needed enabling +legislation at the present session postpones the whole matter until +the assembling of a new Congress and inevitably increases all the +complications of the situation, and could not but be regarded as a +signal failure to solve a problem which has practically been before +the present Congress ever since its organization. +</p> +<p> +Eight years ago in my annual message I urged upon the Congress as +Strongly as I could the location and construction of two prisons for the +confinement of United States prisoners.<a href="#note-12" name="noteref-12"><small>12</small></a> A similar recommendation has +been made from time to time since, and a few years ago a law was passed +providing for the selection of sites for three such institutions. No +appropriation has, however, been made to carry the act into effect, and +the old and discreditable condition still exists. +</p> +<p> +It is not my purpose at this time to repeat the considerations which +make an impregnable case in favor of the ownership and management by the +Government of the penal institutions in which Federal prisoners are +confined. I simply desire to again urge former recommendations on the +subject and to particularly call the attention of the Congress to that +part of the report of the Secretary of War in which he states that the +military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., can be turned over to the +Government as a prison for Federal convicts without the least difficulty +and with an actual saving of money from every point of view. +</p> +<p> +Pending a more complete reform, I hope that by the adoption of the +suggestion of the Secretary of War this easy step may be taken in the +direction of the proper care of its convicts by the Government of the +United States. +</p> +<p> +The report of the Postmaster-General presents a comprehensive statement +of the operations of the Post-Office Department for the last fiscal +year. The receipts of the Department during the year amounted to +$75,080,479.04 and the expenditures to $84,324,414.15. +</p> +<p> +The transactions of the postal service indicate with barometric +certainty the fluctuations in the business of the country. Inasmuch, +therefore, as business complications continued to exist throughout +the last year to an unforeseen extent, it is not surprising that the +deficiency of revenue to meet the expenditures of the Post-Office +Department, which was estimated in advance at about $8,000,000, should +be exceeded by nearly $1,225,000. The ascertained revenues of the last +year, which were the basis of calculation for the current year, being +less than estimated, the deficiency for the current year will be +correspondingly greater, though the Postmaster-General states that the +latest indications are so favorable that he confidently predicts an +increase of at least 8 per cent in the revenues of the current year over +those of the last year. +</p> +<p> +The expenditures increase steadily and necessarily with the growth and +needs of the country, so that the deficiency is greater or less in any +year, depending upon the volume of receipts. +</p> +<p> +The Postmaster-General states that this deficiency is unnecessary and +might be obviated at once if the law regulating rates upon mail matter +of the second class was modified. The rate received for the transmission +of this second-class matter is 1 cent per pound, while the cost of such +transmission to the Government is eight times that amount. In the +general terms of the law this rate covers newspapers and periodicals. +The extensions of the meaning of these terms from time to time have +admitted to the privileges intended for legitimate newspapers and +periodicals a surprising range of publications and created abuses the +cost of which amounts in the aggregate to the total deficiency of the +Post-Office Department. Pretended newspapers are started by business +houses for the mere purpose of advertising goods, complying with the law +in form only and discontinuing the publications as soon as the period of +advertising is over. "Sample copies" of pretended newspapers are issued +in great numbers for a like purpose only. The result is a great loss of +revenue to the Government, besides its humiliating use as an agency to +aid in carrying out the scheme of a business house to advertise its +goods by means of a trick upon both its rival houses and the regular +and legitimate newspapers. Paper-covered literature, consisting mainly +of trashy novels, to the extent of many thousands of tons is sent +through the mails at 1 cent per pound, while the publishers of standard +works are required to pay eight times that amount in sending their +publications. Another abuse consists in the free carriage through the +mails of hundreds of tons of seed and grain uselessly distributed +through the Department of Agriculture. The Postmaster-General predicts +that if the law be so amended as to eradicate these abuses not only will +the Post-Office Department show no deficiency, but he believes that in +the near future all legitimate newspapers and periodical magazines might +be properly transmitted through the mails to their subscribers free of +cost. I invite your prompt consideration of this subject and fully +indorse the views of the Postmaster-General. +</p> +<p> +The total number of post-offices in the United States on the 30th day of +June, 1894, was 69,805, an increase of 1,403 over the preceding year. Of +these, 3,428 were Presidential, an increase in that class of 68 over the +preceding year. +</p> +<p> +Six hundred and ten cities and towns are provided with free delivery. +Ninety-three other cities and towns entitled to this service under the +law have not been accorded it on account of insufficient funds. The +expense of free delivery for the current fiscal year will be more than +$12,300,000, and under existing legislation this item of expenditure is +subject to constant increase. The estimated cost of rural free delivery +generally is so very large that it ought not to be considered in the +present condition of affairs. +</p> +<p> +During the year 830 additional domestic money-order offices were +established. The total number of these offices at the close of the year +was 19,264. There were 14,304,041 money orders issued during the year, +being an increase over the preceding year of 994,306. The value of these +orders amounted to $138,793,579.49, an increase of $11,217,145.84. There +were also issued during the year postal notes amounting to +$12,649,094.55. +</p> +<p> +During the year 218 international money-order offices were added to +those already established, making a total of 2,625 such offices in +operation June 30, 1894. The number of international money orders issued +during the year was 917,823, a decrease in number of 138,176, and their +value was $13,792,455.31, a decrease in amount of $2,549,382.55. The +number of orders paid was 361,180, an increase over the preceding year +of 60,263, and their value was $6,568,493.78, an increase of +$1,285,118.08. +</p> +<p> +From the foregoing statements it appears that the total issue of money +orders and postal notes for the year amounted to $165,235,129.35. +</p> +<p> +The number of letters and packages mailed during the year for special +delivery was 3,436,970. The special-delivery stamps used upon these +letters and packages amounted to $343,697. The messengers' fees paid for +their delivery amounted to $261,209.70, leaving a balance in favor of +the Government of $82,487.30. +</p> +<p> +The report shows most gratifying results in the way of economies worked +out without affecting the efficiency of the postal service. These +consist in the abrogation of steamship subsidy contracts, reletting of +mail transportation contracts, and in the cost and amount of supplies +used in the service, amounting in all to $16,619,047.42. +</p> +<p> +This report also contains a valuable contribution to the history of the +Universal Postal Union, an arrangement which amounts practically to +the establishment of one postal system for the entire civilized world. +Special attention is directed to this subject at this time in view of +the fact that the next congress of the union will meet in Washington in +1897, and it is hoped that timely action will be taken in the direction +of perfecting preparations for that event. +</p> +<p> +The Postmaster-General renews the suggestion made in a previous report +that the Department organization be increased to the extent of creating +a direct district supervision of all postal affairs, and in this +suggestion I fully concur. +</p> +<p> +There are now connected with the Post-Office establishment 32,661 +employees who are in the classified service. This includes many who have +been classified upon the suggestion of the Postmaster-General. He states +that another year's experience at the head of the Department serves only +to strengthen the conviction as to the excellent working of the +civil-service law in this branch of the public service. +</p> +<p> +Attention is called to the report of the Secretary of the Navy, which +shows very gratifying progress in the construction of ships for our new +Navy. All the vessels now building, including the three torpedo boats +authorized at the last session of Congress and excepting the first-class +battle ship <i>Iowa</i>, will probably be completed during the coming +fiscal year. +</p> +<p> +The estimates for the increase of the Navy for the year ending June 30, +1896, are large, but they include practically the entire sum necessary +to complete and equip all the new ships not now in commission, so that +unless new ships are authorized the appropriations for the naval service +for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1897, should fall below the +estimates for the coming year by at least $12,000,000. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary presents with much earnestness a plea for the authorization +of three additional battle ships and ten or twelve torpedo boats. While +the unarmored vessels heretofore authorized, including those now nearing +completion, will constitute a fleet which it is believed is sufficient +for ordinary cruising purposes in time of peace, we have now completed +and in process of construction but four first-class battle ships and +but few torpedo boats. If we are to have a navy for warlike operations, +offensive and defensive, we certainly ought to increase both the number +of battle ships and torpedo boats. +</p> +<p> +The manufacture of armor requires expensive plants and the aggregation +of many skilled workmen. All the armor necessary to complete the vessels +now building will be delivered before the 1st of June next. If no new +contracts are given out, contractors must disband their workmen and +their plants must lie idle. Battle ships authorized at this time would +not be well under way until late in the coming fiscal year, and at least +three years and a half from the date of the contract would be required +for their completion. The Secretary states that not more than 15 per +cent of the cost of such ships need be included in the appropriations +for the coming year. +</p> +<p> +I recommend that provision be made for the construction of additional +battle ships and torpedo boats. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary recommends the manufacture not only of a reserve supply of +ordnance and ordnance material for ships of the Navy, but also a supply +for the auxiliary fleet. Guns and their appurtenances should be provided +and kept on hand for both these purposes. We have not to-day a single +gun that could be put upon the ships <i>Paris</i> or <i>New York</i> of the +International Navigation Company or any other ship of our reserve Navy. +</p> +<p> +The manufacture of guns at the Washington Navy-Yard is proceeding +satisfactorily, and none of our new ships will be required to wait for +their guns or ordnance equipment. +</p> +<p> +An important order has been issued by the Secretary of the Navy +coordinating the duties of the several bureaus concerned in the +construction of ships. This order, it is believed, will secure to a +greater extent than has heretofore been possible the harmonious action +of these several bureaus and make the attainment of the best results +more certain. +</p> +<p> +During the past fiscal year there has been an unusual and pressing +demand in many quarters of the world for the presence of vessels to +guard American interests. +</p> +<p> +In January last, during the Brazilian insurrection, a large fleet was +concentrated in the harbor of Rio de Janeiro. The vigorous action of +Rear-Admiral Benham in protecting the personal and commercial rights of +our citizens during the disturbed conditions afforded results which +will, it is believed, have a far-reaching and wholesome influence +whenever in like circumstances it may become necessary for our naval +commanders to interfere on behalf of our people in foreign ports. +</p> +<p> +The war now in progress between China and Japan has rendered it +necessary or expedient to dispatch eight vessels to those waters. +</p> +<p> +Both the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of the Treasury +recommend the transfer of the work of the Coast Survey proper to the +Navy Department. I heartily concur in this recommendation. Excluding +Alaska and a very small area besides, all the work of mapping and +charting our coasts has been completed. The hydrographic work, which +must be done over and over again by reason of the shifting and varying +depths of water consequent upon the action of streams and tides, +has heretofore been done under the direction of naval officers in +subordination to the Superintendent of the Coast Survey. There seems to +be no good reason why the Navy should not have entire charge hereafter +of such work, especially as the Hydrographic Office of the Navy +Department is now and has been for many years engaged in making +efficient maps entirely similar to those prepared by the Coast Survey. +</p> +<p> +I feel it my imperative duty to call attention to the recommendation of +the Secretary in regard to the personnel of the line of the Navy. The +stagnation of promotion in this the vital branch of the service is so +great as to seriously impair its efficiency. +</p> +<p> +I consider it of the utmost importance that the young and middle-aged +officers should before the eve of retirement be permitted to reach a +grade entitling them to active and important duty. +</p> +<p> +The system adopted a few years ago regulating the employment of labor +at the navy-yards is rigidly upheld and has fully demonstrated its +usefulness and expediency. It is within the domain of civil-service +reform inasmuch as workmen are employed through a board of labor +selected at each navy-yard and are given work without reference to +politics and in the order of their application, preference, however, +being given to Army and Navy veterans and those having former navy-yard +experience. +</p> +<p> +Amendments suggested by experience have been made to the rules +regulating the system. Through its operation the work at our navy-yards +has been vastly improved in efficiency and the opportunity to work has +been honestly and fairly awarded to willing and competent applicants. +</p> +<p> +It is hoped that if this system continues to be strictly adhered to +there will soon be as a natural consequence such an equalization of +party benefit as will remove all temptation to relax or abandon it. +</p> +<p> +The report of the Secretary of the Interior exhibits the situation of +the numerous and interesting branches of the public service connected +with his Department. I commend this report and the valuable +recommendations of the Secretary to the careful attention of the +Congress. +</p> +<p> +The public land disposed of during the year amounted to 10,406,100.77 +acres, including 28,876.05 of Indian lands. +</p> +<p> +It is estimated that the public domain still remaining amounts to +a little more than 600,000,000 acres, including, however, about +360,000,000 acres in Alaska, as well as military reservations and +railroad and other selections of lands yet unadjudicated. +</p> +<p> +The total cash receipts from sale of lands amounted to $2,674,285.79, +including $91,981.03 received for Indian lands. +</p> +<p> +Thirty-five thousand patents were issued for agricultural lands, and +3,100 patents were issued to Indians on allotments of their holdings +in severalty, the land so allotted being inalienable by the Indian +allottees for a period of twenty-five years after patent. +</p> +<p> +There were certified and patented on account of railroad and wagon-road +grants during the year 865,556.45 acres of land, and at the close of the +year 29,000,000 acres were embraced in the lists of selections made by +railroad and wagon-road companies and awaited settlement. +</p> +<p> +The selections of swamp lands and that taken as indemnity therefor since +the passage of the act providing for the same in 1849 amount to nearly +or quite 80,500,000 acres, of which 58,000,000 have been patented to +States. About 138,000 acres were patented during the last year. Nearly +820,000 acres of school and education grants were approved during the +year, and at its close 1,250,363.81 acres remained unadjusted. +</p> +<p> +It appears that the appropriation for the current year on account of +special service for the protection of the public lands and the timber +thereon is much less than those for previous years, and inadequate for +an efficient performance of the work. A larger sum of money than has +been appropriated during a number of years past on this account has been +returned to the Government as a result of the labors of those employed +in the particular service mentioned, and I hope it will not be crippled +by insufficient appropriation. +</p> +<p> +I fully indorse the recommendation of the Secretary that adequate +protection be provided for our forest reserves and that a comprehensive +forestry system be inaugurated. Such keepers and superintendents as are +necessary to protect the forests already reserved should be provided. +I am of the opinion that there should be an abandonment of the policy +sanctioned by present laws under which the Government, for a very small +consideration, is rapidly losing title to immense tracts of land covered +with timber, which should be properly reserved as permanent sources of +timber supply. +</p> +<p> +The suggestion that a change be made in the manner of securing surveys +of the public lands is especially worthy of consideration. I am +satisfied that these surveys should be made by a corps of competent +surveyors under the immediate control and direction of the Commissioner +of the General Land Office. +</p> +<p> +An exceedingly important recommendation of the Secretary relates to the +manner in which contests and litigated cases growing out of efforts to +obtain Government land are determined. The entire testimony upon which +these controversies depend in all their stages is taken before the +local registers and receivers, and yet these officers have no power +to subpoena witnesses or to enforce their attendance to testify. These +cases, numbering three or four thousand annually, are sent by the local +officers to the Commissioner of the General Land Office for his action. +The exigencies of his other duties oblige him to act upon the decisions +of the registers and receivers without an opportunity of thorough +personal examination. Nearly 2,000 of these cases are appealed annually +from the Commissioner to the Secretary of the Interior. Burdened with +other important administrative duties, his determination of these +appeals must be almost perfunctory and based upon the examination of +others, though this determination of the Secretary operates as a final +adjudication upon rights of very great importance. +</p> +<p> +I concur in the opinion that the Commissioner of the General Land Office +should be relieved from the duty of deciding litigated land cases, that +a nonpartisan court should be created to pass on such cases, and that +the decisions of this court should be final, at least so far as the +decisions of the Department are now final. The proposed court might be +given authority to certify questions of law in matters of especial +importance to the Supreme Court of the United States or the court of +appeals for the District of Columbia for decision. The creation of such +a tribunal would expedite the disposal of cases and insure decisions of +a more satisfactory character. The registers and receivers who +originally hear and decide these disputes should be invested with +authority to compel witnesses to attend and testify before them. +</p> +<p> +Though the condition of the Indians shows a steady and healthy progress, +their situation is not satisfactory at all points. Some of them to whom +allotments of land have been made are found to be unable or disinclined +to follow agricultural pursuits or to otherwise beneficially manage +their land. This is especially true of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, who, +as it appears by reports of their agent, have in many instances never +been located upon their allotments, and in some cases do not even know +where their allotments are. Their condition has deteriorated. They are +not self-supporting and they live in camps and spend their time in +idleness. +</p> +<p> +I have always believed that allotments of reservation lands to Indians +in severalty should be made sparingly, or at least slowly, and with +the utmost caution. In these days, when white agriculturists and stock +raisers of experience and intelligence find their lot a hard one, we +ought not to expect Indians, unless far advanced in civilization and +habits of industry, to support themselves on the small tracts of land +usually allotted to them. +</p> +<p> +If the self-supporting scheme by allotment fails, the wretched pauperism +of the allottees which results is worse than their original condition +of regulated dependence. It is evident that the evil consequences of +ill-advised allotment are intensified in cases where the false step +can not be retraced on account of the purchase by the Government +of reservation lands remaining after allotments are made and the +disposition of such remaining lands to settlers or purchasers from +the Government. +</p> +<p> +I am convinced that the proper solution of the Indian problem and the +success of every step taken in that direction depend to a very large +extent upon the intelligence and honesty of the reservation agents and +the interest they have in their work. An agent fitted for his place can +do much toward preparing the Indians under his charge for citizenship +and allotment of their lands, and his advice as to any matter concerning +their welfare will not mislead. An unfit agent will make no effort +to advance the Indians on his reservation toward civilization or +preparation for allotment of lands in severalty, and his opinion as to +their condition in this and other regards is heedless and valueless. +</p> +<p> +The indications are that the detail of army officers as Indian agents +will result in improved management on the reservations. +</p> +<p> +Whenever allotments are made and any Indian on the reservation has +previously settled upon a lot and cultivated it or shown a disposition +to improve it in any way, such lot should certainly be allotted to him, +and this should be made plainly obligatory by statute. +</p> +<p> +In the light of experience and considering the uncertainty of the Indian +situation and its exigencies in the future, I am not only disposed to +be very cautious in making allotments, but I incline to agree with the +Secretary of the Interior in the opinion that when allotments are made +the balance of reservation land remaining after allotment, instead of +being bought by the Government from the Indians and opened for +settlement with such scandals and unfair practices as seem unavoidable, +should remain for a time at least as common land or be sold by the +Government on behalf of the Indians in an orderly way and at fixed +prices, to be determined by its location and desirability, and that the +proceeds, less expenses, should be held in trust for the benefit of the +Indian proprietors. +</p> +<p> +The intelligent Indian-school management of the past year has been +followed by gratifying results. Efforts have been made to advance the +work in a sound and practical manner. Five institutes of Indian teachers +have been held during the year, and have proved very beneficial through +the views exchanged and methods discussed particularly applicable to +Indian education. +</p> +<p> +Efforts are being made in the direction of a gradual reduction of the +number of Indian contract schools, so that in a comparatively short time +they may give way altogether to Government schools, and it is hoped +that the change may be so gradual as to be perfected without too great +expense to the Government or undue disregard of investments made by +those who have established and are maintaining such contract schools. +</p> +<p> +The appropriation for the current year, ending June 30, 1895, applicable +to the ordinary expenses of the Indian service amounts to $6,733,003.18, +being less by $663,240.64 than the sum appropriated on the same account +for the previous year. +</p> +<p> +At the close of the last fiscal year, on the 30th day of June, 1894, +there were 969,544 persons on our pension rolls, being a net increase +of 3,532 over the number reported at the end of the previous year. +</p> +<p> +These pensioners may be classified as follows: Soldiers and sailors +survivors of all wars, 753,968; widows and relatives of deceased +soldiers, 215,162; army nurses in the War of the Rebellion, 414. Of +these pensioners 32,039 are surviving soldiers of Indian and other +wars prior to the late Civil War and the widows or relatives of such +soldiers. +</p> +<p> +The remainder, numbering 937,505, are receiving pensions on account of +the rebellion, and of these 469,344 are on the rolls under the authority +of the act of June 27, 1890, sometimes called the dependent-pension law. +</p> +<p> +The total amount expended for pensions during the year was +$139,804,461.05, leaving an unexpended balance from the sum appropriated +of $25,205,712.65. +</p> +<p> +The sum necessary to meet pension expenditures for the year ending June +30, 1896, is estimated at $140,000,000. +</p> +<p> +The Commissioner of Pensions is of the opinion that the year 1895, +being the thirtieth after the close of the War of the Rebellion, must, +according to all sensible human calculation, see the highest limit of +the pension roll, and that after that year it must begin to decline. +</p> +<p> +The claims pending in the Bureau have decreased more than 90,000 during +the year. A large proportion of the new claims filed are for increase of +pension by those now on the rolls. +</p> +<p> +The number of certificates issued was 80,213. +</p> +<p> +The names dropped from the rolls for all causes during the year numbered +37,951. +</p> +<p> +Among our pensioners are 9 widows and 3 daughters of soldiers of the +Revolution and 45 survivors of the War of 1812. +</p> +<p> +The barefaced and extensive pension frauds exposed under the direction +of the courageous and generous veteran soldier now at the head of the +Bureau leave no room for the claim that no purgation of our pension +rolls was needed or that continued vigilance and prompt action are not +necessary to the same end. +</p> +<p> +The accusation that an effort to detect pension frauds is evidence of +unfriendliness toward our worthy veterans and a denial of their claims +to the generosity of the Government suggests an unfortunate indifference +to the commission of any offense which has for its motive the securing +of a pension and indicates a willingness to be blind to the existence +of mean and treacherous crimes which play upon demagogic fears and make +sport of the patriotic impulse of a grateful people. +</p> +<p> +The completion of the Eleventh Census is now in charge of the +Commissioner of Labor. The total disbursements on account of the work +for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, amounted to $10,365,676.81. +At the close of the year the number of persons employed in the Census +Office was 679; at present there are about 400. The whole number of +volumes necessary to comprehend the Eleventh Census will be 25, and they +will contain 22,270 printed pages. The assurance is confidently made +that before the close of the present calendar year the material still +incomplete will be practically in hand, and the census can certainly be +closed by the 4th of March, 1895. After that the revision and proof +reading necessary to bring out the volumes will still be required. +</p> +<p> +The text of the census volumes has been limited as far as possible to +the analysis of the statistics presented. This method, which is in +accordance with law, has caused more or less friction and in some +instances individual disappointment, for when the Commissioner of Labor +took charge of the work he found much matter on hand which according +to this rule he was compelled to discard. The census is being prepared +according to the theory that it is designed to collect facts and certify +them to the public, not to elaborate arguments or to present personal +views. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary of Agriculture in his report reviews the operations of his +Department for the last fiscal year and makes recommendations for the +further extension of its usefulness. He reports a saving in expenditures +during the year of $600,000, which is covered back into the Treasury. +This sum is 23 per cent of the entire appropriation. +</p> +<p> +A special study has been made of the demand for American farm products +in all foreign markets, especially Great Britain. That country received +from the United States during the nine months ending September 30, 1894, +305,910 live beef cattle, valued at $26,500,000, as against 182,611 +cattle, valued at $16,634,000, during the same period for 1893. +</p> +<p> +During the first six months of 1894 the United Kingdom took also +112,000,000 pounds of dressed beef from the United States, valued at +nearly $10,000,000. +</p> +<p> +The report shows that during the nine months immediately preceding +September 30, 1894, the United States exported to Great Britain +222,676,000 pounds of pork; of apples, 1,900,000 bushels, valued at +$2,500,000, and of horses 2,811, at an average value of $139 per head. +There was a falling off in American wheat exports of 13,500,000 bushels, +and the Secretary is inclined to believe that wheat may not in the +future be the staple export cereal product of our country, but that corn +will continue to advance in importance as an export on account of the +new uses to which it is constantly being appropriated. +</p> +<p> +The exports of agricultural products from the United States for the +fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, amounted to $628,363,038, being 72.28 +per cent of American exports of every description, and the United +Kingdom of Great Britain took more than 54 per cent of all farm products +finding foreign markets. +</p> +<p> +The Department of Agriculture has undertaken during the year two new +and important lines of research. The first relates to grasses and forage +plants, with the purpose of instructing and familiarizing the people as +to the distinctive grasses of the United States and teaching them how to +introduce valuable foreign forage plants which may be adapted to this +country. The second relates to agricultural soils and crop production, +involving the analyses of samples of soils from all sections of the +American Union, to demonstrate their adaptability to particular plants +and crops. Mechanical analyses of soils may be of such inestimable +utility that it is foremost in the new lines of agricultural research, +and the Secretary therefore recommends that a division having it in +charge be permanently established in the Department. +</p> +<p> +The amount appropriated for the Weather Bureau was $951,100. Of that sum +$138,500, or 14 per cent, has been saved and is returned to the Treasury. +</p> +<p> +As illustrating the usefulness of this service it may be here stated +that the warnings which were very generally given of two tropical storms +occurring in September and October of the present year resulted in +detaining safely in port 2,305 vessels, valued at $36,283,913, laden +with cargoes of probably still greater value. What is much more +important and gratifying, many human lives on these ships were also +undoubtedly saved. +</p> +<p> +The appropriation to the Bureau of Animal Industry was $850,000, and the +expenditures for the year were only $495,429.24, thus leaving unexpended +$354,570.76. The inspection of beef animals for export and interstate +trade has been continued, and 12,944,056 head were inspected during the +year, at a cost of 1-3/4 cents per head, against 4-3/4 cents for 1893. +The amount of pork microscopically examined was 35,437,937 pounds, +against 20,677,410 pounds in the preceding year. The cost of this +inspection has been diminished from 8-3/4 cents per head in 1893 to +6-1/2 cents in 1894. +</p> +<p> +The expense of inspecting the pork sold in 1894 to Germany and France by +the United States was $88,922.10. The quantity inspected was greater by +15,000,000 pounds than during the preceding year, when the cost of such +inspection was $172,367.08. The Secretary of Agriculture recommends +that the law providing for the microscopic inspection of export and +interstate meat be so amended as to compel owners of the meat inspected +to pay the cost of such inspection, and I call attention to the +arguments presented in his report in support of this recommendation. +</p> +<p> +The live beef cattle exported and tagged during the year numbered +353,535. This is an increase of 69,533 head over the previous year. +</p> +<p> +The sanitary inspection of cattle shipped to Europe has cost an average +of 10-3/4 cents for each animal, and the cost of inspecting Southern +cattle and the disinfection of cars and stock yards averages 2.7 cents +per animal. +</p> +<p> +The scientific inquiries of the Bureau of Animal Industry have +progressed steadily during the year. Much tuberculin and mallein have +been furnished to State authorities for use in the agricultural colleges +and experiment stations for the treatment of tuberculosis and glanders. +</p> +<p> +Quite recently this Department has published the results of its +investigations of bovine tuberculosis, and its researches will be +vigorously continued. Certain herds in the District of Columbia will be +thoroughly inspected and will probably supply adequate scope for the +Department to intelligently prosecute its scientific work and furnish +sufficient material for purposes of illustration, description, and +definition. +</p> +<p> +The sterilization of milk suspected of containing the bacilli of +tuberculosis has been during the year very thoroughly explained in a +leaflet by Dr. D.E. Salmon, the Chief of the Bureau, and given general +circulation throughout the country. +</p> +<p> +The Office of Experiment Stations, which is a part of the United States +Department of Agriculture, has during the past year engaged itself +almost wholly in preparing for publication works based upon the reports +of agricultural experiment stations and other institutions for +agricultural inquiry in the United States and foreign countries. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary in his report for 1893 called attention to the fact that +the appropriations made for the support of the experiment stations +throughout the Union were the only moneys taken out of the National +Treasury by act of Congress for which no accounting to Federal +authorities was required. Responding to this suggestion, the Fifty-third +Congress, in making the appropriation for the Department for the present +fiscal year, provided that— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The Secretary of Agriculture shall prescribe the form of annual + financial statement required by section 3 of said act of March 2, 1887; + shall ascertain whether the expenditures under the appropriation hereby + made are in accordance with the provisions of said act, and shall make + report thereon to Congress. +</p> +<p> +In obedience to this law the Department of Agriculture immediately sent +out blank forms of expense accounts to each station, and proposes in +addition to make, through trusted experts, systematic examination of +the several stations during each year for the purpose of acquiring by +personal investigation the detailed information necessary to enable +the Secretary of Agriculture to make, as the statute provides, a +satisfactory report to Congress. The boards of management of the +several stations with great alacrity and cordiality have approved the +amendment to the law providing this supervision of their expenditures, +anticipating that it will increase the efficiency of the stations and +protect their directors and managers from loose charges concerning their +use of public funds, besides bringing the Department of Agriculture into +closer and more confidential relations with the experimental stations, +and through their joint service largely increasing their usefulness to +the agriculture of the country. +</p> +<p> +Acting upon a recommendation contained in the report of 1893, Congress +appropriated $10,000 "to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to +investigate and report upon the nutritive value of the various articles +and commodities used for human food, with special suggestions of full, +wholesome, and edible rations less wasteful and more economical than +those in common use." +</p> +<p> +Under this appropriation the Department has prepared and now has nearly +ready for distribution an elementary discussion of the nutritive value +and pecuniary economy of food. When we consider that fully one-half of +all the money earned by the wage earners of the civilized world is +expended by them for food, the importance and utility of such an +investigation is apparent. +</p> +<p> +The Department expended in the fiscal year 1893 $2,354,809.56, and +out of that sum the total amount expended in scientific research was +45.6 per cent. But in the year ending June 30, 1894, out of a total +expenditure of $1,948,988.38, the Department applied 51.8 per cent of +that sum to scientific work and investigation. It is therefore very +plainly observable that the economies which have been practiced in +the administration of the Department have not been at the expense of +scientific research. +</p> +<p> +The recommendation contained in the report of the Secretary for 1893 +that the vicious system of promiscuous free distribution of its +departmental documents be abandoned is again urged. These publications +may well be furnished without cost to public libraries, educational +institutions, and the officers and libraries of States and of the +Federal Government; but from all individuals applying for them a price +covering the cost of the document asked for should be required. Thus the +publications and documents would be secured by those who really desire +them for proper purposes. Half a million of copies of the report of the +Secretary of Agriculture are printed for distribution, at an annual cost +of about $300,000. Large numbers of them are cumbering storerooms at the +Capitol and the shelves of secondhand-book stores throughout the +country. All this labor and waste might be avoided if the +recommendations of the Secretary were adopted. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary also again recommends that the gratuitous distribution of +seeds cease and that no money be appropriated for that purpose except to +experiment stations. He reiterates the reasons given in his report for +1893 for discontinuing this unjustifiable gratuity, and I fully concur +in the conclusions which he has reached. +</p> +<p> +The best service of the statistician of the Department of Agriculture +is the ascertainment, by diligence and care, of the actual and real +conditions, favorable or unfavorable, of the farmers and farms of the +country, and to seek the causes which produce these conditions, to the +end that the facts ascertained may guide their intelligent treatment. +</p> +<p> +A further important utility in agricultural statistics is found in their +elucidation of the relation of the supply of farm products to the demand +for them in the markets of the United States and of the world. +</p> +<p> +It is deemed possible that an agricultural census may be taken each year +through the agents of the statistical division of the Department. Such a +course is commended for trial by the chief of that division. Its scope +would be: +</p> +<p> +(1) The area under each of the more important crops. (2) The aggregate +products of each of such crops. (3) The quantity of wheat and corn in +the hands of farmers at a date after the spring sowings and plantings +and before the beginning of harvest, and also the quantity of cotton and +tobacco remaining in the hands of planters, either at the same date or +at some other designated time. +</p> +<p> +The cost of the work is estimated at $500,000. +</p> +<p> +Owing to the peculiar quality of the statistician's work and the natural +and acquired fitness necessary to its successful prosecution, the +Secretary of Agriculture expresses the opinion that every person +employed in gathering statistics under the chief of that division should +be admitted to that service only after a thorough, exhaustive, and +successful examination at the hands of the United States Civil Service +Commission. This has led him to call for such examination of candidates +for the position of assistant statisticians, and also of candidates for +chiefs of sections in that division. +</p> +<p> +The work done by the Department of Agriculture is very superficially +dealt with in this communication, and I commend the report of the +Secretary and the very important interests with which it deals to the +careful attention of the Congress. +</p> +<p> +The advantages to the public service of an adherence to the principles +of civil-service reform are constantly more apparent, and nothing +is so encouraging to those in official life who honestly desire good +government as the increasing appreciation by our people of these +advantages. A vast majority of the voters of the land are ready to +insist that the time and attention of those they select to perform for +them important public duties should not be distracted by doling out +minor offices, and they are growing to be unanimous in regarding party +organization as something that should be used in establishing party +principles instead of dictating the distribution of public places as +rewards of partisan activity. +</p> +<p> +Numerous additional offices and places have lately been brought within +civil-service rules and regulations, and some others will probably soon +be included. +</p> +<p> +The report of the Commissioners will be submitted to the Congress, and +I invite careful attention to the recommendations it contains. +</p> +<p> +I am entirely convinced that we ought not to be longer without a +national board of health or national health officer charged with no +other duties than such as pertain to the protection of our country +from the invasion of pestilence and disease. This would involve the +establishment by such board or officer of proper quarantine precautions, +or the necessary aid and counsel to local authorities on the subject; +prompt advice and assistance to local boards of health or health +officers in the suppression of contagious disease, and in cases where +there are no such local boards or officers the immediate direction by +the national board or officer of measures of suppression; constant and +authentic information concerning the health of foreign countries and +all parts of our own country as related to contagious diseases, and +consideration of regulations to be enforced in foreign ports to prevent +the introduction of contagion into our cities and the measures which +should be adopted to secure their enforcement. +</p> +<p> +There seems to be at this time a decided inclination to discuss measures +of protection against contagious diseases in international conference, +with a view of adopting means of mutual assistance. The creation of such +a national health establishment would greatly aid our standing in such +conferences and improve our opportunities to avail ourselves of their +benefits. +</p> +<p> +I earnestly recommend the inauguration of a national board of health +or similar national instrumentality, believing the same to be a needed +precaution against contagious disease and in the interest of the safety +and health of our people. +</p> +<p> +By virtue of a statute of the United States passed in 1888 I appointed +in July last Hon. John D. Kernan, of the State of New York, and Hon. +Nicholas E. Worthington, of the State of Illinois, to form, with Hon. +Carroll D. Wright, Commissioner of Labor, who was designated by said +statute, a commission for the purpose of making careful inquiry into +the causes of the controversies between certain railroads and their +employees which had resulted in an extensive and destructive strike, +accompanied by much violence and dangerous disturbance, with +considerable loss of life and great destruction of property. +</p> +<p> +The report of the commissioners has been submitted to me and will be +transmitted to the Congress with the evidence taken upon their +investigation. +</p> +<p> +Their work has been well done, and their standing and intelligence give +assurance that the report and suggestions they make are worthy of +careful consideration. +</p> +<p> +The tariff act passed at the last session of the Congress needs +important amendments if it is to be executed effectively and with +certainty. In addition to such necessary amendments as will not change +rates of duty, I am still very decidedly in favor of putting coal and +iron upon the free list. +</p> +<p> +So far as the sugar schedule is concerned, I would be glad, under +existing aggravations, to see every particle of differential duty in +favor of refined sugar stricken out of our tariff law. If with all the +favor now accorded the sugar-refining interest in our tariff laws it +still languishes to the extent of closed refineries and thousands of +discharged workmen, it would seem to present a hopeless case for +reasonable legislative aid. Whatever else is done or omitted, I +earnestly repeat here the recommendation I have made in another portion +of this communication, that the additional duty of one-tenth of a cent +per pound laid upon sugar imported from countries paying a bounty on its +export be abrogated. It seems to me that exceedingly important +considerations point to the propriety of this amendment. +</p> +<p> +With the advent of a new tariff policy not only calculated to relieve +the consumers of our land in the cost of their daily life, but to invite +a better development of American thrift and create for us closer and +more profitable commercial relations with the rest of the world, it +follows as a logical and imperative necessity that we should at once +remove the chief if not the only obstacle which has so long prevented +our participation in the foreign carrying trade of the sea. A tariff +built upon the theory that it is well to check imports and that a home +market should bound the industry and effort of American producers was +fitly supplemented by a refusal to allow American registry to vessels +built abroad, though owned and navigated by our people, thus exhibiting +a willingness to abandon all contest for the advantages of American +transoceanic carriage. Our new tariff policy, built upon the theory that +it is well to encourage such importations as our people need, and that +our products and manufactures should find markets in every part of the +habitable globe, is consistently supplemented by the greatest possible +liberty to our citizens in the ownership and navigation of ships in +which our products and manufactures may be transported. The millions now +paid to foreigners for carrying American passengers and products across +the sea should be turned into American hands. Shipbuilding, which has +been protected to strangulation, should be revived by the prospect of +profitable employment for ships when built, and the American sailor +should be resurrected and again take his place—a sturdy and industrious +citizen in time of peace and a patriotic and safe defender of American +interests in the day of conflict. +</p> +<p> +The ancient provision of our law denying American registry to ships +built abroad and owned by Americans appears in the light of present +conditions not only to be a failure for good at every point, but to +be nearer a relic of barbarism than anything that exists under the +permission of a statute of the United States. I earnestly recommend +its prompt repeal. +</p> +<p> +During the last month the gold reserved in the Treasury for the purpose +of redeeming the notes of the Government circulating as money in the +hands of the people became so reduced and its further depletion in the +near future seemed so certain that in the exercise of proper care for +the public welfare it became necessary to replenish this reserve and +thus maintain popular faith in the ability and determination of the +Government to meet as agreed its pecuniary obligations. +</p> +<p> +It would have been well if in this emergency authority had existed to +issue the bonds of the Government bearing a low rate of interest and +maturing within a short period; but the Congress having failed to confer +such authority, resort was necessarily had to the resumption act of +1875, and pursuant to its provisions bonds were issued drawing interest +at the rate of 5 per cent per annum and maturing ten years after their +issue, that being the shortest time authorized by the act. I am glad +to say, however, that on the sale of these bonds the premium received +operated to reduce the rate of interest to be paid by the Government +to less than 3 per cent. +</p> +<p> +Nothing could be worse or further removed from sensible finance than the +relations existing between the currency the Government has issued, the +gold held for its redemption, and the means which must be resorted to +for the purpose of replenishing such redemption fund when impaired. Even +if the claims upon this fund were confined to the obligations originally +intended and if the redemption of these obligations meant their +cancellation, the fund would be very small. But these obligations when +received and redeemed in gold are not canceled, but are reissued and may +do duty many times by way of drawing gold from the Treasury. Thus we +have an endless chain in operation constantly depleting the Treasury's +gold and never near a final rest. As if this was not bad enough, we +have, by a statutory declaration that it is the policy of the Government +to maintain the parity between gold and silver, aided the force and +momentum of this exhausting process and added largely to the currency +obligations claiming this peculiar gold redemption. Our small gold +reserve is thus subject to drain from every side. The demands that +increase our danger also increase the necessity of protecting this +reserve against depletion, and it is most unsatisfactory to know that +the protection afforded is only a temporary palliation. +</p> +<p> +It is perfectly and palpably plain that the only way under present +conditions by which this reserve when dangerously depleted can be +replenished is through the issue and sale of the bonds of the Government +for gold, and yet Congress has not only thus far declined to authorize +the issue of bonds best suited to such a purpose, but there seems a +disposition in some quarters to deny both the necessity and power for +the issue of bonds at all. +</p> +<p> +I can not for a moment believe that any of our citizens are +deliberately willing that their Government should default in its +pecuniary obligations or that its financial operations should be reduced +to a silver basis. At any rate, I should not feel that my duty was done +if I omitted any effort I could make to avert such a calamity. As long, +therefore, as no provision is made for the final redemption or the +putting aside of the currency obligation now used to repeatedly and +constantly draw from the Government its gold, and as long as no better +authority for bond issues is allowed than at present exists, such +authority will be utilized whenever and as often as it becomes necessary +to maintain a sufficient gold reserve, and in abundant time to save the +credit of our country and make good the financial declarations of our +Government. +</p> +<p> +Questions relating to our banks and currency are closely connected with +the subject just referred to, and they also present some unsatisfactory +features. Prominent among them are the lack of elasticity in our +currency circulation and its frequent concentration in financial centers +when it is most needed in other parts of the country. +</p> +<p> +The absolute divorcement of the Government from the business of banking +is the ideal relationship of the Government to the circulation of the +currency of the country. +</p> +<p> +This condition can not be immediately reached, but as a step in that +direction and as a means of securing a more elastic currency and +obviating other objections to the present arrangement of bank +circulation the Secretary of the Treasury presents in his report a +scheme modifying present banking laws and providing for the issue of +circulating notes by State banks free from taxation under certain +limitations. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary explains his plan so plainly and its advantages are +developed by him with such remarkable clearness that any effort on my +part to present argument in its support would be superfluous. I shall +therefore content myself with an unqualified indorsement of the +Secretary's proposed changes in the law and a brief and imperfect +statement of their prominent features. +</p> +<p> +It is proposed to repeal all laws providing for the deposit of United +States bonds as security for circulation; to permit national banks to +issue circulating notes not exceeding in amount 75 per cent of their +paid-up and unimpaired capital, provided they deposit with the +Government as a guaranty fund, in United States legal-tender notes, +including Treasury notes of 1890, a sum equal in amount to 30 per cent +of the notes they desire to issue, this deposit to be maintained at +all times, but whenever any bank retires any part of its circulation +a proportional part of its guaranty fund shall be returned to it; +to permit the Secretary of the Treasury to prepare and keep on hand +ready for issue in case an increase in circulation is desired blank +national-bank notes for each bank having circulation and to repeal the +provisions of the present law imposing limitations and restrictions upon +banks desiring to reduce or increase their circulation, thus permitting +such increase or reduction within the limit of 75 per cent of capital +to be quickly made as emergencies arise. +</p> +<p> +In addition to the guaranty fund required, it is proposed to provide a +safety fund for the immediate redemption of the circulating notes of +failed banks by imposing a small annual tax, say one-half of 1 per cent, +upon the average circulation of each bank until the fund amounts to 5 +per cent of the total circulation outstanding. When a bank fails its +guaranty fund is to be paid into this safety fund and its notes are to +be redeemed in the first instance from such safety fund thus augmented, +any impairment of such fund caused thereby to be made good from the +immediately available cash assets of said bank, and if these should +be insufficient such impairment to be made good by <i>pro rata</i> +assessment among the other banks, their contributions constituting +a first lien upon the assets of the failed bank in favor of the +contributing banks. As a further security it is contemplated that the +existing provision fixing the individual liability of stockholders is to +be retained and the bank's indebtedness on account of its circulating +notes is to be made a first lien on all its assets. +</p> +<p> +For the purpose of meeting the expense of printing notes, official +supervision, cancellation, and other like charges there shall be imposed +a tax of say one-half of 1 per cent per annum upon the average amount of +notes in circulation. +</p> +<p> +It is further provided that there shall be no national-bank notes issued +of a less denomination than $10; that each national bank, except in case +of a failed bank, shall redeem or retire its notes in the first instance +at its own office or at agencies to be designated by it, and that no +fixed reserve need be maintained on account of deposits. +</p> +<p> +Another very important feature of this plan is the exemption of State +banks from taxation by the United States in cases where it is shown to +the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Treasury and Comptroller of +the Currency by banks claiming such exemption that they have not had +outstanding their circulating notes exceeding 75 per cent of their +paid-up and unimpaired capital; that their stockholders are individually +liable for the redemption of their circulating notes to the full extent +of their ownership of stock; that the liability of said banks upon their +circulating notes constitutes under their State law a first lien upon +their assets; that such banks have kept and maintained a guaranty fund +in United States legal-tender notes, including Treasury notes of 1890, +equal to 30 per cent of their outstanding circulating notes, and that +such banks have promptly redeemed their circulating notes when presented +at their principal or branch offices. +</p> +<p> +It is quite likely that this scheme may be usefully amended in some of +its details, but I am satisfied it furnishes a basis for a very great +improvement in our present banking and currency system. +</p> +<p> +I conclude this communication fully appreciating that the responsibility +for all legislation affecting the people of the United States rests upon +their representatives in the Congress, and assuring them that, whether +in accordance with recommendations I have made or not, I shall be glad +to cooperate in perfecting any legislation that tends to the prosperity +and welfare of our country. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + SPECIAL MESSAGES. +</h2> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>December 6, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 24th of July, +1894, directing the Secretary of State to furnish copies of all papers, +correspondence, diplomatic or otherwise, on file in the State Department +in connection with the arrest and imprisonment at Arequipa, Peru, of +Victor H. McCord, I transmit herewith the correspondence indicated. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, December 10, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State, +inclosing the report, with accompanying papers, of the commission of the +United States for the Columbian Historical Exposition in Madrid in 1892 +and 1893, constituted in virtue of the act of Congress approved May 13, +1892. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>December 10, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith the report on the Chicago strike of June and July, +1894, forwarded to me by the Strike Commission appointed July 26, 1894, +under the provisions of section 6 of chapter 1063 of the laws of the +United States, passed October 1, 1888. +</p> +<p> +The testimony taken by the commission and the suggestions and +recommendations made to it accompany the report in the form of +appendixes. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, December 11, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of the Senate dated December 6, 1894, +requesting that copies of correspondence in regard to the claim of +Antonio Maximo Mora against the Government of Spain exchanged since my +last message to the Senate on the same subject, dated June 20, 1894,<a href="#note-13" name="noteref-13"><small>13</small></a> +be communicated to it, if not incompatible with the public interests, +I transmit herewith the report of the Secretary of State on the matter, +with accompanying copies of correspondence. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>December 11, 1894</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +I have received a copy of the following resolution of the Senate, passed +on 3d instant: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Resolved</i>, That the President be requested, if in his judgment + it be not incompatible with the public interest, to communicate to + the Senate any information he may have received in regard to alleged + cruelties committed upon Armenians in Turkey, and especially whether + any such cruelties have been committed upon citizens who have declared + their intention to become naturalized in this country or upon persons + because of their being Christians. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + And further, to inform the Senate whether any expostulations have been + addressed by this Government to the Government of Turkey in regard to + such matters or any proposals made by or to this Government to act in + concert with other Christian powers regarding the same. +</p> +<p> +In response to said resolution I beg leave to inform the Senate that +I have no information concerning cruelties committed upon Armenians in +Turkey or upon persons because of their being Christians, except such +information as has been derived from newspapers and statements emanating +from the Turkish Government denying such cruelties and two telegraphic +reports from our minister at Constantinople. +</p> +<p> +One of these reports, dated November 28, 1894, is in answer to an +inquiry by the State Department touching reports in the press alleging +the killing of Armenians, and is as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Reports in American papers of Turkish atrocities at Sassoun are + sensational and exaggerated. The killing was in a conflict between + armed Armenians and Turkish soldiers. The grand vizier says it was + necessary to suppress insurrection, and that about fifty Turks were + killed; between three and four hundred Armenian guns were picked up + after the fight, and reports that about that number of Armenians were + killed. I give credit to his statement. +</p> +<p> +The other dispatch referred to is dated December 2, 1894, and is as +follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Information from British ambassador indicates far more loss of lives in + Armenia, attended with atrocities, than stated in my telegram of 28th. +</p> +<p> +I have received absolutely no information concerning any cruelties +committed "upon citizens who have declared their intention to become +naturalized in this country," or upon any persons who had a right to +claim or have claimed for any reason the protection of the United States +Government. +</p> +<p> +In the absence of such authentic detailed knowledge on the subject as +would justify our interference no "expostulations have been addressed by +this Government to the Government of Turkey in regard to such matters." +</p> +<p> +The last inquiry contained in the resolution of the Senate touching +these alleged cruelties seeks information concerning "any proposals made +by or to this Government to act in concert with other Christian powers +regarding the same." +</p> +<p> +The first proposal of the kind referred to was made by the Turkish +Government through our minister on the 30th day of November, when the +Sultan then expressed a desire that a consul of the United States be +sent with a Turkish commission to investigate these alleged atrocities +on Armenians. This was construed as an invitation on the part of the +Turkish Government to actually take part with a Turkish commission in an +investigation of these affairs and any report to be made thereon, and +the proposition came before our minister's second dispatch was received +and at a time when the best information in the possession of our +Government was derived from his first report, indicating that the +statements made in the press were sensational and exaggerated and that +the atrocities alleged really did not exist. This condition very much +weakened any motive for an interference based on considerations of +humanity, and permitted us without embarrassment to pursue a course +plainly marked out by other controlling incidents. +</p> +<p> +By a treaty entered into at Berlin in the year 1878 between Turkey and +various other governments Turkey undertook to guarantee protection to +the Armenians, and agreed that it would "periodically make known the +steps taken to this effect to the powers, who will superintend their +application." +</p> +<p> +Our Government was not a party to this treaty, and it is entirely +obvious that in the face of the provisions of such treaty above recited +our interference in the proposed investigation, especially without the +invitation of any of the powers which had assumed by treaty obligations +to secure the protection of these Armenians, might have been exceedingly +embarrassing, if not entirely beyond the limits of justification or +propriety. +</p> +<p> +The Turkish invitation to join the investigation set on foot by that +Government was therefore, on the 2d day of December, declined. On the +same day, and after this declination had been sent, our minister at +Constantinople forwarded his second dispatch, tending to modify his +former report as to the extent and character of Armenian slaughter. +At the same time the request of the Sultan for our participation in the +investigation was repeated, and Great Britain, one of the powers which +joined in the treaty of Berlin, made a like request. +</p> +<p> +In view of changed conditions and upon reconsideration of the subject +it was determined to send Mr. Jewett, our consul at Sivas, to the scene +of the alleged outrages, not for the purpose of joining with any other +government in an investigation and report, but to the end that he might +be able to inform this Government as to the exact truth. +</p> +<p> +Instructions to this effect were sent to Mr. Jewett, and it is supposed +he has already entered upon the duty assigned him. +</p> +<p> +I submit with this communication copies of all correspondence and +dispatches in the State Department on this subject and the report to me +of the Secretary of State thereon. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, January 3, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of the Senate of the 4th ultimo, +requesting "any reports or correspondence relating to affairs at +Bluefields, in the Mosquito territory," and also information as to +"whether any American citizens have been arrested or the rights of any +American citizens at Bluefields have been interfered with during the +past two years by the Government of Nicaragua," I transmit herewith a +report from the Secretary of State, with accompanying papers. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 9, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I submit herewith certain dispatches from our minister at Hawaii and the +documents which accompanied the same. +</p> +<p> +They disclose the fact that the Hawaiian Government desires to lease +to Great Britain one of the uninhabited islands belonging to Hawaii as +a station for a submarine telegraph cable to be laid from Canada to +Australia, with a connection between the island leased and Honolulu. +</p> +<p> +Both the Hawaiian Government and the representatives of Great Britain +in this negotiation concede that the proposed lease can not be effected +without the consent of the United States, for the reason that in our +reciprocity treaty with the King of Hawaii he agreed that as long as +said treaty remained in force he would not "lease or otherwise dispose +of or create any lien upon any port, harbor, or other territory in his +dominion, or grant any special privilege or right of use therein, to any +other power, state, or government." +</p> +<p> +At the request of the Hawaiian Government this subject is laid before +the Congress for its determination upon the question of so modifying the +treaty agreement above recited as to permit the proposed lease. +</p> +<p> +It will be seen that the correspondence which is submitted between the +Hawaiian and British negotiators negatives the existence on the part of +Hawaii of any suspicion of British unfriendliness or the fear of British +aggression. +</p> +<p> +The attention of the Congress is directed to the following statement +contained in a communication addressed to the Hawaiian Government by the +representatives of Great Britain: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + We propose to inform the British Government of your inquiry whether + they would accept the sovereignty of Nicker Island or some other + uninhabited island on condition that no subsidy is required from you. + As we explained, we have not felt at liberty to entertain that question + ourselves, as we were definitely instructed not to ask for the + sovereignty of any island, but only for a lease simply for the purpose + of the cable. +</p> +<p> +Some of the dispatches from our minister, which are submitted, not +only refer to the project for leasing an uninhabited island belonging +to Hawaii, but contain interesting information concerning recent +occurrences in that country and its political and social condition. +This information is valuable because it is based upon the observation +and knowledge necessarily within the scope of the diplomatic duties +which are intrusted solely to the charge of this intelligent diplomatic +officer representing the United States Government at Hawaii. +</p> +<p> +I hope the Congress will see fit to grant the request of the Hawaiian +Government, and that our consent to the proposed lease will be promptly +accorded. It seems to me we ought not by a refusal of this request to +stand in the way of the advantages to be gained by isolated Hawaii +through telegraphic communication with the rest of the world, especially +in view of the fact that our own communication with that country would +thereby be greatly improved without apparent detriment to any legitimate +American interest. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 11, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of the Senate of the 19th ultimo, +requesting the record of the extradition proceedings in the case of +General Ezeta, etc., I transmit herewith a letter from the Secretary of +State, with accompanying papers. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, January 15, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit a report from the Secretary of State, with accompanying +papers, in response to the resolution of the Senate of the 3d instant, +requesting "all correspondence or other papers relating to the delivery +by the United States consul at Shanghai of two Japanese citizens to +the Chinese authorities," and information "whether the said Japanese +were put to death after being tortured, and whether there was any +understanding with the Chinese Government that officers of the United +States should aid, assist, and give comfort to any Japanese citizen +desiring to leave China, and whether the United States consul at Hankow +was reprimanded by Chinese officials for aiding Japanese citizens to +leave the country, and whether all information was refused to the United +States consul at Ningpo when he made inquiries as to the charges against +certain Japanese citizens arrested there." +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 28, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +In my last annual message I commended to the serious consideration of +the Congress the condition of our national finances, and in connection +with the subject indorsed a plan of currency legislation which at that +time seemed to furnish protection against impending danger.<a href="#note-14" name="noteref-14"><small>14</small></a> This plan +has not been approved by the Congress. In the meantime the situation has +so changed and the emergency now appears so threatening that I deem it +my duty to ask at the hands of the legislative branch of the Government +such prompt and effective action as will restore confidence in our +financial soundness and avert business disaster and universal distress +among our people. +</p> +<p> +Whatever may be the merits of the plan outlined in my annual message as +a remedy for ills then existing and as a safeguard against the depletion +of the gold reserve then in the Treasury, I am now convinced that its +reception by the Congress and our present advanced stage of financial +perplexity necessitate additional or different legislation. +</p> +<p> +With natural resources unlimited in variety and productive strength and +with a people whose activity and enterprise seek only a fair opportunity +to achieve national success and greatness, our progress should not be +checked by a false financial policy and a heedless disregard of sound +monetary laws, nor should the timidity and fear which they engender +stand in the way of our prosperity. +</p> +<p> +It is hardly disputed that this predicament confronts us to-day. +Therefore no one in any degree responsible for the making and execution +of our laws should fail to see a patriotic duty in honestly and +sincerely attempting to relieve the situation. Manifestly this effort +will not succeed unless it is made untrammeled by the prejudice of +partisanship and with a steadfast determination to resist the temptation +to accomplish party advantage. We may well remember that if we are +threatened with financial difficulties all our people in every station +of life are concerned; and surely those who suffer will not receive the +promotion of party interests as an excuse for permitting our present +troubles to advance to a disastrous conclusion. It is also of the utmost +importance that we approach the study of the problems presented as free +as possible from the tyranny of preconceived opinions, to the end that +in a common danger we may be able to seek with unclouded vision a safe +and reasonable protection. +</p> +<p> +The real trouble which confronts us consists in a lack of confidence, +widespread and constantly increasing, in the continuing ability or +disposition of the Government to pay its obligations in gold. This lack +of confidence grows to some extent out of the palpable and apparent +embarrassment attending the efforts of the Government under existing +laws to procure gold and to a greater extent out of the impossibility +of either keeping it in the Treasury or canceling obligations by its +expenditure after it is obtained. +</p> +<p> +The only way left open to the Government for procuring gold is by the +issue and sale of its bonds. The only bonds that can be so issued were +authorized nearly twenty-five years ago and are not well calculated to +meet our present needs. Among other disadvantages, they are made payable +in coin instead of specifically in gold, which in existing conditions +detracts largely and in an increasing ratio from their desirability as +investments. It is by no means certain that bonds of this description +can much longer be disposed of at a price creditable to the financial +character of our Government. +</p> +<p> +The most dangerous and irritating feature of the situation, however, +remains to be mentioned. It is found in the means by which the Treasury +is despoiled of the gold thus obtained without canceling a single +Government obligation and solely for the benefit of those who find +profit in shipping it abroad or whose fears induce them to hoard it at +home. We have outstanding about five hundred millions of currency notes +of the Government for which gold may be demanded, and, curiously enough, +the law requires that when presented and, in fact, redeemed and paid in +gold they shall be reissued. Thus the same notes may do duty many times +in drawing gold from the Treasury; nor can the process be arrested as +long as private parties, for profit or otherwise, see an advantage in +repeating the operation. More than $300,000,000 in these notes have +already been redeemed in gold, and notwithstanding such redemption they +are all still outstanding. +</p> +<p> +Since the 17th day of January, 1894, our bonded interest-bearing debt +has been increased $100,000,000 for the purpose of obtaining gold to +replenish our coin reserve. Two issues were made amounting to fifty +millions each, one in January and the other in November. As a result of +the first issue there was realized something more than $58,000,000 in +gold. Between that issue and the succeeding one in November, comprising +a period of about ten months, nearly $103,000,000 in gold were drawn +from the Treasury. This made the second issue necessary, and upon that +more than fifty-eight millions in gold was again realized. Between the +date of this second issue and the present time, covering a period of +only about two months, more than $69,000,000 in gold have been drawn +from the Treasury. These large sums of gold were expended without any +cancellation of Government obligations or in any permanent way +benefiting our people or improving our pecuniary situation. +</p> +<p> +The financial events of the past year suggest facts and conditions which +should certainly arrest attention. +</p> +<p> +More than $172,000,000 in gold have been drawn out of the Treasury +during the year for the purpose of shipment abroad or hoarding at home. +</p> +<p> +While nearly $103,000,000 of this amount was drawn out during the first +ten months of the year, a sum aggregating more than two-thirds of that +amount, being about $69,000,000, was drawn out during the following two +months, thus indicating a marked acceleration of the depleting process +with the lapse of time. +</p> +<p> +The obligations upon which this gold has been drawn from the Treasury +are still outstanding and are available for use in repeating the +exhausting operation with shorter intervals as our perplexities +accumulate. +</p> +<p> +Conditions are certainly supervening tending to make the bonds which may +be issued to replenish our gold less useful for that purpose. +</p> +<p> +An adequate gold reserve is in all circumstances absolutely essential to +the upholding of our public credit and to the maintenance of our high +national character. +</p> +<p> +Our gold reserve has again reached such a stage of diminution as to +require its speedy reenforcement. +</p> +<p> +The aggravations that must inevitably follow present conditions and +methods will certainly lead to misfortune and loss, not only to our +national credit and prosperity and to financial enterprise, but to those +of our people who seek employment as a means of livelihood and to those +whose only capital is their daily labor. +</p> +<p> +It will hardly do to say that a simple increase of revenue will cure our +troubles. The apprehension now existing and constantly increasing as to +our financial ability does not rest upon a calculation of our revenue. +The time has passed when the eyes of investors abroad and our people at +home were fixed upon the revenues of the Government. Changed conditions +have attracted their attention to the gold of the Government. There need +be no fear that we can not pay our current expenses with such money as +we have. There is now in the Treasury a comfortable surplus of more than +$63,000,000, but it is not in gold, and therefore does not meet our +difficulty. +</p> +<p> +I can not see that differences of opinion concerning the extent to which +silver ought to be coined or used in our currency should interfere with +the counsels of those whose duty it is to rectify evils now apparent in +our financial situation. They have to consider the question of national +credit and the consequences that will follow from its collapse. Whatever +ideas may be insisted upon as to silver or bimetallism, a proper +solution of the question now pressing upon us only requires a +recognition of gold as well as silver and a concession of its +importance, rightfully or wrongfully acquired, as a basis of national +credit, a necessity in the honorable discharge of our obligations +payable in gold, and a badge of solvency. I do not understand that the +real friends of silver desire a condition that might follow inaction or +neglect to appreciate the meaning of the present exigency if it should +result in the entire banishment of gold from our financial and currency +arrangements. +</p> +<p> +Besides the Treasury notes, which certainly should be paid in gold, +amounting to nearly $500,000,000, there will fall due in 1904 one +hundred millions of bonds issued during the last year, for which we have +received gold, and in 1907 nearly six hundred millions of 4 per cent +bonds issued in 1877. Shall the payment of these obligations in gold be +repudiated? If they are to be paid in such a manner as the preservation +of our national honor and national solvency demands, we should not +destroy or even imperil our ability to supply ourselves with gold for +that purpose. +</p> +<p> +While I am not unfriendly to silver and while I desire to see it +recognized to such an extent as is consistent with financial safety and +the preservation of national honor and credit, I am not willing to see +gold entirely banished from our currency and finances. To avert such a +consequence I believe thorough and radical remedial legislation should +be promptly passed. I therefore beg the Congress to give the subject +immediate attention. +</p> +<p> +In my opinion the Secretary of the Treasury should be authorized +to issue bonds of the Government for the purpose of procuring +and maintaining a sufficient gold reserve and the redemption and +cancellation of the United States legal-tender notes and the Treasury +notes issued for the purchase of silver under the law of July 14, 1890. +We should be relieved from the humiliating process of issuing bonds +to procure gold to be immediately and repeatedly drawn out on these +obligations for purposes not related to the benefit of our Government or +our people. The principal and interest of these bonds should be payable +on their face in gold, because they should be sold only for gold or its +representative, and because there would now probably be difficulty in +favorably disposing of bonds not containing this stipulation. I suggest +that the bonds be issued in denominations of twenty and fifty dollars +and their multiples and that they bear interest at a rate not exceeding +3 per cent per annum. I do not see why they should not be payable fifty +years from their date. We of the present generation have large amounts +to pay if we meet our obligations, and long bonds are most salable. The +Secretary of the Treasury might well be permitted at his discretion to +receive on the sale of bonds the legal-tender and Treasury notes to be +retired, and of course when they are thus retired or redeemed in gold +they should be canceled. +</p> +<p> +These bonds under existing laws could be deposited by national +banks as security for circulation, and such banks should be allowed to +issue circulation up to the face value of these or any other bonds so +deposited, except bonds outstanding bearing only 2 per cent interest and +which sell in the market at less than par. National banks should not be +allowed to take out circulating notes of a less denomination than $10, +and when such as are now outstanding reach the Treasury, except for +redemption and retirement, they should be canceled and notes of the +denomination of $10 and upward issued in their stead. Silver certificates +of the denomination of $10 and upward should be replaced by certificates +of the denominations under $10. +</p> +<p> +As a constant means for the maintenance of a reasonable supply of gold +in the Treasury, our duties on imports should be paid in gold, allowing +all other dues to the Government to be paid in any other form of money. +</p> +<p> +I believe all the provisions I have suggested should be embodied in our +laws if we are to enjoy a complete reinstatement of a sound financial +condition. They need not interfere with any currency scheme providing +for the increase of the circulating medium through the agency of +national or State banks that may commend itself to the Congress, since +they can easily be adjusted to such a scheme. Objection has been made to +the issuance of interest-bearing obligations for the purpose of retiring +the noninterest-bearing legal-tender notes. In point of fact, however, +these notes have burdened us with a large load of interest, and it is +still accumulating. The aggregate interest on the original issue of +bonds, the proceeds of which in gold constituted the reserve for the +payment of these notes, amounted to $70,326,250 on January 1, 1895, and +the annual charge for interest on these bonds and those issued for the +same purpose during the last year will be $9,145,000, dating from +January 1, 1895. +</p> +<p> +While the cancellation of these notes would not relieve us from the +obligations already incurred on their account, these figures are given +by way of suggesting that their existence has not been free from +interest charges and that the longer they are outstanding, judging from +the experience of the last year, the more expensive they will become. +</p> +<p> +In conclusion I desire to frankly confess my reluctance to issuing more +bonds in present circumstances and with no better results than have +lately followed that course. I can not, however, refrain from adding to +an assurance of my anxiety to cooperate with the present Congress in any +reasonable measure of relief an expression of my determination to leave +nothing undone which furnishes a hope for improving the situation or +checking a suspicion of our disinclination or disability to meet with +the strictest honor every national obligation. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 30, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the +28th instant, the Senate concurring, I herewith return the bill (H.R. +6186) entitled "An act to pension Maria Davis." +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 4, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of the Senate dated December 6, 1894, +requesting that copies of correspondence in regard to the claim of +Antonio Maximo Mora against the Government of Spain exchanged since my +last message to the Senate on the same subject, dated June 20, 1894,<a href="#note-15" name="noteref-15"><small>15</small></a> +be communicated to it if not incompatible with the public interests, I +transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State, inclosing copies +of further correspondence exchanged between the Governments of the +United States and Spain since the date of my last message to the Senate, +December 11, 1894.<a href="#note-16" name="noteref-16"><small>16</small></a> +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 4, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of the House of Representatives of +the 1st instant, calling for certain information touching the recent +insurrection in the Hawaiian Islands, I transmit herewith a report of +the Secretary of State, with accompanying papers. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 7, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the +2d instant, the Senate concurring, I return herewith the bill (H.R. +5377) entitled "An act granting a pension to Richard R. Knight." +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 7, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to a resolution of the Senate of the +16th ultimo, a report from the Secretary of State, accompanied by copies +of certain correspondence touching the enforcement of the provisions of +the tariff act of 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 8, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +Since my recent communication to the Congress calling attention to our +financial condition and suggesting legislation which I deemed essential +to our national welfare and credit<a href="#note-17" name="noteref-17"><small>17</small></a> the anxiety and apprehension then +existing in business circles have continued. +</p> +<p> +As a precaution, therefore, against the failure of timely legislative +aid through Congressional action, cautious preparations have been +pending to employ to the best possible advantage, in default of better +means, such Executive authority as may without additional legislation be +exercised for the purpose of reenforcing and maintaining in our Treasury +an adequate and safe gold reserve. +</p> +<p> +In the judgment of those especially charged with this responsibility +the business situation is so critical and the legislative situation is +so unpromising, with the omission thus far on the part of Congress to +beneficially enlarge the powers of the Secretary of the Treasury in the +premises, as to enjoin immediate Executive action with the facilities +now at hand. +</p> +<p> +Therefore, in pursuance of section 3700 of the Revised Statutes, the +details of an arrangement have this day been concluded with parties +abundantly able to fulfill their undertaking whereby bonds of the United +States authorized under the act of July 14, 1875, payable in coin thirty +years after their date, with interest at the rate of 4 per cent per +annum, to the amount of a little less than $62,400,000, are to be issued +for the purchase of gold coin, amounting to a sum slightly in excess of +$65,000,000, to be delivered to the Treasury of the United States, which +sum added to the gold now held in our reserve will so restore such +reserve as to make it amount to something more than $100,000,000. Such a +premium is to be allowed to the Government upon the bonds as to fix the +rate of interest upon the amount of gold realized at 3-3/4 per cent per +annum. At least one-half of the gold to be obtained is to be supplied +from abroad, which is a very important and favorable feature of the +transaction. +</p> +<p> +The privilege is especially reserved to the Government to substitute +at par within ten days from this date, in lieu of the 4 per cent coin +bonds, other bonds in terms payable in gold and bearing only 3 per cent +interest if the issue of the same should in the meantime be authorized +by the Congress. +</p> +<p> +The arrangement thus completed, which after careful inquiry appears in +present circumstances and considering all the objects desired to be +the best attainable, develops such a difference in the estimation of +investors between bonds made payable in coin and those specifically +made payable in gold in favor of the latter as is represented by +three-fourths of a cent in annual interest. In the agreement just +concluded the annual saving in interest to the Government if 3 per cent +gold bonds should be substituted for 4 per cent coin bonds under the +privilege reserved would be $539,159 amounting in thirty years, or at +the maturity of the coin bonds, to $16,174,770. +</p> +<p> +Of course there never should be a doubt in any quarter as to the +redemption in gold of the bonds of the Government which are made payable +in coin. Therefore the discrimination, in the judgment of investors, +between our bond obligations payable in coin and those specifically made +payable in gold is very significant. It is hardly necessary to suggest +that, whatever may be our views on the subject, the sentiments or +preferences of those with whom we must negotiate in disposing of our +bonds for gold are not subject to our dictation. +</p> +<p> +I have only to add that in my opinion the transaction herein detailed +for the information of the Congress promises better results than the +efforts previously made in the direction of effectively adding to our +gold reserve through the sale of bonds, and I believe it will tend, +as far as such action can in present circumstances, to meet the +determination expressed in the law repealing the silver-purchasing +clause of the act of July 14, 1890, and that, in the language of such +repealing act, the arrangement made will aid our efforts to "insure the +maintenance of the parity in value of the coins of the two metals and +the equal power of every dollar at all times in the markets and in the +payment of debts." +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 8, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, for the information of the Congress, a copy of +a telegraphic dispatch just received from Mr. Willis, our minister to +Hawaii, with a copy of the reply thereto which was immediately sent by +the Secretary of State. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 11, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>:: +</p> +<p> +On the 8th day of January I received a copy of the following Senate +resolution: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Resolved</i>, That the President be requested, if not incompatible + with the public interests, to communicate to the Senate all reports, + documents, and other papers, including logs of vessels, relating to the + enforcement of the regulations respecting fur seals adopted by the + Governments of the United States and Great Britain in accordance with + the decision of the Tribunal of Arbitration convened at Paris and the + resolutions under which said reports are required to be made, as well + as relating to the number of seals taken during the season of 1894 + by pelagic hunters and by the lessees of the Pribilof and Commander + islands; also relating to the steps which may have been taken to extend + the said regulations to the Asiatic waters of the North Pacific Ocean + and Bering Sea and to secure the concurrence of other nations in + said regulations, and, further, all papers not heretofore published, + including communications of the agent of the United States before said + tribunal at Paris, relating to the claims of the British Government on + account of the seizure of the sealing vessels in Bering Sea. +</p> +<p> +In compliance with said request I herewith transmit sundry papers, +documents, and reports which have been returned to me by the Secretary +of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of the Navy, +to whom said resolution was referred. I am not in possession of any +further information touching the various subjects embodied in such +resolution. +</p> +<p> +It will be seen from a letter of the Secretary of the Navy accompanying +the papers and documents sent from his Department that it is impossible +to furnish at this time the complete log books of some of the naval +vessels referred to in the resolution, but I venture to express the hope +that the reports of the commanders of such vessels herewith submitted +will be found to contain in substance so much of the matters recorded in +said log books as are important in answering the inquiries addressed to +me by the Senate. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 12, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, for the information of the Congress, a +communication from the Secretary of State, covering the report of the +Director of the Bureau of the American Republics for the year 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 14, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith the eighth special report of the Commissioner of +Labor, which relates to "the housing of the working people" in different +countries. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 26, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to a resolution of the Senate of the +29th ultimo, a report from the Secretary of State, accompanied by copies +of correspondence touching Samoan affairs. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + VETO MESSAGES. +</h2> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 14, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without my approval House bill No. 7451, entitled +"An act to authorize the entry of land for gravel pits and reservoir +purposes and authorizing the grant of right of way for pipe lines." +</p> +<p> +The first section of this bill permits the sale to railroad companies, +in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, under certain +restrictions and at an appraised value, certain public lands to be used +by said companies for gravel pits or the construction of reservoirs. It +also permits grants of the right of way for pipe lines connecting such +reservoirs with the railways of said companies. +</p> +<p> +The second, third, and fourth sections of the bill relate to the +purchase by any citizen of the United States, or any association of +citizens, or any ditch or water company, of public lands suitable for +reservoir purposes at such a price as the Secretary of the Interior +shall prescribe, not less than $2 per acre. +</p> +<p> +The right to purchase these lands is given by the sections last referred +to "under rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the +Interior." +</p> +<p> +I think the expediency and propriety of disposing of these lands for the +purposes specified should in each case be determined by the Secretary of +the Interior, as well as the rules and regulations governing such +disposition. +</p> +<p> +The objections to the bill, however, which appear to be the most serious +are found in its fifth and last section, which provides: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That any State or any county or district organization duly organized + under the laws of any State or Territory may apply for any of the + storage-reservoir sites not reserved by the United States, situated on + unentered public lands, for the storage of water for irrigating, mining, + or other useful purposes, whereupon the Secretary of the Interior shall + set aside and withdraw from public sale or other disposition such site + or sites and permit the use thereof for either or all of such purposes. +</p> +<p> +These provisions do not seem to be in harmony with prior laws by which, +under certain conditions, arid lands may be conveyed to States for the +purpose of irrigation, and it is not clear what is intended by the words +"any of the storage-reservoir sites not reserved by the United States." +</p> +<p> +The apparent purpose and effect of the section is to give to the +organizations mentioned the right to select such land as may present +eligible reservoir sites not reserved and upon unentered lands, and +demand of the Secretary of the Interior a grant of the same, leaving +no discretion on the subject to him or to any other officer of the +Government; and these grants are to be made without any compensation +to the Government and without any specific requirement of the amount +or kind of work to be done or improvements to be made upon such sites. +</p> +<p> +The grants may be demanded not only for the storage of water for +irrigating purposes, but for "mining and other useful purposes." +Inasmuch as no officer of the Government is vested with any discretion +in the premises, the pretext that the "purpose" to be accomplished is +"useful" might result in the use of these sites in a manner prejudicial +to the surrounding public domain and destructive of the utilization of +such sites for irrigating purposes. +</p> +<p> +The wise and prudent safeguards which have been incorporated in +other legislation relating to the disposition of arid public lands and +their irrigation seem to have been to such an extent overlooked in the +construction of the bill under consideration that, in my judgment, if +it should become the law a beneficent policy which the Government has +entered upon in the interest of agriculture would be seriously +endangered. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 1, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without my approval Senate bill No. 2338, entitled +"An act granting to the Gila Valley, Globe and Northern Railway Company a +right of way through the San Carlos Indian Reservation, in the Territory +of Arizona." +</p> +<p> +The reservation through which it is proposed to construct a railroad +under the provisions of this bill is inhabited by tribes of Indians +which in the past have been most troublesome and whose depredations +on more than one occasion have caused loss of life, destruction of +property, and serious alarm to the people of the surrounding country; +and their condition as to civilization is not now so far improved as +to give assurance that in the future they may not upon occasion make +trouble. +</p> +<p> +The discontent among the Indians which has given rise to disturbances +in the past has been largely caused by trespass upon their lands and +interference with their rights by the neighboring whites. I am in +very great doubt whether in any circumstances a road through their +reservation should at this time be permitted, and especially since the +route, which is rather indefinitely described in the bill, appears to +pass through the richest and most desirable part of their lands. In +any event, I am thoroughly convinced that the construction of the road +should not be permitted without first obtaining the consent of these +Indians. This is a provision which has been insisted upon, so far as +I am aware, in all the like bills which have been approved for a long +time, and I think it should especially be inserted in this bill if, even +upon any conditions, it is thought expedient to permit a railroad to +traverse this reservation. +</p> +<p> +The importance of this consent does not rest solely upon the extent to +which the Indians have the right of ownership over this land. The fact +that the procurement of this consent is the most effective means of +allaying the discontent which might arise and perhaps develop into a +train of lamentable and destructive outbreaks of violence particularly +emphasizes its importance. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 5, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without approval House bill No. 5368, entitled "An act +for the relief of H.W. McConnell." +</p> +<p> +The reports of both the Senate and House committees, which favorably +reported this bill, disclose an intention to partially relieve the +former postmaster at Jacksboro, in the State of Texas, from liability +on account of two remittances of postal funds which he dispatched at +different times during the year 1883 to be deposited at Dallas, in the +same State, and which were lost by robberies of the stage conveying +the same. In dealing with the first remittance the committees report +that the postmaster should be relieved of liability to the amount of +only $94, the loss of the remainder of the money being chargeable to +his neglect and violation of postal regulations. As to the second +remittance, the committees report that by reason of like neglect and +violation of regulations the postmaster should be held responsible +for the loss of all the money transmitted except the sum of $42. +</p> +<p> +For these two sums, amounting to $136, an appropriation is made for the +benefit of H.W. McConnell. +</p> +<p> +The name of the postmaster intended to be relieved is H.H. McConnell, as +appears by the records of the Post-Office Department. The person to whom +the money appropriated should be paid is therefore not correctly named +in the bill. +</p> +<p> +An examination of this postmaster's accounts discloses the further fact +that the amount proposed to be appropriated for his relief is too large +by $42, that being the sum allowed him by reason of the second stage +robbery. This item has already been credited to him in the adjustment +of his accounts at the Post-Office Department, and the claim for its +reimbursement has been thereby extinguished. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 12, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without approval Senate bill No. 143, entitled "An act +for the relief of the heirs of D. Fulford." +</p> +<p> +This bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury "to redeem, in favor of +the heirs at law of D. Fulford, four bonds of the United States, consols +of 1867, of the denomination of $500, $100, $50, and $50, and known as +five-twenties, said bonds having been destroyed by fire the 9th day of +July, 1872, and to pay to the heirs at law of said D. Fulford the amount +of said bonds, together with accrued interest from July 1, 1872, to the +date of the maturity of said bonds." +</p> +<p> +The bill further provides that the heirs to whom the payment is to be +made shall execute and file with the Secretary of the Treasury a bond +"conditioned to save harmless the United States from loss or liability +on account of said bonds or the interest accrued thereon, and to contain +such words as to cover any liability resulting from any mistake in the +designation or description of the bonds, so that in no event shall the +United States be called upon by a rightful claimant for a second payment +thereof." +</p> +<p> +The proposition is that the Government shall pay bonds alleged to have +been destroyed by fire nearly twenty-three years ago. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary of the Treasury states that an application for the +payment of these bonds, made by Mr. Fulford himself, was rejected by +the Department because he was unable to describe the bonds in such a +way as to permit their identification and because the evidence of their +destruction by fire was inconclusive. +</p> +<p> +The Senate Committee on Claims, however, in their report on the bill +under consideration, state that they are entirely satisfied that Mr. +Fulford was the owner of four Government bonds, one for $500, one for +$100, and two for $50, and that they were burned with his residence, +which was destroyed by fire on the 9th day of July, 1872, and that +while he could not furnish the numbers or descriptions of said bonds +he understood all these bonds were of the class known as consols of +1867, and that he had collected the coupons thereon for the interest +due July 1, 1872. +</p> +<p> +The particular class of bonds mentioned were dated July 1, 1867, and +were payable or redeemable not less than five nor more than twenty years +from their date. The short period expired, therefore, on the 1st day of +July, 1872. That was the date when the last coupons on Mr. Fulford's +bonds, which it is alleged were detached and collected, became due, and +only nine days before the supposed destruction of the bonds by fire. +</p> +<p> +A letter from the Secretary of the Treasury dated July 20, 1892, +attached to the report of the Senate committee made upon a bill similar +to this which was pending at that time, discloses the fact that among +the consols of 1867 then outstanding there were 107 of the denomination +of $500, 167 of the denomination of $100, and 85 of the denomination +of $50. This statement merely shows that there were numerous bonds +precisely similar to those described as belonging to Mr. Fulford which +had not in July, 1892, been redeemed, though the extreme limit of +their maturity expired on the 1st day of July, 1887. The letter of +the Secretary further discloses, however, that there were two of +these outstanding bonds of the denomination of $500 and two of the +denomination of $100 upon which coupons of interest had not been paid +since July 1, 1872. Of course this lends plausibility to the suggestion +that two of these four bonds, one of each denomination, were those +destroyed when Mr. Fulford's house was burned in July, 1872; but this +suggestion loses its force under the additional statement in the letter +of the Secretary of the Treasury that in July, 1892, there were no +consols of 1867 of the denomination of $50 whose last coupon was paid +July 1, 1872. This shows conclusively that no fifty-dollar bonds of this +class were destroyed by fire in Mr. Fulford's house and casts great +uncertainty upon the description of the other bonds, inasmuch as the +theory of the claimants seems to be that all the bonds destroyed +belonged to the same class. +</p> +<p> +In 1893, upon an examination of the records of the Treasury Department, +it was found that the two unpaid bonds for $500 reported in 1892 as +outstanding, from which no coupons had been paid since July 1, 1872, +still remained unredeemed, but that one of the two one-hundred-dollar +bonds which were in that condition in 1892 had been since that time paid +and canceled. I think it must be conceded that this late redemption of +this bond greatly weakens any presumption that the other three will not +be presented for payment. +</p> +<p> +It is perfectly clear that so far as this bill directs the payment to +the persons therein named of two consols of 1867 of the denomination of +$50 each on the ground that such bonds were destroyed by fire in July, +1872, it requires the payment of money to those not entitled to it, +since it is shown that these consols could not have been destroyed at +the time stated, because coupons due on all consols of that denomination +unredeemed have been paid since that date. +</p> +<p> +While the objections to the payment of the amount of the other two bonds +mentioned in the bill are less conclusive, there seem to be so much +doubt and uncertainty concerning their description and character, and +their identification as unredeemed consols of 1867 is so unsatisfactory, +that, in my opinion, it is not safe to assume, as is done in this bill, +that they are represented among those bonds of that class recorded as +still outstanding whose coupons for some reason have not been presented +for payment since July 1, 1872. +</p> +<p> +I do not believe that an indemnity bond could be drawn which, as against +the strict rights of sureties, would protect the Government against +double liability in case all the payments directed by this bill were +made. Even if the payments were confined to the two larger consols +described, there would be great difficulty in framing a bond which would +surely indemnify the Government. +</p> +<p> +There should always be a willingness to save the holders of Government +securities from damage through their loss or destruction, but, in my +judgment, a bad precedent would be established by paying obligations +whose destruction and identification are not more satisfactorily +established than in this case. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 19, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without approval House bill No. 6244, entitled "An act +to remove the charge of desertion from the military record of Jacob +Eckert." +</p> +<p> +This bill directs the Secretary of War "to cause the records of the War +Department to be so amended as to remove the charge of desertion from +the service record of Jacob Eckert, of New Philadelphia, Ohio, late a +private in Company B, Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and to grant +an honorable discharge to said Jacob Eckert from the service of the +United States Army as of date when said company was mustered out of +service." +</p> +<p> +The regiment and company to which this soldier belonged, except such +members as reenlisted as veterans, were mustered out of the service +October 17, 1864. +</p> +<p> +Jacob Eckert did not reenlist and was not mustered out with his comrades +for the reason that he was then under arrest on a charge of desertion. +In November, 1864, he was tried by a general court-martial and convicted +of having deserted on the 1st of September, 1864, and again on the 2d +day of September, 1864, and upon such conviction he was sentenced to +forfeit all pay due him from September 1, the date of his first +desertion, until the expiration of his term of service, to be +dishonorably discharged and confined at hard labor for twelve months. +</p> +<p> +This sentence was approved by the reviewing authority, and I assume the +convicted soldier served his term of imprisonment, since the statement +contained in the report of the House committee to whom this bill was +referred that he was dishonorably discharged in 1865 can be accounted +for in no other way. +</p> +<p> +It seems to me that the provisions of this bill amount to a legislative +reversal of the judgment of a regularly constituted court and a +legislative pardon of the offense of which this soldier was convicted. +If this doubtful authority is to be exercised by Congress, it should be +done in such a manner as not to restore a man properly convicted and +sentenced as a deserter, without even the allegation of injustice, +to the rights of pay, allowance, and pension belonging to those who +faithfully and honorably served in the military service of their +country according to the terms of their enlistment. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 20, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without approval Senate bill No. 1526, entitled "An +act for the relief of Henry Halteman." +</p> +<p> +This bill directs the Secretary of War "to grant an honorable discharge +from the United States service to Henry Halteman, late of Company F, +Second United States Artillery." +</p> +<p> +It is conceded that this soldier enlisted in the Regular Army on the +18th day of December, 1860, for the term of five years and that he +deserted on the 18th day of August, 1865. The only excuse or palliation +offered for his offense is found in the statement that his desertion +was provoked by his company's being ordered to California so near the +termination of his enlistment that his term would have expired before +or soon after his company could have reached California, and "that his +return would have been both tedious and somewhat perilous, if not +expensive." +</p> +<p> +The fact must not be overlooked that this soldier enlisted in the +Regular Army and that his term had no relation to the duration of the +war or the immediate need of the Government for troops at the time of +his desertion. The morale and discipline of the Regular Army are +therefore directly involved in the proposed legislation. +</p> +<p> +The soldier's name remained on the records of the War Department as +a deserter at large for twenty-three years, and until the year 1888. +In August of that year application was made to the Department for the +removal of the charge of desertion against him, which was refused on +the ground that it was not shown that such charge was founded in error. +Thereupon he applied for a discharge without character, as it is called, +as of the date of his desertion. This was granted on the 21st day of +September, 1888. Such discharges, which were not uncommon at that time, +omitted the certificate of character which entitled the soldier to +reenlistment. +</p> +<p> +In 1892 a bill similar to that now under consideration was referred +to the Adjutant-General of the Army and was returned with an adverse +report. +</p> +<p> +The record of the War Department on the subject of this soldier's +separation from the Army is absolutely correct as it stands, and no +sufficient reason is apparent why another record should be substituted. +If this deserter is to be allowed an honorable discharge, I do not see +why every deserter should not be absolved from the consequences of his +unfaithfulness. +</p> +<p> +The effect of this bill if it should become a law would be to allow +the beneficiary not only a pensionable status, but arrears of pay and +clothing allowances up to the date of his desertion and travel allowance +from the place of his desertion to the place of his enlistment. +</p> +<p> +It is not denied that all these things have been justly forfeited by +deliberate and inexcusable desertion. In the case presented it seems to +me that the laws and regulations adopted for the purpose of maintaining +the discipline and efficiency of the Army ought not to be set aside. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 23, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without approval House bill No. 8165, entitled "An +act authorizing the Kansas City, Oklahoma and Pacific Railway Company +to construct and operate a railway through Indian reservations in the +Indian Territory and the Territories of Oklahoma and New Mexico, and +for other purposes." +</p> +<p> +This bill contains concessions more comprehensive and sweeping than +any ever presented for my approval, and it seems to me the rights and +interests of the Indians and the Government are the least protected. +</p> +<p> +The route apparently desired, though passing through or into one State +and three Territories, is described as indefinitely as possible, and +does not seem to be subject to the approval in its entirety of the +Secretary of the Interior or any other governmental agency having +relation to the interest involved. +</p> +<p> +There is no provision for obtaining the consent of the Indians through +whose territory and reservations the railroad may be located. +</p> +<p> +Though it is proposed to build the railroad through territories having +local courts convenient to their inhabitants, all controversies that may +arise out of the location and building of the road are by the provisions +of the bill to be passed upon by the United States circuit and district +courts for the district of Kansas "and such other courts as may be +authorized by Congress." +</p> +<p> +The bill provides that "the civil jurisdiction of said courts is +hereby extended within the limits of said Indian reservations, without +distinction as to citizenship of the parties, so far as may be necessary +to carry out the provisions of this act." This provision permits the +subordination of the jurisdiction of Indian courts, which we are bound +by treaty to protect, to the "provisions of this act" and to the +interests and preferences of the railroad company for whose benefit the +bill under consideration is intended. +</p> +<p> +A plan of appraisal is provided for in the bill in case an agreement +can not be reached as to the amount of compensation to be paid for the +taking of lands held by individual occupants according to the laws, +customs, and usages of any of the Indian nations or tribes or by +allotment or agreement with the Indians. It is, however, further +provided that in case either party is dissatisfied with the award of the +referees to be appointed an appeal may be taken to the district court +held at Wichita, Kans., no matter where on the proposed route of the +road the controversy may originate. If upon the hearing of said appeal +the judgment of the court shall be for the same sum as the award of the +referees, the costs shall be adjudged against the appellant, and if said +judgment shall be for a smaller sum the costs shall be adjudged against +the party claiming damages. It does not seem to me that the interests of +an Indian occupant or allottee are properly regarded when he is obliged, +if dissatisfied with an award for the taking of his land, to go to the +district court of Kansas for redress, at the risk of incurring costs and +expenses that may not only exceed the award originally made to him, but +leave him in debt. +</p> +<p> +It is probable that there are other valid objections to this bill. +I have only attempted to suggest enough to justify my action in +disapproving it. +</p> +<p> +In constructing legislation of this description it should not be +forgotten that the rights and interests of the Indians are important in +every view and should be scrupulously protected. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 23, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without approval House bill No. 5740, entitled "An act +incorporating the Society of American Florists." +</p> +<p> +No sufficient reason is apparent for the incorporation of this +organization under Federal laws. There is not the least difficulty in +the way of the accomplishment under State laws by the incorporators +named in the bill of every purpose which can legitimately belong to +their corporate existence. The creation of such a corporation by a +special act of Congress establishes a vexatious and troublesome +precedent. +</p> +<p> +There appears to be no limit in the bill to the value of the real and +personal property which the proposed corporation may hold if acquired +by donation or bequest. The limit of $50,000 applies only to property +acquired by purchase. +</p> +<p> +A conclusive objection to the bill is found in the fact that it fails to +carry out the purposes and objects of those interested in its passage. +The promoters of the bill are florists, who undoubtedly seek to advance +floriculture. The declared object of the proposed incorporation is, +however, stated in the bill to be "the elevation and advancement of +horticulture in all its branches, to increase and diffuse the knowledge +thereof, and for kindred purposes in the interest of horticulture." +</p> +<p> +It is entirely clear that the interests of florists would be badly +served by a corporation confined to the furtherance of garden culture. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 23, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without approval House bill No. 4658, entitled "An act +granting a pension to Hiram R. Rhea and repealing an act approved March +3, 1871." +</p> +<p> +The person named in the title of this bill was pensioned under the +provisions of a private act passed March 3, 1871. In 1892 a letter from +the Commissioner of Pensions was presented to Congress exhibiting facts +which established in a most satisfactory manner that the claim for +pension allowed by said special act was a barefaced and impudent fraud, +supported by deliberate perjury. This letter appears to be the moving +cause of the passage of the bill now before me. Payment of pension under +the fraudulent act has been suspended since January 28, 1893, and since +that time no information has been received from the fraudulent pensioner. +</p> +<p> +The circumstances developed called for the repeal of the law of 1871 +lacing him upon the pension roll. This is accomplished in the second +section of the bill under consideration, which section I would be glad +to approve. This repeal, however, is accompanied by a provision in the +first section of the bill directing the Secretary of the Interior to +place upon the pension roll this identical fraudulent pensioner, under +a certificate numbered precisely the same as that heretofore issued to +him, "at a rate proportionate to the degree of disability from such +gunshot wounds as may be shown to the satisfaction of said Secretary to +have been received at the hands of Confederate soldiers or sympathizers +while said Rhea was attempting to cooperate with the Union forces," etc. +</p> +<p> +Inasmuch as the letter of the Commissioner of Pensions to which +reference has been made, and which forms part of the committee's report +on this bill, is the basis of this repealing provision, and inasmuch as +this letter furnishes evidence that the pensioner was when injured a +very disreputable member of a band of armed rebels and was wounded by +Union soldiers, I can not understand why the same bill which for this +reason purges the pension rolls of his name should in the same breath +undo this work and direct his name to be rewritten on the rolls. +</p> +<p> +If the facts before Congress justify the repeal of the law under which +this man fraudulently received a pension for nearly twenty-two years, +they certainly do not justify the provision directing his name to be put +on the rolls again with a view to further examination of his case or for +any other purpose. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 27, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without approval House bill No. 2051, entitled "An act +to grant a pension to Eunice Putman." +</p> +<p> +This bill provides for a pension to the beneficiary therein named as the +helpless daughter of John Putman, who served as a private in the War of +the Rebellion from August 27, 1864, to June 2, 1865. In 1870, when the +beneficiary was not 2 years old, her mother died, and her father married +again in 1872. He applied for a pension in 1884, but died the same year. +His claim was allowed, however, in 1891, and his pension which had +accrued between the date of his application and his death was paid to +his widow, Jeanette S. Putman. Immediately thereafter a pension was +allowed the widow in her own right, dating from the soldier's death, in +1884, with $2 additional per month for each of the two minor children. +The beneficiary was not included because she had reached the age of 16 +years prior to her father's death. +</p> +<p> +The report of the committee to whom this bill was referred states that +no claim for pension on account of the soldier's death has ever been +filed in the Pension Bureau, and it seems that upon this theory it was +proposed to pension the daughter. I do not suppose it was intended that +a double pension should be allowed. In point of fact, the widow has +already been pensioned, and no such pension allowance has been made for +the minor children. There is no suggestion that the widow has died or +remarried. +</p> +<p> +If this bill should become a law, two full pensions would be in force at +the same time, one to the widow and another to the daughter, each +predicated upon the services and death of the same soldier. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 27, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without approval House bill No. 6868, entitled "An act +for the relief of Catherine Ott, widow of Joseph Ott." +</p> +<p> +An application by the beneficiary named in this bill, under the law of +1890, was rejected on the ground that her husband died in the service, +and therefore had not been honorably discharged, as required by that +law. +</p> +<p> +It appears that after he had served a number of years in a cavalry +regiment, and having been once discharged for reenlistment, he was +transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps and was in that service at the +time of his death. +</p> +<p> +In these circumstances the rejection of the beneficiary's claim on the +ground stated is held, under present rulings of the Pension Bureau, to +have been erroneous, and such claim can now be favorably adjudicated +upon proof of continued widowhood of the applicant and the lack of other +means of support than her daily labor. +</p> +<p> +If such proof is supplied, she would be entitled to a pension dating +from July 14, 1890, which would be much more advantageous than the +relief afforded by the bill herewith returned. +</p> +<p> +If the beneficiary can justly claim a pension dating from her +application to the Pension Bureau in 1890, the benefits accruing to her +therefrom should not be superseded by this special legislation, which +allows relief only from the date of its enactment. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 28, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without approval House bill No. 8681, entitled "An act +authorizing the Arkansas Northwestern Railway Company to construct and +operate a railway through the Indian Territory, and for other purposes." +</p> +<p> +The contemplated route of this railway, so far as it is disclosed in the +bill, would run from a point in the southwestern corner of the State of +Missouri, across the northeastern corner of the Indian Territory, to +a point in the southeastern part of the State of Kansas. This route +necessarily runs through the lands of the Cherokee Indians or through +the small reservations of the Quapaws, the Peorias, the Ottawas, the +Wyandottes, and the Senecas. +</p> +<p> +There is no provision in the bill requiring the consent of the Indians +whose lands are to be thus traversed. +</p> +<p> +There is no provision requiring the entire line to be located and +approved by the Secretary of the Interior before the work of building +is commenced. +</p> +<p> +The bill provides for compensation to individual occupants or allottees +by a process of appraisal by referees, with the right of appeal to the +district court held at Fort Smith, in the State of Arkansas. +</p> +<p> +In the case of allotted land or land held in individual occupancy by +the Indians great care should be exercised in interfering with their +holdings. Their land is given them for cultivation and with a view of +making them self-supporting and industrious citizens. If their land is +invaded and cut up by railroads, the purpose of allotment is in danger +of being defeated. Money compensation is of but little use to them, and +no amount can compensate for the disturbance in the cultivation of their +lands and their consequent discontent and discouragement. +</p> +<p> +These considerations, it seems to me, emphasize the necessity of the +exact location of the entire line of the contemplated railroad and such +control over it by the Secretary of the Interior as will enable him to +avoid as much as possible interference with individual Indian occupants +and other difficulties. +</p> +<p> +This supervision and regulation of the line can be done with much more +safety and effectiveness in considering the entire line than it can be +done in sections of 25 miles each, as is provided in the bill. +</p> +<p> +The United States circuit and district courts for the districts of +Kansas and the district of Arkansas and such other courts as may +be authorized by Congress are given concurrent jurisdiction of all +controversies arising between the railway company and the nations +and tribes of Indians through whose territory the railway shall be +constructed, or between said company and the members of said nations or +tribes, without reference to the amount in controversy, and the civil +jurisdiction of said courts is extended within the limits of said Indian +Territory, without distinction as to the citizenship of parties, so far +as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the act. +</p> +<p> +The requirement that an Indian shall be obliged to seek a distant court +for the adjudication of his rights in his controversies, great and +small, with this railway company would result in many cases to a denial +of justice. +</p> +<p> +I am convinced of the growing necessity, in this period of change in our +relations with the Indians, of caution and certainty in the grants given +to railroads to pass through Indian lands and of the exercise of care in +allowing interference with their occupation. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 28, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without approval House bill No. 5624, entitled "An act +to authorize the Oklahoma Central Railroad to construct and operate a +railway through the Indian and Oklahoma Territories, and for other +purposes." +</p> +<p> +The railroad proposed to be built under authority of this bill commences +at a point in the Creek Nation called Sapulpa and runs through the +Indian Territory to Oklahoma City, in Oklahoma, and thence through the +Kiowa and Comanche Reservation to a point at or near the Red River, on +the west line of said reservation. +</p> +<p> +There is no provision in this bill requiring the consent of the Indians +through whose lands it is proposed to build the road. +</p> +<p> +The character and situation of these Indians are such as to make this +consent important. +</p> +<p> +The first section gives the railroad company the right to build not only +its line of road, but "such tracks, turn-outs, branches, sidings, and +extensions as said company may deem it to their interest to construct." +</p> +<p> +If under an apparent grant to build a railroad the route of which is +in a general way defined this company is to be allowed to build such +branches and extensions as it may deem it to its interest to construct, +the grant, I am sure, is more comprehensive than was intended by the +Congress. +</p> +<p> +It seems to me that the entire line of the proposed railroad should be +precisely located and subjected to the approval of the Secretary of the +Interior before the work of construction is entered upon. This bill +provides that it shall be approved in sections of 25 miles before +construction on such sections shall be commenced. +</p> +<p> +Our relations to the Indians on reservations and their welfare and quiet +are better preserved and protected when the entire line of road can be +settled upon at one time and all uncertainty and doubt on the subject +removed. The object sought by submitting the line to the supervision and +determination of the Secretary of the Interior can be better and more +intelligently accomplished if it is dealt with in its entirety instead +of in sections. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + PROCLAMATIONS. +</h2> +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +The following provisions of the laws of the United States are hereby +published for the information of all concerned: +</p> +<p> +Section 1956, Revised Statutes, chapter 3, Title XXIII, enacts that— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + No person shall kill any otter, mink, marten, sable, or fur seal, or + other fur-bearing animal within the limits of Alaska Territory or in + the waters thereof; and every person guilty thereof shall for each + offense be fined not less than $200 nor more than $1,000, or imprisoned + not more than six months, or both; and all vessels, their tackle, + apparel, furniture, and cargo, found engaged in violation of this + section shall be forfeited; but the Secretary of the Treasury shall + have power to authorize the killing of any such mink, marten, sable, or + other fur-bearing animal, except fur seals, under such regulations as + he may prescribe; and it shall be the duty of the Secretary to prevent + the killing of any fur seal and to provide for the execution of the + provisions of this section until it is otherwise provided by law, nor + shall he grant any special privileges under this section. +</p> +<p> +Section 3 of the act entitled "An act to provide for the protection of +the salmon fisheries of Alaska," approved March 2, 1889, provides— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 3. That section 1956 of the Revised Statutes of the United + States is hereby declared to include and apply to all the dominion + of the United States in the waters of Bering Sea; and it shall be the + duty of the President at a timely season in each year to issue his + proclamation, and cause the same to be published for one month in at + least one newspaper (if any such there be) published at each United + States port of entry on the Pacific coast, warning all persons against + entering said waters for the purpose of violating the provisions of + said section; and he shall also cause one or more vessels of the United + States to diligently cruise said waters and arrest all persons and + seize all vessels found to be or to have been engaged in any violation + of the laws of the United States therein. +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, +hereby warn all persons against entering the waters of Bering Sea within +the dominion of the United States for the purpose of violating the +provisions of said section 1956 of the Revised Statutes; and I hereby +proclaim that all persons found to be or to have been engaged in any +violation of the laws of the United States in said waters will be +arrested, proceeded against, and punished as above provided. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 18th day of February, A.D. 1895, +and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +nineteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +W.Q. GRESHAM,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas an act of Congress entitled "An act to postpone the enforcement +of the act of August 19, 1890, entitled 'An act to adopt regulations for +preventing collisions at sea,'" was approved February 23, 1895: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States +of America, do hereby give notice that said act of August 19, 1890, as +amended by the act of May 28, 1894, will not go into force on March 1, +1895, the date fixed in my proclamation of July 13, 1894,<a href="#note-18" name="noteref-18"><small>18</small></a> but on such +future date as may be designated in a proclamation of the President to +be issued for that purpose. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States of America to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 25th day of February, 1895, and of +the Independence of the United States the one hundred and nineteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +W.Q. GRESHAM,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas, pursuant to section 1 of the act of Congress approved July 13, +1892, entitled "An act making appropriations for the current and +contingent expenses of the Indian Department and for fulfilling treaty +stipulations with various Indian tribes for the fiscal year ending June +30, 1893, and for other purposes," certain articles of agreement were +made and concluded at the Yankton Indian Agency, S. Dak., on the 31st +day of December, 1892, by and between the United States of America +and the Yankton tribe of Sioux or Dakota Indians upon the Yankton +Reservation, whereby the said Yankton tribe of Sioux or Dakota Indians, +for the consideration therein mentioned, ceded, sold, relinquished, +and conveyed to the United States all their claim, right, title, and +interest in and to all the unallotted lands within the limits of the +reservation set apart to said tribe by the first article of the treaty +of April 19, 1858, between said tribe and the United States; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is further stipulated and agreed by article 8 that such part +of the surplus lands by said agreement ceded and sold to the United +States as may be occupied by the United States for agency, schools, and +other purposes shall be reserved from sale to settlers until they are no +longer required for such purposes, but all of the other lands so ceded +and sold shall immediately after the ratification of the agreement by +Congress be offered for sale through the proper land office, to be +disposed of under the existing land laws of the United States to actual +and <i>bona fide</i> settlers only; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is also stipulated and agreed by article 10 that any +religious society or other organization shall have the right for two +years from the date of the ratification of the said agreement within +which to purchase the lands occupied by it under proper authority for +religious or educational work among the Indians, at a valuation fixed by +the Secretary of the Interior, which shall not be less than the average +price paid to the Indians for the surplus lands; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is provided in the act of Congress accepting, ratifying, and +confirming the said agreement, approved August 15, 1894, section 12 +(Pamphlet Statutes, Fifty-third Congress, second session, pp. 314-319)— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the lands by said agreement ceded to the United States shall upon + proclamation by the President be opened to settlement, and shall be + subject to disposal only under the homestead and town-site laws of the + United States, excepting the sixteenth and thirty-sixth sections in + each Congressional township, which shall be reserved for common-school + purposes and be subject to the laws of the State of South Dakota: + <i>Provided</i>, That each settler on said lands shall, in addition + to the fees provided by law, pay to the United States for the land so + taken by him the sum of $3.75 per acre, of which sum he shall pay 50 + cents at the time of making his original entry and the balance before + making final proof and receiving a certificate of final entry; but the + rights of honorably discharged Union soldiers and sailors as defined + and described in sections 2304 and 2305 of the Revised Statutes of the + United States shall not be abridged except as to the sum to be paid + as aforesaid. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the Secretary of the Interior, upon proper plats and description + being furnished, is hereby authorized to issue patents to Charles + Picotte and Felix Brunot and W.T. Selwyn, United States interpreters, + for not to exceed 1 acre of land each, so as to embrace their houses + near the agency buildings upon said reservation, but not to embrace any + buildings owned by the Government, upon the payment by each of said + persons of the sum of $3.75. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That every person who shall sell or give away any intoxicating liquors + or other intoxicants upon any of the lands by said agreement ceded, or + upon any of the lands included in the Yankton Sioux Indian Reservation + as created by the treaty of April 19, 1858, shall be punishable by + imprisonment for not more than two years and by a fine of not more than + $300. +</p> +<p> +And whereas all the terms, conditions, and considerations required by +said agreement made with said tribes of Indians and by the laws relating +thereto precedent to opening said lands to settlement have been, as I +hereby declare, complied with: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, by +virtue of the power in me vested by the statutes hereinbefore mentioned, +do hereby declare and make known that all of the lands acquired from the +Yankton tribe of Sioux or Dakota Indians by the said agreement, saving +and excepting the lands reserved in pursuance of the provisions of said +agreement and the act of Congress ratifying the same, will, at and after +the hour of 12 o'clock noon (central standard time) on the 21st day of +May, 1895, and not before, be open to settlement under the terms of +and subject to all the conditions, limitations, reservations, and +restrictions contained in said agreement, the statutes hereinbefore +specified, and the laws of the United States applicable thereto. +</p> +<p> +The lands to be so opened to settlement are for greater convenience +particularly described in the accompanying schedule, entitled "Schedule +of lands within the Yankton Reservation, S. Dak., to be opened to +settlement by proclamation of the President," and which schedule is made +a part hereof. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 16th day of May, A.D. 1895, and of +the Independence of the United States the one hundred and nineteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +EDWIN F. UHL,<br /> +<i>Acting Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas, pursuant to section I of the act of Congress approved July 13, +1892, entitled "An act making appropriations for the current and +contingent expenses of the Indian Department and for fulfilling treaty +stipulations with various Indian tribes for the fiscal year ending June +30, 1893, and for other purposes," certain articles of cession and +agreement were made and concluded at the Siletz Agency, Oreg., on the +31st day of October, 1892, by and between the United States of America +and the Alsea and other Indians on Siletz Reservation in Oregon, whereby +said Alsea and other Indians, for the consideration therein mentioned, +ceded and conveyed to the United States all their claim, right, title, +and interest in and to all the unallotted lands within the limits of +said reservation, except the five sections described in article 4 of +the agreement, viz: Section 9, township 9 south, range 11 west of the +Willamette meridian; and the west half of the west half of section 5, +and the east half of section 6, and the east half of the west half of +section 6, township 10 south, range 10 west; and the south half of +section 8, and the north half of section 17, and section 16, township 9 +south, range 9 west; and the east half of the northeast quarter and lot +3, section 20, and south half and south half of north half of section +21, township 8, range 10 west; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is further stipulated and agreed by article 6 that any +religious society or other organization shall have the right for two +years from the date of the ratification of this agreement within which +to purchase the lands occupied by it with proper authority for religious +or educational work among the Indians, at the rate of $2.50 per acre, +the same to be conveyed to such society or organization by patent; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is provided in the act of Congress accepting, ratifying, and +confirming said agreement, approved August 15, 1894 (Pamphlet Statutes, +pp. 286-338), section 15, that— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The mineral lands shall be disposed of under the laws applicable + thereto, and the balance of the land so ceded shall be disposed of until + further provided by law under the town-site law and under the provisions + of the homestead law: <i>Provided</i>, <i>however</i>, That each settler + under and in accordance with the provisions of said homestead laws shall + at the time of making his original entry pay the sum of 50 cents per + acre in addition to the fees now required by law, and at the time of + making final proof shall pay the further sum of $1 per acre, final proof + to be made within five years from the date of entry; and three years' + actual residence on the land shall be established by such evidence as is + now required in homestead proofs as a prerequisite to title or patent. +</p> +<p> +And whereas it is provided— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That immediately after the passage of this act the Secretary of the + Interior shall, under such regulations as he may prescribe, open said + lands to settlement, after proclamation by the President and sixty + days' notice. +</p> +<p> +And whereas all the terms, conditions, and considerations required by +said agreement made with said tribe of Indians hereinbefore mentioned +and the laws relating thereto precedent to opening said lands to +settlement have been, as I hereby declare, provided for, paid, and +complied with: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, by +virtue of the power in me vested by the statutes hereinbefore mentioned +and by said agreement, do hereby declare and make known that all of the +lands acquired from the Alsea and other Indians by said agreement will, +at and after the hour of 12 o'clock noon (Pacific standard time) on +the 25th day of July, 1895, and not before, be opened to settlement +under the terms of and subject to all the conditions, limitations, +reservations, and restrictions contained in said agreement, the statutes +above specified, and the laws of the United States applicable thereto. +</p> +<p> +The lands to be so opened to settlement are for greater convenience +particularly described in the accompanying schedule, entitled "Schedule +of lands within the Siletz Indian Reservation, in Oregon, opened to +settlement by proclamation of the President dated May 16, 1895," and +which schedule is made a part hereof. +</p> +<p> +Warning is hereby given that no person entering upon and occupying said +lands before said hour of 12 o'clock noon of the 25th day of July, 1895, +hereinbefore fixed, will ever be permitted to enter any of said lands or +acquire any rights thereto, and that the officers of the United States +will be required to strictly enforce this provision, which is authorized +by the act of August 15, 1894, hereinbefore mentioned. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 16th day of May, A.D. 1895, and of +the Independence of the United States the one hundred and nineteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +EDWIN F. UHL,<br /> +<i>Acting Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas by a written agreement made on the 9th day of September, 1891, +the Kickapoo Nation of Indians, in the Territory of Oklahoma, ceded, +conveyed, transferred, and relinquished, forever and absolutely, without +any reservation whatever, all their claim, title, and interest of every +kind and character in and to the lands particularly described in article +1 of the agreement: <i>Provided</i>, That in said tract of country there +shall be allotted to each and every member, native and adopted, of said +Kickapoo tribe of Indians 80 acres of land, in the manner and under the +conditions stated in said agreement, and that when the allotments of +land shall have been made and approved by the Secretary of the Interior +the title thereto shall be held in trust for the allottees respectively +for the period of twenty-five years in the manner and to the extent +provided for in the act of Congress approved February 8, 1887 (24 U.S. +Statutes at Large, p. 388); and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is further stipulated and agreed by article 6 of the +agreement that wherever in this reservation any religious society or +other organization is now occupying any portion of said reservation for +religious or educational work among the Indians the land so occupied may +be allotted and confirmed to such society or organization, not, however, +to exceed 160 acres of land to any one society or organization, so long +as the same shall be so occupied and used: and such land shall not be +subject to homestead entry; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is provided in the act of Congress accepting, ratifying, and +confirming the said agreement with the Kickapoo Indians, approved March +3, 1893 (27 U.S. Statutes at Large, pp. 557-563), section 3— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That whenever any of the lands acquired by this agreement shall by + operation of law or proclamation of the President of the United States + be open to settlement or entry they shall be disposed of (except + sections 16 and 36 in each township thereof) to actual settlers only + under the provisions of the homestead and town-site laws, except section + 2301 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, which shall not + apply: <i>Provided</i>, <i>however</i>, That each settler on said lands + shall before making a final proof and receiving a certificate of entry + pay to the United States for the land so taken by him, in addition to + the fees provided by law and within five years from the date of the + first original entry, the sum of $1.50 an acre, one-half of which shall + be paid within two years; but the rights of honorably discharged Union + soldiers and sailors as defined and described in sections 2304 and 2305 + of the Revised Statutes of the United States shall not be abridged + except as to the sum to be paid as aforesaid. Until said lands are + opened to settlement by proclamation of the President of the United + States no person shall be permitted to enter upon or occupy any of said + lands, and any person violating this provision shall never be permitted + to make entry of any of said lands or acquire any title thereto: + <i>Provided</i>, That any person having attempted to but for any cause + failed to acquire a title in fee under existing law, or who made entry + under what is known as the commuted provision of the homestead law, + shall be qualified to make homestead entry upon said lands. +</p> +<p> +And whereas allotments of land in severalty to said Kickapoo Indians +have been made and approved in accordance with law and the provisions of +the before-mentioned agreement with them; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by the act of Congress for the temporary +government of Oklahoma, approved May 2, 1890, section 23 (26 U.S. +Statutes at Large, p. 92), that there shall be reserved public highways +4 rods wide between each section of land in said Territory, the section +lines being the center of said highways; but no deduction shall be made, +where cash payments are provided for, in the amount to be paid for each +quarter section of land by reason of such reservation; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is provided in the act of Congress approved February 10, 1894 +(28 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. 37)— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That every homestead settler on the public lands on the left bank of + the Deep Fork River in the former Iowa Reservation, in the Territory of + Oklahoma, who entered less than 160 acres of land may enter under the + homestead laws other lands adjoining the land embraced in his original + entry when such additional lands become subject to entry, which + additional entry shall not with the lands originally entered exceed in + the aggregate 160 acres: <i>Provided</i>, That where such adjoining + entry is made residence shall not be required upon the lands so + entered, but the residence and cultivation by the settler upon and of + the land embraced in his original entry shall be considered residence + and cultivation for the same length of time upon the land embraced in + his additional entry; but such lands so entered shall be paid for + conformably to the terms of the act acquiring the same and opening it + to homestead entry. +</p> +<p> +And whereas it is further provided in the act of Congress approved March +2, 1895 (28 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. 899)— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That any State or Territory entitled to indemnity school lands or + entitled to select lands for educational purposes under existing law + may select such lands within the boundaries of any Indian reservation + in such State or Territory from the surplus lands thereof purchased by + the United States, after allotments have been made to the Indians of + such reservation and prior to the opening of such reservation to + settlement. +</p> +<p> +And whereas all the terms, conditions, and considerations required by +said agreement made with said tribes of Indians and by the laws relating +thereto precedent to opening said lands to settlement have been, as I +hereby declare, complied with: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, by +virtue of the power in me vested by the statutes hereinbefore mentioned +and by other the laws of the United States and by the said agreement, +do hereby declare and make known that all of said lands hereinbefore +described, acquired from the Kickapoo Indians by the agreement +aforesaid, will, at and after the hour of 12 o'clock noon (central +standard time), Thursday, the 23d day of the month of May, A.D. 1895, +and not before, be open to settlement under the terms of and subject +to all the conditions, limitations, reservations, and restrictions +contained in the said agreement, the statutes above specified, and the +laws of the United States applicable thereto, saving and excepting such +tracts as have been allotted, reserved, or selected under the laws +herein referred to and such tracts as may be properly selected by the +Territory of Oklahoma under and in accordance with the provisions of +the act of March 2, 1895, hereinbefore quoted, prior to the time herein +fixed for the opening of said lands to settlement. +</p> +<p> +The lands to be so opened to settlement are for greater convenience +particularly described in the accompanying schedule, entitled "Schedule +of lands within the Kickapoo Reservation, Oklahoma Territory, to be +opened to settlement by proclamation of the President;" but notice is +hereby given that should any of the lands described in the accompanying +schedule be properly selected by the Territory of Oklahoma under and in +accordance with the provisions of said act of Congress approved March 2, +1895, prior to the time herein fixed for the opening of said lands to +settlement such tracts will not be subject to settlement or entry. +</p> +<p> +Notice, moreover, is hereby given that it is by law enacted that until +said lands are opened to settlement by proclamation no person shall be +permitted to enter upon or occupy the same, and any person violating +this provision shall never be permitted to make entry of any of said +lands or acquire any title thereto. The officers of the United States +will be required to enforce this provision. +</p> +<p> +And further notice is hereby given that all of said lands lying north of +the township line between townships 13 and 14 north are now attached to +the Eastern land district, the office of which is at Guthrie, Oklahoma +Territory, and all of said lands lying south of the township line +between townships 13 and 14 north are now attached to the Oklahoma land +district, the office of which is at Oklahoma, Oklahoma Territory. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 18th day of May, A.D. 1895, and of +the Independence of the United States the one hundred and nineteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +EDWIN F. UHL,<br /> +<i>Acting Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h3> +<h4> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. +</h4> +<p> +Walter Q. Gresham, Secretary of State of the United States, is dead. +</p> +<p> +The President in making this distressing announcement to his +fellow-countrymen speaks from the depths of a personal affliction to +remind them that they too have lost a pure and able public servant, a +wise and patriotic guardian of all their rights and interests, a manly +and loyal American, and a generous and lovable man. +</p> +<p> +As a suitable expression of national bereavement, I direct that the +diplomatic representatives of the United States in all foreign countries +display the flags over their embassies and legations at half-mast for +ten days; that for a like period the flag of the United States be +displayed at half-mast at all forts and military posts and at all naval +stations and on all vessels of the United States. +</p> +<p> +I further order that on the day of the funeral the Executive Departments +in the city of Washington be closed and that on all public buildings +throughout the United States the national flag be displayed at +half-mast. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 28th day of May, A.D. 1895, and of +the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and +nineteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +EDWIN F. UHL,<br /> +<i>Acting Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas the island of Cuba is now the seat of serious civil +disturbances, accompanied by armed resistance to the authority of the +established Government of Spain, a power with which the United States +are and desire to remain on terms of peace and amity; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas the laws of the United States prohibit their citizens, +as well as all others being within and subject to their jurisdiction, +from taking part in such disturbances adversely to such established +Government, by accepting or exercising commissions for warlike service +against it, by enlistment or procuring others to enlist for such +service, by fitting out or arming or procuring to be fitted out and +armed ships of war for such service, by augmenting the force of any ship +of war engaged in such service and arriving in a port of the United +States, and by setting on foot or providing or preparing the means for +military enterprises to be carried on from the United States against the +territory of such Government: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, in recognition of the laws aforesaid and in discharge of +the obligations of the United States toward a friendly power, and as a +measure of precaution, and to the end that citizens of the United States +and all others within their jurisdiction may be deterred from subjecting +themselves to legal forfeitures and penalties, I, Grover Cleveland, +President of the United States of America, do hereby admonish all such +citizens and other persons to abstain from every violation of the laws +hereinbefore referred to, and do hereby warn them that all violations of +such laws will be rigorously prosecuted; and I do hereby enjoin upon all +officers of the United States charged with the execution of said laws +the utmost diligence in preventing violations thereof and in bringing to +trial and punishment any offenders against the same. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 12th day of June, A.D. 1895, and of +the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and +nineteenth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 13 of the act of Congress of March 3, +1891, entitled "An act to amend Title LX, chapter 3, of the Revised +Statutes of the United States, relating to copyrights," that said act +"shall only apply to a citizen or subject of a foreign state or nation +when such foreign state or nation permits to citizens of the United +States of America the benefit of copyright on substantially the same +basis as its own citizens, or when such foreign state or nation is a +party to an international agreement which provides for reciprocity in +the granting of copyright, by the terms of which agreement the United +States of America may at its pleasure become a party to such agreement;" +and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is also provided by said section that "the existence of +either of the conditions aforesaid shall be determined by the President +of the United States by proclamation made from time to time as the +purposes of this act may require;" and +</p> +<p> +Whereas satisfactory official assurances have been given that in Spain +and her provinces and colonial possessions the law permits to citizens +of the United States the benefit of copyright on substantially the same +basis as to the subjects of Spain: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States of +America, do declare and proclaim that the first of the conditions +specified in section 13 of the act of March 3, 1891, now exists and is +fulfilled in respect to the subjects of Spain. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 10th day of July, 1895, and of the +Independence of the United States the one hundred and twentieth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +ALVEY A. ADEE,<br /> +<i>Acting Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +The constant goodness and forbearance of Almighty God which have been +vouchsafed to the American people during the year which is just past +call for their sincere acknowledgment and devout gratitude. +</p> +<p> +To the end, therefore, that we may with thankful hearts unite in +extolling the loving care of our Heavenly Father, I, Grover Cleveland, +President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart +Thursday, the 28th day of the present month of November, as a day of +thanksgiving and prayer to be kept and observed by all our people. +</p> +<p> +On that day let us forego our usual occupations and in our accustomed +places of worship join in rendering thanks to the Giver of Every Good +and Perfect Gift for the bounteous returns that have rewarded our labors +in the fields and in the busy marts of trade, for the peace and order +that have prevailed throughout the land, for our protection from +pestilence and dire calamity, and for the other blessings that have been +showered upon us from an open hand. +</p> +<p> +And with our thanksgiving let us humbly beseech the Lord to so incline +the hearts of our people unto Him that He will not leave us nor forsake +us as a nation, but will continue to us His mercy and protecting care, +guiding us in the path of national prosperity and happiness, enduing us +with rectitude and virtue, and keeping alive within us a patriotic love +for the free institutions which have been given to us as our national +heritage. +</p> +<p> +And let us also on the day of our thanksgiving especially remember the +poor and needy, and by deeds of charity let us show the sincerity of our +gratitude. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 4th day of November, A.D. 1895, and +in the one hundred and twentieth year of the Independence of the United +States. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas section 17 of the act of August 28, 1894, entitled "An act to +reduce taxation, to provide revenue for the Government, and for other +purposes," prohibits "the importation of neat cattle and the hides of +neat cattle from any foreign country into the United States;" and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by the act of Congress approved March 2, 1895, +entitled "An act making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture +for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1896"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That whenever the Secretary of Agriculture shall certify to the + President of the United States what countries or parts of countries are + free from contagious or infectious diseases of domestic animals, and + that neat cattle and hides can be imported from such countries without + danger to the domestic animals of the United States, the President of + the United States may suspend the prohibition of the importation of + neat cattle and hides in the manner provided by law. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the Secretary of Agriculture has now certified to me that +the countries of Norway, Sweden, Holland, Great Britain, Ireland, the +Channel Islands, and the countries of North, Central, and South America, +including Mexico, are so far free from contagious or infectious diseases +of domestic animals that neat cattle may be imported from those +countries into the United States, under the sanitary regulations +prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture, without danger to the +domestic animals of the United States, and that so far as the countries +above named, as well as all other countries from which hides are +imported into the United States, are concerned, they are so far free +from contagious or infectious diseases of domestic animals that hides of +neat cattle can be imported from all parts of the world, under proper +regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, without danger +to the domestic animals of the United States: Now, therefore, I, Grover +Cleveland, President of the United States, do hereby suspend the +prohibition of the importation of neat cattle from the countries of +Norway, Sweden, Holland, Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands, +and the countries of North, Central, and South America, including +Mexico, and of the hides of neat cattle from all parts of the world; but +all importations of neat cattle shall be made under the sanitary +regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture and all +importations of hides shall be made under proper regulations prescribed +by the Secretary of the Treasury. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 8th day of November, 1895, and of +the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and +twentieth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas, pursuant to section 5 of the act of Congress approved February +8, 1887 (24 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. 388), entitled "An act to provide +for the allotment of lands in severalty to the Indians on the various +reservations and to extend the protection of the laws of the United +States and the Territories over the Indians, and for other purposes," +certain articles of cession and agreement were made and concluded at +the Nez Percé Agency, Idaho, on the 1st day of May, 1893, by and between +the United States of America and the Nez Percé Indians, whereby said +Indians, for the consideration therein mentioned, ceded and conveyed to +the United States all their claim, right, title, and interest to all the +unallotted lands set apart as a home for their use and occupation by the +second article of the treaty between said Indians and the United States +concluded June 9, 1863 (14 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. 647), and included +in the following boundaries, to wit: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Commencing at the northeast corner of Lake Wa-ha and running thence + northerly to a point on the north bank of the Clearwater River 3 + miles below the mouth of the Lapwai; thence down the north bank of + the Clearwater to the mouth of the Hatwai Creek; thence due north to + a point 7 miles distant; thence eastwardly to a point on the North Fork + of the Clearwater 7 miles distant from its mouth; thence to a point on + Oro Fino Creek 5 miles above its mouth; thence to a point on the North + Fork of the South Fork of the Clearwater 1 mile above the bridge on the + road leading to Elk City (so as to include all the Indian farms now + within the forks); thence in a straight line westwardly to the place + of beginning. +</p> +<p> +Saving and excepting the sixteenth and thirty-sixth sections of each +Congressional township, which shall be reserved for common-school +purposes and be subject to the laws of Idaho, and excepting the tracts +described in articles 1 and 2 of the agreement, viz: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The said Nez Percé Indians hereby cede, sell, relinquish, and convey to + the United States all their claim, right, title, and interest in and to + all the unallotted lands within the limits of said reservation, saving + and excepting the following-described tracts of lands, which are hereby + retained by the said Indians, viz: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In township 34, range 4 west: Northeast quarter, north half and + southeast of northwest quarter, northeast quarter of southwest quarter, + north half and east half of southwest quarter, and the southeast quarter + of southeast quarter, section 13; 440 acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In township 34, range 3 west: Sections 10, 15, 36; 1,920 acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In township 33, range 3 west: Section 1; northwest quarter of northeast + quarter, north half of northwest quarter, section 12; 760 acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In township 35, range 2 west: South half of northeast quarter, northwest + quarter, north half and southeast quarter of southwest quarter, + southeast quarter, section 3; east half, east half of northwest quarter, + southwest quarter, section 10; section 11; north half, north half of + south half, section 21; east half of northeast quarter, section 20; + sections 22, 27, 35; 4,200 acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In township 34, range 2 west: North half, southwest quarter, north half + and southwest quarter and west half of southeast quarter of southeast + quarter, section 13; section 14; north half, section 23; west half of + east half and west half of northeast quarter, northwest quarter, north + half of southwest quarter, west half of east half and northwest quarter + and east half of southwest quarter of southeast quarter, section 24; + section 29; 2,700 acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In township 33, range 2 west: West half and southeast quarter, section + 6; sections 16, 22, 27; north half and north half of south half, section + 34; 2,880 acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In township 34, range 1 west: West half, section 2; sections 3, 4: north + half and southwest quarter, section 8; north half, section 9; north half + and north half of southwest quarter, section 18; northwest quarter, + section 17; 2,960 acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In township 37, range 1 east: Section 20; section 21, less south half of + south half of southwest quarter of southeast quarter (10 acres); 1,270 + acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In township 36, range 1 east: South half of sections 3, 4; sections 1, + 12; 1,920 acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In township 36, range 2 east: Sections 16, 17, 18, 20; all of section 25 + west of boundary line of reservation; sections 26, 27; 4,240 acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In township 35, range 2 east: North half of sections 16, 17; section 27; + north half of section 34; 1,600 acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In township 34, range 2 east: East half and east half of west half of + southeast quarter, section 24; 100 acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In township 34, range 3 east: South half of sections 19, 20; north half, + north half of south half, southwest quarter and north half of southeast + quarter of southwest quarter, north half of south half of southeast + quarter, section 23; north half, north half and north half of southwest + quarter and southeast quarter of southwest quarter, southeast quarter, + section 24; north half and southeast quarter of northeast quarter, north + half of northwest quarter, section 25; south half of northeast quarter + of northeast quarter, section 26; section 29; northeast quarter of + northeast quarter and south half, section 30; northwest quarter and + north half of southwest quarter, section 31, northeast quarter, north + half and southeast quarter of northwest quarter, section 32; northwest + quarter, north half of southwest quarter, section 33; 3,700 acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In township 33, range 4 east: South half of southeast quarter, section + 18; northeast quarter and fraction northeast of river in east half of + northwest quarter, section 19; fraction west of boundary line of + reservation in section 22; west half and southeast quarter of section + 35; 1,440 acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In township 32, range 4 east: Fraction in west half of northeast quarter + of southwest quarter, fraction in northwest quarter of southeast + quarter, section 1; section 2; south half of section 6; west half and + southeast quarter of northeast quarter of section 9; 1,410 acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In township 31, range 4 east: South half of northeast quarter, southeast + quarter of northwest quarter, northeast quarter of southwest quarter, + southeast quarter, section 17; northwest quarter, section 21; 480 acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Total, 32,020 acres. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. II. It is also stipulated and agreed that the place known as "the + boom" on the Clearwater River, near the mouth of Lapwai Creek, shall be + excepted from this cession and reserved for the common use of the tribe, + with full right of access thereto, and that the tract of land adjoining + said boom now occupied by James Moses shall be allotted to him in such + manner as not to interfere with such right; also that there shall be + reserved from said cession the land described as follows: "Commencing at + a point at the margin of Clearwater River, on the south side thereof, + which is 300 yards below where the middle thread of Lapwai Creek empties + into said river; run thence up the margin of said Clearwater River at + low-water mark 900 yards to a point; run thence south 250 yards to a + point; thence southwesterly in a line to the southeast corner of a stone + building partly finished as a church; thence west 300 yards to a point; + thence from said point northerly in a straight line to the point of + beginning; and also the adjoining tract of land lying southerly of said + tract, on the south end thereof, commencing at the said corner of said + church, and at the point 300 yards west thereof and run a line from each + of said points, one of said lines running on the east side and the other + on the west of said Lapwai Creek, along the foothills of each side of + said creek, up the same sufficiently far so that a line being drawn east + and west to intersect the aforesaid lines shall embrace within its + boundaries, together with the first above-described tract of land, a + sufficient quantity of land as to include and comprise 640 acres." +</p> +<p> +And excepting the land embraced in the William Craig donation claim, in +township 35 north, range 3 west. (See case of Caldwell <i>vs.</i> +Robinson, Federal Reporter, vol. 59, p. 653); and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is further stipulated and agreed by article 6 of the +agreement that any religious society or other organization now occupying +under proper authority, for religious or educational work among the +Indians, any of the lands ceded shall have the right for two years from +the date of the ratification of this agreement within which to purchase +the land so occupied, at the rate of $3 per acre, the same to be conveyed +to such society or organization by patent in the usual form; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is further agreed by article 9 of the agreement that the +lands by this agreement ceded, those retained, and those allotted to the +said Nez Percé Indians shall be subject for a period of twenty-five +years to all the laws of the United States prohibiting the introduction +of intoxicants into the Indian country, and that the Nez Percé Indian +allottees, whether under the care of an Indian agent or not, shall for a +like period be subject to all the laws of the United States prohibiting +the sale or other disposition of intoxicants to Indians; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is provided in the act of Congress accepting, ratifying, and +confirming said agreement, approved August 15, 1894 (28 U.S. Statutes at +Large, pp. 286-338), section 16— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That immediately after the issuance and receipt by the Indians of trust + patents for the allotted lands, as provided for in said agreement, the + lands so ceded, sold, relinquished, and conveyed to the United States + shall be opened to settlement by proclamation of the President and shall + be subject to disposal only under the homestead, town-site, stone and + timber, and mining laws of the United States, excepting the sixteenth + and thirty-sixth sections in each Congressional township, which shall be + reserved for common-school purposes and be subject to the laws of Idaho: + <i>Provided</i>, That each settler on said lands shall before making + final proof and receiving a certificate of entry pay to the United + States for the lands so taken by him, in addition to the fees provided + bylaw, the sum of $3.75 per acre for agricultural lands, one-half of + which shall be paid within three years from the date of original entry, + and the sum of $5 per acre for stone, timber, and mineral lands, subject + to the regulations prescribed by existing laws; but the rights of + honorably discharged Union soldiers and sailors as defined and described + in sections 2304 and 2305 of the Revised Statutes of the United States + shall not be abridged except as to the sum to be paid as aforesaid. +</p> +<p> +And whereas all the terms, conditions, and considerations required by +said agreement made with said tribe of Indians hereinbefore mentioned +and the laws relating thereto precedent to opening said lands to +settlement have been, as I hereby declare, provided for, paid, and +complied with: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, by +virtue of the power in me vested by the statutes hereinbefore mentioned +and by said agreement, do hereby declare and make known that all of the +unallotted and unreserved lands acquired from the Nez Percé Indians by +said agreement will, at and after the hour of 12 o'clock noon (Pacific +standard time) on the 18th day of November, 1895, and not before, be +opened to settlement under the terms of and subject to all the +conditions, limitations, reservations, and restrictions contained in +said agreement, the statutes above specified, and the laws of the United +States applicable thereto. +</p> +<p> +The lands to be so opened to settlement are for greater convenience +particularly described in the accompanying schedule, entitled "Schedule +of lands within the Nez Percé Indian Reservation, Idaho, to be opened to +settlement by proclamation of the President," and which schedule is made +a part hereof. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 8th day of November, A.D. 1895, and +of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and twentieth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + EXECUTIVE ORDERS. +</h2> +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +Special Departmental Rule No. 1 is hereby amended by striking out +the whole of the paragraph in section 3, Department of the Interior, +relating to the Geological Survey and substituting in lieu thereof the +following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the Geological Survey: Geologist, assistant geologist, + paleontologist, assistant paleontologist, chief photographer, + photographer, chief chemist, chemist, assistant chemist, chief + engraver, engraver, assistant engraver, lithographic engraver, map + printer, lithographic printer, assistant lithographic printer, map + reviser, statistical experts temporarily employed. +</p> +<p> +Approved, December 4, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +Departmental Rule VII is hereby amended by adding thereto the following +section, to be numbered 9: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The Commission shall certify for transfer and reappointment to any + classified non-excepted place in the departmental service, upon the + requisition of the head of a Department, any person who at the time of + making such requisition is holding an office outside the classified + service in any Executive Department at Washington to which he was + appointed from a classified place in the departmental service; and upon + the requisition of any head of Department the Commission shall certify + for reinstatement in the classified service of said Department any such + officer who within one year next preceding the date of the requisition, + by the abolition of his office or otherwise, has without delinquency or + misconduct been separated from said office: <i>Provided</i>, That this + section shall not authorize the reappointment to the classified + service of any such officer or ex-officer who was appointed to his + office from an excepted place, unless his appointment to such excepted + place was by promotion from a nonexcepted place. +</p> +<p> +Approved, December 15, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 3, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +Postal Rule II, clause 5, is amended by striking out paragraph (<i>e</i>) +and relettering paragraph (<i>f</i>) as (<i>e</i>), so that as amended the clause +will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. Exceptions from examination in the classified postal service are + hereby made as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) Assistant postmaster, or the chief assistant to the + postmaster, by whatever designation known. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) One secretary to the postmaster, when authorized by law and + allowed by the Post-Office Department. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) Cashier, when authorized by law and employed under that + roster title. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) Assistant cashier, when authorized by law and employed under + that roster title. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>e</i>) Printers and pressmen, when authorized by law and allowed by + the Post-Office Department and employed as such. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 12, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +Departmental Rule VII, clause 8, is hereby amended to read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In case of the occurrence of a vacancy in any Department which the + public interest requires shall be immediately filled, and which can not + be so filled by certification from the eligible registers of the + Commission, such vacancy may be filled by temporary appointment outside + the civil service until a regular appointment can be made under the + provisions of sections 1, 2, and 3 of this rule: <i>Provided</i>, That + such temporary appointment shall in no case continue longer than ninety + days, and shall expire by limitation at the end of that time: <i>And + provided further</i>, That no person shall serve longer than the period + herein prescribed in any one year under such temporary appointment. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The year limitation in regard to reappointment shall begin to run on the + date of the original appointment. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Every such temporary appointment and the discontinuance of the same + shall at once be reported to the Commission. +</p> +<p> +Postal Rule IV, clause 4, is hereby amended to read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. In case of the occurrence of a vacancy in a position within the + classified service of any post-office which the public interest requires + shall be immediately filled, where there is no eligible remaining on the + proper register, such vacancy may be filled by temporary appointment + outside the civil service until a regular appointment can be made under + the provisions of sections 1 and 2 of this rule: <i>Provided</i>, That + such temporary appointment shall in no case continue longer than ninety + days, and shall expire by limitation at the end of that time: <i>And + provided further</i>, That no person shall serve more than ninety days + in any one year under such temporary appointment. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The year limitation in regard to reappointment shall begin to run on the + date of the original appointment. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Every such temporary appointment and also the discontinuance of the same + shall at once be reported to the Commission. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<center> +GENERAL RULES. +</center> +<p> +General Rule II: Strike out the word "five" in line 1 and insert in lieu +thereof the word "six," and add at the end of the rule a new clause, as +follows: +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i2"> 6. The classified internal-revenue service</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p> +General Rule III, section 5: Insert after the word "may" in line 1 the +words "in its discretion," and after the word "appointment" in line 2 +the following: "or an applicant who has been guilty of a crime or of +infamous or notoriously disgraceful conduct." As amended the section +will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. The Commission may, in its discretion, refuse to examine an applicant + who would be physically unable to perform the duties of the place to + which he desires appointment or an applicant who has been guilty of a + crime or of infamous or notoriously disgraceful conduct. The reason for + any such action shall be entered on the minutes of the Commission. +</p> +<p> +Section 9: In line 1 strike out the word "departmental," and after the +word "service" in the same line and in line 2 the words "and the +classified railway mail service." +</p> +<p> +General Rule V: In line 2 change the order of words and insert other +words so as to make the phrase amended read as follows: "and postmasters +and customs and internal-revenue officers and custodians of public +buildings." +</p> +<p> +General Rule IV, section 2: Insert after the word "may" in line 1 the +words "in its discretion." +</p> +<center> +DEPARTMENTAL RULES. +</center> +<p> +Departmental Rule II: In section 1, line 2, after the word "such," +insert the word "other" and strike out the words "supplementary and +special." In section 2, line 2, strike out the words "supplementary and +special" and insert in lieu thereof the word "other." +</p> +<p> +Departmental Rule IV: In section 1, after the semicolon following the +word "age" in line 4, insert the following: "or for the position of +messenger or assistant messenger who is not under 18 years of age, or +for the position of page or messenger boy who is not under 14 nor over +18 years of age." +</p> +<p> +Departmental Rule V: In section 2, paragraph 6, line 1, after the word +"postal," insert the words "internal-revenue." +</p> +<p> +Departmental Rule VI: In section 1, line 2, after the word "of," strike +out the words "special and supplementary" and insert in lieu thereof the +word "other." In section 4, line 7, after the words "clerk-copyist," +insert the words "or the messenger and watchman." In section 5, line 3, +after the word "printing," insert the words "or for page or messenger +boy." +</p> +<p> +Departmental Rule VII: In section 3, at the beginning of line 2, before +the word "register," insert the words "the messenger or the watchman." +In the second paragraph of the same section, in line 2, after the word +"assistant," insert the words "or page or messenger boy." +</p> +<p> +Departmental Rule VIII: In section 1 insert a clause, to be lettered +(<i>c</i>), as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) From a bureau of the Treasury Department in which business + relating to the internal revenue is transacted to a classified + internal-revenue district, and from such a district to such a bureau + in the Treasury Department, upon requisition by the Secretary of the + Treasury. +</p> +<p> +The remaining clauses of the section to be relettered (<i>d</i>) and +(<i>e</i>), respectively. In section 2, line 2, strike out the letter +"<i>d</i>" in parentheses and insert in lieu thereof the letter +"<i>e</i>," and at the end of the section add the following proviso: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Provided</i>, That a person may be transferred from a place in one + Department to a place requiring no higher examination in another + Department without examination. +</p> +<p> +Departmental Rule IX: Strike out the whole of section 1 and insert in +lieu thereof the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. Until promotion regulations have been applied to a Department under + the provisions of section 6 of General Rule III promotions therein may + be made as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) Any person appointed from the appropriate register to the + position of messenger, assistant messenger, watchman, or other + subordinate position below the positions of clerk and copyist may at any + time after absolute appointment, if not barred by age limitations, be + transferred to any other of said subordinate positions, but shall not be + promoted to the position of clerk or copyist or to any place the duties + of which are clerical: <i>Provided</i>, That printers' assistants in the + Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Treasury Department, shall only be + eligible for transfer to the grade of operative in that Bureau. +</p> +<p> +Strike out sections 2, 3, and 5 and renumber section 4 as 2. +</p> +<p> +Approved, March 2, 1895. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>March 18, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +Indian Rule IV is amended by adding at the end thereof a new section, to +read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 7. Graduates of Indian normal schools and of normal classes in Indian + schools may be employed in the Indian-school service as assistant + teachers or day-school teachers without further examination: + <i>Provided</i>, That certificates of satisfactory proficiency, of + good moral character, and of physical soundness, signed by the proper + officials, be transmitted at the time of appointment to the Civil + Service Commission: <i>And provided further</i>, That until the 1st of + July, 1896, graduates of the senior classes of Carlisle, Hampton, + Lincoln Institute, Chilocco, Haskell Institute, and other Indian + schools of equal grade may be included in the provisions of this rule. + Such teachers shall become eligible for promotion to advanced positions + on presentation to the Civil Service Commission of satisfactory + certificates of efficiency and fidelity in their work and of a + progressive spirit in their professional interests, signed by their + immediate official superiors and by the superintendent of Indian + schools, and forwarded with his approval by the Secretary of the + Interior, the Commission reserving to itself the right to decide + as to the satisfactoriness of such certificates. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>March 20, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +The Executive order dated February 26, 1891,<a href="#note-19" name="noteref-19"><small>19</small></a> establishing limits +of punishment for enlisted men of the Army, under an act of Congress +approved September 27, 1890, and which was published in General Orders, +No. 21, 1891, Headquarters of the Army, is amended so as to prescribe as +follows: +</p> +<center> +ARTICLE I. +</center> +<p> +In all cases of desertion the sentence may include dishonorable +discharge and forfeiture of pay and allowances. +</p> +<p> +Subject to the modifications authorized in section 3 of this article, +the limit of the term of confinement (at hard labor) for desertion shall +be as follows: +</p> +<p> + SECTION 1. In case of surrender— +</p> +<p> +(<i>a</i>) When the deserter surrenders himself after an absence of not +more than thirty days, one year. +</p> +<p> +(<i>b</i>) When the surrender is made after an absence of more than +thirty days, eighteen months. +</p> +<p> +SEC. 2. In case of apprehension— +</p> +<p> +(<i>a</i>) When at the time of desertion the deserter shall not have +been more than six months in the service, eighteen months. +</p> +<p> +(<i>b</i>) When he shall have been more than six months in the service, +two and one-half years. +</p> +<p> +SEC. 3. The foregoing limitations are subject to modification under the +following conditions: +</p> +<p> +(<i>a</i>) The punishment of a deserter may be increased by one year of +confinement at hard labor in consideration of each previous conviction +of desertion. +</p> +<p> +(<i>b</i>) The punishment for desertion when joined in by two or more +soldiers in the execution of a conspiracy or for desertion in the +presence of an outbreak of Indians or of any unlawful assemblage which +the troops may be opposing shall not exceed dishonorable discharge, +forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement at hard labor for +five years. +</p> +<center> +ARTICLE II. +</center> +<p> +Except as herein otherwise indicated punishments shall not exceed the +limits prescribed in the following table: +</p> + + +<table border="1" align="center" width="100%" summary="Punishments"> + +<tr><th> Offenses. </th><th>Limits of punishment.</th></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> <i>Under seventeenth article of war</i>.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Selling horse or arms, or both. </td><td>Dishonorable +discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement at hard +labor for 3 years.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Selling accouterments </td><td>Four months' confinement at hard +labor and forfeiture of $10 per month for the same period; for +noncommissioned officer, reduction in addition thereto.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Selling clothing </td><td>Two months' confinement at hard labor +and forfeiture of $10 per month for the same period; for noncommissioned +officer, reduction in addition thereto.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Losing or spoiling horse or arms through neglect. </td><td>Four +months' confinement at hard labor and forfeiture of $10 per month for +the same period; for noncommissioned officer, reduction in addition +thereto.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Losing or spoiling accouterments or clothing through neglect. +</td><td>One month's confinement at hard labor and forfeiture of $10: +for noncommissioned officer, reduction in addition thereto.</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> <i>Under twentieth article of war</i>.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Behaving himself with disrespect to his commanding +officer.</td> <td>Six months' confinement at hard labor and forfeiture +of $10 per month for the same period; for noncommissioned officer, +reduction in addition thereto.</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> <i>Under twenty-fourth article of war</i>.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Refusal to obey or using violence to officer or noncommissioned +officer while quelling quarrels or disorders.</td> <td>Dishonorable +discharge, with forfeiture of all pay and allowances and confinement at +hard labor for 2 years.</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> <i>Under thirty-first article of war</i>.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Lying out of quarters. </td><td>Forfeiture of $2; corporal, $3; +sergeant, $4.</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> <i>Under thirty-second article of war</i>.</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> Absence without leave—<a href="#note-20" name="noteref-20"><small>20</small></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td> Less than 1 hour. </td> <td>Forfeiture of $1; corporal, $2; +sergeant, $3; first sergeant or noncommissioned officer of higher grade, +$4.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> From 1 to 6 hours<a href="#note-21" name="noteref-21"><small>21</small></a>. </td><td>Forfeiture of $2; corporal, $3; +sergeant, $4; first sergeant or noncommissioned officer of higher grade, +$5.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> From 6 to 12 hours. </td><td>Forfeiture of $3; corporal, $4; +sergeant, $6; first sergeant or noncommissioned officer of higher grade, +$7.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> From 12 to 24 hours. </td><td>Forfeiture of $5; corporal, $6; +sergeant, $7; first sergeant or noncommissioned officer of higher grade, +$10.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> From 24 to 48 hours. </td><td>Forfeiture of $6 and 5 days' +confinement at hard labor; for corporal, forfeiture of $8; sergeant $10; +first sergeant or noncommissioned officer of higher grade, $12, or for +all noncommissioned officers, reduction.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> From 2 to 10 days. </td><td>Forfeiture of $10 and 10 days' +confinement at hard labor; for noncommissioned officer, reduction in +addition thereto.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> From 10 to 30 days. </td><td>Forfeiture of $20 and 1 month's +confinement at hard labor; for noncommissioned officer, reduction in +addition thereto.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> From 30 to 90 days. </td><td>Three months' confinement at hard +labor and forfeiture of $10 per month for same period; for +noncommissioned officer, reduction in addition thereto.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> For 90 or more than 90 days. </td><td>Dishonorable discharge +and forfeiture of all pay and allowances and 6 months' confinement at +hard labor.</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> <i>Under thirty-third article of war</i>.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Failure to repair at the time fixed, etc., to the place of +parade for—</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Reveille or retreat roll call and 11 p.m. inspection. +</td><td>Forfeiture of $1; corporal, $2; sergeant, $3; first sergeant, +$4</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Guard detail </td><td>Forfeiture of $5; corporal, $8; sergeant, +$10</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Fatigue detail.<br /> Dress parade.<br /> The weekly +inspection.<br /> Target practice.<br /> Drill.<br /> Guard mounting (by +musician).<br /> Stable duty. </td> <td>Forfeiture of $2; corporal, $3; +sergeant, $5.</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> <i>Under thirty-eighth article of war</i>.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Drunkenness on—</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Guard. </td><td>Six months' confinement at hard labor and +forfeiture of $10 per month for the same period; for noncommissioned +officer, reduction in addition thereto.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Duty as company cook.</td><td>Forfeiture of $20.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Extra or special duty.<br /> At drill.<br /> At target +practice.<br /> At parade.<br /> At inspection.<br /> At inspection of +company guard detail.<br /> At stable duty.</td><td> Forfeiture of $12; +for noncommissioned officer, reduction and forfeiture of $20.</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> <i>Under fortieth article of war</i>.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Quitting guard. </td><td>Six months' confinement at hard labor +and forfeiture of $10 per month for the same period; for noncommissioned +officer, reduction in addition thereto.</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> <i>Under fifty-first article of war</i>.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Persuading soldiers to desert. </td><td>Dishonorable discharge, +forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and 1 year's confinement at hard +labor.</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> <i>Under sixtieth article of war</i>.</td></tr> + +<tr><td></td><td> Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and +allowances, and 4 years' confinement at hard labor.</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> <i>Under sixty-second article of war</i>.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Manslaughter. </td><td>Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all +pay and allowances, and 10 years' confinement at hard labor.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Assault with intent to kill. </td><td>Dishonorable discharge, +forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and 10 years' confinement at hard +labor.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Burglary. </td><td>Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all +pay and allowances, and 5 years' confinement at hard labor.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Forgery. </td><td>Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay +and allowances, and 4 years' confinement at hard labor.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Perjury. </td><td>Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay +and allowances, and 4 years' confinement at hard labor.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> False swearing. </td><td>Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of +all pay and allowances, and 2 years' confinement at hard +labor.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Robbery. </td><td>Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay +and allowances, and 6 years' confinement at hard labor.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Larceny or embezzlement of property of the value +of—<a href="#note-22" name="noteref-22"><small>22</small></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td> More than $100. </td><td>Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of +all pay and allowances, and 4 years' confinement at hard +labor.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> $100 or less and more than $50. </td><td>Dishonorable +discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and 3 years' +confinement at hard labor.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> $50 or less and more than $20. </td><td>Dishonorable discharge, +forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and 2 years' confinement at hard +labor.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> $20 or less. </td><td>Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all +pay and allowances, and 1 year's confinement at hard labor.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Fraudulent enlistment procured by false representation or +concealment of a fact in regard to a prior enlistment or discharge or in +regard to conviction of a civil or military crime.</td><td>Dishonorable +discharge, forfeiture of all pay and and allowances, and confinement at +hard labor for 1 year.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Fraudulent enlistment, other cases of. </td><td>Dishonorable +discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement at hard +labor for 6 months.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Disobedience of orders, involving willful defiance of the +authority of a noncommissioned officer in the execution of his office. +</td> <td>Six months' confinement at hard labor and forfeiture of $10 +per month for the same period; for noncommissioned officer, reduction in +addition thereto.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Using threatening or insulting language or behaving in an +insubordinate manner to a noncommissioned officer while in the execution +of his office.</td> <td>One month's confinement at hard labor and +forfeiture of $10; for noncommissioned officer, reduction in addition +thereto.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Absence from fatigue duty. </td><td>Forfeiture of $4; corporal, +$5; sergeant, $6.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Absence from extra or special duty. </td><td>Forfeiture of $4; +corporal, $5; sergeant, $6.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Absence from duty as company or hospital cook. +</td><td>Forfeiture of $10.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Introducing liquor into post or camp in violation of standing +orders.</td> <td>Forfeiture of $3; for noncommissioned officer reduction +and forfeiture of $5.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Drunkenness at post or in quarters. </td><td>Forfeiture of $3; +for noncommissioned officer, reduction and forfeiture of $5.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Drunkenness and disorderly conduct causing the offender's +arrest and conviction by civil authorities at a place within 10 miles of +his station.</td> <td>Forfeiture of $10 and 7 days' confinement at hard +labor; for noncommissioned officer, reduction and forfeiture of +$12.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Noisy or disorderly conduct in quarters.</td><td>Forfeiture of +$4; corporal, $7; sergeant, $10.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Abuse by noncommissioned officer of his authority over an +inferior.</td> <td>Reduction, 3 months' confinement at hard labor, and +forfeiture of $10 per month for the same period.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Noncommissioned officer encouraging gambling. +</td><td>Reduction and forfeiture of $5.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Noncommissioned officer making false report. +</td><td>Reduction, forfeiture of $8, and 10 days' confinement at hard +labor.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Sentinel allowing a prisoner under his charge to escape through +neglect. </td><td>Six months' confinement at hard labor and forfeiture +of $10 per month for the same period.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Sentinel willfully suffering prisoner under his charge to +escape. </td><td>Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and +allowances, and 1 year's confinement at hard labor.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Sentinel allowing a prisoner under his charge to obtain liquor. +</td><td>Two months' confinement at hard labor and forfeiture of $10 per +month for the same period.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Sentinel or member of guard drinking liquor with prisoners. +</td><td>Two months' confinement at hard labor and forfeiture of $10 per +month for the same period.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Disrespect or affront to a sentinel. </td><td>Two months' +confinement at hard labor and forfeiture of $10 per month for the same +period; for noncommissioned officer, reduction in addition +thereto.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Resisting or disobeying sentinel in lawful execution of his +duty. </td><td>Six months' confinement at hard labor and forfeiture of +$10 per month for the same period; for noncommissioned officer, +reduction in addition thereto.</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Lewd or indecent exposure of person. </td><td>Three months' +confinement at hard labor and forfeiture of $10 per month for the same +period; for noncommissioned officer reduction in addition +thereto.</td></tr> + +</table> + +<center> +ARTICLE III. +</center> + +<p> +SECTION 1. When a soldier shall be convicted of an offense the +punishment for which, as authorized by Article II of this order +or the custom of the service, does not exceed that which an inferior +court-martial may award, the punishment so authorized may be increased +by one-half for every previous conviction of one or more offenses within +eighteen months preceding the trial and during the current enlistment: +<i>Provided</i>, That the increase of punishment for five or more +previous convictions shall not exceed that thus authorized when there +are four previous convictions, and that when one or more of such five or +more previous convictions shall have been by general court-martial or +when such convictions shall have occurred within one year preceding +the trial the limit of punishment shall be dishonorable discharge, +forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement at hard labor for +three months. +</p> +<p> +When the conviction is of an offense punishable under Article II of this +order or the custom of the service with a greater punishment than an +inferior court-martial can award, but not punishable with dishonorable +discharge, the sentence may on proof of five or more previous +convictions within eighteen months and during the current enlistment +impose dishonorable discharge and forfeiture of all pay and allowances +in addition to the authorized confinement, and when this confinement is +less than three months it may be increased to three months. +</p> +<p> +When a noncommissioned officer is convicted of an offense not punishable +with reduction, he may, if he shall have been convicted of a military +offense within a year and during the current enlistment, be sentenced to +reduction in addition to the punishment already authorized. +</p> +<p> +SEC. 2. In every case when an offense on trial before a court-martial +is of a character admitting of the introduction of evidence of previous +convictions and the accused is convicted the court, after determining +its findings, will be opened for the purpose of ascertaining whether +there is such evidence, and, if so, of hearing it. These convictions +must be proved by the records of previous trials or by duly authenticated +orders promulgating the same, except in the cases of conviction by +summary court, when a duly authenticated copy of the record of said +court shall be deemed sufficient proof. Charges forwarded to the +authority ordering a general court-martial or submitted to a summary, +garrison, or regimental court must be accompanied by the proper evidence +of such previous convictions as may have to be considered in determining +upon a sentence. +</p> +<center> +ARTICLE IV. +</center> +<p> +When a soldier shall on one arraignment be convicted of two or more +offenses none of which is punishable under Article II of this order or +the custom of the service with dishonorable discharge, but the aggregate +term of confinement for which may exceed six months, dishonorable +discharge with forfeiture of pay and allowances may be awarded in +addition to the authorized confinement. +</p> +<center> +ARTICLE V. +</center> +<p> +This order prescribes the <i>maximum</i> limit of punishment for the +offenses named, and this limit is intended for those cases in which the +severest punishment should be awarded. In other cases the punishment +should be graded down according to the extenuating circumstances. +Offenses not herein provided for remain punishable as authorized by the +Articles of War and the custom of the service. +</p> +<center> +ARTICLE VI. +</center> + +<p> +Summary courts are subject to the restrictions named in the eighty-third +article of war. Soldiers against whom charges may be preferred for trial +by summary court shall not be confined in the guardhouse, but shall be +placed in arrest in quarters before and during trial and while awaiting +sentence, except when in particular cases restraint may be necessary. +</p> +<center> +ARTICLE VII. +</center> +<p> +The following substitutions for punishments named in Article II of this +order are authorized at the discretion of the court: +</p> +<p> +Two days' confinement at hard labor for $1 forfeiture; one day's +solitary confinement on bread and water diet for two days' confinement +at hard labor or for $1 forfeiture: <i>Provided</i>, That a noncommissioned +officer not sentenced to reduction shall not be subject to confinement: +<i>And provided</i>, That solitary confinement shall not exceed fourteen +days at one time nor be repeated until fourteen days have elapsed, and +shall not exceed eighty-four days in one year. Whenever the limit herein +prescribed for an offense or offenses may be brought within the +punishing power of inferior courts-martial, as defined by the +eighty-third article of war, by substitution of punishment under the +provisions of this article, the said courts have jurisdiction of such +offense or offenses. +</p> +<center> +ARTICLE VIII. +</center> +<p> +Noncommissioned officers above the rank of corporal shall not, if they +object thereto, be brought to trial before regimental, garrison, or +summary courts-martial without the authority of the officer competent to +order their trial by general court-martial, nor shall sergeants of the +post noncommissioned staff or hospital stewards be reduced, but they may +be dishonorably discharged whenever reduction is included in the limit +of punishment. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>April 15, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +Whereas on November 2, 1894, Departmental Rule II, section 4, Customs +Rule II, section 6, Postal Rule II, section 6, Railway Mail Rule II, +section 6, were amended to declare that no person appointed to a place +under any exception to examination should be transferred from such place +to another place not also excepted from examination; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it was not my intention that these several amendments should be +retroactive in their effect: +</p> +<p> +I therefore direct that the word "hereafter" be inserted after the word +"person" in the first line of each of said sections as of the date of +said amendments, viz, November 2, 1894. +</p> +<p class="r"> +Approved: GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE.—INTERNAL-REVENUE RULES. +</center> +<center> +ADOPTING AND PROMULGATING ORDER. +</center> +<p> +MAY 7, 1895. +</p> +<p> +In the exercise of the power vested in him by the Constitution, by the +seventeen hundred and fifty-third section of the Revised Statutes, and +the act entitled "An act to regulate and improve the civil service of +the United States," approved January 16, 1883, the President hereby +makes and promulgates the following rules concerning the classified +internal-revenue service, to be known as the Internal-Revenue Rules: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + INTERNAL-REVENUE RULE I. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The classified internal-revenue service shall include all the clerks, + storekeepers, storekeepers and gaugers, and gaugers classified under the + provisions of section 6 of the act to regulate and improve the civil + service of the United States, approved January 16, 1883. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + INTERNAL-REVENUE RULE II. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. To test fitness for admission to the classified internal-revenue + service, examinations of a practical character shall be provided on such + subjects as the Commission may direct. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. The following age limitations shall apply to applicants for the + classified internal-revenue service: For clerk, not under 18 years of + age; for storekeepers, storekeepers and gaugers, and for gaugers, not + under 21 years of age. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. Blank forms of application shall be furnished by the secretaries of + the several internal-revenue boards of examiners to any person desiring + to be examined who applies therefor in person or by letter in his own + handwriting. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. The date of reception of each application and also of its approval + by the board shall be noted on the application paper. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. Exceptions from examination in the classified internal-revenue + service are hereby made as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. No person appointed to a place excepted from examination by any + internal-revenue rule shall be transferred from such place to another + place not also excepted from examination. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + INTERNAL-REVENUE RULE III. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. The Commission shall appoint in each classified internal-revenue + district a board of examiners, which shall— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) Conduct all examinations for admission to or promotion in the + classified service of the internal-revenue district in which the board + is located. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) Conduct such other examinations as the Commission may direct. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) Mark the papers of such examinations as the Commission may + direct. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. The papers of every examination shall be marked under the direction + of the Commission, and each competitor shall be graded on a scale of + 100, according to general average determined by the marks of the + examiners. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. Immediately after the general average shall have been ascertained + each competitor shall be notified that he has passed or has failed to + pass. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. No competitor who has failed to pass an examination and no eligible + during the period of his eligibility shall be allowed reexamination + unless he shall furnish satisfactory evidence to the Commission that at + the time of his examination he was, because of illness or other good + cause, incapable of doing himself justice; and his rating on such + reexamination, if an eligible, shall cancel and be a substitute for his + rating on his previous examination. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. All competitors whose claim to preference under section 1754, Revised + Statutes, has been allowed by the Commission who attain a general + average of 65 per cent or over, and all other competitors who attain a + general average of 70 per cent or over, shall be eligible for + appointment to the place for which they were examined, and the names of + all the eligibles shall be entered in the order of grade on the proper + register of eligibles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. When two or more eligibles are of the same grade, preference in + certification shall be determined by the order in which their + application papers were filed. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 7. The period of eligibility shall be one year from the date on which + the name of the eligible is entered on the register. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + INTERNAL-REVENUE RULE IV. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. All vacancies, unless filled by promotion, reduction, transfer, or + reappointment, shall be filled in the following manner: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) When a vacancy occurs in any district, the collector thereof + shall report the fact to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, stating + the class in which the vacancy occurs and whether in his judgment the + place should be filled. If the Commissioner decides that the good of the + public service requires that it be filled, he shall request the + secretary of the board of examiners of that district to certify to him + the names of persons eligible to the vacant place. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) If fitness for the vacant place is tested by competitive + examination, the names of the three eligibles highest in grade on the + proper register who have not been three times certified shall be + certified; but if the request indicates the sex of the eligibles desired + the three highest in grade of that sex shall be certified: <i>Provided</i>, + That the eligibles upon any register who have been allowed preference + under section 1754 of the Revised Statutes shall be certified, + according to their grade, before all other eligibles thereon: + <i>Provided further</i>, That no certification for an appointment shall + be made under this clause while there are persons in the district in + which any vacancy may exist, who have been removed from the service in + that district on account of a reduction of the force or otherwise, who + are eligible for reinstatement under Internal-Revenue Rule VII, and who + are willing to reenter the service by reinstatement. Every collector of + internal revenue shall keep a list of all such persons in his office, + and said persons shall have preference for reinstatement to the service + in the order of their separation therefrom. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) No eligible shall be certified more than three times. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. Of the three names certified to him the Commissioner of Internal + Revenue shall select one, and may select more than one if more than one + vacancy exists at the time the certification is made. If the vacancy is + in the class of clerk, the Commissioner shall certify the name of the + person selected by him to the collector of the district in which the + vacancy occurs and the collector shall make the appointment. If the + vacancy is in the storekeepers', gaugers', or storekeepers and gaugers' + class, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue shall certify the name to + the Secretary of the Treasury with his recommendation that the person + whose name is thus certified be appointed: <i>Provided</i>, That if any + objection is made under section 3 of General Rule IV to any eligible + certified, and is sustained by the Commission, another eligible shall + be certified in the place of the one objected to. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. Each person thus selected for appointment shall be notified, and upon + indicating his acceptance shall be appointed for a probationary period + of six months, at the end of which period, if his conduct and capacity + be satisfactory to the appointing officer, he shall receive absolute + appointment; but if his conduct and capacity be not satisfactory to said + officer he shall be so notified, and this notification shall be his + discharge from the service: <i>Provided</i>, That any probationer may + be discharged during probation for misconduct or evident unfitness or + incapacity. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. The Commissioner of Internal Revenue shall require the collector + under whom a probationer is serving to carefully observe and report + in writing upon the services rendered by and the character and + qualifications of such probationer as to punctuality, industry, habits, + ability, and adaptability. These reports shall be preserved on file in + the office of the collector, and copies thereof shall be filed with the + Commissioner of Internal Revenue for such disposition as the Secretary + of the Treasury may direct. The Civil Service Commission may prescribe + the form and manner in which these reports shall be made. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. In case of the occurrence of a vacancy in the classified service + of any internal-revenue collection district which the public interest + requires shall be immediately filled, and there is no eligible entitled + to reinstatement under section 1, clause (<i>b</i>), of this rule or + remaining on the proper register, such vacancy, if in the class of + storekeeper, storekeeper and gauger, or clerk, may be filled without + examination and certification by a temporary designation by the + collector of the district of some suitable person to perform the duties + of the position until a regular appointment can be made under the + provisions of sections 1, 2, and 3 of this rule: <i>Provided</i>, That + service under such temporary designation shall in no case continue + longer than six months, and shall expire by limitation at the end of + that time: <i>And provided further</i>, That no person shall serve more + than six months in any one year under such temporary designation, the + year limitation in regard to such designation to begin to run on the + date thereof. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Every such temporary designation and also the discontinuance of the same + shall at once be reported to the Commission. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + INTERNAL-REVENUE RULE V. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Until promotion regulations shall have been applied to a classified + internal-revenue collection district promotions therein may be made + upon any test of fitness determined upon by the Commissioner of + Internal Revenue, with the approval of the Commission: <i>Provided</i>, + That no employee shall be promoted to any grade he could not enter by + appointment under the minimum age limitation applied thereto by section + 2 of Internal-Revenue Rule II. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + INTERNAL-REVENUE RULE VI. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Transfers may be made as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + From one classified internal-revenue collection district to another, + from any classified internal-revenue collection district to a bureau + in the Treasury Department in which business relating to the internal + revenue is transacted, and from such a bureau in the Treasury Department + to such a district, upon the requisition of the Secretary of the + Treasury and the certification of the Commission, the appointment upon + such transfer to be made by the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the + recommendation of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, if the place + to be filled by such transfer is that of storekeeper, storekeeper and + gauger, or gauger: <i>Provided</i>, That no person shall be transferred + as herein authorized who is not within the age limitations prescribed by + the civil-service rules for the place to which he is to be transferred + and who has not been absolutely appointed, or, if appointed without + civil-service examination, who has not served six months continuously + in the district or bureau from which he is to be transferred. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + INTERNAL-REVENUE RULE VII. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Upon the requisition of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue the + secretary of the board of examiners for his district shall certify for + reinstatement in a grade requiring no higher examination than the one + in which he was formerly employed any person who within one year next + preceding the date of the requisition has through no delinquency or + misconduct been separated from the classified service of said district: + <i>Provided</i>, That certification may be made, subject to the other + conditions of this rule, for the reinstatement of any person who served + in the military or naval service of the United States in the late War + of the Rebellion and was honorably discharged therefrom, or the widow + of any such person, without regard to the length of time he or she has + been separated from the service. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + INTERNAL-REVENUE RULE VIII. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Each collector in the classified internal-revenue service shall report + to the board of examiners— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) Every probational and every absolute appointment and every + appointment to an excepted or to an unclassified place in the + internal-revenue service under him. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) Every refusal to make an absolute appointment and the reason + therefor, and every refusal to accept an appointment, +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) Every separation from the internal-revenue service under + him and the cause of such separation, whether death, resignation, or + dismissal. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) Every restoration to the internal-revenue service under him. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CUSTOMS RULE IV. +</center> +<p> +Customs Rule IV is hereby amended by adding thereto the following +section, to be numbered 5: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. In case of the occurrence of a vacancy in the classified service + of any customs district which the public interest requires shall be + immediately filled, and there is no eligible remaining on the proper + register, such vacancy may be filled by temporary appointment without + examination and certification until a regular appointment can be made + under the provisions of sections 1 and 2 of this rule: <i>Provided</i>, +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That such temporary appointment shall in no case continue longer than + ninety days and shall expire by limitation at the end of that time: + <i>And provided further</i>, That no person shall serve more than + ninety days in any one year under such temporary appointment, the year + limitation in regard to such appointment to begin to run on the date + thereof. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Every such temporary appointment and also the discontinuance of the same + shall at once be reported to the Commission. +</p> +<p> +Approved, May 18, 1895. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, D.C., May 16, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +Special Departmental Rule No. 1 is hereby amended as follows: +</p> +<p> +Include among the places excepted from examination therein the +following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. In the Department of Agriculture: The chief of the dairy division. +</p> +<p> +Approved, May 24, 1895. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND,<br /> <i>President</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE.—EXECUTIVE ORDER REVOKED. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 24., 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +The Executive order heretofore issued under General Rule III, section 2, +clause (<i>c</i>) that provides for the appointment of four clerks in +the division of accounts and disbursements in the Department of +Agriculture by noncompetitive examination is hereby revoked, and +hereafter these positions will be filled through competitive +examination. +</p> +<p class="r"> +Approved: GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE.—AMENDMENT OF CLASSIFICATION. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 24, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +In pursuance of the authority contained in the third paragraph of +section 6 of the act entitled "An act to regulate and improve the civil +service of the United States," approved January 16, 1883, the Secretary +of Agriculture is hereby directed to amend the classification of the +Department of Agriculture so as to include among the classes covered +thereby clerks, microscopists, assistant microscopists, stock examiners, +taggers, agents, and all other employees, except temporary laborers, in +the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture outside +of Washington, D.C., all State statistical agents of the Department of +Agriculture outside of Washington, D.C., and all messengers in the +Weather Bureau of the Department of Agriculture outside of Washington, +D.C. The classification when so amended shall take effect on July 1, +1895. +</p> +<p class="r"> +Approved: GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 24, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +Special Departmental Rule No. 1, section 6, is hereby amended by +striking out the whole of said section and substituting therefor the +following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. In the Department of Agriculture, in the office of the Secretary: + Private secretary to the chief clerk, and wood engravers; scientific or + professional experts employed for a period of not exceeding six months + outside of Washington, D.C., in investigations specially authorized by + Congress, but no such expert shall be reappointed as an expert unless + the United States Civil Service Commission shall certify that such + person has passed a suitable examination and is eligible for such + appointment. This exception does not include any person to be employed + in that Department in Washington, D.C., nor any person whose duties are + not scientific or professional or who is not expert in the particular + line of scientific or professional inquiry in which such person is to + be employed. +</p> +<p class="r"> +Approved: GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 24, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +Special Departmental Rule No. I, clause 3, is hereby amended by adding +to the places excepted from examination in the Department of the +Interior the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the Bureau of Education: Specialist in foreign educational systems + and specialist in education as a preventive of pauperism and crime. +</p> +<p class="r"> +Approved: GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<center> + AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<center> + DEPARTMENTAL RULE II. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 24, 1895</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Section 3 is hereby amended as follows: At the end of clause (<i>b</i>) +add the following: "nor the cashier, nor the two clerks employed as +assistant disbursing clerks in the division of accounts and +disbursements in the Department of Agriculture." +</p> +<p> +At the end of clause (<i>c</i>) add the following: "but not including +the disbursing clerk in the division of accounts and disbursements in +the Department of Agriculture." +</p> +<p> +At the end of clause (<i>e</i>) add the following: "except those of the +Weather Bureau and the Bureau of Animal Industry, in the Department of +Agriculture." +</p> +<p> +At the end of clause (<i>f</i>) add the following: "except all chiefs of +division in the Department of Agriculture." +</p> +<p> +The section as amended will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. Exceptions from examination in the classified departmental service + are hereby made as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) One private secretary or one confidential clerk of the head + of each classified Department and of each Assistant Secretary thereof, + and also of each head of bureau appointed by the President by and with + the advice and consent of the Senate. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) Direct custodians of money for whose fidelity another officer + is under official bond; but this exception shall not include any officer + below the grade of assistant cashier or assistant teller, nor the + cashier, nor the two clerks employed as assistant disbursing clerks in + the division of accounts and disbursements in the Department of + Agriculture. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) Disbursing officers who give bonds, but not including the + disbursing clerk in the division of accounts and disbursements in the + Department of Agriculture. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) Persons employed exclusively in the secret service of the + Government. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>e</i>) Chief clerks, except those of the Weather Bureau and of the + Bureau of Animal Industry, in the Department of Agriculture. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>f</i>) Chiefs of division, except all chiefs of division in the + Department of Agriculture. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 28, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Heads of the Executive Departments</i>: +</p> +<p> +As a mark of respect to the memory of the Hon. Walter Q. Gresham, late +Secretary of State, the President directs that the several Executive +Departments and the Government Printing Office, in the city of +Washington, be closed on Wednesday, the 29th day of May, 1895, the day +of the funeral. +</p> +<p class="r"> +HENRY T. THURBER,<br /> + <i>Private Secretary</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 28, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>It is hereby ordered</i>, That the several Executive Departments and +the Government Printing Office be closed on Thursday, the 30th instant, +to enable the employees to participate in the decoration of the graves +of the soldiers and sailors who fell in defense of the Union during the +War of the Rebellion. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE.—GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE RULES. +</center> +<center> +ADOPTING AND PROMULGATING ORDER. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>June 13, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +In the exercise of the power vested in him by the Constitution, by the +seventeen hundred and fifty-third section of the Revised Statutes, and +the act entitled "An act to regulate and improve the civil service of +the United States," approved January 16, 1883, the President hereby +makes and promulgates the following rules concerning the classified +service of the Government Printing Office, to be known as the Government +Printing Office Rules: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE I. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. The classified service of the Government Printing Office shall + include all persons employed in that office. except those appointed by + and with the advice and consent of the Senate and unskilled laborers or + workmen, +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. The officers, clerks, and other employees of the Government Printing + Office are hereby arranged in the following classes: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Class 1</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of less than + $720, or a compensation at the rate of less than $720 per annum. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Class 2</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $720 or more, + or a compensation at the rate of $720 or more, but less than $840 per + annum. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Class 3</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $840 or more, + or a compensation at the rate of $840 or more, but less than $900 per + annum. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Class 4</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $900 or more, + or a compensation at the rate of $900 or more, but less than $1,000 per + annum. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Class 5</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,000 or + more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,000 or more, but less than + $1,200 per annum. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Class 6</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,200 or + more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,200 or more, but less than + $1,400 per annum. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Class 7</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,400 or + more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,400 or more, but less than + $1,600 per annum. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Class 8</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,600 or + more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,600 or more, but less than + $1,800 per annum. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Class 9</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,800 or + more or a compensation at the rate of $1,800 or more, but less than + $2,000 per annum. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Class 10</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $2,000 or + more, or a compensation at the rate of $2,000 or more per annum. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE II. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. To test fitness for admission to the classified service of the + Government Printing Office, examinations of a practical character shall + be provided by the Commission. If the trade or occupation is such that a + competitive test can not be made, the Commission shall provide + regulations for the registration of applicants without competitive + tests. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. Any male citizen of the United States not under 21 or over 45 years + of age and any female citizen not under 18 or over 35 years of age may + be examined for positions in the Government Printing Office. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. No application for a position in the Government Printing Office which + belongs to one of the recognized mechanical trades shall be received + from any applicant who has not served at least five years at the + particular trade to which the position for which he applies belongs, one + year of which service must have been rendered as a journeyman. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. Blank forms of application shall be furnished by the Commission, and + the date of reception and also of approval by the Commission of each + application shall be entered on the application paper. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE III. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. The grade or standing of every competitor shall be determined under + regulations made by the Commission, and each competitor shall be duly + notified whether or not he is eligible for appointment. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. No competitor who has failed to obtain an eligible standing shall + be admitted to another test within six months from the date of failure + unless he shall furnish satisfactory evidence to the Commission that at + the time of his examination he was unable to do himself justice because + of illness or other good cause. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. No eligible shall be admitted to a test during the period of his + eligibility unless he shall furnish satisfactory evidence to the + Commission that at the time of his examination he was unable to do + himself justice because of illness or other good cause. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. All competitors whose claims of preference under section 1754 of the + Revised Statutes have been allowed by the Commission who attain a + general average of 65 per cent or over, and all other competitors who + attain a general average of 70 per cent or over, shall be eligible for + appointment to the place for which they were examined. The names of all + competitors thus rendered eligible shall be entered in the order of + grade on the proper register of eligibles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. The Commission shall establish regulations for the order of + certification of applicants who are registered without competitive + examinations under the provisions of Rule II, paragraph I. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. When two or more eligibles are of the same grade, preference in + certification shall be determined by the order in which the application + papers are filed. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 7. The period of eligibility to appointment shall be one year from the + date on which the name of the eligible is entered on the register, + unless otherwise determined by regulations by the Commission. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE IV. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. All vacancies, unless filled by promotion, transfer, or + reappointment, shall be filled in the following manner: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) The Public Printer shall, in form and manner to be prescribed + by the Commission, request the certification to him of either males or + females, or both, eligible to the vacant place. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) If fitness for the vacant place is tested by competitive + examination, the Commission shall certify from the proper register the + names of the three eligibles thereon, of the sex or sexes called for, + having the highest averages, who have not been three times certified: + <i>Provided</i>, That the eligibles upon any register who have been + allowed preference under section 1754 of the Revised Statutes shall be + certified according to their grade before all other eligibles thereon: + <i>And provided further</i>, That if the vacancy is in a position for + which a competitive examination can not be provided certification shall + be made of the names of the first three eligibles on the register, of + the sex or sexes called for, who have not been three times certified. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. Of the three names certified to him the Public Printer shall select + one, and if at the time of making this selection there are more + vacancies than one he may select more than one: <i>Provided</i>, That if + the Public Printer shall object in writing to any eligible named in the + certification, stating that because of physical incapacity or for other + good cause particularly specified such eligible is not capable of + properly performing the duties of the vacant place, the Commission may, + upon investigation and ascertainment of the fact that the objection made + is good and well founded, direct the certification of another eligible + in place of the eligible to whom objection is made. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. When a person designated for appointment shall have reported in + person to the Public Printer, he shall be appointed for a probational + period of six months, at the end of which period, if his conduct and + capacity be satisfactory to the Public Printer, he shall receive + absolute appointment; but if his conduct and capacity be not + satisfactory he shall be notified that he will not receive absolute + appointment, and this notification shall discharge him from the service. + The Public Printer shall require the officer under whom the probationer + may be serving to carefully observe and report in writing upon the + services rendered by and the character and qualifications of such + probationer as to punctuality, industry, habits, ability, and + adaptability. These reports shall be preserved on file, and the + Commission may prescribe the form and manner in which they shall be + made. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. Any person appointed to a position which belongs to one of the + recognized mechanical trades may upon reporting for appointment be + subjected to a practical test under the supervision of a board + designated by the Commission, and if he or she fails to attain a general + average of 70 per cent on a maximum of 100 per cent he or she shall be + rejected for appointment. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. In case of public and pressing exigency, demanding the immediate + employment of skilled and experienced workmen who can not be at once + supplied in the manner provided for in section 2 of this rule, or by + transfer under Rule VI, or reinstatement under Rule VII, there may be + employed without examination or certification for a period not to exceed + thirty days, which with the consent of the Commission may be extended in + periods of thirty days each, any persons who have the requisite + knowledge or experience who may be available: <i>Provided</i>, That no + person shall serve more than ninety days in any one year under such + temporary appointment. The year limitation in regard to appointment + shall begin to run at the date of the original appointment. Every such + temporary appointment and also the discontinuance of the same shall be + at once reported to the Commission. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE V. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. Until promotion regulations shall have been applied to the classified + service of the Government Printing Office promotions therein may be made + upon any test of fitness determined upon by the Public Printer if not + disapproved by the Commission. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE VI. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. Transfers may be made as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) From a position in the classified service of the Government + Printing Office requiring a knowledge of some mechanical trade to a + position in any one of the Executive Departments requiring a knowledge + of the same mechanical trade, upon requisition from the head of the + Department to which the transfer is to be made and the consent of the + Public Printer: <i>Provided</i>, That a person so transferred shall not + be transferred to another position in one of the Executive Departments + unless such other position requires a knowledge of the same mechanical + trade upon which the original transfer was based, nor until he has + served one year in the position to which he was originally transferred. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) From any Executive Department to the classified service of + the Government Printing Office upon requisition from the Public Printer + and the consent of the head of the Department from which the transfer is + to be made. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. No person shall be transferred as herein authorized until after + absolute appointment and until the Commission shall have certified to + the officer making the transfer requisition that the person whom it is + proposed to transfer has passed an examination to test fitness for the + place to which he or she is to be transferred. No person shall be + transferred to any place from which he or she may be barred by age + limitations for original entrance or by the rules regulating the + apportionment of appointments among the several States and Territories + and the District of Columbia. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE VII. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Upon requisition of the Public Printer the Commission shall certify for + reinstatement in the Government Printing Office, in a grade requiring no + higher examination than the one in which he was formerly employed, any + person who within one year next preceding the date of the requisition + has through no delinquency or misconduct been separated from the + classified service of the Government Printing Office: <i>Provided</i>, + That certification may be made, subject to the other conditions of this + rule, for the reinstatement of any person who served in the military or + naval service of the United States in the late War of the Rebellion and + was honorably discharged therefrom, or the widow of any such person, + without regard to the length of time he or she has been separated from + the service. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE VIII. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The Public Printer shall report to the Commission— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) Every probational and every absolute appointment to the + service of the Government Printing Office. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) Every refusal to make an absolute appointment and the reason + therefor, and every declination of an appointment. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) Every separation from the service of the Government Printing + Office and the cause of such separation, whether death, resignation, or + dismissal. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE.—EXECUTIVE ORDER WITHDRAWING ENGINEERS AND ASSISTANT +ENGINEERS FROM THE LIST OF PLACES TO BE FILLED BY NONCOMPETITIVE +EXAMINATION. +</center> +<p> +So much of Executive orders heretofore issued under General Rule III, +section 2, clause (<i>c</i>), as provides for the appointment of +engineers and assistant engineers by noncompetitive examination is +hereby revoked, and hereafter engineers and assistant engineers will +be appointed by competitive examination. +</p> +<p> +Approved, June 25, 1895. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p> +In the exercise of the power vested in him by the Constitution, by the +seventeen hundred and fifty-third section of the Revised Statutes, and +the act entitled "An act to regulate and improve the civil service of +the United States," approved January 16, 1883, the President hereby +makes and promulgates the following rule to cancel and be in lieu of +Customs Rule V of the Revised Civil-Service Rules: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + CUSTOMS RULE V. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. Until promotion regulations have been applied to a classified customs + district the following promotions may be made therein at any time after + absolute appointment: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) Any employee in any grade, upon any test of fitness + determined upon by the nominating officer, to any vacant place in the + class next above the one in which he may be serving, except to the + positions of weigher and gauger. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) Any employee in any grade may be promoted or transferred to a + vacancy in the lowest class of the grade of examiner after passing the + examiner examination, to a vacancy in the lowest class of the grade + of weigher after passing the weigher examination, to a vacancy + in the lowest class of the grade of gauger after passing the gauger + examination, or to a vacancy in the lowest class of any other grade + than the one in which he may be serving upon passing the examination + provided for that grade. +</p> +<p> +Approved, July 11, 1895. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE.—CLASSIFICATION OF THE PENSION AGENCIES OF THE INTERIOR +DEPARTMENT. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>July 15, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +In the exercise of the power vested in the President by the third +paragraph of section 6 of the act entitled "An act to regulate and +improve the civil service of the United States," approved January 16, +1883, I hereby direct the Secretary of the Interior to amend the +classification of the Department of the Interior so as to include among +the employees classified thereunder the officers, clerks, and other +employees of the pension agencies of said Department. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<center> +DEPARTMENTAL RULE VIII. +</center> +<p> +Section 1, clause (<i>a</i>), is hereby amended as follows: Strike out +the period after the word "made" in the second line, insert a semicolon, +and add the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + But transfers from a pension agency of the Interior Department may be + made only as follows: From a pension agency of the Interior Department + to the office of the Secretary of the Interior, or of the Assistant + Attorney-General for the Interior Department, or to the Pension Office, + or from any of the above-named offices to a pension agency, or from one + pension agency to another pension agency, upon requisition of the + Secretary of the Interior: <i>Provided</i>, That a transfer from a + pension agency to a position in the Interior Department shall not be + made when the person to be transferred would not be eligible to original + appointment in the departmental service under the law requiring an + apportionment of appointments among the States, Territories, and the + District of Columbia according to population. +</p> +<p> +The section and clause as amended will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. Transfers may be made as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) From one Department to another, upon requisition by the head + of the Department to which the transfer is to be made; but transfers + from a pension agency of the Interior Department may be made only as + follows: From a pension agency of the Interior Department to the office + of the Secretary of the Interior, or of the Assistant Attorney-General + for the Interior Department, or to the Pension Office, or from any of + the above-named offices to a pension agency, or from one pension agency + to another pension agency, upon requisition of the Secretary of the + Interior: <i>Provided</i>, That a transfer from a pension agency to a + position in the Interior Department shall not be made when the person + to be transferred would not be eligible to original appointment in + the departmental service under the law requiring an apportionment of + appointments among the States, Territories, and the District of Columbia + according to population. +</p> +<p> +Approved, July 15, 1895. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<center> +DEPARTMENTAL RULE II. +</center> +<p> +Section 3, providing for exceptions from examination in the classified +departmental service, is hereby amended as follows by the insertion of +clause (<i>g</i>): +</p> +<p class="quote"> + One designated clerk at each pension agency (designated to sign + official checks for the pension agent). +</p> +<p> +Section 4 is hereby amended as follows: In the third line, after the +word "examination," add the following proviso: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Provided</i>, That any person employed in an excepted place in any + office or bureau at the time when said office or bureau is brought + into the classified service, or any person transferred directly from + a nonexcepted to an excepted place in the office or bureau in which he + is serving, may at any time be directly transferred from such excepted + place to any nonexcepted place in the office or bureau in which he is + serving. +</p> +<p> +The section as amended will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. No person hereafter appointed to a place under the exceptions to + examination made by any departmental rule shall be transferred from + such place to a place not also excepted from examination: <i>Provided</i>, + That any person employed in an excepted place in any office or bureau + at the time when said office or bureau is brought into the classified + service, or any person transferred directly from a nonexcepted to an + excepted place in the office or bureau in which he is serving, may at + any time be directly transferred from such excepted place to any + nonexcepted place in the office or bureau in which he is serving. +</p> +<p> +Approved, July 15, 1895. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>July 15, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +Special Departmental Rule I is hereby amended by striking out the whole +of the paragraph in section 3, Department of the Interior, relating to +the Geological Survey and substituting in lieu thereof the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the Geological Survey: Professional experts and special agents + employed for short periods at per diem salaries and paid only when + actually employed. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<center> +DEPARTMENTAL RULE VII. +</center> +<p> +Section 2 is hereby amended as follows: At the end of the section, after +the word "law," add the following proviso: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Provided</i>, That appointments to positions at pension agencies + shall not be charged to the apportionment. +</p> +<p> +The section as amended will read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. Certifications hereunder shall be made in such a manner as to + maintain as nearly as possible the apportionment of appointments among + the several States and Territories and the District of Columbia as + required by law: <i>Provided</i>, That appointments to positions at + pension agencies shall not be charged to the apportionment. +</p> +<p> +Section 3, paragraph 2, is hereby amended as follows: In the second +line, after the word "register," insert the following: "or when +certification is made from any register to fill a vacancy at any pension +agency." +</p> +<p> + The paragraph as amended will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + When certification is made from a supplementary or special register or + the printer's assistant or page and messenger-boy register, or when + certification is made from any register to fill a vacancy at any + pension agency, and there are more vacancies than one to be filled, + the appointing officer may select from the three names certified more + than one. +</p> +<p> +Section 6 is hereby amended as follows: Strike out the word "and" at the +beginning of line 9, and in line 12, after the word "appointment," +insert the following proviso: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>And provided further</i>, That at each pension agency at the time of + the quarterly payment of pensions such temporary appointments may be + made as the needs of the service may demand for a period not to exceed + thirty days, which appointments shall not be extended or renewed until + the date of the next quarterly payment of pensions. +</p> +<p> +The section as amended will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. In case of the occurrence of a vacancy in any Department which the + public interest requires shall be immediately filled, and which can + not be so filled by certification from the eligible registers of the + Commission, such vacancy may be filled by temporary appointment outside + the civil service until a regular appointment can be made under the + provisions of sections 1, 2, and 3 of this rule: <i>Provided</i>, That + such temporary appointment shall in no case continue longer than + ninety days, and shall expire by limitation at the end of that time: + <i>Provided further</i>, That no person shall serve longer than the + period herein prescribed in any one year under such temporary + appointment. The year limitation in regard to reappointment shall + begin to run on the date of the original appointment: <i>And provided + further</i>, That at each pension agency at the time of the quarterly + payment of pensions such temporary appointments may be made as the + needs of the service may demand for a period not to exceed thirty + days, which appointments shall not be extended or renewed until the + date of the next quarterly payment of pensions. Every such temporary + appointment and the discontinuance of the same shall at once be + reported to the Commission. +</p> +<p> +Approved, July 15, 1895. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE.—AMENDMENT OF CLASSIFICATION. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>July 15, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +In pursuance of the authority contained in the third paragraph of +section 6 of the act entitled "An act to regulate and improve the civil +service of the United States," approved January 16, 1883, the heads of +the several Executive Departments are hereby directed to amend their +several classifications so as to include firemen among the employees +classified thereunder. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>July 15, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +Executive orders heretofore issued designating the places to be filled +by noncompetitive examination under clause (<i>c</i>) of General Rule III +are hereby amended so as to include among those places in the Department +of the Interior, in the Geological Survey, the editor and the +photographer. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +Special Departmental Rule I is hereby amended by adding to the list of +places excepted from examination in the Treasury Department— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the Bureau of Immigration: One statistician and stenographer, with + power to act as immigrant inspector. +</p> +<p> +Approved, July 30, 1895. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +Departmental Rule IX, clause 1, paragraph 2, is hereby amended by +striking out in line 1 the words "appointed from the appropriate +register to" and substituting therefor the word "occupying;" by adding +before the word "messenger" in line 2 the following: "engineers, +assistant engineers, firemen;" by striking out in line 3 the words +"below the positions of clerk and copyist" and substituting therefor the +words "the educational test for appointment to which is below the grade +of the educational test required for the position of clerk or copyist;" +and by adding in line 7, after the words "printers' assistants," the +words "and skilled helpers." As amended the paragraph will read as +follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Any person occupying the position of engineer, assistant engineer, + fireman, messenger, assistant messenger, watchman, or other subordinate + position the educational test for appointment to which is below the + grade of the educational test required for the position of clerk or + copyist may at any time after absolute appointment, if not barred + by age limitations, be transferred to any other of said subordinate + positions, but shall not be promoted to the position of clerk or + copyist or to any place the duties of which are clerical: <i>Provided</i>, + That printers' assistants and skilled helpers in the Bureau of + Engraving and Printing, Treasury Department, shall only be eligible + for transfer to the grade of operator in that Bureau. +</p> +<p> +Approved, August 5, 1895. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE.—EXECUTIVE ORDER WITHDRAWING COMPOSITORS AND PRESSMEN +FROM THE LIST OF PLACES TO BE FILLED BY NONCOMPETITIVE EXAMINATION. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>August 16, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +So much of Executive orders heretofore issued under General Rule III, +section 2, clause (<i>c</i>), as provides for the appointment of +compositors and pressmen by noncompetitive examination is hereby +revoked, and hereafter compositors and pressmen will be appointed by +competitive examination. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>August 22, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +Government Printing Office Rule II, section 2, is hereby amended by +omitting in line 1, after the words "under 21," the words "or over 45," +and in line 2, after the words "under 18," the words "or over 35." The +section as amended will read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. Any male citizen of the United States not under 21 years of age + and any female citizen not under 18 years of age may be examined for + positions in the Government Printing Office. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>September 5, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +Special Departmental Rule I is hereby amended by striking out from the +list of places excepted from examination in all the Departments +"bookbinders." +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +Special Departmental Rule I is hereby amended to except from examination +in the Department of the Treasury, in the Bureau of Printing and +Engraving, forty-three compositors and eight pressmen now temporarily +employed under authority of the sundry civil act of March 2, 1895, such +employment to cease prior to March 14, 1896. Vacancies occurring in this +force shall be filled only by competitive examination under the +civil-service rules. +</p> +<p> +Approved, September 16, 1895. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>September 20, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +It being of great importance that the consuls and commercial agents of +the United States shall possess the proper qualifications for their +respective positions, to be ascertained either through a satisfactory +record of previous actual service under the Department of State or +through an appropriate examination: +</p> +<p> +<i>It is hereby ordered</i>, That any vacancy in a consulate or +commercial agency now or hereafter existing the salary of which is not +more than $2,500 nor less than $1,000, or the compensation of which, if +derived from official fees, exclusive of notarial and other unofficial +receipts, does not exceed $2,500 nor fall below $1,000, shall be filled +(<i>a</i>) by a transfer or promotion from some other position under the +Department of State of a character tending to qualify the incumbent for +the position to be filled, or (<i>b</i>) by appointment of a person not +under the Department of State, but having previously served thereunder +to its satisfaction in a capacity tending to qualify him for the +position to be filled, or (<i>c</i>) by the appointment of a person who, +having furnished the customary evidence of character, responsibility, +and capacity, and being thereupon selected by the President for +examination, is found upon such examination to be qualified for the +position. +</p> +<p> +For the purposes of this order notarial and unofficial fees shall not be +regarded, but the compensation of a consulate or commercial agency shall +be ascertained, if the office is salaried, by reference to the last +preceding appropriation act, and if the office is not salaried by +reference to the returns of official fees for the last preceding fiscal +year. +</p> +<p> +The examination hereinbefore provided for shall be by a board of three +persons designated by the Secretary of State, who shall also prescribe +the subjects to which such examinations shall relate and the general +mode of conducting the same by the board. +</p> +<p> +A vacancy in a consulate will be filled at discretion only when a +suitable appointment can not be made in any of the modes indicated in +the second paragraph of this order. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, September 30, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +Lieutenant-General John M. Schofield having reached the age entitling +him to relief from active military service, he is, in accordance with +the provisions of law, hereby placed upon the retired list of the Army, +to date September 29, 1895, with all the pay and allowances belonging +to his rank upon such retirement. +</p> +<p> +It is with much regret that the President makes the announcement +that the country is thus to lose from the command of its Army this +distinguished general, who has done so much for its honor and +efficiency. His gallantry in war challenges the admiration of all +his countrymen, while they will not fail to gratefully remember and +appreciate how faithfully he has served his country in times of peace +by his splendid and successful performance of civil as well as military +duty. +</p> +<p> +Lieutenant-General Schofield's career, exhibiting an unvarying +love for his profession, a jealous care for its honor and good name, +a just apprehension of the subordination it exacts, and a constant +manifestation of the best traits of true Americanism, furnishes to the +Army an example of inestimable value, and should teach all our people +that the highest soldierly qualities are built upon the keenest sense +of the obligations belonging to good citizenship. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>November 6, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +Section 2 of Postal Rule I is hereby amended by inserting after the word +"thereto" in line 6 the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + And whenever, by order of the Postmaster-General, any post-office + shall be consolidated with and made part of another post-office where + free delivery is established, all the employees of the office thus + consolidated whose names appear on the roster of said office approved + by the Post-Office Department, and including the postmaster thereof, + shall from the date of said order be employees of said free-delivery + office, and the person holding on the date of said order the position + of postmaster at the office thus consolidated with said free-delivery + office may be assigned to any position therein and given any appropriate + designation under the classification act which the Postmaster-General + may direct. +</p> +<p> +The section as amended shall read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. The classification of the postal service made by the + Postmaster-General under section 6 of the act of January 16, 1883, + is hereby extended to all free-delivery post-offices, and hereafter + whenever any post-office becomes a free-delivery office the said + classification or any then existing classification made by the + Postmaster-General under said section and act shall apply thereto; + and whenever, by order of the Postmaster-General, any post-office + shall be consolidated with and made part of another post-office where + free delivery is established, all the employees of the office thus + consolidated whose names appear on the roster of said office approved + by the Post-Office Department, and including the postmaster thereof, + shall from the date of said order be employees of said free-delivery + office, and the person holding on the date of said order the position + of postmaster at the office thus consolidated with said free-delivery + office may be assigned to any position therein and given any appropriate + designation under the classification act which the Postmaster-General + may direct; and the Civil Service Commission shall provide examinations + to test the fitness of persons to fill vacancies in all free-delivery + post-offices, and these rules shall be in force therein; but this shall + not include any post-office made an experimental free-delivery office + under the authority contained in the appropriation act of March 3, 1891. + Every revision of the classification of any post-office under section 6 + of the act of January 16, 1883, and every inclusion of a post-office + within the classified postal service shall be reported to the President. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + THIRD ANNUAL MESSAGE. +</h2> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>December 2, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +The present assemblage of the legislative branch of our Government +occurs at a time when the interests of our people and the needs of +the country give especial prominence to the condition of our foreign +relations and the exigencies of our national finances. The reports of +the heads of the several administrative Departments of the Government +fully and plainly exhibit what has been accomplished within the scope +of their respective duties and present such recommendations for the +betterment of our country's condition as patriotic and intelligent labor +and observation suggest. +</p> +<p> +I therefore deem my executive duty adequately performed at this time +by presenting to the Congress the important phases of our situation as +related to our intercourse with foreign nations and a statement of the +financial problems which confront us, omitting, except as they are +related to these topics, any reference to departmental operations. +</p> +<p> +I earnestly invite, however, not only the careful consideration but the +severely critical scrutiny of the Congress and my fellow-countrymen to +the reports concerning these departmental operations. If justly and +fairly examined, they will furnish proof of assiduous and painstaking +care for the public welfare. I press the recommendations they contain +upon the respectful attention of those charged with the duty of +legislation, because I believe their adoption would promote the people's +good. +</p> +<p> +By amendatory tariff legislation in January last the Argentine Republic, +recognizing the value of the large market opened to the free importation +of its wools under our last tariff act, has admitted certain products +of the United States to entry at reduced duties. It is pleasing to note +that the efforts we have made to enlarge the exchanges of trade on a +sound basis of mutual benefit are in this instance appreciated by the +country from which our woolen factories draw their needful supply of raw +material. +</p> +<p> +The Missions boundary dispute between the Argentine Republic and Brazil, +referred to the President of the United States as arbitrator during the +term of my predecessor, and which was submitted to me for determination, +resulted in an award in favor of Brazil upon the historical and +documentary evidence presented, thus ending a long-protracted +controversy and again demonstrating the wisdom and desirability of +settling international boundary disputes by recourse to friendly +arbitration. +</p> +<p> +Negotiations are progressing for a revival of the United States and +Chilean Claims Commission, whose work was abruptly terminated last year +by the expiration of the stipulated time within which awards could be +made. +</p> +<p> +The resumption of specie payments by Chile is a step of great interest +and importance both in its direct consequences upon her own welfare and +as evincing the ascendency of sound financial principles in one of the +most influential of the South American Republics. +</p> +<p> +The close of the momentous struggle between China and Japan, while +relieving the diplomatic agents of this Government from the delicate +duty they undertook at the request of both countries of rendering such +service to the subjects of either belligerent within the territorial +limits of the other as our neutral position permitted, developed +a domestic condition in the Chinese Empire which has caused much +anxiety and called for prompt and careful attention. Either as a +result of a weak control by the central Government over the provincial +administrations, following a diminution of traditional governmental +authority under the stress of an overwhelming national disaster, or as +a manifestation upon good opportunity of the aversion of the Chinese +population to all foreign ways and undertakings, there have occurred +in widely separated provinces of China serious outbreaks of the old +fanatical spirit against foreigners, which, unchecked by the local +authorities, if not actually connived at by them, have culminated in +mob attacks on foreign missionary stations, causing much destruction of +property and attended with personal injuries as well as loss of life. +</p> +<p> +Although but one American citizen was reported to have been actually +wounded, and although the destruction of property may have fallen more +heavily upon the missionaries of other nationalities than our own, it +plainly behooved this Government to take the most prompt and decided +action to guard against similar or perhaps more dreadful calamities +befalling the hundreds of American mission stations which have grown up +throughout the interior of China under the temperate rule of toleration, +custom, and imperial edict. The demands of the United States and other +powers for the degradation and punishment of the responsible officials +of the respective cities and provinces who by neglect or otherwise had +permitted uprisings, and for the adoption of stern measures by the +Emperor's Government for the protection of the life and property of +foreigners, were followed by the disgrace and dismissal of certain +provincial officials found derelict in duty and the punishment by death +of a number of those adjudged guilty of actual participation in the +outrages. +</p> +<p> +This Government also insisted that a special American commission should +visit the province where the first disturbances occurred for the purpose +of investigation. The latter commission, formed after much opposition, +has gone overland from Tientsin, accompanied by a suitable Chinese +escort, and by its demonstration of the readiness and ability of our +Government to protect its citizens will act, it is believed, as a most +influential deterrent of any similar outbreaks. +</p> +<p> +The energetic steps we have thus taken are all the more likely to +result in future safety to our citizens in China because the Imperial +Government is, I am persuaded, entirely convinced that we desire only +the liberty and protection of our own citizens and redress for any +wrongs they may have suffered, and that we have no ulterior designs or +objects, political or otherwise. China will not forget either our kindly +service to her citizens during her late war nor the further fact that, +while furnishing all the facilities at our command to further the +negotiation of a peace between her and Japan, we sought no advantages +and interposed no counsel. +</p> +<p> +The Governments of both China and Japan have, in special dispatches +transmitted through their respective diplomatic representatives, +expressed in a most pleasing manner their grateful appreciation of our +assistance to their citizens during the unhappy struggle and of the +value of our aid in paving the way to their resumption of peaceful +relations. +</p> +<p> +The customary cordial relations between this country and France have +been undisturbed, with the exception that a full explanation of the +treatment of John L. Waller by the expeditionary military authorities +of France still remains to be given. Mr. Waller, formerly United States +consul at Tamatav, remained in Madagascar after his term of office +expired, and was apparently successful in procuring business concessions +from the Hovas of greater or less value. After the occupation of Tamatav +and the declaration of martial law by the French he was arrested upon +various charges, among them that of communicating military information +to the enemies of France, was tried and convicted by a military +tribunal, and sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment. +</p> +<p> +Following the course justified by abundant precedents, this Government +requested from that of France the record of the proceedings of the +French tribunal which resulted in Mr. Waller's condemnation. This +request has been complied with to the extent of supplying a copy of the +official record, from which appear the constitution and organization of +the court, the charges as formulated, and the general course and result +of the trial, and by which it is shown that the accused was tried in +open court and was defended by counsel; but the evidence adduced in +support of the charges, which was not received by the French minister +for foreign affairs till the first week in October, has thus far been +withheld, the French Government taking the ground that its production in +response to our demand would establish a bad precedent. The efforts of +our ambassador to procure it, however, though impeded by recent changes +in the French ministry, have not been relaxed, and it is confidently +expected that some satisfactory solution of the matter will shortly be +reached. Meanwhile it appears that Mr. Waller's confinement has every +alleviation which the state of his health and all the other +circumstances of the case demand or permit. +</p> +<p> +In agreeable contrast to the difference above noted respecting a matter +of common concern, where nothing is sought except such a mutually +satisfactory outcome as the true merits of the case require, is the +recent resolution of a permanent treaty of arbitration between the two +countries. +</p> +<p> +An invitation has been extended by France to the Government and people +of the United States to participate in a great international exposition +at Paris in 1900 as a suitable commemoration of the close of this the +world's marvelous century of progress. I heartily recommend its +acceptance, together with such legislation as will adequately provide +for a due representation of this Government and its people on the +occasion. +</p> +<p> +Our relations with the States of the German Empire are in some aspects +typical of a condition of things elsewhere found in countries whose +productions and trade are similar to our own. The close rivalries of +competing industries; the influence of the delusive doctrine that the +internal development of a nation is promoted and its wealth increased +by a policy which, in undertaking to reserve its home markets for the +exclusive use of its own producers, necessarily obstructs their sales +in foreign markets and prevents free access to the products of the +world; the desire to retain trade in time-worn ruts, regardless of +the inexorable laws of new needs and changed conditions of demand and +supply, and our own halting tardiness in inviting a freer exchange of +commodities, and by this means imperiling our footing in the external +markets naturally open to us, have created a situation somewhat +injurious to American export interests, not only in Germany, where they +are perhaps most noticeable, but in adjacent countries. The exports +affected are largely American cattle and other food products, the reason +assigned for unfavorable discrimination being that their consumption is +deleterious to the public health. This is all the more irritating in +view of the fact that no European state is as jealous of the excellence +and wholesomeness of its exported food supplies as the United States, +nor so easily able, on account of inherent soundness, to guarantee those +qualities. +</p> +<p> +Nor are these difficulties confined to our food products designed for +exportation. Our great insurance companies, for example, having built +up a vast business abroad and invested a large share of their gains in +foreign countries in compliance with the local laws and regulations then +existing, now find themselves within a narrowing circle of onerous and +unforeseen conditions, and are confronted by the necessity of retirement +from a field thus made unprofitable, if, indeed, they are not summarily +expelled, as some of them have lately been from Prussia. +</p> +<p> +It is not to be forgotten that international trade can not be one-sided. +Its currents are alternating, and its movements should be honestly +reciprocal. Without this it almost necessarily degenerates into a device +to gain advantage or a contrivance to secure benefits with only the +semblance of a return. In our dealings with other nations we ought +to be open-handed and scrupulously fair. This should be our policy +as a producing nation, and it plainly becomes us as a people who love +generosity and the moral aspects of national good faith and reciprocal +forbearance. +</p> +<p> +These considerations should not, however, constrain us to submit to +unfair discrimination nor to silently acquiesce in vexatious hindrances +to the enjoyment of our share of the legitimate advantages of proper +trade relations. If an examination of the situation suggests such +measures on our part as would involve restrictions similar to those from +which we suffer, the way to such a course is easy. It should, however, +by no means be lightly entered upon, since the necessity for the +inauguration of such a policy would be regretted by the best sentiment +of our people and because it naturally and logically might lead to +consequences of the gravest character. +</p> +<p> +I take pleasure in calling to your attention the encomiums bestowed on +those vessels of our new Navy which took part in the notable ceremony of +the opening of the Kiel Canal. It was fitting that this extraordinary +achievement of the newer German nationality should be celebrated in the +presence of America's exposition of the latest developments of the +world's naval energy. +</p> +<p> +Our relations with Great Britain, always intimate and important, have +demanded during the past year even a greater share of consideration than +is usual. +</p> +<p> +Several vexatious questions were left undetermined by the decision of +the Bering Sea Arbitration Tribunal. The application of the principles +laid down by that august body has not been followed by the results they +were intended to accomplish, either because the principles themselves +lacked in breadth and definiteness or because their execution has been +more or less imperfect. Much correspondence has been exchanged between +the two Governments on the subject of preventing the exterminating +slaughter of seals. The insufficiency of the British patrol of Bering +Sea under the regulations agreed on by the two Governments has been +pointed out, and yet only two British ships have been on police duty +during this season in those waters. +</p> +<p> +The need of a more effective enforcement of existing regulations as well +as the adoption of such additional regulations as experience has shown +to be absolutely necessary to carry out the intent of the award have +been earnestly urged upon the British Government, but thus far without +effective results. In the meantime the depletion of the seal herds by +means of pelagic hunting has so alarmingly progressed that unless their +slaughter is at once effectively checked their extinction within a few +years seems to be a matter of absolute certainty. +</p> +<p> +The understanding by which the United States was to pay and Great +Britain to receive a lump sum of $425,000 in full settlement of +all British claims for damages arising from our seizure of British +sealing vessels unauthorized under the award of the Paris Tribunal of +Arbitration was not confirmed by the last Congress, which declined to +make the necessary appropriation. I am still of the opinion that this +arrangement was a judicious and advantageous one for the Government, +and I earnestly recommend that it be again considered and sanctioned. +If, however, this does not meet with the favor of Congress, it certainly +will hardly dissent from the proposition that the Government is bound by +every consideration of honor and good faith to provide for the speedy +adjustment of these claims by arbitration as the only other alternative. +A treaty of arbitration has therefore been agreed upon, and will be +immediately laid before the Senate, so that in one of the modes +suggested a final settlement may be reached. +</p> +<p> +Notwithstanding that Great Britain originated the proposal to enforce +international rules for the prevention of collisions at sea, based on +the recommendations of the Maritime Conference of Washington, and +concurred in, suggesting March 11, 1895, as the date to be set by +proclamation for carrying these rules into general effect, Her Majesty's +Government, having encountered opposition on the part of British +shipping interests, announced its inability to accept that date, which +was consequently canceled. The entire matter is still in abeyance, +without prospect of a better condition in the near future. +</p> +<p> +The commissioners appointed to mark the international boundary in +Passamaquoddy Bay according to the description of the treaty of Ghent +have not yet fully agreed. +</p> +<p> +The completion of the preliminary survey of that Alaskan boundary which +follows the contour of the coast from the southernmost point of Prince +of Wales Island until it strikes the one hundred and forty-first +meridian at or near the summit of Mount St. Elias awaits further +necessary appropriation, which is urgently recommended. This survey was +undertaken under the provisions of the convention entered into by this +country and Great Britain July 22, 1892, and the supplementary +convention of February 3, 1894. +</p> +<p> +As to the remaining section of the Alaskan boundary, which follows the +one hundred and forty-first meridian northwardly from Mount St. Elias +to the Frozen Ocean, the settlement of which involves the physical +location of the meridian mentioned, no conventional agreement has yet +been made. The ascertainment of a given meridian at a particular point +is a work requiring much time and careful observations and surveys. +Such observations and surveys were undertaken by the United States Coast +and Geodetic Survey in 1890 and 1891, while similar work in the same +quarters, under British auspices, is believed to give nearly coincident +results; but these surveys have been independently conducted, and no +international agreement to mark those or any other parts of the one +hundred and forty-first meridian by permanent monuments has yet been +made. In the meantime the valley of the Yukon is becoming a highway +through the hitherto unexplored wilds of Alaska, and abundant mineral +wealth has been discovered in that region, especially at or near the +junction of the boundary meridian with the Yukon and its tributaries. In +these circumstances it is expedient, and, indeed, imperative, that the +jurisdictional limits of the respective Governments in this new region +be speedily determined. Her Britannic Majesty's Government has proposed +a joint delimitation of the one hundred and forty-first meridian by an +international commission of experts, which, if Congress will authorize +it and make due provision therefor, can be accomplished with no +unreasonable delay. It is impossible to overlook the vital importance of +continuing the work already entered upon and supplementing it by further +effective measures looking to the exact location of this entire boundary +line. +</p> +<p> +I call attention to the unsatisfactory delimitation of the respective +jurisdictions of the United States and the Dominion of Canada in the +Great Lakes at the approaches to the narrow waters that connect them. +The waters in question are frequented by fishermen of both nationalities +and their nets are there used. Owing to the uncertainty and ignorance as +to the true boundary, vexatious disputes and injurious seizures of boats +and nets by Canadian cruisers often occur, while any positive settlement +thereof by an accepted standard is not easily to be reached. A joint +commission to determine the line in those quarters on a practical basis, +by measured courses following range marks on shore, is a necessity for +which immediate provision should be made. +</p> +<p> +It being apparent that the boundary dispute between Great Britain and +the Republic of Venezuela concerning the limits of British Guiana was +approaching an acute stage, a definite statement of the interest and +policy of the United States as regards the controversy seemed to be +required both on its own account and in view of its relations with the +friendly powers directly concerned. In July last, therefore, a dispatch +was addressed to our ambassador at London for communication to the +British Government in which the attitude of the United States was fully +and distinctly set forth. The general conclusions therein reached and +formulated are in substance that the traditional and established policy +of this Government is firmly opposed to a forcible increase by any +European power of its territorial possessions on this continent; that +this policy is as well founded in principle as it is strongly supported +by numerous precedents; that as a consequence the United States is bound +to protest against the enlargement of the area of British Guiana in +derogation of the rights and against the will of Venezuela; that +considering the disparity in strength of Great Britain and Venezuela +the territorial dispute between them can be reasonably settled only +by friendly and impartial arbitration, and that the resort to such +arbitration should include the whole controversy, and is not satisfied +if one of the powers concerned is permitted to draw an arbitrary line +through the territory in debate and to declare that it will submit to +arbitration only the portion lying on one side of it. In view of these +conclusions, the dispatch in question called upon the British Government +for a definite answer to the question whether it would or would not +submit the territorial controversy between itself and Venezuela in its +entirety to impartial arbitration. The answer of the British Government +has not yet been received, but is expected shortly, when further +communication on the subject will probably be made to the Congress. +</p> +<p> +Early in January last an uprising against the Government of Hawaii was +promptly suppressed. Martial law was forthwith proclaimed and numerous +arrests were made of persons suspected of being in sympathy with the +Royalist party. Among these were several citizens of the United States, +who were either convicted by a military court and sentenced to death, +imprisonment, or fine or were deported without trial. The United States, +while denying protection to such as had taken the Hawaiian oath of +allegiance, insisted that martial law, though altering the forms of +justice, could not supersede justice itself, and demanded stay of +execution until the proceedings had been submitted to this Government +and knowledge obtained therefrom that our citizens had received fair +trial. The death sentences were subsequently commuted or were remitted +on condition of leaving the islands. The cases of certain Americans +arrested and expelled by arbitrary order without formal charge or trial +have had attention, and in some instances have been found to justify +remonstrance and a claim for indemnity, which Hawaii has not thus far +conceded. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Thurston, the Hawaiian minister, having furnished this Government +abundant reason for asking that he be recalled, that course was pursued, +and his successor has lately been received. +</p> +<p> +The deplorable lynching of several Italian laborers in Colorado was +naturally followed by international representations, and I am happy to +say that the best efforts of the State in which the outrages occurred +have been put forth to discover and punish the authors of this atrocious +crime. The dependent families of some of the unfortunate victims invite +by their deplorable condition gracious provision for their needs. +</p> +<p> +These manifestations against helpless aliens may be traced through +successive stages to the vicious <i>padroni</i> system, which, unchecked +by our immigration and contract-labor statutes, controls these workers +from the moment of landing on our shores and farms them out in distant +and often rude regions, where their cheapening competition in the fields +of bread-winning toil brings them into collision with other labor +interests. While welcoming, as we should, those who seek our shores to +merge themselves in our body politic and win personal competence by +honest effort, we can not regard such assemblages of distinctively alien +laborers, hired out in the mass to the profit of alien speculators and +shipped hither and thither as the prospect of gain may dictate, as +otherwise than repugnant to the spirit of our civilization, deterrent +to individual advancement, and hindrances to the building up of stable +communities resting upon the wholesome ambitions of the citizen and +constituting the prime factor in the prosperity and progress of our +nation. If legislation can reach this growing evil, it certainly should +be attempted. +</p> +<p> +Japan has furnished abundant evidence of her vast gain in every trait +and characteristic that constitutes a nation's greatness. We have reason +for congratulation in the fact that the Government of the United States, +by the exchange of liberal treaty stipulations with the new Japan, was +the first to recognize her wonderful advance and to extend to her the +consideration and confidence due to her national enlightenment and +progressive character. +</p> +<p> +The boundary dispute which lately threatened to embroil Guatemala and +Mexico has happily yielded to pacific counsels, and its determination +has, by the joint agreement of the parties, been submitted to the sole +arbitration of the United States minister to Mexico. +</p> +<p> +The commission appointed under the convention of February 18, 1889, to +set new monuments along the boundary between the United States and +Mexico has completed its task. +</p> +<p> +As a sequel to the failure of a scheme for the colonization in Mexico +of negroes, mostly immigrants from Alabama under contract, a great +number of these helpless and suffering people, starving and smitten +with contagious disease, made their way or were assisted to the +frontier, where, in wretched plight, they were quarantined by the Texas +authorities. Learning of their destitute condition, I directed rations +to be temporarily furnished them through the War Department. At the +expiration of their quarantine they were conveyed by the railway +companies at comparatively nominal rates to their homes in Alabama, upon +my assurance, in the absence of any fund available for the cost of their +transportation, that I would recommend to Congress an appropriation for +its payment. I now strongly urge upon Congress the propriety of making +such an appropriation. It should be remembered that the measures taken +were dictated not only by sympathy and humanity, but by a conviction +that it was not compatible with the dignity of this Government that so +large a body of our dependent citizens should be thrown for relief upon +the charity of a neighboring state. +</p> +<p> +In last year's message I narrated at some length the jurisdictional +questions then freshly arisen in the Mosquito Indian Strip of Nicaragua. +Since that time, by the voluntary act of the Mosquito Nation, the +territory reserved to them has been incorporated with Nicaragua, the +Indians formally subjecting themselves to be governed by the general +laws and regulations of the Republic instead of by their own customs and +regulations, and thus availing themselves of a privilege secured to them +by the treaty between Nicaragua and Great Britain of January 28, 1860. +</p> +<p> +After this extension of uniform Nicaraguan administration to the +Mosquito Strip, the case of the British vice-consul, Hatch, and of +several of his countrymen who had been summarily expelled from Nicaragua +and treated with considerable indignity provoked a claim by Great +Britain upon Nicaragua for pecuniary indemnity, which, upon Nicaragua's +refusal to admit liability, was enforced by Great Britain. While the +sovereignty and jurisdiction of Nicaragua was in no way questioned by +Great Britain, the former's arbitrary conduct in regard to British +subjects furnished the ground for this proceeding. +</p> +<p> +A British naval force occupied without resistance the Pacific seaport +of Corinto, but was soon after withdrawn upon the promise that the sum +demanded would be paid. Throughout this incident the kindly offices of +the United States were invoked and were employed in favor of as peaceful +a settlement and as much consideration and indulgence toward Nicaragua +as were consistent with the nature of the case. Our efforts have since +been made the subject of appreciative and grateful recognition by +Nicaragua. +</p> +<p> +The coronation of the Czar of Russia at Moscow in May next invites the +ceremonial participation of the United States, and in accordance with +usage and diplomatic propriety our minister to the imperial court has +been directed to represent our Government on the occasion. +</p> +<p> +Correspondence is on foot touching the practice of Russian consuls +within the jurisdiction of the United States to interrogate citizens as +to their race and religious faith, and upon ascertainment thereof to +deny to Jews authentication of passports or legal documents for use in +Russia. Inasmuch as such a proceeding imposes a disability which in the +case of succession to property in Russia may be found to infringe the +treaty rights of our citizens, and which is an obnoxious invasion of +our territorial jurisdiction, it has elicited fitting remonstrance, the +result of which, it is hoped, will remove the cause of complaint. The +pending claims of sealing vessels of the United States seized in Russian +waters remain unadjusted. Our recent convention with Russia establishing +a <i>modus vivendi</i> as to imperial jurisdiction in such cases has +prevented further difficulty of this nature. +</p> +<p> +The Russian Government has welcomed in principle our suggestion for a +<i>modus vivendi</i>, to embrace Great Britain and Japan, looking to the +better preservation of seal life in the North Pacific and Bering Sea and +the extension of the protected area defined by the Paris Tribunal to all +Pacific waters north of the thirty-fifth parallel. It is especially +noticeable that Russia favors prohibition of the use of firearms in seal +hunting throughout the proposed area and a longer closed season for +pelagic sealing. +</p> +<p> +In my last two annual messages I called the attention of the Congress +to the position we occupied as one of the parties to a treaty or +agreement by which we became jointly bound with England and Germany +to so interfere with the government and control of Samoa as in effect +to assume the management of its affairs.<a href="#note-23" name="noteref-23"><small>23</small></a> On the 9th day of May, 1894, +I transmitted to the Senate a special message,<a href="#note-24" name="noteref-24"><small>24</small></a> with accompanying +documents, giving information on the subject and emphasizing the opinion +I have at all times entertained, that our situation in this matter was +inconsistent with the mission and traditions of our Government, in +violation of the principles we profess, and in all its phases +mischievous and vexatious. +</p> +<p> +I again press this subject upon the attention of the Congress and ask +for such legislative action or expression as will lead the way to our +relief from obligations both irksome and unnatural. +</p> +<p> +Cuba is again gravely disturbed. An insurrection in some respects more +active than the last preceding revolt, which continued from 1868 to +1878, now exists in a large part of the eastern interior of the island, +menacing even some populations on the coast. Besides deranging the +commercial exchanges of the island, of which our country takes the +predominant share, this flagrant condition of hostilities, by arousing +sentimental sympathy and inciting adventurous support among our people, +has entailed earnest effort on the part of this Government to enforce +obedience to our neutrality laws and to prevent the territory of the +United States from being abused as a vantage ground from which to aid +those in arms against Spanish sovereignty. +</p> +<p> +Whatever may be the traditional sympathy of our countrymen as +individuals with a people who seem to be struggling for larger autonomy +and greater freedom, deepened, as such sympathy naturally must be, in +behalf of our neighbors, yet the plain duty of their Government is to +observe in good faith the recognized obligations of international +relationship. The performance of this duty should not be made more +difficult by a disregard on the part of our citizens of the obligations +growing out of their allegiance to their country, which should restrain +them from violating as individuals the neutrality which the nation of +which they are members is bound to observe in its relations to friendly +sovereign states. Though neither the warmth of our people's sympathy +with the Cuban insurgents, nor our loss and material damage consequent +upon the futile endeavors thus far made to restore peace and order, nor +any shock our humane sensibilities may have received from the cruelties +which appear to especially characterize this sanguinary and fiercely +conducted war, have in the least shaken the determination of the +Government to honestly fulfill every international obligation, yet it +is to be earnestly hoped on every ground that the devastation of armed +conflict may speedily be stayed and order and quiet restored to the +distracted island, bringing in their train the activity and thrift of +peaceful pursuits. +</p> +<p> +One notable instance of interference by Spain with passing American +ships has occurred. On March 8 last the <i>Allianca</i>, while bound +from Colon to New York, and following the customary track for vessels +near the Cuban shore, but outside the 3-mile limit, was fired upon by a +Spanish gunboat. Protest was promptly made by the United States against +this act as not being justified by a state of war, nor permissible in +respect of vessels on the usual paths of commerce, nor tolerable in +view of the wanton peril occasioned to innocent life and property. +The act was disavowed, with full expression of regret and assurance +of nonrecurrence of such just cause of complaint, while the offending +officer was relieved of his command. Military arrests of citizens of the +United States in Cuba have occasioned frequent reclamations. Where held +on criminal charges their delivery to the ordinary civil jurisdiction +for trial has been demanded and obtained in conformity with treaty +provisions, and where merely detained by way of military precaution +under a proclaimed state of siege, without formulated accusation, their +release or trial has been insisted upon. The right of American consular +officers in the island to prefer protests and demands in such cases +having been questioned by the insular authority, their enjoyment of the +privilege stipulated by treaty for the consuls of Germany was claimed +under the most-favored-nation provision of our own convention and was +promptly recognized. +</p> +<p> +The long-standing demand of Antonio Maximo Mora against Spain has at +last been settled by the payment, on the 14th of September last, of the +sum originally agreed upon in liquidation of the claim. Its distribution +among the parties entitled to receive it has proceeded as rapidly as the +rights of those claiming the fund could be safely determined. +</p> +<p> +The enforcement of differential duties against products of this country +exported to Cuba and Puerto Rico prompted the immediate claim on our +part to the benefit of the minimum tariff of Spain in return for the +most favorable treatment permitted by our laws as regards the production +of Spanish territories. A commercial arrangement was concluded in +January last securing the treatment so claimed. +</p> +<p> +Vigorous protests against excessive fines imposed on our ships and +merchandise by the customs officers of these islands for trivial errors +have resulted in the remission of such fines in instances where the +equity of the complaint was apparent, though the vexatious practice has +not been wholly discontinued. +</p> +<p> +Occurrences in Turkey have continued to excite concern. The reported +massacres of Christians in Armenia and the development there and in +other districts of a spirit of fanatic hostility to Christian influences +naturally excited apprehension for the safety of the devoted men and +women who, as dependents of the foreign missionary societies in the +United States, reside in Turkey under the guaranty of law and usage +and in the legitimate performance of their educational and religious +mission. No efforts have been spared in their behalf, and their +protection in person and property has been earnestly and vigorously +enforced by every means within our power. +</p> +<p> +I regret, however, that an attempt on our part to obtain better +information concerning the true condition of affairs in the disturbed +quarter of the Ottoman Empire by sending thither the United States +consul at Sivas to make investigation and report was thwarted by the +objections of the Turkish Government. This movement on our part was in +no sense meant as a gratuitous entanglement of the United States in the +so-called Eastern question nor as an officious interference with the +right and duty which belong by treaty to certain great European powers +calling for their intervention in political matters affecting the good +government and religious freedom of the non-Mussulman subjects of the +Sultan, but it arose solely from our desire to have an accurate +knowledge of the conditions in our efforts to care for those entitled +to our protection. +</p> +<p> +The presence of our naval vessels which are now in the vicinity of the +disturbed localities affords opportunities to acquire a measure of +familiarity with the condition of affairs and will enable us to take +suitable steps for the protection of any interests of our countrymen +within reach of our ships that might be found imperiled. +</p> +<p> +The Ottoman Government has lately issued an imperial <i>irade</i> +exempting forever from taxation an American college for girls at +Scutari. Repeated assurances have also been obtained by our envoy at +Constantinople that similar institutions maintained and administered by +our countrymen shall be secured in the enjoyment of all rights and that +our citizens throughout the Empire shall be protected. +</p> +<p> +The Government, however, in view of existing facts, is far from relying +upon such assurances as the limit of its duty. Our minister has been +vigilant and alert in affording all possible protection in individual +cases where danger threatened or safety was imperiled. We have sent +ships as far toward the points of actual disturbance as it is possible +for them to go, where they offer refuge to those obliged to flee, and we +have the promise of other powers which have ships in the neighborhood +that our citizens as well as theirs will be received and protected on +board those ships. On the demand of our minister orders have been issued +by the Sultan that Turkish soldiers shall guard and escort to the coast +American refugees. +</p> +<p> +These orders have been carried out, and our latest intelligence +gives assurance of the present personal safety of our citizens and +missionaries. Though thus far no lives of American citizens have been +sacrificed, there can be no doubt that serious loss and destruction of +mission property have resulted from riotous conflicts and outrageous +attacks. +</p> +<p> +By treaty several of the most powerful European powers have secured a +right and have assumed a duty not only in behalf of their own citizens +and in furtherance of their own interests, but as agents of the +Christian world. Their right is to enforce such conduct of Turkish +government as will restrain fanatical brutality, and if this fails their +duty is to so interfere as to insure against such dreadful occurrences +in Turkey as have lately shocked civilization. The powers declare this +right and this duty to be theirs alone, and it is earnestly hoped that +prompt and effective action on their part will not be delayed. +</p> +<p> +The new consulates at Erzerum and Harpoot, for which appropriation was +made last session, have been provisionally filled by trusted employees +of the Department of State. These appointees, though now in Turkey, have +not yet received their exequaturs. +</p> +<p> +The arbitration of the claim of the Venezuela Steam Transportation +Company under the treaty of January 19, 1892, between the United States +and Venezuela, resulted in an award in favor of the claimant. +</p> +<p> +The Government has used its good offices toward composing the +differences between Venezuela on the one hand and France and Belgium on +the other growing out of the dismissal of the representatives of those +powers on the ground of a publication deemed offensive to Venezuela. +Although that dismissal was coupled with a cordial request that other +more personally agreeable envoys be sent in their stead, a rupture of +intercourse ensued and still continues. +</p> +<p> +In view of the growth of our interests in foreign countries and the +encouraging prospects for a general expansion of our commerce, the +question of an improvement in the consular service has increased in +importance and urgency. Though there is no doubt that the great body +of consular officers are rendering valuable services to the trade and +industries of the country, the need of some plan of appointment and +control which would tend to secure a higher average of efficiency can +not be denied. +</p> +<p> +The importance of the subject has led the Executive to consider what +steps might properly be taken without additional legislation to answer +the need of a better system of consular appointments. The matter having +been committed to the consideration of the Secretary of State, in +pursuance of his recommendations an Executive order was issued on the +20th of September, 1895,<a href="#note-25" name="noteref-25"><small>25</small></a> by the terms of which it is provided that +after that date any vacancy in a consulate or commercial agency with an +annual salary or compensation from official fees of not more than $2,500 +or less than $1,000 should be filled either by transfer or promotion +from some other position under the Department of State of a character +tending to qualify the incumbent for the position to be filled, or by +the appointment of a person not under the Department of State, but +having previously served thereunder and shown his capacity and fitness +for consular duty, or by the appointment of a person who, having been +selected by the President and sent to a board for examination, is found +upon such examination to be qualified for the position. Posts which pay +less than $1,000 being usually, on account of their small compensation, +filled by selection from residents of the locality, it was not deemed +practicable to put them under the new system. +</p> +<p> +The compensation of $2,500 was adopted as the maximum limit in the +classification for the reason that consular officers receiving more than +that sum are often charged with functions and duties scarcely inferior +in dignity and importance to those of diplomatic agents, and it was +therefore thought best to continue their selection in the discretion of +the Executive without subjecting them to examination before a board. +Excluding 71 places with compensation at present less than $1,000 and +53 places above the maximum in compensation, the number of positions +remaining within the scope of the order is 196. This number will +undoubtedly be increased by the inclusion of consular officers whose +remuneration in fees, now less than $1,000, will be augmented with the +growth of our foreign commerce and a return to more favorable business +conditions. +</p> +<p> +In execution of the Executive order referred to the Secretary of State +has designated as a board to conduct the prescribed examinations the +Third Assistant Secretary of State, the Solicitor of the Department +of State, and the Chief of the Consular Bureau, and has specified the +subjects to which such examinations shall relate. +</p> +<p> +It is not assumed that this system will prove a full measure of +consular reform. It is quite probable that actual experience will +show particulars in which the order already issued may be amended +and demonstrate that for the best results appropriate legislation +by Congress is imperatively required. +</p> +<p> +In any event, these efforts to improve the consular service +ought to be immediately supplemented by legislation providing for +consular inspection. This has frequently been a subject of Executive +recommendation, and I again urge such action by Congress as will permit +the frequent and thorough inspection of consulates by officers appointed +for that purpose or by persons already in the diplomatic or consular +service. The expense attending such a plan would be insignificant +compared with its usefulness, and I hope the legislation necessary +to set it on foot will be speedily forthcoming. +</p> +<p> +I am thoroughly convinced that in addition to their salaries our +ambassadors and ministers at foreign courts should be provided by the +Government with official residences. The salaries of these officers are +comparatively small and in most cases insufficient to pay, with other +necessary expenses, the cost of maintaining household establishments in +keeping with their important and delicate functions. The usefulness of +a nation's diplomatic representative undeniably depends much upon the +appropriateness of his surroundings, and a country like ours, while +avoiding unnecessary glitter and show, should be certain that it does +not suffer in its relations with foreign nations through parsimony and +shabbiness in its diplomatic outfit. These considerations and the other +advantages of having fixed and somewhat permanent locations for our +embassies would abundantly justify the moderate expenditure necessary +to carry out this suggestion. +</p> +<p> +As we turn from a review of our foreign relations to the contemplation +of our national financial situation we are immediately aware that we +approach a subject of domestic concern more important than any other +that can engage our attention, and one at present in such a perplexing +and delicate predicament as to require prompt and wise treatment. +</p> +<p> +We may well be encouraged to earnest effort in this direction when +we recall the steps already taken toward improving our economic and +financial situation and when we appreciate how well the way has been +prepared for further progress by an aroused and intelligent popular +interest in these subjects. +</p> +<p> +By command of the people a customs-revenue system designed for the +protection and benefit of favored classes at the expense of the great +mass of our countrymen, and which, while inefficient for the purpose +of revenue, curtailed our trade relations and impeded our entrance to +the markets of the world, has been superseded by a tariff policy which +in principle is based upon a denial of the right of the Government +to obstruct the avenues to our people's cheap living or lessen their +comfort and contentment for the sake of according especial advantages to +favorites, and which, while encouraging our intercourse and trade with +other nations, recognizes the fact that American self-reliance, thrift, +and ingenuity can build up our country's industries and develop its +resources more surely than enervating paternalism. +</p> +<p> +The compulsory purchase and coinage of silver by the Government, +unchecked and unregulated by business conditions and heedless of +our currency needs, which for more than fifteen years diluted our +circulating medium, undermined confidence abroad in our financial +ability, and at last culminated in distress and panic at home, has been +recently stopped by the repeal of the laws which forced this reckless +scheme upon the country. +</p> +<p> +The things thus accomplished, notwithstanding their extreme importance +and beneficent effects, fall far short of curing the monetary evils from +which we suffer as a result of long indulgence in ill-advised financial +expedients. +</p> +<p> +The currency denominated United States notes and commonly known as +greenbacks was issued in large volume during the late Civil War and was +intended originally to meet the exigencies of that period. It will be +seen by a reference to the debates in Congress at the time the laws +were passed authorizing the issue of these notes that their advocates +declared they were intended for only temporary use and to meet the +emergency of war. In almost if not all the laws relating to them +some provision was made contemplating their voluntary or compulsory +retirement. A large quantity of them, however, were kept on foot and +mingled with the currency of the country, so that at the close of the +year 1874 they amounted to $381,999,073. +</p> +<p> +Immediately after that date, and in January, 1875, a law was passed +providing for the resumption of specie payments, by which the Secretary +of the Treasury was required whenever additional circulation was issued +to national banks to retire United States notes equal in amount to 80 +per cent of such additional national-bank circulation until such notes +were reduced to $300,000,000. This law further provided that on and +after the 1st day of January, 1879, the United States notes then +outstanding should be redeemed in coin, and in order to provide and +prepare for such redemption the Secretary of the Treasury was authorized +not only to use any surplus revenues of the Government, but to issue +bonds of the United States and dispose of them for coin and to use the +proceeds for the purposes contemplated by the statute. +</p> +<p> +In May, 1878, and before the date thus appointed for the redemption +and retirement of these notes, another statute was passed forbidding +their further cancellation and retirement. Some of them had, however, +been previously redeemed and canceled upon the issue of additional +national-bank circulation, as permitted by the law of 1875, so that the +amount outstanding at the time of the passage of the act forbidding +their further retirement was $346,681,016. +</p> +<p> +The law of 1878 did not stop at distinct prohibition, but contained in +addition the following express provision: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + And when any of said notes may be redeemed or be received into the + Treasury under any law from any source whatever, and shall belong to + the United States, they shall not be retired, canceled, or destroyed, + but they shall be reissued and paid out again and kept in circulation. +</p> +<p> +This was the condition of affairs on the 1st day of January, 1879, which +had been fixed upon four years before as the date for entering upon the +redemption and retirement of all these notes, and for which such +abundant means had been provided. +</p> +<p> +The Government was put in the anomalous situation of owing to the +holders of its notes debts payable in gold on demand which could neither +be retired by receiving such notes in discharge of obligations due the +Government nor canceled by actual payment in gold. It was forced to +redeem without redemption and to pay without acquittance. +</p> +<p> +There had been issued and sold $95,500,000 of the bonds authorized by +the resumption act of 1875, the proceeds of which, together with other +gold in the Treasury, created a gold fund deemed sufficient to meet +the demands which might be made upon it for the redemption of the +outstanding United States notes. This fund, together with such other +gold as might be from time to time in the Treasury available for the +same purpose, has been since called our gold reserve, and $100,000,000 +has been regarded as an adequate amount to accomplish its object. This +fund amounted on the 1st day of January, 1879, to $114,193,360, and +though thereafter constantly fluctuating it did not fall below that +sum until July, 1892. In April, 1893, for the first time since its +establishment, this reserve amounted to less than $100,000,000, +containing at that date only $97,011,330. +</p> +<p> +In the meantime, and in July, 1890, an act had been passed directing +larger governmental monthly purchases of silver than had been required +under previous laws, and providing that in payment for such silver +Treasury notes of the United States should be issued payable on demand +in gold or silver coin, at the discretion of the Secretary of the +Treasury. It was, however, declared in the act to be "the established +policy of the United States to maintain the two metals on a parity with +each other upon the present legal ratio or such ratio as may be provided +by law." In view of this declaration it was not deemed permissible for +the Secretary of the Treasury to exercise the discretion in terms +conferred on him by refusing to pay gold on these notes when demanded, +because by such discrimination in favor of the gold dollar the so-called +parity of the two metals would be destroyed and grave and dangerous +consequences would be precipitated by affirming or accentuating the +constantly widening disparity between their actual values under the +existing ratio. +</p> +<p> +It thus resulted that the Treasury notes issued in payment of silver +purchases under the law of 1890 were necessarily treated as gold +obligations at the option of the holder. These notes on the 1st day of +November, 1893, when the law compelling the monthly purchase of silver +was repealed, amounted to more than $155,000,000. The notes of this +description now outstanding added to the United States notes still +undiminished by redemption or cancellation constitute a volume of gold +obligations amounting to nearly $500,000,000. +</p> +<p> +These obligations are the instruments which ever since we had a gold +reserve have been used to deplete it. +</p> +<p> +This reserve, as has been stated, had fallen in April, 1893, to +$97,011,330. It has from that time to the present, with very few and +unimportant upward movements, steadily decreased, except as it has been +temporarily replenished by the sale of bonds. +</p> +<p> +Among the causes for this constant and uniform shrinkage in this fund +may be mentioned the great falling off of exports under the operation of +the tariff law until recently in force, which crippled our exchange of +commodities with foreign nations and necessitated to some extent the +payment of our balances in gold; the unnatural infusion of silver into +our currency and the increasing agitation for its free and unlimited +coinage, which have created apprehension as to our disposition or +ability to continue gold payments; the consequent hoarding of gold at +home and the stoppage of investments of foreign capital, as well as +the return of our securities already sold abroad; and the high rate of +foreign exchange, which induced the shipment of our gold to be drawn +against as a matter of speculation. +</p> +<p> +In consequence of these conditions the gold reserve on the 1st day +of February, 1894, was reduced to $65,438,377, having lost more than +$31,000,000 during the preceding nine months, or since April, 1893. Its +replenishment being necessary and no other manner of accomplishing it +being possible, resort was had to the issue and sale of bonds provided +for by the resumption act of 1875. Fifty millions of these bonds were +sold, yielding $58,633,295.71, which was added to the reserve fund of +gold then on hand. As a result of this operation this reserve, which had +suffered constant and large withdrawals in the meantime, stood on the +6th day of March, 1894, at the sum of $107,446,802. Its depletion was, +however, immediately thereafter so accelerated that on the 30th day of +June, 1894, it had fallen to $64,873,025, thus losing by withdrawals +more than $42,000,000 in five months and dropping slightly below its +situation when the sale of $50,000,000 in bonds was effected for its +replenishment. +</p> +<p> +This depressed condition grew worse, and on the 24th day of November, +1894, our gold reserve being reduced to $57,669,701, it became necessary +to again strengthen it. +</p> +<p> +This was done by another sale of bonds amounting to $50,000,000, from +which there was realized $58,538,500, with which the fund was increased +to $111,142,021 on the 4th day of December, 1894. +</p> +<p> +Again disappointment awaited the anxious hope for relief. There was not +even a lull in the exasperating withdrawals of gold. On the contrary, +they grew larger and more persistent than ever. Between the 4th day of +December, 1894, and early in February, 1895, a period of scarcely more +than two months after the second reenforcement of our gold reserve by +the sale of bonds, it had lost by such withdrawals more than $69,000,000 +and had fallen to $41,340,181. Nearly $43,000,000 had been withdrawn +within the month immediately preceding this situation. +</p> +<p> +In anticipation of impending trouble I had on the 28th day of January, +1895, addressed a communication<a href="#note-26" name="noteref-26"><small>26</small></a> to the Congress fully setting forth +our difficulties and dangerous position and earnestly recommending that +authority be given the Secretary of the Treasury to issue bonds bearing +a low rate of interest, payable by their terms in gold, for the purpose +of maintaining a sufficient gold reserve and also for the redemption and +cancellation of outstanding United States notes and the Treasury notes +issued for the purchase of silver under the law of 1890. This +recommendation did not, however, meet with legislative approval. +</p> +<p> +In February, 1895, therefore, the situation was exceedingly critical. +With a reserve perilously low and a refusal of Congressional aid, +everything indicated that the end of gold payments by the Government +was imminent. The results of prior bond issues had been exceedingly +unsatisfactory, and the large withdrawals of gold immediately succeeding +their public sale in open market gave rise to a reasonable suspicion +that a large part of the gold paid into the Treasury upon such sales was +promptly drawn out again by the presentation of United States notes or +Treasury notes, and found its way to the hands of those who had only +temporarily parted with it in the purchase of bonds. +</p> +<p> +In this emergency, and in view of its surrounding perplexities, it +became entirely apparent to those upon whom the struggle for safety was +devolved not only that our gold reserve must, for the third time in less +than thirteen months, be restored by another issue and sale of bonds +bearing a high rate of interest and badly suited to the purpose, but +that a plan must be adopted for their disposition promising better +results than those realized on previous sales. An agreement was +therefore made with a number of financiers and bankers whereby it was +stipulated that bonds described in the resumption act of 1875, payable +in coin thirty years after their date, bearing interest at the rate of +4 per cent per annum, and amounting to about $62,000,000, should be +exchanged for gold, receivable by weight, amounting to a little more +than $65,000,000. +</p> +<p> +This gold was to be delivered in such installments as would complete +its delivery within about six months from the date of the contract, and +at least one-half of the amount was to be furnished from abroad. It was +also agreed by those supplying this gold that during the continuance +of the contract they would by every means in their power protect the +Government against gold withdrawals. The contract also provided that +if Congress would authorize their issue bonds payable by their terms +in gold and bearing interest at the rate of 3 per cent per annum might +within ten days be substituted at par for the 4 per cent bonds described +in the agreement. +</p> +<p> +On the day this contract was made its terms were communicated to +Congress by a special Executive message,<a href="#note-27" name="noteref-27"><small>27</small></a> in which it was stated that +more than $16,000,000 would be saved to the Government if gold bonds +bearing 3 per cent interest were authorized to be substituted for those +mentioned in the contract. +</p> +<p> +The Congress having declined to grant the necessary authority to secure +this saving, the contract, unmodified, was carried out, resulting in a +gold reserve amounting to $107,571,230 on the 8th day of July, 1895. +The performance of this contract not only restored the reserve, but +checked for a time the withdrawals of gold and brought on a period of +restored confidence and such peace and quiet in business circles as +were of the greatest possible value to every interest that affects our +people. I have never had the slightest misgiving concerning the wisdom +or propriety of this arrangement, and am quite willing to answer for +my full share of responsibility for its promotion. I believe it averted +a disaster the imminence of which was, fortunately, not at the time +generally understood by our people. +</p> +<p> +Though the contract mentioned stayed for a time the tide of gold +withdrawal, its good results could not be permanent. Recent withdrawals +have reduced the reserve from $107,571,230 on the 8th day of July, 1895, +to $79,333,966. How long it will remain large enough to render its +increase unnecessary is only matter of conjecture, though quite large +withdrawals for shipment in the immediate future are predicted in +well-informed quarters. About $16,000,000 has been withdrawn during the +month of November. +</p> +<p> +The foregoing statement of events and conditions develops the fact that +after increasing our interest-bearing bonded indebtedness more than +$162,000,000 to save our gold reserve we are nearly where we started, +having now in such reserve $79,333,966, as against $65,438,377 in +February, 1894, when the first bonds were issued. +</p> +<p> +Though the amount of gold drawn from the Treasury appears to be very +large as gathered from the facts and figures herein presented, it +actually was much larger, considerable sums having been acquired by the +Treasury within the several periods stated without the issue of bonds. +On the 28th of January, 1895, it was reported by the Secretary of the +Treasury that more than $172,000,000 of gold had been withdrawn for +hoarding or shipment during the year preceding. He now reports that from +January 1, 1879, to July 14, 1890, a period of more than eleven years, +only a little over $28,000,000 was withdrawn, and that between July 14, +1890, the date of the passage of the law for an increased purchase of +silver, and the 1st day of December, 1895, or within less than five and +a half years, there was withdrawn nearly $375,000,000, making a total of +more than $403,000,000 drawn from the Treasury in gold since January 1, +1879, the date fixed in 1875 for the retirement of the United States +notes. +</p> +<p> +Nearly $327,000,000 of the gold thus withdrawn has been paid out on +these United States notes, and yet every one of the $346,000,000 is +still uncanceled and ready to do service in future gold depletions. +</p> +<p> +More than $76,000,000 in gold has since their creation in 1890 been paid +out from the Treasury upon the notes given on the purchase of silver by +the Government, and yet the whole, amounting to $155,000,000, except a +little more than $16,000,000 which has been retired by exchanges for +silver at the request of the holders, remains outstanding and prepared +to join their older and more experienced allies in future raids upon the +Treasury's gold reserve. +</p> +<p> +In other words, the Government has paid in gold more than nine-tenths +of its United States notes and still owes them all. It has paid in +gold about one-half of its notes given for silver purchases without +extinguishing by such payment one dollar of these notes. +</p> +<p> +When, added to all this, we are reminded that to carry on this +astounding financial scheme the Government has incurred a bonded +indebtedness of $95,500,000 in establishing a gold reserve and of +$162,315,400 in efforts to maintain it; that the annual interest charge +on such bonded indebtedness is more than $11,000,000; that a continuance +of our present course may result in further bond issues, and that we +have suffered or are threatened with all this for the sake of supplying +gold for foreign shipment or facilitating its hoarding at home, a +situation is exhibited which certainly ought to arrest attention and +provoke immediate legislative relief. +</p> +<p> +I am convinced the only thorough and practicable remedy for our troubles +is found in the retirement and cancellation of our United States notes, +commonly called greenbacks, and the outstanding Treasury notes issued by +the Government in payment of silver purchases under the act of 1890. +</p> +<p> +I believe this could be quite readily accomplished by the exchange +of these notes for United States bonds, of small as well as large +denominations, bearing a low rate of interest. They should be long-term +bonds, thus increasing their desirability as investments, and because +their payment could be well postponed to a period far removed from +present financial burdens and perplexities, when with increased +prosperity and resources they would be more easily met. +</p> +<p> +To further insure the cancellation of these notes and also provide a way +by which gold may be added to our currency in lieu of them, a feature in +the plan should be an authority given to the Secretary of the Treasury +to dispose of the bonds abroad for gold if necessary to complete the +contemplated redemption and cancellation, permitting him to use the +proceeds of such bonds to take up and cancel any of the notes that may +be in the Treasury or that may be received by the Government on any +account. +</p> +<p> +The increase of our bonded debt involved in this plan would be amply +compensated by renewed activity and enterprise in all business circles, +the restored confidence at home, the reinstated faith in our monetary +strength abroad, and the stimulation of every interest and industry +that would follow the cancellation of the gold-demand obligations now +afflicting us. In any event, the bonds proposed would stand for the +extinguishment of a troublesome indebtedness, while in the path we now +follow there lurks the menace of unending bonds, with our indebtedness +still undischarged and aggravated in every feature. The obligations +necessary to fund this indebtedness would not equal in amount those +from which we have been relieved since 1884 by anticipation and payment +beyond the requirements of the sinking fund out of our surplus revenues. +</p> +<p> +The currency withdrawn by the retirement of the United States notes and +Treasury notes, amounting to probably less than $486,000,000, might be +supplied by such gold as would be used on their retirement or by an +increase in the circulation of our national banks. Though the aggregate +capital of those now in existence amounts to more than $664,000,000, +their outstanding circulation based on bond security amounts to only +about $190,000,000. They are authorized to issue notes amounting to 90 +per cent of the bonds deposited to secure their circulation, but in no +event beyond the amount of their capital stock, and they are obliged to +pay 1 per cent tax on the circulation they issue. +</p> +<p> +I think they should be allowed to issue circulation equal to the par +value of the bonds they deposit to secure it, and that the tax on their +circulation should be reduced to one-fourth of 1 per cent, which would +undoubtedly meet all the expense the Government incurs on their account. +In addition they should be allowed to substitute or deposit in lieu of +the bonds now required as security for their circulation those which +would be issued for the purpose of retiring the United States notes and +Treasury notes. +</p> +<p> +The banks already existing, if they desired to avail themselves of the +provisions of law thus modified, could issue circulation, in addition to +that already outstanding, amounting to $478,000,000, which would nearly +or quite equal the currency proposed to be canceled. At any rate, I +should confidently expect to see the existing national banks or others +to be organized avail themselves of the proposed encouragements to issue +circulation and promptly fill any vacuum and supply every currency need. +</p> +<p> +It has always seemed to me that the provisions of law regarding the +capital of national banks, which operate as a limitation to their +location, fail to make proper compensation for the suppression of State +banks, which came near to the people in all sections of the country and +readily furnished them with banking accommodations and facilities. Any +inconvenience or embarrassment arising from these restrictions on the +location of national banks might well be remedied by better adapting +the present system to the creation of banks in smaller communities or +by permitting banks of large capital to establish branches in such +localities as would serve the people, so regulated and restrained as +to secure their safe and conservative control and management. +</p> +<p> +But there might not be the necessity for such an addition to the +currency by new issues of bank circulation as at first glance is +indicated. If we should be relieved from maintaining a gold reserve +under conditions that constitute it the barometer of our solvency, and +if our Treasury should no longer be the foolish purveyor of gold for +nations abroad or for speculation and hoarding by our citizens at home, +I should expect to see gold resume its natural and normal functions in +the business affairs of the country and cease to be an object attracting +the timid watch of our people and exciting their sensitive imaginations. +</p> +<p> +I do not overlook the fact that the cancellation of the Treasury notes +issued under the silver-purchasing act of 1890 would leave the Treasury +in the actual ownership of sufficient silver, including seigniorage, +to coin nearly $178,000,000 in standard dollars. It is worthy of +consideration whether this might not from time to time be converted into +dollars or fractional coin and slowly put into circulation, as in the +judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury the necessities of the country +should require. +</p> +<p> +Whatever is attempted should be entered upon fully appreciating the fact +that by careless, easy descent we have reached a dangerous depth, and +that our ascent will not be accomplished without laborious toil and +struggle. We shall be wise if we realize that we are financially ill and +that our restoration to health may require heroic treatment and +unpleasant remedies. +</p> +<p> +In the present stage of our difficulty it is not easy to understand how +the amount of our revenue receipts directly affects it. The important +question is not the quantity of money received in revenue payments, but +the kind of money we maintain and our ability to continue in sound +financial condition. We are considering the Government's holdings of +gold as related to the soundness of our money and as affecting our +national credit and monetary strength. +</p> +<p> +If our gold reserve had never been impaired; if no bonds had ever +been issued to replenish it; if there had been no fear and timidity +concerning our ability to continue gold payments; if any part of our +revenues were now paid in gold, and if we could look to our gold +receipts as a means of maintaining a safe reserve, the amount of +our revenues would be an influential factor in the problem. But, +unfortunately, all the circumstances that might lend weight to this +consideration are entirely lacking. +</p> +<p> +In our present predicament no gold is received by the Government +in payment of revenue charges, nor would there be if the revenues +were increased. The receipts of the Treasury, when not in silver +certificates, consist of United States notes and Treasury notes issued +for silver purchases. These forms of money are only useful to the +Government in paying its current ordinary expenses, and its quantity in +Government possession does not in the least contribute toward giving us +that kind of safe financial standing or condition which is built on gold +alone. +</p> +<p> +If it is said that these notes if held by the Government can be used to +obtain gold for our reserve, the answer is easy. The people draw gold +from the Treasury on demand upon United States notes and Treasury notes, +but the proposition that the Treasury can on demand draw gold from the +people upon them would be regarded in these days with wonder and +amusement; and even if this could be done there is nothing to prevent +those thus parting with their gold from regaining it the next day or the +next hour by the presentation of the notes they received in exchange for +it. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary of the Treasury might use such notes taken from a +surplus revenue to buy gold in the market. Of course he could not do +this without paying a premium. Private holders of gold, unlike the +Government, having no parity to maintain, would not be restrained +from making the best bargain possible when they furnished gold to the +Treasury; but the moment the Secretary of the Treasury bought gold on +any terms above par he would establish a general and universal premium +upon it, thus breaking down the parity between gold and silver, which +the Government is pledged to maintain, and opening the way to new and +serious complications. In the meantime the premium would not remain +stationary, and the absurd spectacle might be presented of a dealer +selling gold to the Government and with United States notes or Treasury +notes in his hand immediately clamoring for its return and a resale at +a higher premium. +</p> +<p> +It may be claimed that a large revenue and redundant receipts might +favorably affect the situation under discussion by affording an +opportunity of retaining these notes in the Treasury when received, and +thus preventing their presentation for gold. Such retention to be useful +ought to be at least measurably permanent; and this is precisely what is +prohibited, so far as United States notes are concerned, by the law of +1878, forbidding their further retirement. That statute in so many words +provides that these notes when received into the Treasury and belonging +to the United States shall be "paid out again and kept in circulation." +</p> +<p> +It will, moreover, be readily seen that the Government could not +refuse to pay out United States notes and Treasury notes in current +transactions when demanded, and insist on paying out silver alone, +and still maintain the parity between that metal and the currency +representing gold. Besides, the accumulation in the Treasury of currency +of any kind exacted from the people through taxation is justly regarded +as an evil, and it can not proceed far without vigorous protest against +an unjustifiable retention of money from the business of the country and +a denunciation of a scheme of taxation which proves itself to be unjust +when it takes from the earnings and income of the citizen money so much +in excess of the needs of Government support that large sums can be +gathered and kept in the Treasury. Such a condition has heretofore in +times of surplus revenue led the Government to restore currency to the +people by the purchase of its unmatured bonds at a large premium and +by a large increase of its deposits in national banks, and we easily +remember that the abuse of Treasury accumulation has furnished a most +persuasive argument in favor of legislation radically reducing our +tariff taxation. +</p> +<p> +Perhaps it is supposed that sufficient revenue receipts would in a +sentimental way improve the situation by inspiring confidence in our +solvency and allaying the fear of pecuniary exhaustion. And yet through +all our struggles to maintain our gold reserve there never has been any +apprehension as to our ready ability to pay our way with such money as +we had, and the question whether or not our current receipts met our +current expenses has not entered into the estimate of our solvency. Of +course the general state of our funds, exclusive of gold, was entirely +immaterial to the foreign creditor and investor. His debt could only be +paid in gold, and his only concern was our ability to keep on hand that +kind of money. +</p> +<p> +On July 1, 1892, more than a year and a half before the first bonds +were issued to replenish the gold reserve, there was a net balance in +the Treasury, exclusive of such reserve, of less than $13,000,000, but +the gold reserve amounted to more than $114,000,000, which was the +quieting feature of the situation. It was when the stock of gold began +rapidly to fall that fright supervened and our securities held abroad +were returned for sale and debts owed abroad were pressed for payment. +In the meantime extensive shipments of gold and other unfavorable +indications caused restlessness and fright among our people at home. +Thereupon the general state of our funds, exclusive of gold, became +also immaterial to them, and they too drew gold from the Treasury for +hoarding against all contingencies. This is plainly shown by the large +increase in the proportion of gold withdrawn which was retained by +our own people as time and threatening incidents progressed. During +the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, nearly $85,000,000 in gold was +withdrawn from the Treasury and about $77,000,000 was sent abroad, while +during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1895, over $117,000,000 was drawn +out, of which only about $66,000,000 was shipped, leaving the large +balance of such withdrawals to be accounted for by domestic hoarding. +</p> +<p> +Inasmuch as the withdrawal of our gold has resulted largely from +fright, there is nothing apparent that will prevent its continuance or +recurrence, with its natural consequences, except such a change in our +financial methods as will reassure the frightened and make the desire +for gold less intense. It is not clear how an increase in revenue, +unless it be in gold, can satisfy those whose only anxiety is to gain +gold from the Government's store. +</p> +<p> +It can not, therefore, be safe to rely upon increased revenues as a cure +for our present troubles. +</p> +<p> +It is possible that the suggestion of increased revenue as a remedy for +the difficulties we are considering may have originated in an intimation +or distinct allegation that the bonds which have been issued ostensibly +to replenish our gold reserve were really issued to supply insufficient +revenue. Nothing can be further from the truth. Bonds were issued to +obtain gold for the maintenance of our national credit. As has been +shown, the gold thus obtained has been drawn again from the Treasury +upon United States notes and Treasury notes. This operation would have +been promptly prevented if possible; but these notes having thus been +passed to the Treasury, they became the money of the Government, like +any other ordinary Government funds, and there was nothing to do but to +use them in paying Government expenses when needed. +</p> +<p> +At no time when bonds have been issued has there been any consideration +of the question of paying the expenses of Government with their +proceeds. There was no necessity to consider that question. At the time +of each bond issue we had a safe surplus in the Treasury for ordinary +operations, exclusive of the gold in our reserve. In February, 1894, +when the first issue of bonds was made, such surplus amounted to over +$18,000,000; in November, when the second issue was made, it amounted to +more than $42,000,000, and in February, 1895, when bonds for the third +time were issued, such surplus amounted to more than $100,000,000. It +now amounts to $98,072,420.30. +</p> +<p> +Besides all this, the Secretary of the Treasury had no authority +whatever to issue bonds to increase the ordinary revenues or pay current +expenses. +</p> +<p> +I can not but think there has been some confusion of ideas regarding the +effects of the issue of bonds and the results of the withdrawal of gold. +It was the latter process, and not the former, that, by substituting in +the Treasury United States notes and Treasury notes for gold, increased +by their amount the money which was in the first instance subject to +ordinary Government expenditure. +</p> +<p> +Although the law compelling an increased purchase of silver by the +Government was passed on the 14th day of July, 1890, withdrawals of gold +from the Treasury upon the notes given in payment on such purchases +did not begin until October, 1891. Immediately following that date the +withdrawals upon both these notes and United States notes increased +very largely, and have continued to such an extent that since the +passage of that law there has been more than thirteen times as much gold +taken out of the Treasury upon United States notes and Treasury notes +issued for silver purchases as was thus withdrawn during the eleven and +a half years immediately prior thereto and after the 1st day of January, +1879, when specie payments were resumed. +</p> +<p> +It is neither unfair nor unjust to charge a large share of our present +financial perplexities and dangers to the operation of the laws of 1878 +and 1890 compelling the purchase of silver by the Government, which not +only furnished a new Treasury obligation upon which its gold could be +withdrawn, but so increased the fear of an overwhelming flood of silver +and a forced descent to silver payments that even the repeal of these +laws did not entirely cure the evils of their existence. +</p> +<p> +While I have endeavored to make a plain statement of the disordered +condition of our currency and the present dangers menacing our +prosperity and to suggest a way which leads to a safer financial system, +I have constantly had in mind the fact that many of my countrymen, whose +sincerity I do not doubt, insist that the cure for the ills now +threatening us may be found in the single and simple remedy of the free +coinage of silver. They contend that our mints shall be at once thrown +open to the free, unlimited, and independent coinage of both gold and +silver dollars of full legal-tender quality, regardless of the action of +any other government and in full view of the fact that the ratio between +the metals which they suggest calls for 100 cents' worth of gold in the +gold dollar at the present standard and only 50 cents in intrinsic worth +of silver in the silver dollar. +</p> +<p> +Were there infinitely stronger reasons than can be adduced for hoping +that such action would secure for us a bimetallic currency moving on +lines of parity, an experiment so novel and hazardous as that proposed +might well stagger those who believe that stability is an imperative +condition of sound money. +</p> +<p> +No government, no human contrivance or act of legislation, has ever +been able to hold the two metals together in free coinage at a ratio +appreciably different from that which is established in the markets of +the world. +</p> +<p> +Those who believe that our independent free coinage of silver at an +artificial ratio with gold of 16 to 1 would restore the parity between +the metals, and consequently between the coins, oppose an unsupported +and improbable theory to the general belief and practice of other +nations and to the teaching of the wisest statesmen and economists +of the world, both in the past and present, and, what is far more +conclusive, they run counter to our own actual experiences. +</p> +<p> +Twice in our earlier history our lawmakers, in attempting to establish +a bimetallic currency, undertook free coinage upon a ratio which +accidentally varied from the actual relative values of the two metals +not more than 3 per cent. In both cases, notwithstanding greater +difficulties and cost of transportation than now exist, the coins whose +intrinsic worth was undervalued in the ratio gradually and surely +disappeared from our circulation and went to other countries where their +real value was better recognized. +</p> +<p> +Acts of Congress were impotent to create equality where natural causes +decreed even a slight inequality. +</p> +<p> +Twice in our recent history we have signally failed to raise by +legislation the value of silver. Under an act of Congress passed in +1878 the Government was required for more than twelve years to expend +annually at least $24,000,000 in the purchase of silver bullion for +coinage. The act of July 14, 1890, in a still bolder effort, increased +the amount of silver the Government was compelled to purchase and forced +it to become the buyer annually of 54,000,000 ounces, or practically the +entire product of our mines. Under both laws silver rapidly and steadily +declined in value. The prophecy and the expressed hope and expectation +of those in the Congress who led in the passage of the last-mentioned +act that it would reestablish and maintain the former parity between the +two metals are still fresh in our memory. +</p> +<p> +In the light of these experiences, which accord with the experiences of +other nations, there is certainly no secure ground for the belief that +an act of Congress could now bridge an inequality of 50 per cent between +gold and silver at our present ratio, nor is there the least possibility +that our country, which has less than one-seventh of the silver money +in the world, could by its action alone raise not only our own but all +silver to its lost ratio with gold. Our attempt to accomplish this by +the free coinage of silver at a ratio differing widely from actual +relative values would be the signal for the complete departure of +gold from our circulation, the immediate and large contraction of our +circulating medium, and a shrinkage in the real value and monetary +efficiency of all other forms of currency as they settled to the level +of silver monometallism. Everyone who receives a fixed salary and every +worker for wages would find the dollar in his hand ruthlessly scaled +down to the point of bitter disappointment, if not to pinching +privation. +</p> +<p> +A change in our standard to silver monometallism would also bring on a +collapse of the entire system of credit, which, when based on a standard +which is recognized and adopted by the world of business, is many times +more potent and useful than the entire volume of currency and is safely +capable of almost indefinite expansion to meet the growth of trade and +enterprise. In a self-invited struggle through darkness and uncertainty +our humiliation would be increased by the consciousness that we had +parted company with all the enlightened and progressive nations of the +world and were desperately and hopelessly striving to meet the stress of +modern commerce and competition with a debased and unsuitable currency +and in association with the few weak and laggard nations which have +silver alone as their standard of value. +</p> +<p> +All history warns us against rash experiments which threaten violent +changes in our monetary standard and the degradation of our currency. +The past is full of lessons teaching not only the economic dangers but +the national immorality that follow in the train of such experiments. +I will not believe that the American people can be persuaded after sober +deliberation to jeopardize their nation's prestige and proud standing by +encouraging financial nostrums, nor that they will yield to the false +allurements of cheap money when they realize that it must result in the +weakening of that financial integrity and rectitude which thus far in +our history has been so devotedly cherished as one of the traits of true +Americanism. +</p> +<p> +Our country's indebtedness, whether owing by the Government or existing +between individuals, has been contracted with reference to our present +standard. To decree by act of Congress that these debts shall be payable +in less valuable dollars than those within the contemplation and +intention of the parties when contracted would operate to transfer by +the fiat of law and without compensation an amount of property and a +volume of rights and interests almost incalculable. +</p> +<p> +Those who advocate a blind and headlong plunge to free coinage in +the name of bimetallism, and professing the belief, contrary to all +experience, that we could thus establish a double standard and a +concurrent circulation of both metals in our coinage, are certainly +reckoning from a cloudy standpoint. Our present standard of value is the +standard of the civilized world and permits the only bimetallism now +possible, or at least that is within the independent reach of any single +nation, however powerful that nation may be. While the value of gold as +a standard is steadied by almost universal commercial and business use, +it does not despise silver nor seek its banishment. Wherever this +standard is maintained there is at its side in free and unquestioned +circulation a volume of silver currency sometimes equaling and sometimes +even exceeding it in amount, both maintained at a parity notwithstanding +a depreciation or fluctuation in the intrinsic value of silver. +</p> +<p> +There is a vast difference between a standard of value and +a currency for monetary use. The standard must necessarily be fixed +and certain. The currency may be in divers forms and of various kinds. +No silver-standard country has a gold currency in circulation, but an +enlightened and wise system of finance secures the benefits of both gold +and silver as currency and circulating medium by keeping the standard +stable and all other currency at par with it. Such a system and such +a standard also give free scope for the use and expansion of safe and +conservative credit, so indispensable to broad and growing commercial +transactions and so well substituted for the actual use of money. If +a fixed and stable standard is maintained, such as the magnitude and +safety of our commercial transactions and business require, the use +of money itself is conveniently minimized. +</p> +<p> +Every dollar of fixed and stable value has through the agency of +confident credit an astonishing capacity of multiplying itself in +financial work. Every unstable and fluctuating dollar fails as a basis +of credit, and in its use begets gambling speculation and undermines the +foundations of honest enterprise. +</p> +<p> +I have ventured to express myself on this subject with earnestness and +plainness of speech because I can not rid myself of the belief that +there lurk in the proposition for the free coinage of silver, so +strongly approved and so enthusiastically advocated by a multitude +of my countrymen, a serious menace to our prosperity and an insidious +temptation of our people to wander from the allegiance they owe to +public and private integrity. It is because I do not distrust the +good faith and sincerity of those who press this scheme that I have +imperfectly but with zeal submitted my thoughts upon this momentous +subject. I can not refrain from begging them to reexamine their views +and beliefs in the light of patriotic reason and familiar experience and +to weigh again and again the consequences of such legislation as their +efforts have invited. Even the continued agitation of the subject adds +greatly to the difficulties of a dangerous financial situation already +forced upon us. +</p> +<p> +In conclusion I especially entreat the people's representatives +in the Congress, who are charged with the responsibility of inaugurating +measures for the safety and prosperity of our common country, to +promptly and effectively consider the ills of our critical financial +plight. I have suggested a remedy which my judgment approves. I desire, +however, to assure the Congress that I am prepared to cooperate with +them in perfecting any other measure promising thorough and practical +relief, and that I will gladly labor with them in every patriotic +endeavor to further the interests and guard the welfare of our +countrymen, whom in our respective places of duty we have undertaken +to serve. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + SPECIAL MESSAGES. +</h2> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>December 17, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +In my annual message addressed to the Congress on the 3d instant I +called attention to the pending boundary controversy between Great +Britain and the Republic of Venezuela and recited the substance of a +representation made by this Government to Her Britannic Majesty's +Government suggesting reasons why such dispute should be submitted to +arbitration for settlement and inquiring whether it would be so +submitted.<a href="#note-28" name="noteref-28"><small>28</small></a> +</p> +<p> +The answer of the British Government, which was then awaited, has since +been received, and, together with the dispatch to which it is a reply, +is hereto appended. +</p> +<p> +Such reply is embodied in two communications addressed by the British +prime minister to Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British ambassador at this +capital. It will be seen that one of these communications is devoted +exclusively to observations upon the Monroe doctrine, and claims that +in the present instance a new and strange extension and development +of this doctrine is insisted on by the United States; that the reasons +justifying an appeal to the doctrine enunciated by President Monroe are +generally inapplicable "to the state of things in which we live at the +present day," and especially inapplicable to a controversy involving the +boundary line between Great Britain and Venezuela. +</p> +<p> +Without attempting extended argument in reply to these positions, it may +not be amiss to suggest that the doctrine upon which we stand is strong +and sound, because its enforcement is important to our peace and safety +as a nation and is essential to the integrity of our free institutions +and the tranquil maintenance of our distinctive form of government. It +was intended to apply to every stage of our national life and can not +become obsolete while our Republic endures. If the balance of power is +justly a cause for jealous anxiety among the Governments of the Old +World and a subject for our absolute noninterference, none the less is +an observance of the Monroe doctrine of vital concern to our people and +their Government. +</p> +<p> +Assuming, therefore, that we may properly insist upon this doctrine +without regard to "the state of things in which we live" or any changed +conditions here or elsewhere, it is not apparent why its application may +not be invoked in the present controversy. +</p> +<p> +If a European power by an extension of its boundaries takes possession +of the territory of one of our neighboring Republics against its will +and in derogation of its rights, it is difficult to see why to that +extent such European power does not thereby attempt to extend its system +of government to that portion of this continent which is thus taken. +This is the precise action which President Monroe declared to be +"dangerous to our peace and safety," and it can make no difference +whether the European system is extended by an advance of frontier or +otherwise. +</p> +<p> +It is also suggested in the British reply that we should not seek to +apply the Monroe doctrine to the pending dispute because it does not +embody any principle of international law which "is founded on the +general consent of nations," and that "no statesman, however eminent, +and no nation, however powerful, are competent to insert into the code +of international law a novel principle which was never recognized before +and which has not since been accepted by the government of any other +country." +</p> +<p> +Practically the principle for which we contend has peculiar, if not +exclusive, relation to the United States. It may not have been admitted +in so many words to the code of international law, but since in +international councils every nation is entitled to the rights belonging +to it, if the enforcement of the Monroe doctrine is something we may +justly claim it has its place in the code of international law as +certainly and as securely as if it were specifically mentioned; and when +the United States is a suitor before the high tribunal that administers +international law the question to be determined is whether or not we +present claims which the justice of that code of law can find to be +right and valid. +</p> +<p> +The Monroe doctrine finds its recognition in those principles of +international law which are based upon the theory that every nation +shall have its rights protected and its just claims enforced. +</p> +<p> +Of course this Government is entirely confident that under the sanction +of this doctrine we have clear rights and undoubted claims. Nor is this +ignored in the British reply. The prime minister, while not admitting +that the Monroe doctrine is applicable to present conditions, states: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In declaring that the United States would resist any such enterprise if + it was contemplated, President Monroe adopted a policy which received + the entire sympathy of the English Government of that date. +</p> +<p> +He further declares: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Though the language of President Monroe is directed to the attainment + of objects which most Englishmen would agree to be salutary, it is + impossible to admit that they have been inscribed by any adequate + authority in the code of international law. +</p> +<p> +Again he says: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + They [Her Majesty's Government] fully concur with the view which + President Monroe apparently entertained, that any disturbance of the + existing territorial distribution in that hemisphere by any fresh + acquisitions on the part of any European State would be a highly + inexpedient change. +</p> +<p> +In the belief that the doctrine for which we contend was clear and +definite, that it was founded upon substantial considerations and +involved our safety and welfare, that it was fully applicable to our +present conditions and to the state of the world's progress, and that +it was directly related to the pending controversy, and without any +conviction as to the final merits of the dispute, but anxious to learn +in a satisfactory and conclusive manner whether Great Britain sought +under a claim of boundary to extend her possessions on this continent +without right, or whether she merely sought possession of territory +fairly included within her lines of ownership, this Government proposed +to the Government of Great Britain a resort to arbitration as the proper +means of settling the question, to the end that a vexatious boundary +dispute between the two contestants might be determined and our exact +standing and relation in respect to the controversy might be made clear. +</p> +<p> +It will be seen from the correspondence herewith submitted that this +proposition has been declined by the British Government upon grounds +which in the circumstances seem to me to be far from satisfactory. It is +deeply disappointing that such an appeal, actuated by the most friendly +feelings toward both nations directly concerned, addressed to the sense +of justice and to the magnanimity of one of the great powers of the +world, and touching its relations to one comparatively weak and small, +should have produced no better results. +</p> +<p> +The course to be pursued by this Government in view of the present +condition does not appear to admit of serious doubt. Having labored +faithfully for many years to induce Great Britain to submit this dispute +to impartial arbitration, and having been now finally apprised of her +refusal to do so, nothing remains but to accept the situation, to +recognize its plain requirements, and deal with it accordingly. Great +Britain's present proposition has never thus far been regarded as +admissible by Venezuela, though any adjustment of the boundary which +that country may deem for her advantage and may enter into of her own +free will can not of course be objected to by the United States. +</p> +<p> +Assuming, however, that the attitude of Venezuela will remain unchanged, +the dispute has reached such a stage as to make it now incumbent upon +the United States to take measures to determine with sufficient +certainty for its justification what is the true divisional line between +the Republic of Venezuela and British Guiana. The inquiry to that end +should of course be conducted carefully and judicially, and due weight +should be given to all available evidence, records, and facts in support +of the claims of both parties. +</p> +<p> +In order that such an examination should be prosecuted in a thorough +and satisfactory manner, I suggest that the Congress make an adequate +appropriation for the expenses of a commission, to be appointed by the +Executive, who shall make the necessary investigation and report upon +the matter with the least possible delay. When such report is made and +accepted it will, in my opinion, be the duty of the United States to +resist by every means in its power, as a willful aggression upon its +rights and interests, the appropriation by Great Britain of any lands or +the exercise of governmental jurisdiction over any territory which after +investigation we have determined of right belongs to Venezuela. +</p> +<p> +In making these recommendations I am fully alive to the responsibility +incurred and keenly realize all the consequences that may follow. +</p> +<p> +I am, nevertheless, firm in my conviction that while it is a grievous +thing to contemplate the two great English-speaking peoples of the world +as being otherwise than friendly competitors in the onward march of +civilization and strenuous and worthy rivals in all the arts of peace, +there is no calamity which a great nation can invite which equals that +which follows a supine submission to wrong and injustice and the +consequent loss of national self-respect and honor, beneath which are +shielded and defended a people's safety and greatness. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, December 19, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of the Senate of the 4th instant, +requesting the President, "if in his judgment not incompatible with the +public interest, to communicate to the Senate all information which has +been received by him or by the State Department in regard to injuries +inflicted upon the persons or property of American citizens in Turkey +and in regard to the condition of affairs there in reference to the +oppression or cruelties practiced upon the Armenian subjects of the +Turkish Government; also to inform the Senate whether all the American +consuls in the Turkish Empire are at their posts of duty, and, if not, +to state any circumstances which have interfered with the performance +of the duties of such consuls," I transmit herewith a report from the +Secretary of State. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>December 20, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +In my last annual message the evils of our present financial system +were plainly pointed out and the causes and means of the depletion of +Government gold were explained. It was therein stated that after all the +efforts that had been made by the executive branch of the Government +to protect our gold reserve by the issuance of bonds amounting to more +than $162,000,000, such reserve then amounted to but little more than +$79,000,000; that about $16,000,000 had been withdrawn from such reserve +during the month next previous to the date of that message, and that +quite large withdrawals for shipment in the immediate future were +predicted. +</p> +<p> +The contingency then feared has reached us, and the withdrawals of gold +since the communication referred to and others that appear inevitable +threaten such a depletion in our Government gold reserve as brings us +face to face to the necessity of further action for its protection. This +condition is intensified by the prevalence in certain quarters of sudden +and unusual apprehension and timidity in business circles. +</p> +<p> +We are in the midst of another season of perplexity caused by our +dangerous and fatuous financial operations. These may be expected to +recur with certainty as long as there is no amendment in our financial +system. If in this particular instance our predicament is at all +influenced by a recent insistence upon the position we should occupy in +our relation to certain questions concerning our foreign policy, this +furnishes a signal and impressive warning that even the patriotic +sentiment of our people is not an adequate substitute for a sound +financial policy. +</p> +<p> +Of course there can be no doubt in any thoughtful mind as to the +complete solvency of our nation, nor can there be any just apprehension +that the American people will be satisfied with less than an honest +payment of our public obligations in the recognized money of the +world. We should not overlook the fact, however, that aroused fear +is unreasoning and must be taken into account in all efforts to avert +possible loss and the sacrifice of our people's interests. +</p> +<p> +The real and sensible cure for our recurring troubles can only be +effected by a complete change in our financial scheme. Pending that +the executive branch of the Government will not relax its efforts +nor abandon its determination to use every means within its reach +to maintain before the world American credit, nor will there be any +hesitation in exhibiting its confidence in the resources of our country +and the constant patriotism of our people. +</p> +<p> +In view, however, of the peculiar situation now confronting us, +I have ventured to herein express the earnest hope that the Congress, +in default of the inauguration of a better system of finance, will not +take a recess from its labors before it has by legislative enactment or +declaration done something not only to remind those apprehensive among +our own people that the resources of their Government and a scrupulous +regard for honest dealing afford a sure guaranty of unquestioned safety +and soundness, but to reassure the world that with these factors and the +patriotism of our citizens the ability and determination of our nation +to meet in any circumstances every obligation it incurs do not admit of +question. +</p> +<p> +I ask at the hands of the Congress such prompt aid as it alone has +the power to give to prevent in a time of fear and apprehension any +sacrifice of the people's interests and the public funds or the +impairment of our public credit in an effort by Executive action to +relieve the dangers of the present emergency. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, December 30, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of the Senate of the 21st instant, +relative to the refusal of the Turkish Government to grant exequaturs to +the vice-consuls of the United States at Erzerum and Harpoot, I transmit +herewith a report from the Secretary of State. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, January 10, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to the Senate resolution of December +18, 1895, addressed to the Secretary of State, a report of that officer, +with the accompanying correspondence, in relation to the arrest and +imprisonment of Victor Hugo McCord at Arequipa, Peru, requested by said +resolution. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 17, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I desire to invite attention to the necessity for prompt legislation +in order to remove the limitation of the time within which suits may be +brought by the Government to annul unlawful or unauthorized grants of +public lands. +</p> +<p> +By the act of March 3, 1887 (24 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. 556), the +Secretary of the Interior is directed to adjust each of the railroad +land grants which may be unadjusted, and it is provided, if it shall +appear upon the completion of such adjustment or sooner that the lands +have been from any cause erroneously certified or patented by the United +States to or for the use of a company claiming under any of said grants, +it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Interior to demand a +reconveyance of the title to all lands so erroneously certified or +patented, and on failure of the company to make such reconveyance within +ninety days the Attorney-General is required to institute and prosecute +in the proper courts necessary proceedings to restore title to said +lands to the United States. The demands made under this act have been +numerous, and in some cases have resulted in the reinvestment of title +to the lands in the United States upon demand, but in most cases the +demand has been refused and suits have been necessary. +</p> +<p> +The work of adjustment has been unavoidably slow. The said act makes +provision for the reinstatement of entries erroneously canceled on +account of railroad withdrawals, and, upon certain conditions, provides +for the confirmation of titles derived by purchase from the companies +of lands shown to be excepted from the grants. It contemplates a +disposition of every tract, described by the granting act, situated +within the primary or granted limits; an inspection of each tract +certified or patented to the company within such limit, to determine +whether such certification or patenting was proper; the listing of those +tracts shown to be erroneously certified, and the determination for what +tracts lost to the grant indemnity is to be allowed. +</p> +<p> +It is necessary in making such an adjustment that all questions of +conflicting claims, either between settlers and the road or between two +roads the grants for which conflict or overlap, be finally disposed of, +so that a proper disposition of the land can be shown in the adjustment. +While adjustments have proceeded with the utmost rapidity consistent +with a due regard for the rights of the settlers, of the United States, +and the railroad companies, and while to this end the force of adjusters +has been largely augmented in the General Land Office, many of the +grants yet remain unadjusted. +</p> +<p> +In some of the grants, notably the corporation grants, the lack of +surveys up to the present time made the completion of the work +impossible. +</p> +<p> +Decisions rendered by the Interior Department in numerous conflicts +have been carried into the courts. The construction of the Interior +Department has generally been sustained when final determination has +been reached, but many of the cases are still pending in the courts, +not yet having been decided. Some of these cases, while involving +immediately the title to only one particular tract, will when decided +furnish a rule of construction to control the disposition of the title +to thousands of acres of other lands in the same situation. Until the +courts pass upon these questions final adjustments can not be made. +</p> +<p> +By section 8 of the act of March 3, 1891 (26 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. +1099), it is expressly enacted that suits by the United States to vacate +and annul any patent theretofore issued "shall only be brought within +five years from the passage of this act." This period of five years will +expire on the 3d of March, 1896. Of course no suit by the United States +to secure the cancellation of a patent in this class of cases after +that date would be effective. Indeed, it is now too late to initiate +proceedings looking to any such suit, inasmuch as demand has to be first +made on the company, and thereafter ninety days must be allowed for +compliance or refusal, in accordance with the provisions of the act of +March 3, 1887. Before the expiration of this period the statute would +bar the right of recovery by the Government, and the benefits of +anticipated favorable decisions of the courts would be lost so far as +they might determine the character and disposition of grants similar +to those directly involved in pending cases. +</p> +<p> +It will be readily seen that if this act of limitations is to remain on +the statute books the portion of the adjustment act referred to would be +rendered nugatory. Indeed, there would be but little use in continuing +the adjustment of many of the land grants, inasmuch as ascertained +rights of the United States or of settlers could not be enforced by law. +</p> +<p> +Legislation establishing limitations against the right of the Government +to sue is an innovation not entirely consistent with the general history +of the rights of the Government, for it has uniformly been held that +time did not bar the sovereign power from the assertion of a right. +</p> +<p> +The early adjudications of the Land Department construed the grants with +a degree of liberality toward the grantees which later decisions of the +courts and of the Department have not sustained. It seems clear that the +further progress of adjustments will develop facts and transactions in +connection with these land grants which ought to be the subjects of +legal examination and scrutiny before they are allowed to become final +and conclusive. The Government should not be prevented from going into +the courts to right wrongs perpetrated by its agents or any other +parties, and by which much of the public domain may be diverted from the +people at large to corporate uses. +</p> +<p> +In these circumstances it seems to me that the act of 1891 should be +so amended as not to apply to suits brought to recover title to lands +certified or patented on account of railroad or other grants; and +I respectfully urge upon Congress speedy action to the end suggested, +so that the adjustment of these grants may proceed without the +interposition of a bar, through lapse of time, against the right of +recovery by the Government in proper cases. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, January 20, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of the House of Representatives of +December 28, 1895, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of +State and accompanying papers, relating to certain speeches made by +Thomas F. Bayard, ambassador of the United States to Great Britain. +</p> +<p> +In response to that part of said resolution which requests information +as to the action taken by the President concerning the speeches therein +referred to, I reply that no action has been taken thereon by the +President except such as is indicated in the report and correspondence +herewith submitted. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, January 22, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in compliance with the resolution of the House of +Representatives of December 28, 1895, a report from the Secretary of +State, with copies of all the correspondence of record in the Department +of State in relation to the schooner <i>Henry Crosby</i>, fired upon +while at anchor at Azua, Santo Domingo, December 10, 1893. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 22, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution adopted by the Senate on December 16, +1895, respecting what action had been taken in regard to the payment of +the appropriation for the bounty on sugar contained in the sundry civil +bill approved March 2, 1895, I herewith transmit a communication +received from the Secretary of the Treasury, which contains all the +information I have upon the subject. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, January 23, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State, in answer to a +resolution of the Senate of the 16th instant, requesting information in +regard to the treatment of naturalized citizens of the United States of +Armenian origin, and their families, by the Turkish Government. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, January 27, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State, with copies of +all correspondence of record relating to the failure of the scheme for +the colonization of negroes in Mexico, necessitating their return to +their home in Alabama. +</p> +<p> +I referred to this matter in my message to Congress at the beginning of +the present session, and for the reasons then given<a href="#note-29" name="noteref-29"><small>29</small></a> I again urge the +propriety of making an appropriation to cover the cost of transportation +furnished by the railroad companies. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, January 30, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State, +accompanying the reports of the consuls of the United States on trade +and commerce. In view of the evident value of this compilation to our +business interests, I indorse the recommendation of the Secretary that +Congress authorize the printing of a special edition of 10,000 copies +of the General Summary of the Commerce of the World for distribution +by the Department of State, and of 2,500 copies of Commercial Relations +(including this summary) to enable the Department to meet the increasing +demand for commercial information. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 3, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +In my last annual message allusion was made to the lawless killing of +certain Italian laborers in the State of Colorado,<a href="#note-30" name="noteref-30"><small>30</small></a> and it was added +that "the dependent families of some of the unfortunate victims invite +by their deplorable condition gracious provision for their needs." +</p> +<p> +It now appears that in addition to three of these laborers who were +riotously killed two others, who escaped death by flight, incurred +pitiable disabilities through exposure and privation. +</p> +<p> +Without discussing the question of the liability of the United States +for these results, either by reason of treaty obligations or under the +general rules of international law, I venture to urge upon the Congress +the propriety of making from the public Treasury prompt and reasonable +pecuniary provision for those injured and for the families of those who +were killed. +</p> +<p> +To aid in the consideration of the subject I append hereto a report of +the Secretary of State, accompanied by certain correspondence which +quite fully presents all the features of the several cases. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +Pursuant to the request made in a House resolution passed on the 30th +day of January, 1896, I herewith transmit the report, with accompanying +maps and exhibits, of the board of engineers under the provisions of +chapter 189 of laws of 1895, for the purpose of ascertaining the +feasibility, permanence, and cost of the construction and completion of +the Nicaragua Canal by the route contemplated and provided for by the +act which passed the Senate January 28, 1895, entitled "An act to amend +an act entitled 'An act to incorporate the Maritime Canal Company of +Nicaragua,' approved February 20, 1889." +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +FEBRUARY 7, 1896. +</p> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 10, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in answer to the resolution of the Senate of +December 18, 1895, a report by the Secretary of State, accompanied by +copies of correspondence touching the establishment or attempted +establishment of post routes by Great Britain or the Dominion of Canada +over or upon United States territory in Alaska; also as to the +occupation or attempted occupation by any means of any portion of that +territory by the military or civil authorities of Great Britain or of +Canada. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 10, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, for the consideration of the Senate with a view +to its ratification, a convention signed at Washington the 8th instant +between the Governments of the United States of America and of Her +Britannic Majesty, providing for the settlement of the claims presented +by Great Britain against the United States in virtue of the convention +of February 29, 1892, and of the findings of the Paris Tribunal of +Arbitration pursuant to article 8 of said convention, as well as of +the additional claims specified in paragraph 5 of the preamble of the +present convention. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 11, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in answer to the resolution of the Senate of +December 9, 1895, a report from the Secretary of State, accompanied by +copies of correspondence and other papers in regard to the case of John +L. Waller, a citizen of the United States, at present in the custody of +the French Government. +</p> +<p> +It will be seen upon examination, as would of course be expected, that +there is a slight conflict of evidence upon some of the features of Mr. +Waller's case. Nevertheless, upon a fair and just consideration of all +the facts and circumstances as presented, and especially in view of Mr. +Waller's own letters, the conclusions set forth in the report of the +Secretary of State do not appear to admit of any reasonable doubt nor to +leave open to the Executive any other course of action than that adopted +and acted upon as therein stated. +</p> +<p> +It is expected that Mr. Waller's release from imprisonment will be +immediately forthcoming. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<center> +[A similar message was sent to the House of Representatives in answer to +a resolution of that body of December 28, 1895.] +</center> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 11, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of the House of Representatives of +December 28 last, as follows— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Resolved</i>, That the Secretary of State be directed to communicate + to the House of Representatives, if not inconsistent with the public + interests, copies of all correspondence relating to affairs in Cuba + since February last— +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State and such +portions of the correspondence requested as I deem it not inconsistent +with the public interests to communicate. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 14, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of the Senate of January 7, 1896, +I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State, with an +accompanying report of the special agent of the United States sent +to the Fiji Islands to investigate the claims of B.H. Henry and other +American citizens for compensation for certain lands alleged to have +been owned by them and claimed to have been appropriated by the British +Government. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 14, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit, with the accompanying papers, a report from the Secretary +of State, answering the resolution of the Senate of January 16, 1896, +addressed to him, calling for information concerning the claims against +Peru of Thomas W. Sparrow, N.B. Noland, and others, members of the +commission known as the Hydrographic Commission of the Amazon, employed +by the Government of Peru, for compensation for their services on said +commission. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 14, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, for the information of Congress, a communication +from the Secretary of State, covering the report of the Director of the +Bureau of the American Republics for the year 1895. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 14, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in compliance with the resolution of the House of +Representatives of February 1, 1896, a report from the Secretary of +State, with copies of the correspondence of record in the Department of +State in relation to the exclusion of life-insurance companies of the +United States from transacting business in Germany. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 18, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives, the +Senate concurring, I return herewith Senate bill 879, entitled "An act +to amend an act entitled 'An act to grant to the Gainesville, McAlester +and St. Louis Railroad Company a right of way through the Indian +Territory.'" +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 28, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate:</i> +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to the resolutions of the Senate of the +18th and 19th instant, a report of the Secretary of State, in regard to +the claim of A.H. Lazare against the Government of Hayti. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, March 9, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in answer to the resolution of the Senate of the +24th ultimo, a report from the Secretary of State, in relation to the +claim of the legal representatives of Lieutenant George C. Foulke +against the Government of the United States. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>March 9, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to the Senate's resolution of February +6, 1896, addressed to the Secretary of State, copies, in translation, of +the decrees or orders of the Governments of Germany, France, Belgium, +and Denmark placing restrictions upon the importation of certain +American products. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, March 13, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to a resolution of the Senate of +March 2, a report from the Secretary of State, accompanied by copies of +correspondence touching the arrest in Havana of Marcus E. Rodriguez, +Luis Someillau y Azpeitia, and Luis Someillau y Vidal, citizens of the +United States. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, March 13, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of the House of Representatives of +February 13, 1896, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State and +accompanying papers, relating to the claim of Bernard Campbell against +the Government of Hayti. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>April 14, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In compliance with a resolution of the Senate, the House of +Representatives concurring, I return herewith the enrolled joint +resolution (S.R. 116) authorizing the Public Printer to print the Annual +Report of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey in quarto form and +to bind it in one volume. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, April 15, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of March 24, 1896, requesting that the +Senate be furnished with the correspondence of the Department of State +between November 5, 1875, and the date of the pacification of Cuba in +1878 relating to the subject of mediation or intervention by the United +States in the affairs of that island, I transmit a report from the +Secretary of State, forwarding such papers as seem to be called for by +the resolution in question. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, April 30, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to the resolution of the House of +Representatives of the 9th instant, addressed to the Secretary of State, +a report of that officer, accompanied by copies of the correspondence in +regard to the imprisonment of Mrs. Florence E. Maybrick. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, May 16, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to the resolution of the Senate dated +the 9th instant and addressed to the Secretary of State, a report of +that officer, accompanied by copies of printed documents containing the +information desired respecting the historical archives deposited in the +Department of State. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, May 23, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to a resolution of the Senate of the +16th instant, a report of the Secretary of State, to which are attached +copies in English and Spanish of the original text of a protocol +executed January 12, 1877, between the minister plenipotentiary of the +United States of America to the Court of Spain and the minister of state +of His Majesty the King of Spain. +</p> +<p> +It being, in my judgment, incompatible with the public service, I am +constrained to refrain from communicating to the Senate at this time +copies of the correspondence described in the third paragraph of said +resolution. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 28, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the +27th instant, the Senate concurring, I return herewith the bill (H.R. +5731) entitled "An act to regulate the practice of medicine and surgery, +to license physicians and surgeons, and to punish persons violating the +provisions thereof in the District of Columbia." +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>June 3, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the +2d instant, the Senate concurring, I return herewith the bill (H.R. +3279) entitled "An act to authorize the reassessment of water-main taxes +or assessments in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes." +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>June 8, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State, in answer to the +resolution of the Senate of May 9, 1896, directing that "the Secretary +of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of War, the +Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of +Agriculture, the Postmaster-General, and the Attorney-General cause a +careful and thorough inquiry to be made regarding the number of aliens +employed in their respective Departments, and to communicate the result +of said inquiry to the Senate at the earliest practicable day." +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + VETO MESSAGES. +</h2> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 28, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without my approval House bill No. 2769, entitled +"An act to authorize the leasing of lands for educational purposes +in Arizona." +</p> +<p> +This bill provides for the leasing of all the public lands reserved to +the Territory of Arizona for the benefit of its universities and +schools, "under such laws and regulations as may be hereafter prescribed +by the legislature of said Territory." +</p> +<p> +If the proposed legislation granted no further authority than this, +it would, in terms at least, recognize the safety and propriety of +leaving the desirability of leasing these lands and the limitations +and safeguards regulating such leasing to be determined by the local +legislature chosen by the people to make their laws and protect their +interests. +</p> +<p> +Instead of stopping here, however, the bill further provides that until +such legislative action the governor, the secretary of the Territory, +and the superintendent of public instruction shall constitute a board +for the leasing of said lands under the rules and regulations heretofore +prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior. It is specifically declared +that it shall not be necessary to submit said leases to the Secretary of +the Interior for approval, and that no leases shall be made for a longer +term than five years nor for a term extending beyond the date of the +admission of the Territory to statehood. +</p> +<p> +Under these provisions the lands reserved for university and school +purposes, whose value largely depends upon their standing timber, and in +which every citizen of the Territory has a deep interest, may be leased +and denuded of their timber by officers none of whom have been chosen by +the people, and without the sanction of any law or regulation made by +their representatives in the local legislature. Even the measure of +protection which would be afforded the citizens of the Territory by a +submission to the Secretary of the Interior of the leases proposed, and +thus giving him an opportunity to ascertain whether or not they comply +with his regulations, is especially withheld. +</p> +<p> +It was hardly necessary to provide in this bill that these lands +might be leased "under such laws and regulations as may be hereafter +prescribed by the legislature of said Territory" if the action of the +legislature was to be forestalled and rendered nugatory by the immediate +and unrestrained action of the officers constituted "a board for the +leasing of said lands" pending such legislative consideration. These +are inconsistencies which are not satisfactorily accounted for by the +suggestion that the time that would elapse before the legislature could +consider the subject would be important. +</p> +<p> +The protests I have received from numerous and influential citizens of +the Territory indicate considerable opposition to this bill among those +interested in the preservation and proper management of these school +lands. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>April 21, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without my approval Senate bill No. 894, entitled +"An act granting a pension to Nancy G. Allabach." +</p> +<p> +This bill provides for the payment of a pension of $30 a month to the +beneficiary named as the widow of Peter H. Allabach. +</p> +<p> +This soldier served for nine months in the Army during the War of the +Rebellion, having also served in the war with Mexico. +</p> +<p> +He was mustered out of his last service on the 23d day of May, 1863, +and died on the 11th of February, 1892. +</p> +<p> +During his life he made no application for pension on account of +disabilities. It is not now claimed that he was in the least disabled as +an incident of his military service, nor is it alleged that his death, +which occurred nearly twenty-nine years after his discharge from the +Army, was in any degree related to such service. +</p> +<p> +His widow was pensioned after his death under the statute allowing +pensions to widows of soldiers of the Mexican War without reference to +the cause of the death of their husbands. Her case is also, indirectly, +one of those provided for by the general act passed in 1890, commonly +called the dependent-pension law. +</p> +<p> +It is proposed, however, by the special act under consideration to give +this widow a pension of $30 a month without the least suggestion of the +death or disability of her husband having been caused by his military +service, and solely, as far as is discoverable, upon the ground that she +is poor and needs the money. +</p> +<p> +This condition is precisely covered by existing general laws; and if a +precedent is to be established by the special legislation proposed, I do +not see how the same relief as is contained in this bill can be denied +to the many thousand widows who in a similar situation are now on the +pension rolls under general laws. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>April 21, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without my approval Senate bill No. 249, entitled +"An act granting a pension to Charles E. Jones." +</p> +<p> +The beneficiary named in this bill was a photographer who accompanied +one of the regiments of the Union Army in the War of the Rebellion. He +was injured, apparently not very seriously, while taking photographs and +when no battle was in actual progress. He was not enlisted, and was in +no manner in the military service of the United States. +</p> +<p> +Aside from the question as to whether his present sad condition is +attributable to the injury mentioned, it seems to me the extension of +pension relief to such cases would open the door to legislation hard to +justify and impossible to restrain from abuse. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>April 25, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without my approval House bill No. 1094, entitled +"An act granting a pension to Francis E. Hoover." +</p> +<p> +It is proposed by this bill to grant a pension of $50 a month to the +beneficiary named, who served as a private for about one year and nine +months in the Union Army during the War of the Rebellion. +</p> +<p> +I do not understand it is claimed in any quarter that the present +helpless condition of this soldier is at all attributable to his army +service. +</p> +<p> +He himself never applied for a pension until after the passage of the +law of 1890, providing for a pension for those who had served in the +Army and are unable to maintain themselves by manual labor on account of +disability not chargeable to army service. The committee of the House of +Representatives in reporting this bill declare: "The testimony does not +show the disease of the soldier to be of service origin." +</p> +<p> +The beneficiary is now receiving the largest pension permitted under the +law of 1890. +</p> +<p> +His condition may well excite our sympathy, but to grant him a pension +of $50 a month without the least suggestion that his pitiable disability +is related to his army service, and in view of the fact that he is now +receiving the highest pension allowed by a general law enacted to +expressly meet such cases, it seems to me would result in an unfair +discrimination as against many thousand worthy soldiers similarly +situated, and would invite applications which, while difficult to refuse +in the face of such a precedent, must certainly lead to the breaking +down of all the limitations and restrictions provided by our laws +regulating pensions. +</p> +<p> +The value of pension legislation depends as much upon fairness and +justice in its administration as it does upon its liberality and +generosity. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 19, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without approval House bill No. 1139, entitled "An act +granting a pension to Caroline D. Mowatt." +</p> +<p> +The beneficiary mentioned in this bill was married in 1858 to Alfred B. +Soule, who served as major of a Maine regiment of volunteers in the War +of the Rebellion from September 10, 1862, to July 15, 1863, when he was +mustered out of the service. He died in February, 1864, and in 1866 a +pension was granted to the beneficiary as his widow at the rate of $25 a +month, dating from the time of her husband's death, two years before. +</p> +<p> +The widow continued to receive the pension allowed her until June 17, +1869, when She was married to Henry T. Mowatt, which under the law +terminated her pensionable right. It appears, however, that a small +pension was allowed two minor children of the soldier at the time of +their mother's remarriage, which continued until 1876, more than seven +years after such remarriage, when the youngest of said children became +16 years of age. +</p> +<p> +In 1878, nine years after he became the second husband of the +beneficiary, Henry T. Mowatt died. +</p> +<p> +Though twenty-seven years have passed since the beneficiary ceased to +be the widow of the deceased soldier, and though she has been the widow +of Henry T. Mowatt for eighteen years, it is proposed by the bill under +consideration to again place her name upon the pension roll "as widow +of Alfred B. Soule, late major of the Twenty-third Regiment Maine +Volunteers." +</p> +<p> +Of course the propriety of the law which terminates the pension of a +soldier's widow upon her remarriage will not be questioned. I suppose no +one would suggest the renewal of such pension during the lifetime of her +second husband. Her pensionable relation to the Government as the widow +of her deceased soldier husband, under any reasonable pension theory, +absolutely terminated with her remarriage. +</p> +<p> +If she is to be again pensioned because her second husband does not +survive her, the transaction has more the complexion of an adjustment +of a governmental insurance on the life of the second husband than the +allowance of a pension on just and reasonable grounds. +</p> +<p> +Legislation of this description is sure to establish a precedent which +it will be difficult to disclaim, and which if followed can not fail to +lead to abuse. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 20, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without approval House bill No. 577, entitled "An act +granting a pension to Lydia A. Taft." +</p> +<p> +In 1858 the beneficiary named in this bill became the wife of Lowell +Taft, who afterwards enlisted in the Union Army as a private in a +Connecticut regiment and served from August, 1862, until June, 1865. +The records of the War Department show that he was captured by the +enemy June 15, 1863, and paroled July 14, 1863. +</p> +<p> +No application for a pension was ever made by him, though he lived until +1891, when he died at a soldiers' home in Connecticut. +</p> +<p> +No suggestion is made that he incurred any disability in the service or +that his death was in any manner related to such service. +</p> +<p> +In 1882, nearly twenty-four years after her marriage to the soldier +and seventeen years after his discharge from the Army, the beneficiary +obtained a divorce from him upon the grounds of habitual drunkenness +and failure to afford her a support. +</p> +<p> +It is now proposed, five years after the soldier's death, to pension as +his widow the wife who was divorced from him at her own instance +fourteen years ago. +</p> +<p> +A government's generous care for widows deprived of a husband's support +and companionship by the casualties or disabilities of war rests upon +grounds which all must cheerfully approve; but it is difficult to place +upon these grounds the case of this proposed beneficiary, who has +renounced a wife's relation, with all its duties and all its rights, and +who by her own act placed herself beyond the possibility of becoming the +widow of her soldier husband. +</p> +<p> +If, as stated in the report of the House committee on this bill, the +beneficiary for some reason contributed something toward the soldier's +support after her divorce and paid the expense of his burial, the fact +still remains that this soldier died in a soldiers' home wifeless and +leaving no one surviving who, claiming to be his widow, should be +allowed to profit by his death. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 21, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without approval House bill No. 1185, entitled "An act +granting a pension to Rachel Patton." +</p> +<p> +John H. Patton, the husband of the beneficiary, was a captain in an +Illinois regiment, and was killed in action June 25, 1863. +</p> +<p> +In December, 1863, the beneficiary was pensioned as his widow at the +rate of $20 a month. +</p> +<p> +She received this pension for thirteen years and until 1876, when she +married one William G. Culbertson. Thereupon, because of such marriage, +her name was dropped from the pension rolls, pursuant to law. +</p> +<p> +In 1889, thirteen years after her remarriage and the termination of her +pension, she procured a decree of divorce against her second husband on +the ground of desertion. +</p> +<p> +She has a small income, but it does not appear that alimony was allowed +her in the divorce proceedings. +</p> +<p> +It is proposed by this bill to pension her at the same rate which was +allowed her while she remained the widow of the deceased soldier. +</p> +<p> +It can not be denied that the remarriage of this beneficiary terminated +her pensionable relation to the Government as completely as if it never +existed. The statute which so provides simply declares what is approved +by a fair and sensible consideration of pension principles. As a legal +proposition, the pensionable status of a soldier's widow, lost by her +remarriage, can not be recovered by the dissolution of the second +marriage. Waiving, however, the application of strictly legal principles +to the subject, there does not appear to be any sentiment which should +restore to the pension rolls as the widow of a deceased soldier a +divorced wife who has relinquished the title of soldier's widow to again +become a wife, and who to secure the expected advantages and comforts of +a second marriage has been quite willing to forego the provision which +was made for her by the Government solely on the grounds of her soldier +widowhood. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 23, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without approval House bill No. 4804, entitled "An act +to amend subdivision 10 of section 2238 of the Revised Statutes of the +United States." +</p> +<p> +The subdivision of the section of the law proposed to be amended by +this bill has reference to the fees allowed receivers and registers at +public-land offices. This subdivision now reads as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Tenth. Registers and receivers are allowed jointly at the rate of 15 + cents per hundred words for testimony reduced by them to writing for + claimants in establishing preemption and homestead rights. +</p> +<p> +The bill under consideration so amends this subdivision that in the +first clause a compensation of 10 cents per hundred words is allowed +to the registers and receivers for reducing to writing the testimony +of claimants "in all cases," instead of 15 cents per hundred words for +reducing to writing testimony "in establishing preemption and homestead +rights," as provided in the old law. +</p> +<p> +Whether this reduction of fees preserves an adequate and just +compensation to the officers affected I suppose has been duly considered +by the Congress. +</p> +<p> +The bill, however, after providing for this change in compensation, +contains the following words: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + And in all cases where they [the registers and receivers] can secure a + competent person to reduce the testimony to writing for a sum less per + folio than the sum herein prescribed it shall be their duty to do so. +</p> +<p> +By the addition of these words the bill seems to give certain fees by +way of official compensation to the officers named for certain services +to be performed by them and at the same time to provide that if they can +secure other persons willing to perform these services for a less sum +than the amount allowed to them they shall forego their fees in favor of +such persons. +</p> +<p> +It is very important that the fees and perquisites of public officers +should be definitely and clearly fixed, so that the official may know +precisely the items of his lawful compensation and the people be +protected from extortion and imposition. +</p> +<p> +A public officer ought not to be expected to search very industriously +for a person to underbid him for official work, and if such a person +appeared the temptation to combination and conspiracy would in many +cases lead to abuse. +</p> +<p> +It will be observed that the officers are not given by this amendment +the option to do this work themselves at 10 cents per folio or secure a +competent person to do it at a less rate, nor, if they desire, are they +allowed to compete with those willing to accept a less compensation. +They may charge a fixed rate for the service if performed by them, but +in any event if they can procure another party to perform the services +for a less sum they must do so. +</p> +<p> +I am convinced that this bill in its present form, perhaps through +unfortunate phraseology, if it became a law would lead to confusion and +uncertainty and would invite practices against which the public service +ought to be carefully guarded. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 26, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without approval House bill No. 7161, entitled "An act +for the relief of Benjamin F. Jones." +</p> +<p> +This bill directs the payment to the beneficiary, late postmaster +at Beauregard, Miss., or to his order, of the sum of $50, in full +compensation for services and expenses in carrying and distributing +the mails between Wesson and Beauregard, in the State of Mississippi, +in 1883. +</p> +<p> +It appears from the report of the House committee recommending the +passage of this bill that on April 22, 1883, while Mr. Jones was +postmaster at Beauregard, a cyclone destroyed every building in the +place, including that in which the post-office was kept; that in +consequence of this disaster the mails for Beauregard were for a period +of thirty-five days, and until May 27, 1883, deposited at Wesson, 1 mile +distant; that during that time it became necessary to transport such +mails from Wesson to Beauregard, and that the postmaster caused this to +be done, at an expense of $97. +</p> +<p> +A report from the Postmaster-General discloses the fact that this claim +was presented to the Department in 1884 and was rejected on the ground +that if the service was performed as alleged it was not authorized or +directed by the Department. +</p> +<p> +In 1885 a suit was instituted against this postmaster and his sureties +for a balance due the Government from him on his official accounts for +the quarter ending June 30, 1883. +</p> +<p> +It will be observed that this quarter covered the period within which +the alleged services were performed. +</p> +<p> +In the suit referred to a judgment was recovered by the Government +against the postmaster for $190.45, being the balance found due from +him. This judgment still remains unpaid. +</p> +<p> +In this condition of affairs it is quite plain that in fairness and +justice no appropriation should be made in favor of the claimant. +</p> +<p> +It is the opinion of the Auditor of the Post-Office Department that even +if this bill becomes a law payment of the money appropriated should be +withheld under a section of the Revised Statutes which provides: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + No money shall be paid to any person for his compensation who is in + arrears to the United States until he has accounted for and paid into + the Treasury all sums for which he may be liable. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 29, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without approval House bill No. 7977, entitled "An act +making appropriations for the construction, repair, and preservation of +certain public works on rivers and harbors, and for other purposes." +</p> +<p> +There are 417 items of appropriation contained in this bill, and every +part of the country is represented in the distribution of its favors. +</p> +<p> +It directly appropriates or provides for the immediate expenditure of +nearly $14,000,000 for river and harbor work. This sum is in addition to +appropriations contained in another bill for similar purposes amounting +to a little more than $3,000,000, which have already been favorably +considered at the present session of Congress. +</p> +<p> +The result is that the contemplated immediate expenditures for the +objects mentioned amount to about $17,000,000. +</p> +<p> +A more startling feature of this bill is its authorization of contracts +for river and harbor work amounting to more than $62,000,000. Though the +payments on these contracts are in most cases so distributed that they +are to be met by future appropriations, more than $3,000,000 on their +account are included in the direct appropriations above mentioned. Of +the remainder, nearly $20,000,000 will fall due during the fiscal year +ending June 30, 1898, and amounts somewhat less in the years immediately +succeeding. A few contracts of a like character authorized under +previous statutes are still outstanding, and to meet payments on these +more than $4,000,000 must be appropriated in the immediate future. +</p> +<p> +If, therefore, this bill becomes a law, the obligations which will be +imposed on the Government, together with the appropriations made for +immediate expenditure on account of rivers and harbors, will amount to +about $80,000,000. Nor is this all. The bill directs numerous surveys +and examinations which contemplate new work and further contracts and +which portend largely increased expenditures and obligations. +</p> +<p> +There is no ground to hope that in the face of persistent and growing +demands the aggregate of appropriations for the smaller schemes, not +covered by contracts, will be reduced or even remain stationary. For the +fiscal year ending June 30, 1898, such appropriations, together with the +installments on contracts which will fall due in that year, can hardly +be less than $30,000,000; and it may reasonably be apprehended that the +prevalent tendency toward increased expenditures of this sort and the +concealment which postponed payments afford for extravagance will +increase the burdens chargeable to this account in succeeding years. +</p> +<p> +In view of the obligation imposed upon me by the Constitution, it +seems to me quite clear that I only discharge a duty to our people when +I interpose my disapproval of the legislation proposed. +</p> +<p> +Many of the objects for which it appropriates public money are not +related to the public welfare, and many of them are palpably for the +benefit of limited localities or in aid of individual interests. +</p> +<p> +On the face of the bill it appears that not a few of these alleged +improvements have been so improvidently planned and prosecuted that +after an unwise expenditure of millions of dollars new experiments for +their accomplishment have been entered upon. +</p> +<p> +While those intrusted with the management of public funds in the +interest of all the people can hardly justify questionable expenditures +for public work by pleading the opinions of engineers or others as to +the practicability of such work, it appears that some of the projects +for which appropriations are proposed in this bill have been entered +upon without the approval or against the objections of the examining +engineers. +</p> +<p> +I learn from official sources that there are appropriations contained in +the bill to pay for work which private parties have actually agreed with +the Government to do in consideration of their occupancy of public +property. +</p> +<p> +Whatever items of doubtful propriety may have escaped observation or may +have been tolerated in previous Executive approvals of similar bills, +I am convinced that the bill now under consideration opens the way to +insidious and increasing abuses and is in itself so extravagant as to be +especially unsuited to these times of depressed business and resulting +disappointment in Government revenue. This consideration is emphasized +by the prospect that the public Treasury will be confronted with other +appropriations made at the present session of Congress amounting to more +than $500,000,000. +</p> +<p> +Individual economy and careful expenditure are sterling virtues +which lead to thrift and comfort. Economy and the exaction of clear +justification for the appropriation of public moneys by the servants +of the people are not only virtues, but solemn obligations. +</p> +<p> +To the extent that the appropriations contained in this bill are +instigated by private interests and promote local or individual projects +their allowance can not fail to stimulate a vicious paternalism and +encourage a sentiment among our people, already too prevalent, that +their attachment to our Government may properly rest upon the hope and +expectation of direct and especial favors and that the extent to which +they are realized may furnish an estimate of the value of governmental +care. +</p> +<p> +I believe no greater danger confronts us as a nation than the unhappy +decadence among our people of genuine and trustworthy love and affection +for our Government as the embodiment of the highest and best aspirations +of humanity, and not as the giver of gifts, and because its mission is +the enforcement of exact justice and equality, and not the allowance of +unfair favoritism. +</p> +<p> +I hope I may be permitted to suggest, at a time when the issue of +Government bonds to maintain the credit and financial standing of the +country is a subject of criticism, that the contracts provided for in +this bill would create obligations of the United States amounting to +$62,000,000 no less binding than its bonds for that sum. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 29, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without approval Senate bill No. 147, entitled "An act +granting a pension to Elvira Bachelder." +</p> +<p> +This bill provides for a pension to the beneficiary as dependent mother +of "J.K.P. Bachelder, late a private in Company D, Seventh New Hampshire +Volunteer Infantry." +</p> +<p> +On the merits of the case I am satisfied this mother deserves a pension. +I withhold my approval of the bill intended to grant her this relief +solely because I am advised that the law would be inoperative for the +reason that the deceased soldier never served in the Seventh New +Hampshire Infantry, and should have been described in the bill as a +member of Company D, First New Hampshire Heavy Artillery. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 29, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without approval House bill No. 900, entitled "An act +to provide for the payment of the claim of William H. Mahoney." +</p> +<p> +This bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to receive and pay to +W.H. Mahoney, without the indorsement of N.A. Rogers, a certain bond +issued by the United States in 1861 for the sum of $500, such payment to +be made upon the giving by said Mahoney of a bond to hold harmless the +United States against repayment of said bond. +</p> +<p> +The bond mentioned is one of a large issue which was authorized under an +act passed March 2, 1861, and known as Oregon war-debt bonds. They were +made payable in 1881. +</p> +<p> +In 1864 an act was passed directing the Secretary of the Treasury to +issue or cause to be issued to E.F. and Samuel A. Ward duplicates of +nineteen of these bonds, particularly described by their numbers and +otherwise. Among others are mentioned "Nos. 1352 to 1359, inclusive." +This of course includes the bond numbered 1358, which is directed to be +paid in the bill under consideration. Nothing can now be discovered to +indicate the occasion for the issuance of these duplicates, but from the +fact that a bond of indemnity was required it is inferred that they were +issued because of the loss or destruction of the original bonds. +</p> +<p> +Pursuant to this act a duplicate of the bond in question, among others, +was issued and made payable to the order of Thomas Pritchard, attorney, +who was the payee in the original bond. +</p> +<p> +In 1881 this duplicate was paid by the Treasury Department and is now in +possession of the Government. The indorsement of the payee, "Thomas +Pritchard, attorney," appears thereon and all other proper indorsements +to show title in the party to whom the payment was made. +</p> +<p> +The Government has therefore once paid the amount of this bond to the +party apparently entitled to it. If the beneficiary named in this bill +has a better right to the money, the Government, not being in default, +should be protected against double payment. I suppose to sustain a +claim upon the indemnity bond given when the duplicate was issued in +1864 we should be prepared to show that the second payment on the +original bond was made upon such a state of facts as compelled or at +least justified it. The passage of an act simply directing such payment +would alone not be sufficient. The bond directed to be given by this +bill would afford the Government no protection, since it only provides +against repayment of the bond in the future, whereas the payment we +should suffer from has already been made. +</p> +<p> +I suggest that an act be passed directing the Secretary of the Treasury +to investigate the entire subject with a view of determining to whom +this money should be paid, in a manner to bind, if possible, by the +results of the examination the party to whom it has already been paid, +and who should refund if another has a better right. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 30, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return without approval House bill No. 6037, entitled "An act granting +a pension to Mrs. Amanda Woodcock." +</p> +<p> +The bill provides for the granting of a pension to the beneficiary +therein named, describing her as the "widow of Robert Woodcock, +deceased, late a private in the Fourth United States Volunteer Infantry +in the Mexican War." +</p> +<p> +My action in this case is based upon the following statement concerning +the bill from the Pension Bureau: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The bill, if approved, would be inoperative, inasmuch as there was + no such organization in the Mexican War as named in the bill (Fourth + United States Volunteer Infantry), and the service alleged by the + soldier having been in the Fourth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 30, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without approval House bill No. 4526, entitled "An act +granting a pension to Jonathan Scott." +</p> +<p> +This bill directs that the Secretary of the Interior place upon the +pension roll, at the rate of $72 per month, subject to the provisions +and limitations of the pension laws, the name of Jonathan Scott, late +of Company M, Sixth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. +</p> +<p> +The beneficiary was dropped from the pension roll in October, 1895, +after a very thorough examination, for fraud, it appearing to the +satisfaction of the Pension Bureau that the disability for which he was +pensioned was not due to his army service. There certainly ought to be +a strong presumption that the case was fairly and justly determined by +the Bureau, and the evidence strongly tends to support the conclusion +reached. If restored to the rolls, such restoration would still be +"subject to the provisions and limitations of the pension laws," and he +would not be exempt from further investigation if circumstances or newly +developed facts justified such a course. +</p> +<p> +Whatever may be the merits of the case, however, I am advised by the +Pension Bureau that the bill, if it becomes a law in its present form, +would be inoperative for the reason that the beneficiary is therein +described as having been a member of the Sixth Regiment of Iowa +Volunteer Cavalry, whereas he actually served in the Fifth Regiment of +the Volunteer Cavalry of that State. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>June 1, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without approval Senate bill No. 149, entitled "An act +granting a pension to Helen M. Jacob." +</p> +<p> +The purpose of this bill is to grant a pension of $12 per month to +"Helen M. Jacob, of Rochester, Ind., widow of Benjamin Oden West." +</p> +<p> +It appears from the records of the War Department that Benjamin O. West +served in the Mexican War from January to November in the year 1847. The +beneficiary named in this bill was married to him in 1850, and he died +in 1856. She was pensioned as his widow, and received such pension from +the date of her husband's death until April 17, 1861. On that date she +was married to William W. Jacob, whereupon her pension ceased, but two +minor children were awarded pensions and continued in receipt of the +same until January, 1873, when the youngest child became 16 years of +age. +</p> +<p> +The entire absence of any fixed or reasonable principle or rule +regulating private pension legislation at this time suggests the danger +of its near approach in many cases to caprice and favoritism. +</p> +<p> +Though I have in a number of instances deferred to the judgment of +Congress and refrained from interposing objections to bills of this +character which seemed to me to be of doubtful merit, I am unwilling to +follow such a wide departure from a palpably just pension theory and +assent to the establishment of such an unfortunate precedent as this +bill involves. +</p> +<p> +There is no duty or obligation due from the Government to a soldier's +widow except it be worked out through the deceased soldier. She is +pensioned only because he served his country and because through his +death she as his wife has lost his support. In other words, she becomes +a beneficiary of the Government because she is a soldier's widow. When +she marries again, and thus displaces the memory of her soldier husband +and surrenders all that belongs to soldier widowhood, she certainly +ought not on the death of her second husband to be allowed to claim that +she is again the soldier's widow. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>June 6, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I hereby return without my approval House bill No. 8293, entitled "An +act making appropriations to supply deficiencies in the appropriations +for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1896, and for prior years, and for +other purposes." +</p> +<p> +To the extent that the Constitution has devolved upon the President a +participation in legislation I suppose his action on bills presented to +him for approval involves a duty to be performed, like others pertaining +to his office, with care and circumspection and in full view of his +responsibility to the people and his obligation to subserve the public +welfare. It is difficult to understand why under the Constitution it +should be necessary to submit proposed legislation to Executive scrutiny +and approval except to invoke the exercise of Executive judgment and +invite independent Executive action. +</p> +<p> +The unpleasant incidents which accompany the use of the veto power would +tempt its avoidance if such a course did not involve an abandonment of +constitutional duty and an assent to legislation for which the Executive +is not willing to share the responsibility. +</p> +<p> +I regret that I am constrained to disapprove an important appropriation +bill so near the close of the present session of Congress. I have, +however, by immediate action after the receipt of the bill, endeavored +to delay as little as possible a reconsideration of this proposed +legislation, though I am thus obliged to content myself with a less +complete explanation of my objections than would otherwise be submitted. +</p> +<p> +This bill is in many of its features far removed from a legitimate +deficiency bill, and it contains a number of appropriations which seem +to me to be exceedingly questionable. Without noticing in detail many of +these items, I shall refer to two of them which, in my judgment, justify +my action in the premises. +</p> +<p> +The bill appropriates $1,027,314.09 for a partial payment upon claims +which originated in depredations upon our commerce by French cruisers +and vessels during the closing years of the last century. They have +become quite familiar to those having Congressional experience, as they +have been pressed for recognition and payment, with occasional intervals +of repose, for nearly one hundred years. +</p> +<p> +These claims are based upon the allegations that France, being at war +with England, seized and condemned many American vessels and cargoes in +violation of the rules of international law and treaty provisions and +contrary to the duty she owed to our country as a neutral power and to +our citizens; that by reason of these acts claims arose in favor of such +of our citizens as were demnified against the French nation, which +claims our Government attempted to enforce, and that in concluding a +treaty with France in the year 1800 these claims were abandoned or +relinquished in consideration of the relinquishment of certain claims +which France charged against us. +</p> +<p> +Upon these statements it is insisted by those interested that we as a +nation having reaped a benefit in our escape from these French demands +against us through the abandonment of the claims of our citizens against +France, the Government became equitably bound as between itself and its +citizens to pay the claims thus relinquished. +</p> +<p> +I do not understand it to be asserted that there exists any legal +liability against the Government on account of its relation to these +claims. At the term of the Supreme Court just finished the Chief +Justice, in an opinion concerning them and the action of Congress in +appropriating for their payment, said: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + We think that payments thus prescribed to be made were purposely + brought within the category of payments by way of gratuity—payments + of grace and not of right. +</p> +<p> +From the time the plan was conceived to charge the Government with +the payment of these claims they have abided in the atmosphere of +controversy. Every proposition presented in their support has been +stoutly disputed and every inference suggested in their favor has +been promptly challenged. +</p> +<p> +Thus, inasmuch as it must, I think, be conceded that if a state of war +existed between our country and France at the time these depredations +were committed our Government was not justified in claiming indemnity +for our citizens, it is asserted that we were at the time actually +engaged in war with the French nation. This position seems to be +sustained by an opinion of the Attorney-General of the United States +written in 1798 and by a number of decisions of the Supreme Court +delivered soon after that time. +</p> +<p> +We had certainly abrogated treaties with France, and our cruisers and +armed ships were roaming the seas capturing her vessels and property. +</p> +<p> +So, also, when it is asserted that the validity of these claims was +acknowledged in the treaty negotiations by the representatives of +France, their declarations to a contrary purport are exhibited. +</p> +<p> +And when it is alleged that the abandonment of these claims against +France was in consideration of great benefits to the Government, it is +as confidently alleged that they were in point of fact abandoned because +their enforcement was hopeless and that even if any benefit really +accrued to us by insistence upon their settlement in the course of +diplomatic negotiation such result gave no pretext for taxing the +Government with liability to the claimants. +</p> +<p> +Without noticing other considerations and contentions arising from the +alleged origin of these claims, a brief reference to their treatment in +the past and the development of their presentation may be useful and +pertinent. +</p> +<p> +It is, I believe, somewhat the fashion in interested quarters to speak +of the failure by the Government to pay these claims as such neglect +as amounts to repudiation and a denial of justice to citizens who have +suffered. Of course the original claimants have for years been beyond +the reach of relief; but as their descendants in each generation become +more numerous the volume of advocacy, importunity, and accusation +correspondingly increases. If injustice has been done in the refusal of +these claims, it began early in the present century and may be charged +against men then in public life more conversant than we can be with the +facts involved and whose honesty and sense of right ought to be secure +from suspicion. +</p> +<p> +As early as 1802 a committee of the House of Representatives reported +the facts connected with these claims, but apparently without +recommendation. No action was taken on the report. In 1803 a resolution +declaring that indemnity ought to be paid was negatived by a vote of the +same body. A favorable committee report was made in 1807, but it seems +that no legislative action resulted. In 1818 an adverse report was made +to the Senate, followed by the passage of a resolution declaring "that +the relief asked by the memorialists and petitioners ought not to be +granted." In 1822 and again in 1824 adverse committee reports on the +subject were made to the House, concluding with similar resolutions. +</p> +<p> +The presumption against these claims arising from such unfavorable +reports and resolutions and from the failure of Congress to provide for +their payment at a time so near the events upon which they are based can +not be destroyed by the interested cry of injustice and neglect of the +rights of our citizens. +</p> +<p> +Until 1846 these claims were from time to time pressed upon the +attention of Congress with varying fortunes, but never with favorable +legislative action. In that year, however, a bill was passed for their +ascertainment and satisfaction, and $5,000,000 were appropriated for +their payment. This bill was vetoed by President Polk,<a href="#note-31" name="noteref-31"><small>31</small></a> who declared +that he could "perceive no legal or equitable ground upon which this +large appropriation can rest." This veto was sustained by the House of +Representatives. +</p> +<p> +Nine years afterwards, and in 1855, another bill was passed similar to +the one last mentioned, and appropriating for the settlement of these +claims a like sum of money. This bill was also vetoed,<a href="#note-32" name="noteref-32"><small>32</small></a> President +Pierce concluding a thorough discussion of its demerits with these +words: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In view of what has been said there would seem to be no ground on which + to raise a liability of the United States, unless it be the assumption + that the United States are to be considered the insurer and the + guarantor of all claims, of whatever nature, which any individual + citizen may have against a foreign nation. +</p> +<p> +This veto was also sustained by the House of Representatives. +</p> +<p> +I think it will be found that in all bills proposed in former times for +the payment of these claims the sum to be appropriated for that purpose +did not exceed $5,000,000. It is now estimated that those already passed +upon, with those still pending for examination in the Court of Claims, +may amount to $25,000,000. This indicates either that the actual +sufferers or those nearer to them in time and blood than the present +claimants underestimated their losses or that there has been a great +development in the manner of their presentation. +</p> +<p> +Notwithstanding persistent efforts to secure payment from the +Government and the importunity of those interested, no appropriation has +ever been made for that purpose except a little more than $1,300,000, +which was placed in the general deficiency bill in the very last hours +of the session of Congress on March 3, 1891. +</p> +<p> +In the long list of beneficiaries who are provided for in the bill now +before me on account of these claims 152 represent the owners of ships +and their cargoes and 186 those who lost as insurers of such vessels or +cargoes. +</p> +<p> +These insurers by the terms of their policies undertook and agreed +"to bear and take upon themselves all risks and perils of the sea, +men-of-war, fire, enemies, rovers, thieves, jettison, letters of mart +and counter mart, surprisals, takings at sea, arrests, restraints, and +detainments of all kings, princes, or people of what nation, condition, +or quality whatsoever." +</p> +<p> +The premiums received on these policies were large, and the losses +were precisely those within the contemplation of the insurers. It is +well known that the business of insurance is entered upon with the +expectation that the premiums received will pay all losses and yield a +profit to the insurance in addition; and yet, without any showing that +the business did not result in a profit to these insurance claimants, +it is proposed that the Government shall indemnify them against the +precise risks they undertook, notwithstanding the fact that the money +appropriated is not to be paid except "by way of gratuity—payments +as of grace and not of right." +</p> +<p> +The appropriations to indemnify against insurance losses rest upon +weaker grounds, it seems to me, than those of owners; but in the light +of all the facts and circumstances surrounding these spoliation claims, +as they are called, none of them, in my opinion, should be paid by the +Government. +</p> +<p> +Another item in this bill which seems to me especially objectionable is +an appropriation in favor of Charles P. Chouteau, survivor, etc., of +$174,445.75, in full satisfaction of all claims arising out of the +construction of the ironclad steam battery <i>Etlah</i>. +</p> +<p> +The contract for the construction of this battery was made by the +Government with Charles W. McCord during the war, and he was to be paid +therefor the sum of $386,000. He was paid this sum and $210,991 for +extras, and in May, 1866, gave his receipt in full. The assignee of +McCord in bankruptcy assigned to Chouteau and his associates in 1868 +all claims of McCord against the United States for the precise extras +for which he had receipted in full two years before. Chouteau brought +suit in the Court of Claims for such extras and was defeated. I can not +gather from the facts I have been able to collect concerning this +appropriation that it is justified on any ground. +</p> +<p> +In 1890 my immediate predecessor vetoed a bill allowing the matter to be +examined again by the Court of Claims.<a href="#note-33" name="noteref-33"><small>33</small></a> +</p> +<p> +If the additional payment proposed in this bill was made, the cost of +the battery in question would be almost double that of the contract +price. +</p> +<p> +I have determined to submit this incomplete presentation of my +objections to this bill at once in order that the Congress may act +thereon without embarrassment or the interruption of plans for an early +adjournment. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>June 10, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without my approval House bill No. 225, entitled "An +act to provide for the lease of Fort Omaha Military Reservation to the +State of Nebraska." +</p> +<p> +This bill authorizes and directs the Secretary of War, when Fort Crook, +near the city of Omaha, is ready for occupancy, to lease for a nominal +rent to the State of Nebraska the possession of Fort Omaha Military +Reservation, containing about 80 acres, with all the buildings, +appurtenances, and improvements thereof. It is declared that the lease +shall be conditional upon the use of said reservation by the State of +Nebraska as a place of rendezvous and school of instruction for the +National Guard of said State; that the State of Nebraska shall while it +is in possession of said reservation keep the buildings and improvements +thereon in as good condition and repair as at the date it shall enter +into possession thereof, and that at any time when, in the judgment of +the Secretary of War, the interests of the United States shall require +such action he shall take possession of said military reservation for +the use of the Government, together with all the buildings, +appurtenances, and improvements thereon. +</p> +<p> +On the 23d day of July, 1888, an act was passed authorizing the +Secretary of War to purchase suitable grounds, of not less than 640 +acres in extent, to be situate within 10 miles of the city of Omaha, and +to construct the necessary buildings thereon for a ten-company military +post, to be known as Fort Omaha, and a necessary sum, not exceeding +$200,000, was appropriated to enable the Secretary of War to carry out +the provisions of said act. +</p> +<p> +The said act also authorized the Secretary of War, when the purchase of +the new site should be effected, to sell the military reservation known +as Fort Omaha and such of the buildings and improvements thereon as +could not be economically removed to the new site, and to cause the said +reservation, for the purposes of said sale, to be platted in blocks, +streets, and alleys, if in his judgment it would inure to the benefit of +the Government in making a sale of such site. +</p> +<p> +The new site provided for by this act has been purchased, a large sum of +money has been spent by the Government in preparing it for use, and I +understand it will soon be ready for occupancy. The authority to sell +the old site has not been exercised. This may be accounted for by the +fact that the Government has not thus far been able to dispense with its +use or because the depression in land values at Omaha has rendered it +unadvisable. +</p> +<p> +The authority to sell and to remove any of the buildings from the old +reservation to the new site still remains, however, unimpaired. In this +condition of affairs it is now proposed to lease this land and these +buildings to the State of Nebraska at a nominal rent, allowing the +Government to repossess it only "when the interests of the United States +shall require such action." +</p> +<p> +Of course it would be claimed that this language, in view of the +statute of 1888, should not be construed as permitting the Government to +retake the property for the purpose of selling it, because that is not +stipulated in the bill. For that reason it would be plausibly urged that +the lease was paramount to the power of sale contained in the law of +1888 and that the omission of any provision that possession might be +resumed for the purpose of sale plainly indicated that "the interests of +the United States" which allow such resumption contemplate some other +and different emergency. +</p> +<p> +As a practical question, we all know that transactions of this character +relating to Government property amount to a permanent alienation, or +certainly pave the way for an absolute grant. +</p> +<p> +I do not think there should be anything done with this valuable property +which will in the least embarrass the Government in its sale, and to +that extent reimbursing itself for the cost of the new military post, +which was plainly contemplated in the law of 1888. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + PROCLAMATIONS. +</h2> +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas the Congress of the United States passed an act, which was +approved on the 16th day of July, 1894, entitled "An act to enable the +people of Utah to form a constitution and State government and to be +admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States," +which act provided for the election of delegates to a constitutional +convention to meet at the seat of government of the Territory of Utah +on the first Monday in March, 1895, for the purpose of declaring the +adoption of the Constitution of the United States by the people of the +proposed State and forming a constitution and State government for such +State; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas delegates were accordingly elected, who met, organized, and +declared on behalf of the people of said proposed State their adoption +of the Constitution of the United States, all as provided in said act; +and +</p> +<p> +Whereas said convention, so organized, did, by ordinance irrevocable +without the consent of the United States and the people of said State, +as required by said act, provide that perfect toleration of religious +sentiment shall be secured and that no inhabitant of said State shall +ever be molested in person or property on account of his or her mode of +religious worship, but that polygamous or plural marriages are forever +prohibited, and did also by said ordinance make the other various +stipulations recited in section 3 of said act; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas said convention thereupon formed a constitution and State +government for said proposed State, which constitution, including said +ordinance, was duly submitted to the people thereof at an election held +on the Tuesday next after the first Monday of November, 1895, as +directed by said act; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas the return of said election has been made and canvassed and the +result thereof certified to me, together with a statement of the votes +cast and a copy of said constitution and ordinance, all as provided in +said act, showing that a majority of the votes lawfully cast at such +election was for the ratification and adoption of said constitution and +ordinance; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas the constitution and government of said proposed State are +republican in form, said constitution is not repugnant to the +Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence, +and all the provisions of said act have been complied with in the +formation of said constitution and government: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States +of America, in accordance with the act of Congress aforesaid and by +authority thereof, announce the result of said election to be as so +certified and do hereby declare and proclaim that the terms and +conditions prescribed by the Congress of the United States to entitle +the State of Utah to admission into the Union have been duly complied +with and that the creation of said State and its admission into the +Union on an equal footing with the original States is now accomplished. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 4th day of January, A.D. 1896, and +of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and +twentieth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 13 of the act of Congress of March 3, +1891, entitled "An act to amend Title LX, chapter 3, of the Revised +Statutes of the United States, relating to copyrights," that said act +"shall only apply to a citizen or subject of a foreign state or nation +when such foreign state or nation permits to citizens of the United +States of America the benefit of copyright on substantially the same +basis as its own citizens, or when such foreign state or nation is a +party to an international agreement which provides for reciprocity in +the granting of copyright, by the terms of which agreement the United +States of America may at its pleasure become a party to such agreement;" +and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is also provided by said section that "the existence of +either of the conditions aforesaid shall be determined by the President +of the United States by proclamation made from time to time as the +purposes of this act may require;" and +</p> +<p> +Whereas satisfactory official assurances have been given that in the +United States of Mexico the law permits to citizens of the United States +of America the benefit of copyright on substantially the same basis as +to the citizens of that Republic: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States of +America, do declare and proclaim that the first of the conditions +specified in section 13 of the act of March 3, 1891, now exists and is +fulfilled in respect to the citizens of the United States of Mexico. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 27th day of February, 1896, and of +the Independence of the United States the one hundred and twentieth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas in a suit between the United States and the State of Texas +involving the title to and jurisdiction over all that territory lying +between the North and South forks of the Red River and the one hundredth +degree of longitude, known and styled as "Greer County, Tex.," the +Supreme Court of the United States has decided that the title to and +jurisdiction over said territory is vested in the United States; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas the Choctaw Nation claims that the title to these lands passed +to said nation by virtue of treaties with the United States and that the +title of said nation to said lands has not been extinguished, but that +said Choctaw Nation has a right and interest therein; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is claimed that divers persons settled upon said lands prior +to the 30th day of December, 1887, acting in good faith upon the belief +that the same belonged to and were subject to the jurisdiction of the +State of Texas and that Congress will be asked to extend to all such +settlers suitable relief: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, +by virtue of the authority in me vested, not admitting in any wise the +validity of such claim on behalf of the Choctaw Nation, but for the +purpose of preserving the status of said lands intact until such time +as said claim of the Choctaw Nation thereto may be duly determined, and +that the settlers herein before referred to shall not be disturbed until +Congress shall have fully considered their claims for relief, do hereby +withdraw said lands from disposition under the public-land laws of the +United States and declare the same to be in a state of reservation until +such time as this order of withdrawal may be revoked; and I do further +warn and admonish all persons against entering upon said lands with a +view to occupying the same or settling thereon under the public-land +laws during the existence of this order. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 16th day of March, A.D. 1896, and +of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and twentieth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +The following provisions of the laws of the United States are published +hereby for the information of all concerned: +</p> +<p> +Section 1956, Revised Statutes, chapter 3, Title XXIII, enacts that— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + No person shall kill any otter, mink, marten, sable, or fur seal, or + other fur-bearing animal within the limits of Alaska Territory or in + the waters thereof; and every person guilty thereof shall for each + offense be fined not less than $200 nor more than $1,000, or imprisoned + not more than six months, or both; and all vessels, their tackle, + apparel, furniture, and cargo, found engaged in violation of this + section shall be forfeited; but the Secretary of the Treasury shall + have power to authorize the killing of any such mink, marten, sable, or + other fur-bearing animal, except fur seals, under such regulations as + he may prescribe; and it shall be the duty of the Secretary to prevent + the killing of any fur seal and to provide for the execution of the + provisions of this section until it is otherwise provided by law, nor + shall he grant any special privileges under this section. +</p> + +<p> +Section 3 of the act entitled "An act to provide for the protection of +the salmon fisheries of Alaska," approved March 2, 1889, provides— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Sec. 3. That section 1956 of the Revised Statutes of the United States + is hereby declared to include and apply to all the dominion of the + United States in the waters of Bering Sea; and it shall be the duty of + the President at a timely season in each year to issue his proclamation, + and cause the same to be published for one month in at least one + newspaper (if any such there be) published at each United States port of + entry on the Pacific coast, warning all persons against entering said + waters for the purpose of violating the provisions of said section; + and he shall also cause one or more vessels of the United States to + diligently cruise said waters and arrest all persons and seize all + vessels found to be or to have been engaged in any violation of the + laws of the United States therein. +</p> +<p> +The act entitled "An act to extend to the North Pacific Ocean the +provisions of the statutes for the protection of the fur seals and other +fur-bearing animals," approved February 21, 1893, provides— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That whenever the Government of the United States shall conclude an + effective international arrangement for the protection of fur seals + in the North Pacific Ocean by agreement with any power or as a result + of the decision of the Tribunal of Arbitration under the convention + concluded between the United States and Great Britain February 29, + 1892, and so long as such arrangement shall continue, the provisions + of section 1956 of the Revised Statutes and all other provisions of the + statutes of the United States, so far as the same may be applicable, + relative to the protection of fur seals and other fur-bearing animals + within the limits of Alaska or in the waters thereof shall be extended + to and over all that portion of the Pacific Ocean included in such + international arrangement. Whenever an effective international + arrangement is concluded as aforesaid it shall be the duty of the + President to declare that fact by proclamation and to designate the + portion of the Pacific Ocean to which it is applicable and that this + act has become operative, and likewise when such arrangement ceases + to declare that fact and that this act has become inoperative; and + his proclamation in respect thereto shall be conclusive. During the + extension as aforesaid of said laws for the protection of fur seals or + other fur-bearing animals all violations thereof in said designated + portion of the Pacific Ocean shall be held to be the same as if + committed within the limits of Alaska or in the waters thereof, but + they may be prosecuted either in the district court of Alaska or in + any district court of the United States in California, Oregon, or + Washington. +</p> +<p> +An arrangement having been made for the protection of fur seals as +a result of the decision of the Tribunal of Arbitration under the +convention concluded as aforesaid February 29, 1892, which prohibits +the killing of seals at any time within a radius of 60 miles around the +Pribilof Islands or during May, June, and July of each year in that +portion of the Pacific Ocean, inclusive of Bering Sea, situated to the +north of the thirty-fifth degree of north latitude and eastward of the +one hundred and eightieth degree of longitude from Greenwich until it +strikes the water boundary described in Article I of the treaty of 1867 +between the United States and Russia, and following that line up to +Bering Strait: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, be it known that I, Grover Cleveland, President of the +United States of America, hereby declare that the said act of Congress +of February 21, 1893, has become operative; that in accordance therewith +section 1956 of the Revised Statutes is applicable to the waters above +mentioned, included in the award of the tribunal at Paris given under +the said convention of February 29, 1892, and that I have caused the +foregoing laws specially to be proclaimed to the end that their +provisions may be known and observed. +</p> +<p> +I hereby proclaim that every person guilty of a violation of the +provisions of said laws and of any other provisions of the statutes of +the United States, so far as the same may be applicable, relative to the +protection of fur-bearing animals within the limits of Alaska or in the +waters thereof will be arrested and punished as therein provided, and +all vessels so engaged, their tackle, apparel, furniture, and cargo, +will be seized and forfeited. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 14th day of April, A.D. 1896, and +of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and twentieth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 13 of the act of Congress of March 3, +1891, entitled "An act to amend Title LX, chapter 3, of the Revised +Statutes of the United States, relating to copyrights," that said act +"shall only apply to a citizen or subject of a foreign state or nation +when such foreign state or nation permits to citizens of the United +States of America the benefit of copyright on substantially the same +basis as its own citizens, or when such foreign state or nation is a +party to an international agreement which provides for reciprocity in +the granting of copyright, by the terms of which agreement the United +States of America may at its pleasure become a party to such agreement;" +and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it is also provided by said section that "the existence of +either of the conditions aforesaid shall be determined by the President +of the United States by proclamation made from time to time as the +purposes of this act may require;" and +</p> +<p> +Whereas satisfactory official assurances have been given that in the +Republic of Chile the law permits to citizens of the United States of +America the benefit of copyright on substantially the same basis as to +the citizens of that Republic: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States +of America, do declare and proclaim that the first of the conditions +specified in section 13 of the act of March 3, 1891, now exists and +is fulfilled in respect to the citizens of the Republic of Chile. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 25th day of May, 1896, and of the +Independence of the United States the one hundred and twentieth. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas by a proclamation dated the 12th day of June, A.D. 1895,<a href="#note-34" name="noteref-34"><small>34</small></a> +attention was called to the serious civil disturbances, accompanied by +armed resistance to the established Government of Spain, then prevailing +in the island of Cuba, and citizens of the United States and all other +persons were admonished to abstain from taking part in such disturbances +in contravention of the neutrality laws of the United States; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas said civil disturbances and armed resistance to the authority +of Spain, a power with which the United States are on terms of peace +and amity, continue to prevail in said island of Cuba; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas since the date of said proclamation said neutrality laws of the +United States have been the subject of authoritative exposition by the +judicial tribunal of last resort, and it has thus been declared that any +combination of persons organized in the United States for the purpose +of proceeding to and making war upon a foreign country with which the +United States are at peace, and provided with arms to be used for such +purpose, constitutes a "military expedition or enterprise" within the +meaning of said neutrality laws, and that the providing or preparing +of the means for such "military expedition or enterprise," which is +expressly prohibited by said laws, includes furnishing or aiding in +transportation for such "military expedition or enterprise;" and +</p> +<p> +Whereas, by express enactment, if two or more persons conspire to commit +an offense against the United States any act of one conspirator to +effect the object of such conspiracy renders all the conspirators liable +to fine and imprisonment; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas there is reason to believe that citizens of the United States +and others within their jurisdiction fail to apprehend the meaning and +operation of the neutrality laws of the United States as authoritatively +interpreted as aforesaid, and may be misled into participation in +transactions which are violations of said laws and will render them +liable to the severe penalties provided for such violations: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, that the laws above referred to, as judicially +construed, may be duly executed, that the international obligations of +the United States may be fully satisfied, and that their citizens and +all others within their jurisdiction, being seasonably apprised of their +legal duty in the premises, may abstain from disobedience to the laws +of the United States and thereby escape the forfeitures and penalties +legally consequent thereon, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United +States, do hereby solemnly warn all citizens of the United States and +all others within their jurisdiction against violations of the said +laws, interpreted as hereinbefore explained, and give notice that all +such violations will be vigorously prosecuted; and I do hereby invoke +the cooperation of all good citizens in the enforcement of said laws and +in the detection and apprehension of any offenders against the same, and +do hereby enjoin upon all the executive officers of the United States +the utmost diligence in preventing, prosecuting, and punishing any +infractions thereof. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed, +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 27th day of July, A.D. 1896, and of +the Independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. +</h3> +<h4> +THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +The United States should never be unmindful of the gratitude they owe +the God of Nations for His watchful care, which has shielded them from +dire disaster and pointed out to them the way of peace and happiness. +Nor should they ever refuse to acknowledge with contrite hearts their +proneness to turn away from God's teachings and to follow with sinful +pride after their own devices. +</p> +<p> +To the end that these thoughts may be quickened it is fitting that on +a day especially appointed we should join together in approaching the +Throne of Grace with praise and supplication. +</p> +<p> +Therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, do +hereby designate and set apart Thursday, the 26th day of the present +month of November, to be kept and observed as a day of thanksgiving and +prayer throughout our land. +</p> +<p> +On that day let all our people forego their usual work and occupation, +and, assembled in their accustomed places of worship, let them with one +accord render thanks to the Ruler of the Universe for our preservation +as a nation and our deliverance from every threatened danger, for the +peace that has dwelt within our boundaries, for our defense against +disease and pestilence during the year that has passed, for the +plenteous rewards that have followed the labors of our husbandmen, +and for all the other blessings that have been vouchsafed to us. +</p> +<p> +And let us, through the mediation of Him who has taught us how to pray, +implore the forgiveness of our sins and a continuation of heavenly +favor. +</p> +<p> +Let us not forget on this day of thanksgiving the poor and needy, and by +deeds of charity let our offerings of praise be made more acceptable in +the sight of the Lord. +</p> +<p> +Witness my hand and the seal of the United States, which I have caused +to be hereto affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 4th day of November, A.D. 1896, and +of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and +twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas on June 21, 1890, the President of the United States by +proclamation reserved certain lands in Juneau and Douglas City, Fort +Wrangell and Sitka, in the Territory of Alaska, for public buildings, +barracks, parade grounds, parks, wharves, coaling stations, etc., which +are fully set forth and particularly described in said proclamation; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas a treaty of cession was exchanged and proclaimed on June 20, +1867, whereby the Russian Empire ceded to the United States the +Territory of Alaska; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas said treaty, by Article II, provided, <i>inter alia</i>, that— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + It is, however, understood and agreed that the churches which have been + built in the ceded territory by the Russian Government shall remain the + property of such members of the Greek Oriental Church resident in the + territory as may choose to worship therein. +</p> +<p> +And whereas there were included among the lands hereinbefore referred +to as reserved on June 21, 1890, certain lands in and about the town +of Sitka, in said Territory of Alaska, which are claimed by the Holy +Orthodox Catholic Apostolic Oriental Church, commonly styled the +Greco-Russian Church, and described in the said treaty as the Greek +Oriental Church: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, +by virtue of the authority in me vested, do hereby declare, proclaim, +and make known that the Executive order of June 21, 1890, making said +reservations of lands in the Territory of Alaska, therein particularly +described, is hereby modified, and said reservations are diminished so +that the following property, described in Inventory B attached to and +referred to in the protocol of transfer signed by the representatives of +Russia and the United States on October 26, 1867, and being in and about +the town of Sitka aforesaid, be excluded therefrom, to wit: +</p> +<p> +The Cathedral Church of St. Michael, built of timber, situated in the +center of the city. +</p> +<p> +The Church of Resurrection, of timber, commonly called the Kalochian +Church, situated near the battery number at the palisade separating the +city from the Indian village. +</p> +<p> +102. A double-storied timber building for bishop house, with +outbuildings, appurtenances, and grounds. +</p> +<p> +35. A timber house for church warden. +</p> +<p> +98. A timber house for the deacon. +</p> +<p> +104, 105, 114. Three timber houses, with their appurtenances and +outbuildings, for lodging of priests. +</p> +<p> +F, G, H, I. Four lots of ground belonging to the parsonages. +</p> +<p> +<i>a</i> The place commemorative of the old church. +</p> +<p> +<i>b</i> A tomb. +</p> +<p> +Three cemeteries, two outside palisades and one by the Church of the +Resurrection. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 14th day of November, in the year +1896, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas by a proclamation of the President of the United States dated +January 26, 1888,<a href="#note-35" name="noteref-35"><small>35</small></a> upon proof then appearing satisfactory that no +tonnage or light-house dues or any equivalent tax or taxes whatever +were imposed upon American vessels entering the ports of the Empire of +Germany, either by the Imperial Government or by the governments of the +German maritime States, and that vessels belonging to the United States +of America and their cargoes were not required in German ports to pay +any fee or due of any kind or nature or any import due higher or other +than was payable by German vessels or their cargoes in the United +States, the President did thereby declare and proclaim, from and after +the date of his said proclamation of January 26, 1888, the suspension +of the collection of the whole of the duty of 6 cents per ton, not to +exceed 30 cents per ton per annum, imposed upon vessels entered in +the ports of the United States from any of the ports of the Empire +of Germany by section 11 of the act of Congress approved June 19, +1886, entitled "An act to abolish certain fees for official services +to American vessels and to amend the laws relating to shipping +commissioners, seamen, and owners of vessels, and for other purposes;" +and +</p> +<p> +Whereas the President did further declare and proclaim in his +proclamation of January 26, 1888, that the said suspension should +continue so long as the reciprocal exemption of vessels belonging to +citizens of the United States and their cargoes should be continued in +the said ports of the Empire of Germany, and no longer; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas it now appears upon satisfactory proof that tonnage or +lighthouse dues or a tax or taxes equivalent thereto are in fact imposed +upon American vessels and their cargoes entered in German ports higher +and other than those imposed upon German vessels or their cargoes +entered in ports of the United States, so that said proclamation of +January 26, 1888, in its operation and effect contravenes the meaning +and intent of said section 11 of the act of Congress approved June 19, +1886: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States of +America, by virtue of the aforesaid section II of the act aforesaid, +as well as in pursuance of the terms of said proclamation itself, do +hereby revoke my said proclamation of January 26, 1888, suspending the +collection of the whole of the duty of 6 cents per ton, not to exceed 30 +cents per ton per annum, which is imposed by the aforesaid section of +said act upon vessels entered in the ports of the United States from any +of the ports of the German Empire, this revocation of said proclamation +to take effect on and after the 2d day of January, 1897. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 3d day of December, A.D. 1896, and +of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President:<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + EXECUTIVE ORDERS. +</h2> +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>December 2, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +Special Departmental Rule No. 1, clause 8, is hereby amended by striking +from the list of places excepted from examination in the Department of +Labor statistical experts and temporary experts. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>December 2, 1895</i>. +</p> +<p> +So much of Executive orders heretofore issued under General Rule III, +section 2, clause (<i>c</i>), as provides for the appointment of special +agents in the Department of Labor by noncompetitive examination is +hereby revoked. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 18, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +Section 5 of Internal-Revenue Rule IV is hereby amended by adding at the +end of the first paragraph thereof the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>And provided further</i>, That whenever an emergency shall arise + requiring that a vacant position in any internal-revenue district shall + be filled before a certificate can be issued by the Commission and an + appointment made thereto in the manner provided in these rules, such + position may be filled without regard to the provisions of these rules + by temporary appointment for a period not to exceed fifteen days, and + only for such period as may be required for the execution of the + necessary details of an appointment thereto in accordance with said + provisions; but no person shall receive such emergency appointment who + within the sixty days next previous thereto has been separated from a + position in said district to which he was temporarily appointed under + the provisions of this section. +</p> +<p> +The section as amended shall read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. In the case of the occurrence of a vacancy in the classified service + of any internal-revenue collection district which the public interest + requires shall be immediately filled and there is no eligible entitled + to reinstatement under section 1, clause (<i>b</i>), of this rule + or remaining on the proper register, such vacancy in the class of + storekeeper, storekeeper and gauger, or clerk may be filled without + examination and certification by a temporary designation by the + collector of the district of some suitable person to perform the duties + of the position until a regular appointment can be made under the + provisions of sections 1, 2, and 3 of this rule: <i>Provided</i>, That + service under such temporary designation shall in no case continue + longer than six months, and shall expire by limitation at the end of + that time: <i>And provided further</i>, That no person shall serve + more than six months in any one year under such temporary designation, + the year limitation in regard to such designation to begin to run + on the date thereof: <i>And provided further</i>, That whenever + an emergency shall arise requiring that a vacant position in any + internal-revenue district shall be filled before a certificate can be + issued by the Commission and an appointment made thereto in the manner + provided in these rules, such position may be filled without regard to + the provisions of these rules by temporary appointment for a period not + to exceed fifteen days, and only for such period as may be required for + the execution of the necessary details of an appointment thereto in + accordance with said provisions; but no person shall receive such + emergency appointment who within the sixty days next previous thereto + has been separated from a position in said district to which he was + temporarily appointed under the provisions of this section. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Every such temporary designation, and also the discontinuance of the + same, shall be at once reported to the Commission. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +Section 5 of Customs Rule II is hereby amended by adding thereto the +following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>i</i>) Any person appointed to a position which requires only a + portion of his time and attention for the performance of its duties, + pays him a compensation not exceeding $300 per annum, and permits of + his pursuing other regular business or occupation, such person being + conveniently located for the performance of said duties. +</p> +<p> +The section as amended shall read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. Exceptions from examination in the classified customs service are + hereby made as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) Deputy collectors who do not also act as inspectors, + examiners, or clerks. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) Cashier of the collector. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) Assistant cashier of the collector. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) Auditor of the collector. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>e</i>) Chief acting disbursing officer. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>f</i>) Deputy naval officers. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>g</i>) Deputy surveyors. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>h</i>) One private secretary or one confidential clerk of each + nominating officer. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>i</i>) Any person appointed to a position which requires only a + portion of his time and attention for the performance of its duties, + pays him a compensation not exceeding $300 per annum, and permits of + his pursuing other regular business or occupation, such person being + conveniently located for the performance of said duties. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE.—EXTENSION OF THE CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENTAL AND INDIAN +SERVICES. +</center> +<p> +In the exercise of the power vested in the President by the third +paragraph of section 6 of the act entitled "An act to regulate and +improve the civil service of the United States," approved January 16, +1883, I hereby direct the Secretary of the Interior to amend the +classification of the Interior Department so as to include among the +positions classified thereunder and subject to competitive examination +clerk, assistant clerk, issue clerk, property clerk, storekeeper, and +all other clerical positions at Indian agencies and Indian schools; +likewise to amend the classification of the Indian service so as to +include among the positions classified thereunder supervisor of Indian +schools, day-school inspector, disciplinarian, industrial teacher, +teacher of industries, kindergarten teacher, farmer, nurse, assistant +matron, and seamstress. +</p> +<p> +But Indians shall be eligible to appointment to any of said positions +on such test of fitness as may be required by the Secretary of the +Interior and without examination or certification by the Civil Service +Commission; but they shall not be transferred from said positions to +the departmental service. +</p> +<p> +Approved, March 20, 1896. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>March 28, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +So much of the Executive orders heretofore issued under General Rule +III, section 2, clause (<i>c</i>) as provides for the appointment of +members of the board of pension appeals in the Department of the +Interior by non-competitive examination is hereby revoked, and these +places will hereafter be treated as subject to competitive examination. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>March 28, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +Special Departmental Rule No. 1, clause 3, is hereby amended by striking +from the list of places excepted from examination in the Department of +the Interior assistant attorneys and law clerks, and these places will +hereafter be treated as subject to competitive examination. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +In the exercise of power vested in him by the Constitution and of +authority given to him by the seventeen hundred and fifty-third section +of the Revised Statutes and by an act to regulate and improve the civil +service of the United States, approved January 16, 1883, the President +hereby makes and promulgates the following rules and revokes all others: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE I. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. The United States Civil Service Commission shall have authority to + prescribe regulations in pursuance of and for the execution of the + provisions of these rules and of the civil-service act. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. The several terms hereinafter mentioned, wherever used in these rules + or the regulations of the Commission, shall be construed as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) The term "civil-service act" refers to "An act to regulate + and improve the civil service of the United States," approved January + 16, 1883. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) The term "classified service" refers to all that part of the + executive civil service of the United States included within the + provisions of the civil-service act. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) The term "grade" in connection with employees or positions + refers to a group of employees or positions in the classified service + arranged upon the basis of duties performed, without regard to salaries + received. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) The term "class" in connection with employees or positions + refers to a group of employees or positions in any grade arranged upon + the basis of salaries received, in pursuance of the provisions of + section 163 of the Revised Statutes and of section 6 of the + civil-service act. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>e</i>) The term "excepted position" refers to any position within + the provisions of the civil-service act, but excepted from the + requirement of competitive examination or registration for appointment + thereto. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE II. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. Any person in the executive civil service of the United States who + shall willfully violate any of the provisions of the civil-service act + or of these rules shall be dismissed from office. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. No person in the executive civil service shall use his official + authority or official influence for the purpose of interfering with an + election or controlling the result thereof. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. No person in the executive civil service shall dismiss, or cause to + be dismissed, or make any attempt to procure the dismissal of, or in any + manner change the official rank or compensation of, any other person + therein because of his political or religious opinions or affiliations. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. No question in any examination or form of application shall be so + framed as to elicit information concerning, nor shall any inquiry be + made concerning, nor any other attempt be made to ascertain, the + political or religious opinions or affiliations of any applicant, + competitor, or eligible; and all disclosures thereof shall be + discountenanced, and no discrimination shall be exercised, threatened, + or promised against or in favor of any applicant, competitor, or + eligible because of his political or religious opinions or affiliations. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. No recommendation of an applicant, competitor, or eligible involving + any disclosure of his political or religious opinions or affiliations + shall be received, filed, or considered by the Commission, by any board + of examiners, or by any nominating or appointing officer. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. In making removals or reductions or in imposing punishment for + delinquency or misconduct penalties like in character shall be imposed + for like offenses, and action thereupon shall be taken irrespective of + the political or religious opinions or affiliations of the offenders. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 7. A person holding a position on the date said position is classified + under the civil-service act shall be entitled to all the rights and + benefits possessed by persons of the same class or grade appointed upon + examination under the provisions of said act. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE III. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. All that part of the executive civil service of the United States + which has been or may hereafter be classified under the civil-service + act shall be arranged in branches as follows: The departmental service, + the custom-house service, the post-office service, the Government + printing service, and the internal-revenue service. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. The departmental service shall include officers and employees as + follows, except those in the service of the Government Printing Office + and in the service of the several custom-houses, post-offices, and + internal-revenue districts: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) All officers and employees, of whatever designation, except + persons merely employed as laborers or workmen and persons who have been + nominated for confirmation by the Senate, however or for whatever + purpose employed, whether compensated by a fixed salary or otherwise, + who are serving in or on detail from— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The several Executive Departments, the commissions, and offices + in the District of Columbia. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The railway mail service. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The Indian service. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The several pension agencies. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The steamboat-inspection service. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The marine-hospital service. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The light-house service. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The life-saving service. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The several mints and assay offices. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The revenue-cutter service. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The force employed under custodians of public buildings. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The several subtreasuries. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The engineer department at large. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) All executive officers and employees outside of the District + of Columbia not covered in (<i>a</i>), of whatever designation, whether + compensated by a fixed salary or otherwise— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Who are serving in a clerical capacity or whose duties are in whole or + in part of a clerical nature. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Who are serving in the capacity of watchman or messenger. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Who are serving in the capacity of physician, hospital steward, nurse, + or whose duties are of a medical nature. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Who are serving in the capacity of draftsman, civil engineer, steam + engineer, electrical engineer, computer, or fireman. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Who are in the service of the Supervising Architect's Office in the + capacity of superintendent of construction, superintendent of repair, + or foreman. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Who are in the service of the Treasury Department in any capacity + except those in the life-saving service. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. The custom-house service shall include the officers and employees + serving in any customs district whose employees number as many as five + who have been or may hereafter be classified under the civil-service + act; and whenever in any customs district whose officers and employees + number less than five the number of officers and employees shall be + increased to as many as five the Secretary of the Treasury shall at once + notify the Commission of such increase and the officers and employees in + said district shall be included within the classified service from the + date of said increase. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. The post-office service shall include the officers and employees + in any free-delivery post-office who have been or may hereafter be + classified under the civil-service act; and whenever the free-delivery + system shall be established in any post-office the Postmaster-General + shall at once notify the Commission of such establishment and the + officers or employees of said office shall be included within the + classified service from the date of such establishment; and whenever + by order of the Postmaster-General any post-office shall be + consolidated with and made a part of a free-delivery post-office + the Postmaster-General shall at once notify the Commission of such + consolidation and from the date of said order the employees of the + office thus made a part of the free-delivery office whose names appear + on the roster of the Post-Office Department shall be employees of said + free-delivery office, and the person holding on the date of said order + the position of postmaster at the office thus made a part of said + free-delivery office may be made an employee in said free-delivery + office and may at the time of classification be assigned to any + position therein and given any appropriate designation which the + Postmaster-General may direct. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. The Government printing service shall include the officers and + employees in the Government Printing Office who have been or may + hereafter be classified under the civil-service act. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. The internal-revenue service shall include the officers and employees + who have been or may hereafter be classified under the civil-service act + in any internal-revenue district. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 7. All officers and employees who have heretofore been classified under + the civil-service act shall be considered as still classified and + subject to the provisions of these rules. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 8. The following-mentioned positions or employees shall not be subject + to the provisions of these rules: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) Any position filled by a person whose place of private + business is conveniently located for the performance of the duties of + said position, or any position filled by a person remunerated in one sum + both for services rendered therein and for necessary rent, fuel, and + lights furnished for the performance of the duties thereof: + <i>Provided</i>, That in either case the performance of the duties of + said position requires only a portion of the time and attention of the + occupant, paying him a compensation not exceeding, for his personal + salary only, $300 per annum, and permitting of his pursuing other + regular business or occupation. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) Any person in the military or naval service of the United + States who is detailed for the performance of civil duties. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) Any person employed in a foreign country under the State + Department or temporarily employed in a confidential capacity in a + foreign country. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) Any position whose duties are of a quasi military or quasi + naval character and for the performance of whose duties a person is + enlisted for a term of years. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE IV. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. In pursuance of the provisions of section 2 of the civil-service act, + there shall be provided, to test fitness for admission to positions + which have been or may hereafter be classified under the civil-service + act, examinations of a practical and suitable character involving such + subjects and tests as the Commission may direct. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. No person shall be appointed to or be employed in any position which + has been or may hereafter be classified under the civil-service act + until he shall have passed the examination provided therefor or unless + he is especially exempt from examination by the provisions of said act + or the rules made in pursuance thereof. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. In pursuance of the provisions of section 2 of the civil-service act, + wherever competent persons can be found who are willing to compete, no + noncompetitive examination shall be given except as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) To test fitness for transfer or for promotion in a part of + the service to which promotion regulations have not been applied. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) To test fitness for appointment of Indians as + superintendents, teachers, teachers of industries, kindergartners, and + physicians in the Indian service at large. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The noncompetitive examinations of Indians for the positions mentioned + shall consist of such tests of fitness, not disapproved by the + Commission, as may be determined upon by the Secretary of the Interior. + A statement of the result of every noncompetitive test and all + appointments, transfers, or promotions based thereon shall be + immediately forwarded to the Commission. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. In pursuance of the provisions of section 3 of the civil-service act, + examinations shall be provided at such places and upon such dates as the + Commission shall deem most practicable to subserve the convenience of + applicants and the needs of the service. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. In pursuance of the provisions of section 3 of the civil-service act, + the Commission shall appoint from persons in the Government service such + boards of examiners as it may deem necessary. The members of said boards + shall perform such duties as the Commission may direct in connection + with examinations, appointments, and promotions in any part of the + service which has been or may hereafter be classified. The members of + any board of examiners in the performance of their duties as such shall + be under the direct and sole control and authority of the Commission. + The duties performed by the members of any board of examiners in their + capacity as such shall be considered part of the duties of the office in + which they are serving, and time shall be allowed for the performance of + said duties during the office hours of said office. The members of any + board of examiners shall not all be adherents of one political party + when persons of other political parties are available and competent to + serve upon said board. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. In pursuance of the provisions of section 3 of the civil-service + act, all executive officers of the United States shall facilitate + civil-service examinations, and postmasters, customs officers, + internal-revenue officers, and custodians of public buildings at places + where such examinations are to be held shall for the purpose of such + examinations permit and arrange for the use of suitable rooms under + their charge and for heating, lighting, and furnishing the same. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE V. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. Every applicant for examination must be a citizen of the United + States, must be of proper age, and must make an application under oath + upon a form prescribed by the Commission and accompanied by such + certificates as may be prescribed. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. No application for examination shall be accepted from any person + serving in the Army, the Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States + unless the written consent of the head of the department under which + said person is enlisted is filed with his application. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. The Commission may, in its discretion, refuse to examine an applicant + or to certify an eligible who is physically so disabled as to be + rendered unfit for the performance of the duties of the position to + which he seeks appointment, or who has been guilty of a crime or of + infamous or notoriously disgraceful conduct, or who has been dismissed + from the service for delinquency or misconduct within one year next + preceding the date of his application, or who has intentionally made a + false statement in any material fact or practiced or attempted to + practice any deception or fraud in securing his registration or + appointment. Any of the foregoing disqualifications shall be good cause + for the removal of an eligible from the service after his appointment. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. No application for examination shall be accepted unless the applicant + is within the age limitations fixed herein for entrance to the position + to which he seeks to be appointed: <i>Provided</i>, That, subject to the + other conditions of these rules, the application of any person whose + claim of preference under the provisions of section 1754 of the Revised + Statutes has been allowed by the Commission may be accepted without + regard to his age. The age limitations for entrance to positions in the + different branches of the service shall be as follows: +</p> + +<div class="quote"> +<table border="0" align="center" width="100%" summary="Age Limitations"> + +<tr><td> </td><th>Minimum. </th><th>Maximum.</th></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="3"> Departmental service:</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Page or messenger boy </td><td> 14 </td><td> 18</td></tr> +<tr><td> Apprentice (or student) </td><td> 16 </td><td> 20</td></tr> +<tr><td> Printer's assistant and messenger </td><td> 18 </td><td>No limit.</td></tr> +<tr><td> Positions in railway mail service </td><td> 18 </td><td> 35</td></tr> +<tr><td> Superintendent, physician, supervisor, day-school inspector, Indian service </td><td> 25 </td><td> 55</td></tr> +<tr><td> All other positions in the Indian service </td><td> 21 </td><td> 45</td></tr> +<tr><td> All other positions </td><td> 20 </td><td>No limit.</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="3"><p> (These limitations shall not apply in the cases of +wives of superintendents of Indian schools who apply for examination for +the position of teacher or matron.)</p></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="3"> Custom-house service:</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Clerk and messenger </td><td> 20 </td><td>No limit.</td></tr> +<tr><td> Other positions </td><td> 21 </td><td>No limit.</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="3"> Post-office service:</td></tr> + +<tr><td> Letter carrier </td><td> 21 </td><td> 40</td></tr> +<tr><td> Other positions </td><td> 18 </td><td>No limit.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3"> Government printing service:</td></tr> +<tr><td> All positions (male) </td><td> 21 </td><td>No limit.</td></tr> +<tr><td> All positions (female) </td><td> 18 </td><td>No limit.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3"> Internal-revenue service:</td></tr> +<tr><td> Clerk </td><td> 18 </td><td>No limit.</td></tr> +<tr><td> Other positions </td><td> 21 </td><td>No limit.</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="quote"> + 5. No application shall be accepted for examination for a position which + belongs to one of the recognized mechanical trades unless it shall be + shown that the applicant has served as apprentice or as journeyman or as + apprentice and journeyman at said trade for such periods as the + Commission may prescribe. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE VI. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The following-named employees or positions which have been or may + hereafter be classified under the civil-service act shall be excepted + from the requirement of examination or registration: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Departmental service</i>.—(<i>a</i>) Private secretaries or + confidential clerks (not exceeding two) to the President or to the head + of each of the eight Executive Departments; (<i>b</i>) Indians employed + in the Indian service at large, except those employed as + superintendents, teachers, teachers of industries, kindergartners, and + physicians. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Custom-house service</i>.—(<i>a</i>) One cashier in each customs + district; (<i>b</i>) one chief or principal deputy or assistant + collector in each customs district whose employees number as many as + 150. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Post-office service</i>.—(<i>a</i>) One assistant postmaster, or + chief assistant to the postmaster, of whatever designation, at each + post-office; (<i>b</i>) one cashier of each first-class post-office when + employed under the roster title of cashier only. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Internal-revenue service</i>.—One cashier in each internal-revenue + district. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE VII. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. Examination papers shall be rated on a scale of 100, and the subjects + therein shall be given such relative weights as the Commission may + prescribe. After a competitor's papers have been rated he shall be duly + notified of the result thereof. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. Every competitor who attains an average percentage of 70 or over + shall be eligible for appointment to the position for which he was + examined, and the names of eligibles shall be entered in the order of + their average percentages on the proper register of eligibles: + <i>Provided</i>, That the names of all competitors whose claims to + preference under the provisions of section 1754 of the Revised Statutes + have been allowed by the Commission, and who attain an average + percentage of 65 or over, shall be placed in the order of their average + percentages at the head of the proper register of eligibles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. For filling vacancies in positions for which competitive tests are + not practicable the registration of applicants shall be in the order in + which they fulfill the requirements prescribed therefor by regulation of + the Commission: <i>Provided</i>, That persons who served in the military + or naval service of the United States in the late War of the Rebellion + and were honorably discharged therefrom, and persons who have been + separated from such positions above mentioned through no delinquency or + misconduct, shall be placed at the head of the proper register in the + order of their fulfillment of said requirements. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. The term of eligibility shall be one year from the date on which the + name of the eligible is entered upon the register. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE VIII. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In pursuance of the provisions of section 2 of the civil-service + act, whenever a vacancy occurs in any position which has been or may + hereafter be classified under the civil-service act, and which is not + an excepted position, the filling of said vacancy, unless filled through + noncompetitive examination or by reinstatement, transfer, promotion, or + reduction, shall be governed as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. The appointing or nominating officer shall request certification + to him of the names of eligibles for the position vacant, and the + Commission shall certify to said officer from the proper register + the three names at the head thereof which have not been three times + certified to the Department or office in which the vacancy exists: + <i>Provided</i>, That certification for temporary appointment shall not + be counted as one of the three certifications to which an eligible is + entitled: <i>And provided further</i>, That whenever the sex of those + whose names are to be certified is fixed by any law, rule, or regulation + or is specified in the request for certification the names of those of + the sex so fixed or specified shall be certified, but in other cases + certification shall be made without regard to sex. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. Of the three names certified the nominating or appointing officer + shall select one, and if at the time of selection there are more + vacancies than one he may select more than one name, unless otherwise + directed by the Commission. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. If an eligible who is not entitled to certification is certified and + appointed, his appointment shall be immediately revoked by the + appointing officer upon notification from the Commission. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. A person selected for appointment shall be notified of his selection + by the appointing or nominating officer, and upon his acceptance shall + receive from the appointing officer a certificate of appointment for a + probationary period of six months, at the end of which period, if the + conduct and capacity of the probationer are satisfactory to the + appointing officer, his retention in the service shall be equivalent to + his absolute appointment; but if his conduct or capacity be not + satisfactory he shall be notified by the appointing officer that he will + not receive absolute appointment because of such unsatisfactory conduct + or want of capacity, and such notification shall discharge him from the + service: <i>Provided</i>, That the probation of an employee in the + Indian-school service shall terminate at the end of the school year in + which he is appointed: <i>And provided further</i>, That the time which + an employee has actually served as substitute in parts of the service + where substitutes are authorized shall be counted as part of the + probationary period of his regular appointment, but that time served + under a temporary appointment shall not be so counted. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. If the appointing or nominating officer shall object to an eligible + named in the certificate, stating that because of some physical defect, + mental unsoundness, or moral disqualification, particularly specified, + said eligible would be incompetent or unfit for the performance of the + duties of the vacant position, and if said officer shall sustain such + objection with evidence satisfactory to the Commission, the Commission + may certify the eligible on the register who is in average percentage + next below those already certified in place of the one to whom objection + is made and sustained. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. Certifications for appointment of persons for service in or on direct + detail from any Department or office in Washington, D.C., shall be so + made as to maintain as nearly as possible the apportionment of such + appointments among the several States and Territories and District of + Columbia upon the basis of population, except to appointments in the + Government Printing Office, to the position of printer's assistant, + skilled helper, and operative in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, + to positions in the post quartermaster's office, in the pension agency, + and other local offices in the District of Columbia, and to the + positions of page and messenger boy and apprentice or student. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 7. Within any part of the service to which promotion regulations have + been or may hereafter be applied certification of those eligible to + original appointment shall not be made for filling a vacancy in a + position above the lowest class in any grade whenever there is any + person eligible and willing to be promoted to said vacancy: + <i>Provided</i>, That a vacancy in any position requiring the exercise + of technical or professional knowledge may be filled by original + appointment. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 8. When two or more eligibles on a register have the same average + percentage, preference in certification shall be determined by the order + in which their applications were filed. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 9. For filling vacancies in positions outside of the District + of Columbia and in positions in the pension agency, the depot + quartermaster's office, and other local offices in the District of + Columbia the territory of the United States shall be arranged in + such sections or districts as the Commission may determine, and an + eligible shall be certified in his order to vacancies in the section + or district in which he resides, and, upon his written request, to + vacancies in any one or more of the other sections or districts: + <i>Provided</i>, That in the custom-house service, post-office service, + or internal-revenue service an eligible shall be certified only to + vacancies in the customs district, post-office, or internal-revenue + district where he was examined. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 10. In any part of the service in which the employment of substitutes is + not prohibited by law there may be certified and appointed in the manner + provided for in this rule only such number of substitutes as are + actually needed for the performance of substitute duty. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 11. In any part of the service in which substitutes are employed + certifications of those eligible to original appointment shall be made + for filling vacancies in substitute positions only, and vacancies in + regular positions shall be filled by the appointment or promotion + thereto of substitutes in the order of their original appointment as + substitutes whenever there are substitutes of the required sex who are + eligible and willing to be so appointed or promoted. Substitutes so + appointed or promoted shall, however, be subject to the provisions of + these rules relating to probation and permanent appointment. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 12. Upon request of the appointing or nominating officer preference + in certification may be given to the wife of the superintendent of an + Indian school for filling a vacancy in the position of teacher or matron + in said school. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 13. Whenever there shall occur a vacancy which the public interest + requires shall be immediately filled and which can not be so filled in + time to meet the emergency by certification from the eligible registers, + such vacancy may, subject to the approval of the Commission, be filled + by temporary appointment without examination until a regular appointment + can be made. Such temporary appointment shall in no case continue longer + than ninety days, and shall expire by limitation at the end of that + time. No person shall serve longer than ninety days in any one year + under such temporary appointment or appointments, and in any event only + until a regular appointment can be made through examination and + certification. Said year limitation shall begin to run in the case of + any person on the date of his first such appointment: <i>Provided</i>, + That whenever an emergency shall arise requiring that a vacant position + in any internal-revenue district shall be filled before a certificate + can be issued by the Commission and an appointment made thereto in the + manner provided in these rules such position may be filled without + regard to the provisions of these rules by temporary appointment for a + period not to exceed thirty days, and only for such period as may be + required for the execution of the necessary details of an appointment + thereto in accordance with said provisions; but no person shall receive + such temporary appointment who within the ninety days next previous + thereto has been separated from a position in said district to which he + was temporarily appointed under the provisions of this section. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 14. Whenever a temporary appointment shall be made through certification + from the eligible registers of the Commission in the manner provided in + these rules, such temporary appointment shall in no case continue longer + than six months, and shall expire by limitation at the end of that + period. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE IX. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + A vacancy in any position which has been or may hereafter be classified + under the civil service act may, upon requisition of the proper officer + and the certificate of the Commission, be filled by the reinstatement + without examination of any person who within one year next preceding the + date of said requisition has through no delinquency or misconduct been + separated from a classified position at the date of said requisition and + in that Department or office and that branch of the service in which + said vacancy exists: <i>Provided</i>, That for original entrance to the + position proposed to be filled by reinstatement there is not required by + these rules, in the opinion of the Commission, an examination involving + essential tests different from or higher than those involved in the + examination for original entrance to the position formerly held by the + person proposed to be reinstated: <i>And provided further</i>, That, + subject to the other conditions of these rules, any person who served in + the military or naval service of the United States in the late War of + the Rebellion and was honorably discharged therefrom, or the widow of + any such person, may be reinstated without regard to the length of time + he or she has been separated from the service. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE X. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Within that part of the civil service of the United States which has + been or may hereafter be classified under the civil-service act + transfers shall be governed as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. A person in any Department or office may be transferred within the + same Department or office and the same branch of the service upon any + test of fitness, not disapproved by the Commission, which may be + determined upon by the appointing officer, subject to the limitations of + the provisos of section 2 of this rule. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. A person who has received absolute appointment may be transferred + without examination from any Department, office, or branch of the + service upon requisition and consent of the proper officers and the + certificate of the Commission: <i>Provided</i>, That no transfer shall + be made of a person to a position within the same Department or office + and the same branch of the service, or to a position in another + Department, office, or branch of the service, if from original entrance + to such position said person is barred by the age limitations prescribed + therefor or by the provisions regulating apportionment, or if in said + position there is not required, in the judgment of the Commission, the + performance of the same class of work or the practice of the same + mechanical trade performed or practiced in the position from which + transfer is proposed: <i>And provided further</i>, That transfer shall + not be made without examination, provided by the Commission, to a + position for original entrance to which, in the judgment of the + Commission, there is required by these rules an examination involving + essential tests different from or higher than those involved in the + examination required for original entrance to the position from which + transfer is proposed; but a person employed in any grade shall not + because of such employment be barred from the open competitive + examination provided for original entrance to any other grade. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. Upon requisition of the proper officer and the certificate of the + Commission transfer may be made without examination from the office of + the President of the United States, after continuous service therein for + the two years next preceding the date of said requisition, to any + position classified under the civil-service act, if in said position + there is required, in the judgment of the Commission, the performance of + the same class of work that is required to be performed in the position + from which transfer is proposed. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. Transfer shall not be made from an excepted position to a position + not excepted: <i>Provided</i>, That a person holding an excepted + position at the time said position is classified under the civil-service + act, or a person holding an excepted position which he entered prior to + the President's order of November 2, 1894, may, subject to the other + conditions and provisions of this rule, be transferred to a position not + excepted. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 5. Transfer shall not be made from a position not classified under the + civil-service act to a classified position: <i>Provided</i>, That a + person who by promotion or transfer from a classified position has + entered a position appointment to which is made by the President by and + with the advice and consent of the Senate, and has served continuously + therein from the date of said promotion or transfer, may be transferred + from said Presidential appointment to the position from which he was so + transferred or to any position to which transfer could be made + therefrom. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. Transfer shall not be made from a position outside the District of + Columbia to a position within the District of Columbia except upon the + certificate of the Commission, subject to the other conditions and + provisions of this rule. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 7. Any person who has been transferred from a classified position to + another classified position may be retransferred to the position in + which he was formerly employed or to any position to which transfer + could be made therefrom without regard to the limitations of this rule. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 8. All transfers herein authorized shall be made only after the issuance + by the Commission of the certificates therefor, except those which may + be specifically exempted from such condition by regulation of the + Commission. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 9. Whenever a person is proposed for transfer from one branch of the + service to another branch of the service and from a part of the service + not within the provisions regulating apportionment to a part of the + service within said provisions, and the transfer is one which under the + provisions of this rule may be allowed without examination, such person + shall be required precedent to his transfer to file a statement under + oath setting forth the same facts, accompanied by the same certificates + or vouchers relating to residence, as may be required in an application + for examination. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE XI. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. In pursuance of the requirements of section 7 of the civil-service + act, competitive tests or examinations shall, as far as practicable and + useful, be established to test fitness for promotion in any part of the + civil service of the United States which has been or may hereafter be + classified under the civil-service act. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. The details regulating promotions shall be formulated by the + Commission after consultation with the heads of the several Departments, + bureaus, or offices. It shall be the duty of the head of each + Department, bureau, or office when such regulations have been formulated + to promulgate the same, and any amendments or revocations thereof shall + be approved by the Commission before going into effect. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. The Commission shall, upon the nomination of the head of each + Department, bureau, or office, designate and select a suitable number of + persons, not less than three, in said Department, bureau, or office to + be members of a board of promotion. In the Departments, bureaus, or + offices in Washington and in all other offices the members of any board + of examiners shall not all be adherents of one political party when + persons of other political parties are available and competent to serve + upon said board. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 4. Until the regulations herein authorized have been approved for any + Department, bureau, or office in which promotion regulations approved by + the Commission are not in force promotions therein may be made from one + class to another class which is in the same grade and from one grade to + another grade upon any test of fitness, not disapproved by the + Commission, which may be determined upon by the promoting officer: + <i>Provided</i>, That no promotion of a person shall be made, except + upon examination provided by the Commission, from one class to another + class or from one grade to another grade if for original entrance to + said class or grade to which promotion is proposed there is required by + these rules an examination involving essential tests different from or + higher than those involved in the examination required for original + entrance to the class or grade from which promotion is proposed: <i>And + provided further</i>, That no promotion of a person shall be made, + except upon examination provided by the Commission, to a position in + which, in the judgment of the Commission, there is not required the + performance of the same class of work or the practice of the same + mechanical trade which is required to be performed or practiced in the + position from which promotion is proposed; but a person employed in any + grade shall not because of such employment be barred from the open + competitive examination provided for original entrance to any other + grade: <i>And provided further</i>, That no promotion of a person shall + be made to a class or grade from original entrance to which such person + is barred by the age limitations prescribed therefor or by the + provisions regulating apportionment. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULE XII. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. In pursuance of the provisions of section 2 of the civil-service act + every nominating or appointing officer in the executive civil service of + the United States shall furnish to the Commission a list of all the + positions and employments under his control and authority, together with + the names, designations, compensations, and dates of appointment or + employment of all persons serving in said positions or employments, said + list to be arranged as follows: (<i>a</i>) Classified positions not + excepted from examination; (<i>b</i>) classified positions excepted from + examination; (<i>c</i>) unclassified positions. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. Every nominating or appointing officer in the executive civil service + shall report in detail to the Commission, in form and manner to be + prescribed by the Commission, all changes as soon as made, and the dates + thereof, in the service under his control and authority, setting forth + among other things the following: The position to which an appointment + or reinstatement is made; the position from which a separation is made, + whether the same was caused by dismissal, resignation, or death, and the + position from which and the position to which a transfer or promotion is + made; the compensation of every position from which or to which a change + is made; the name of every person appointed, reinstated, promoted, + transferred, or separated from the service, and every failure to accept + an appointment and the reasons therefor. +</p> +<p> +Approved, May 6, 1896. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, D.C., May 7, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +In the exercise of the authority vested in the President by the +seventeen hundred and fifty-third (1753d) section of the Revised +Statutes— +</p> +<p> +<i>It is ordered</i>, That the office of the Interstate Commerce +Commission be, and the same is hereby, classified as a part of the +classified departmental service, and for the purpose of applying the +civil-service rules thereto the officers, clerks, and other employees of +said Commission are hereby arranged in the following classes, viz: +</p> +<p> +<i>Class A</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of less than +$720, or a compensation at the rate of less than $720 per annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class B</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $720 or more, +or a compensation at the rate of $720 or more, but less than $840 per +annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class C</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $840 or more, +or a compensation at the rate of $840 or more, but less than $900 per +annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class D</i>.—All persons receiving a salary of $900 or more, or a +compensation at the rate of $900 or more, but less than $1,000 per +annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class E</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,000 or +more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,000 or more, but less than +$1,200 per annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class 1</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,200 or +more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,200 or more, but less than +$1,400 per annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class 2</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,400 or +more per annum, or a compensation at the rate of $1,400 or more, but +less than $1,600 per annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class 3</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,600 or +more per annum, or an annual compensation at the rate of $1,600 or more, +but less than $1,800 per annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class 4</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,800 or +more per annum, or a compensation at the rate of $1,800 or more, but +less than $2,000 per annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class 5</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $2,000 or +more or a compensation at the rate of $2,000 or more per annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That no person who may be appointed to an office by and +with the advice and consent of the Senate and that no person who may be +employed merely as a workman or laborer shall be considered as within +this classification, and no person so employed shall be assigned to the +duties of a classified place. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided further</i>, That no person shall be admitted to any place +not excepted from examination by the civil-service rules in any of the +classes above designated until he or she shall have passed an +appropriate examination under the United States Civil Service Commission +and his or her eligibility has been certified to by said Commission. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>May 13, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +The civil-service rules are hereby amended as follows: +</p> +<p> +Rule III, clause 2 (<i>a</i>), is amended by adding after the words "the +light-house service" the words "the life-saving service." +</p> +<p> +Paragraph (<i>b</i>) of the same rule and clause is amended by striking +out after the words "who are in the service of the Treasury Department +in any capacity" the words "except those in the life-saving service." +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +The civil-service rules as revised May 6, 1896, are hereby amended as +follows: +</p> +<p> +Rule I, section 2, clause (<i>b</i>): In the third line, after the word +"act," insert "and these rules;" so that as amended the clause will +read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) The term "classified service" refers to all that part of + the executive civil service of the United States included within the + provisions of the civil-service act and these rules. +</p> +<p> +Rule III, section 2, clause (<i>a</i>), is amended by adding thereto the +following clause: +</p> +<p class="quote"> The Ordnance Department at large.</p> + +<p> +Rule III, section 2, clause (<i>a</i>), is amended by striking out after +"persons" in the third line the words "who have been nominated for" and +inserting in lieu thereof the words "whose appointments are subject to." +</p> +<p> +Rule III, section 2 clause (<i>b</i>), is amended by inserting in the +second line, after the word "designation," the words "except persons +merely employed as laborers or workmen and persons whose appointments +are subject to confirmation by the Senate." +</p> +<p> +Rule III, section 2, clause (<i>b</i>), is amended by adding thereto the +following words: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Who are employed in the Department of Justice under the annual + appropriation for the investigation of official acts, records, and + accounts of officers of the courts. +</p> +<p> +Rule III, section 3, is amended to read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. The custom-house service shall include such officers and employees as + have been or may hereafter he classified under the civil-service act who + are serving in any customs district whose officers and employees number + as many as five; and whenever in any customs district whose officers and + employees number less than five the number of officers and employees + shall be increased to as many as five the Secretary of the Treasury + shall at once notify the Commission of such increase, and the officers + and employees of said district shall be included within the classified + service from the date of said increase. +</p> +<p> +Rule III, section 6, is amended by inserting in the second line, after +the word "employees," the following: "in any internal-revenue district;" +and in the third line, after the word "act," by striking out the +following: "in any internal-revenue district;" so that as amended the +section will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 6. The internal-revenue service shall include the officers and + employees in any internal-revenue district who have been or may + hereafter be classified under the civil-service act. +</p> +<p> +Rule VI is amended by adding in the departmental service an additional +clause, making exceptions from examination, to read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) Attorneys or assistant attorneys in any Department whose + main duties are connected with the management of cases in court. +</p> +<p> +Amend Rule VI by striking out after "internal-revenue service" the words +"one cashier in each internal-revenue district" and inserting in lieu +thereof— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + One employee in each internal-revenue district who shall act as cashier + or chief deputy or assistant collector, as may be determined by the + Treasury Department. +</p> +<p> +Amend Rule VIII by striking out section 3. +</p> +<p> +Rule IX is amended by striking out in the seventh line the word +"classified" and inserting in lieu thereof after the word "position" in +the same line the following: "included within the classified service;" +so that as amended the line will read: "misconduct, been separated from +a position included within the classified service at the." +</p> +<p> +Rule XI, section 2, is amended by striking out in line 1 the words "The +details regulating" and inserting in their stead the words "Regulations +to govern;" so that as amended the section will read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. Regulations to govern promotions shall be formulated by the + Commission after consultation with the heads of the several Departments, + bureaus, and offices. It shall be the duty of the head of each + Department, bureau, or office when such regulations have been formulated + to promulgate the same, and any amendments or revocations thereof shall + be approved by the Commission before going into effect. +</p> +<p> +Rule XI, section 3: The word "examiners" in line 7 is changed to +"promotion," making the section read: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 3. The Commission shall, upon the nomination of the head of each + Department, bureau, or office, designate and select a suitable number + of persons, not less than three, in said Department, bureau, or office + to be members of a board of promotion. In the Departments, bureaus, or + offices in Washington and in all other offices the members of any board + of promotion shall not all be adherents of one political party when + persons of other political parties are available and competent to serve + upon said board. +</p> +<p> +Approved, November 2, 1896. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE—EXECUTIVE ORDER. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>November 2, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +The regulations of the Navy Department governing the employment of labor +at navy-yards having been adopted by the Civil Service Commission as +a regulation of the Commission July 29, 1896, under the authority +conferred by clause 1, Rule 1, of the revised civil-service rules of +May 6, 1896, it is hereby ordered that no modification of the existing +regulations shall be made without the approval of the Civil Service +Commission. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + FOURTH ANNUAL MESSAGE. +</h2> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>December 7, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +As representatives of the people in the legislative branch of +their Government, you have assembled at a time when the strength and +excellence of our free institutions and the fitness of our citizens to +enjoy popular rule have been again made manifest. A political contest +involving momentous consequences, fraught with feverish apprehension, +and creating aggressiveness so intense as to approach bitterness and +passion has been waged throughout our land and determined by the decree +of free and independent suffrage without disturbance of our tranquillity +or the least sign of weakness in our national structure. +</p> +<p> +When we consider these incidents and contemplate the peaceful obedience +and manly submission which have succeeded a heated clash of political +opinions, we discover abundant evidence of a determination on the part +of our countrymen to abide by every verdict of the popular will and +to be controlled at all times by an abiding faith in the agencies +established for the direction of the affairs of their Government. +</p> +<p> +Thus our people exhibit a patriotic disposition which entitles them +to demand of those who undertake to make and execute their laws such +faithful and unselfish service in their behalf as can only be prompted +by a serious appreciation of the trust and confidence which the +acceptance of public duty invites. +</p> +<p> +In obedience to a constitutional requirement I herein submit to the +Congress certain information concerning national affairs, with the +suggestion of such legislation as in my judgment is necessary and +expedient. To secure brevity and avoid tiresome narration I shall omit +many details concerning matters within Federal control which, though +by no means unimportant, are more profitably discussed in departmental +reports. I shall also further curtail this communication by omitting +a minute recital of many minor incidents connected with our foreign +relations which have heretofore found a place in Executive messages, +but are now contained in a report of the Secretary of State, which is +herewith submitted. +</p> +<p> +At the outset of a reference to the more important matters affecting our +relations with foreign powers it would afford me satisfaction if I could +assure the Congress that the disturbed condition in Asiatic Turkey had +during the past year assumed a less hideous and bloody aspect and that, +either as a consequence of the awakening of the Turkish Government to +the demands of humane civilization or as the result of decisive action +on the part of the great nations having the right by treaty to interfere +for the protection of those exposed to the rage of mad bigotry and cruel +fanaticism, the shocking features of the situation had been mitigated. +Instead, however, of welcoming a softened disposition or protective +intervention, we have been afflicted by continued and not infrequent +reports of the wanton destruction of homes and the bloody butchery of +men, women, and children, made martyrs to their profession of Christian +faith. +</p> +<p> +While none of our citizens in Turkey have thus far been killed or +wounded, though often in the midst of dreadful scenes of danger, their +safety in the future is by no means assured. Our Government at home +and our minister at Constantinople have left nothing undone to protect +our missionaries in Ottoman territory, who constitute nearly all the +individuals residing there who have a right to claim our protection on +the score of American citizenship. Our efforts in this direction will +not be relaxed; but the deep feeling and sympathy that have been aroused +among our people ought not to so far blind their reason and judgment as +to lead them to demand impossible things. The outbreaks of blind fury +which lead to murder and pillage in Turkey occur suddenly and without +notice, and an attempt on our part to force such a hostile presence +there as might be effective for prevention or protection would not only +be resisted by the Ottoman Government, but would be regarded as an +interruption of their plans by the great nations who assert their +exclusive right to intervene in their own time and method for the +security of life and property in Turkey. +</p> +<p> +Several naval vessels are stationed in the Mediterranean as a measure +of caution and to furnish all possible relief and refuge in case of +emergency. +</p> +<p> +We have made claims against the Turkish Government for the pillage +and destruction of missionary property at Harpoot and Marash during +uprisings at those places. Thus far the validity of these demands has +not been admitted, though our minister, prior to such outrages and +in anticipation of danger, demanded protection for the persons and +property of our missionary citizens in the localities mentioned and +notwithstanding that strong evidence exists of actual complicity of +Turkish soldiers in the work of destruction and robbery. +</p> +<p> +The facts as they now appear do not permit us to doubt the justice of +these claims, and nothing will be omitted to bring about their prompt +settlement. +</p> +<p> +A number of Armenian refugees having arrived at our ports, an order has +lately been obtained from the Turkish Government permitting the wives +and children of such refugees to join them here. It is hoped that +hereafter no obstacle will be interposed to prevent the escape of all +those who seek to avoid the perils which threaten them in Turkish +dominions. +</p> +<p> +Our recently appointed consul to Erzerum is at his post and discharging +the duties of his office, though for some unaccountable reason his +formal exequatur from the Sultan has not been issued. +</p> +<p> +I do not believe that the present somber prospect in Turkey will be long +permitted to offend the sight of Christendom. It so mars the humane and +enlightened civilization that belongs to the close of the nineteenth +century that it seems hardly possible that the earnest demand of good +people throughout the Christian world for its corrective treatment will +remain unanswered. +</p> +<p> +The insurrection in Cuba still continues with all its perplexities. It +is difficult to perceive that any progress has thus far been made toward +the pacification of the island or that the situation of affairs as +depicted in my last annual message has in the least improved. If Spain +still holds Havana and the seaports and all the considerable towns, the +insurgents still roam at will over at least two-thirds of the inland +country. If the determination of Spain to put down the insurrection +seems but to strengthen with the lapse of time and is evinced by her +unhesitating devotion of largely increased military and naval forces +to the task, there is much reason to believe that the insurgents have +gained in point of numbers and character and resources and are none +the less inflexible in their resolve not to succumb without practically +securing the great objects for which they took up arms. If Spain has not +yet reestablished her authority, neither have the insurgents yet made +good their title, to be regarded as an independent state. Indeed, as +the contest has gone on the pretense that civil government exists on +the island, except so far as Spain is able to maintain it, has been +practically abandoned. Spain does keep on foot such a government, more +or less imperfectly, in the large towns and their immediate suburbs; +but that exception being made, the entire country is either given over +to anarchy or is subject to the military occupation of one or the other +party. It is reported, indeed, on reliable authority that at the demand +of the commander in chief of the insurgent army the putative Cuban +government has now given up all attempt to exercise its functions, +leaving that government confessedly (what there is the best reason for +supposing it always to have been in fact) a government merely on paper. +</p> +<p> +Were the Spanish armies able to meet their antagonists in the open or in +pitched battle, prompt and decisive results might be looked for, and the +immense superiority of the Spanish forces in numbers, discipline, and +equipment could hardly fail to tell greatly to their advantage. But they +are called upon to face a foe that shuns general engagements, that can +choose and does choose its own ground, that from the nature of the +country is visible or invisible at pleasure, and that fights only from +ambuscade and when all the advantages of position and numbers are on its +side. In a country where all that is indispensable to life in the way of +food, clothing, and shelter is so easily obtainable, especially by those +born and bred on the soil, it is obvious that there is hardly a limit +to the time during which hostilities of this sort may be prolonged. +Meanwhile, as in all cases of protracted civil strife, the passions of +the combatants grow more and more inflamed and excesses on both sides +become more frequent and more deplorable. They are also participated in +by bands of marauders, who, now in the name of one party and now in the +name of the other, as may best suit the occasion, harry the country at +will and plunder its wretched inhabitants for their own advantage. Such +a condition of things would inevitably entail immense destruction of +property, even if it were the policy of both parties to prevent it as +far as practicable; but while such seemed to be the original policy of +the Spanish Government, it has now apparently abandoned it and is acting +upon the same theory as the insurgents, namely, that the exigencies of +the contest require the wholesale annihilation of property that it may +not prove of use and advantage to the enemy. +</p> +<p> +It is to the same end that, in pursuance of general orders, Spanish +garrisons are now being withdrawn from plantations and the rural +population required to concentrate itself in the towns. The sure +result would seem to be that the industrial value of the island is +fast diminishing and that unless there is a speedy and radical change +in existing conditions it will soon disappear altogether. That value +consists very largely, of course, in its capacity to produce sugar—a +capacity already much reduced by the interruptions to tillage which +have taken place during the last two years. It is reliably asserted +that should these interruptions continue during the current year, and +practically extend, as is now threatened, to the entire sugar-producing +territory of the island, so much time and so much money will be required +to restore the land to its normal productiveness that it is extremely +doubtful if capital can be induced to even make the attempt. +</p> +<p> +The spectacle of the utter ruin of an adjoining country, by nature +one of the most fertile and charming on the globe, would engage the +serious attention of the Government and people of the United States in +any circumstances. In point of fact, they have a concern with it which +is by no means of a wholly sentimental or philanthropic character. It +lies so near to us as to be hardly separated from our territory. Our +actual pecuniary interest in it is second only to that of the people +and Government of Spain. It is reasonably estimated that at least +from $30,000,000 to $50,000,000 of American capital are invested in +plantations and in railroad, mining, and other business enterprises +on the island. The volume of trade between the United States and Cuba, +which in 1889 amounted to about $64,000,000, rose in 1893 to about +$103,000,000, and in 1894, the year before the present insurrection +broke out, amounted to nearly $96,000,000. Besides this large pecuniary +stake in the fortunes of Cuba, the United States finds itself +inextricably involved in the present contest in other ways, both +vexatious and costly. +</p> +<p> +Many Cubans reside in this country, and indirectly promote the +insurrection through the press, by public meetings, by the purchase and +shipment of arms, by the raising of funds, and by other means which the +spirit of our institutions and the tenor of our laws do not permit to be +made the subject of criminal prosecutions. Some of them, though Cubans +at heart and in all their feelings and interests, have taken out papers +as naturalized citizens of the United States—a proceeding resorted +to with a view to possible protection by this Government, and not +unnaturally regarded with much indignation by the country of their +origin. The insurgents are undoubtedly encouraged and supported by the +widespread sympathy the people of this country always and instinctively +feel for every struggle for better and freer government, and which, +in the case of the more adventurous and restless elements of our +population, leads in only too many instances to active and personal +participation in the contest. The result is that this Government is +constantly called upon to protect American citizens, to claim damages +for injuries to persons and property, now estimated at many millions of +dollars, and to ask explanations and apologies for the acts of Spanish +officials whose zeal for the repression of rebellion sometimes blinds +them to the immunities belonging to the unoffending citizens of a +friendly power. It follows from the same causes that the United States +is compelled to actively police a long line of seacoast against unlawful +expeditions, the escape of which the utmost vigilance will not always +suffice to prevent. +</p> +<p> +These inevitable entanglements of the United States with the +rebellion in Cuba, the large American property interests affected, +and considerations of philanthropy and humanity in general have led +to a vehement demand in various quarters for some sort of positive +intervention on the part of the United States. It was at first proposed +that belligerent rights should be accorded to the insurgents—a +proposition no longer urged because untimely and in practical operation +clearly perilous and injurious to our own interests. It has since been +and is now sometimes contended that the independence of the insurgents +should be recognized; but imperfect and restricted as the Spanish +government of the island may be, no other exists there, unless the will +of the military officer in temporary command of a particular district +can be dignified as a species of government. It is now also suggested +that the United States should buy the island—a suggestion possibly +worthy of consideration if there were any evidence of a desire or +willingness on the part of Spain to entertain such a proposal. It is +urged finally that, all other methods failing, the existing internecine +strife in Cuba should be terminated by our intervention, even at the +cost of a war between the United States and Spain—a war which its +advocates confidently prophesy could neither be large in its proportions +nor doubtful in its issue. +</p> +<p> +The correctness of this forecast need be neither affirmed nor denied. +The United States has, nevertheless, a character to maintain as a +nation, which plainly dictates that right and not might should be the +rule of its conduct. Further, though the United States is not a nation +to which peace is a necessity, it is in truth the most pacific of powers +and desires nothing so much as to live in amity with all the world. +Its own ample and diversified domains satisfy all possible longings for +territory, preclude all dreams of conquest, and prevent any casting of +covetous eyes upon neighboring regions, however attractive. That our +conduct toward Spain and her dominions has constituted no exception +to this national disposition is made manifest by the course of our +Government, not only thus far during the present insurrection, but +during the ten years that followed the rising at Yara in 1868. No other +great power, it may safely be said, under circumstances of similar +perplexity, would have manifested the same restraint and the same +patient endurance. It may also be said that this persistent attitude of +the United States toward Spain in connection with Cuba unquestionably +evinces no slight respect and regard for Spain on the part of the +American people. They in truth do not forget her connection with the +discovery of the Western Hemisphere, nor do they underestimate the +great qualities of the Spanish people nor fail to fully recognize their +splendid patriotism and their chivalrous devotion to the national honor. +</p> +<p> +They view with wonder and admiration the cheerful resolution with which +vast bodies of men are sent across thousands of miles of ocean and an +enormous debt accumulated that the costly possession of the gem of the +Antilles may still hold its place in the Spanish crown. And yet neither +the Government nor the people of the United States have shut their eyes +to the course of events in Cuba or have failed to realize the existence +of conceded grievances which have led to the present revolt from the +authority of Spain—grievances recognized by the Queen Regent and by +the Cortes, voiced by the most patriotic and enlightened of Spanish +statesmen, without regard to party, and demonstrated by reforms proposed +by the executive and approved by the legislative branch of the Spanish +Government. It is in the assumed temper and disposition of the Spanish +Government to remedy these grievances, fortified by indications of +influential public opinion in Spain, that this Government has hoped to +discover the most promising and effective means of composing the present +strife with honor and advantage to Spain and with the achievement of all +the reasonable objects of the insurrection. +</p> +<p> +It would seem that if Spain should offer to Cuba genuine autonomy—a +measure of home rule which, while preserving the sovereignty of Spain, +would satisfy all rational requirements of her Spanish subjects—there +should be no just reason why the pacification of the island might not +be effected on that basis. Such a result would appear to be in the true +interest of all concerned. It would at once stop the conflict which +is now consuming the resources of the island and making it worthless +for whichever party may ultimately prevail. It would keep intact the +possessions of Spain without touching her honor, which will be consulted +rather than impugned by the adequate redress of admitted grievances. +It would put the prosperity of the island and the fortunes of its +inhabitants within their own control without severing the natural and +ancient ties which bind them to the mother country, and would yet enable +them to test their capacity for self-government under the most favorable +conditions. It has been objected on the one side that Spain should not +promise autonomy until her insurgent subjects lay down their arms; +on the other side, that promised autonomy, however liberal, is +insufficient, because without assurance of the promise being fulfilled. +</p> +<p> +But the reasonableness of a requirement by Spain of unconditional +surrender on the part of the insurgent Cubans before their autonomy +is conceded is not altogether apparent. It ignores important features +of the situation—the stability two years' duration has given to the +insurrection; the feasibility of its indefinite prolongation in the +nature of things, and, as shown by past experience, the utter and +imminent ruin of the island unless the present strife is speedily +composed; above all, the rank abuses which all parties in Spain, all +branches of her Government, and all her leading public men concede to +exist and profess a desire to remove. Facing such circumstances, to +withhold the proffer of needed reforms until the parties demanding them +put themselves at mercy by throwing down their arms has the appearance +of neglecting the gravest of perils and inviting suspicion as to the +sincerity of any professed willingness to grant reforms. The objection +on behalf of the insurgents that promised reforms can not be relied upon +must of course be considered, though we have no right to assume and no +reason for assuming that anything Spain undertakes to do for the relief +of Cuba will not be done according to both the spirit and the letter of +the undertaking. +</p> +<p> +Nevertheless, realizing that suspicions and precautions on the part +of the weaker of two combatants are always natural and not always +unjustifiable, being sincerely desirous in the interest of both as +well as on its own account that the Cuban problem should be solved with +the least possible delay, it was intimated by this Government to the +Government of Spain some months ago that if a satisfactory measure of +home rule were tendered the Cuban insurgents and would be accepted by +them upon a guaranty of its execution the United States would endeavor +to find a way not objectionable to Spain of furnishing such guaranty. +While no definite response to this intimation has yet been received from +the Spanish Government, it is believed to be not altogether unwelcome, +while, as already suggested, no reason is perceived why it should not be +approved by the insurgents. Neither party can fail to see the importance +of early action, and both must realize that to prolong the present +state of things for even a short period will add enormously to the +time and labor and expenditure necessary to bring about the industrial +recuperation of the island. It is therefore fervently hoped on all +grounds that earnest efforts for healing the breach between Spain and +the insurgent Cubans upon the lines above indicated may be at once +inaugurated and pushed to an immediate and successful issue. The +friendly offices of the United States, either in the manner above +outlined or in any other way consistent with our Constitution and laws, +will always be at the disposal of either party. +</p> +<p> +Whatever circumstances may arise, our policy and our interests would +constrain us to object to the acquisition of the island or an +interference with its control by any other power. +</p> +<p> +It should be added that it can not be reasonably assumed that the +hitherto expectant attitude of the United States will be indefinitely +maintained. While we are anxious to accord all due respect to the +sovereignty of Spain, we can not view the pending conflict in all its +features and properly apprehend our inevitably close relations to it and +its possible results without considering that by the course of events we +may be drawn into such an unusual and unprecedented condition as will +fix a limit to our patient waiting for Spain to end the contest, either +alone and in her own way or with our friendly cooperation. +</p> +<p> +When the inability of Spain to deal successfully with the insurrection +has become manifest and it is demonstrated that her sovereignty is +extinct in Cuba for all purposes of its rightful existence, and when a +hopeless struggle for its reestablishment has degenerated into a strife +which means nothing more than the useless sacrifice of human life and +the utter destruction of the very subject-matter of the conflict, a +situation will be presented in which our obligations to the sovereignty +of Spain will be superseded by higher obligations, which we can hardly +hesitate to recognize and discharge. Deferring the choice of ways and +methods until the time for action arrives, we should make them depend +upon the precise conditions then existing; and they should not be +determined upon without giving careful heed to every consideration +involving our honor and interest or the international duty we owe to +Spain. Until we face the contingencies suggested or the situation is by +other incidents imperatively changed we should continue in the line of +conduct heretofore pursued, thus in all circumstances exhibiting our +obedience to the requirements of public law and our regard for the duty +enjoined upon us by the position we occupy in the family of nations. +</p> +<p> +A contemplation of emergencies that may arise should plainly lead us to +avoid their creation, either through a careless disregard of present +duty or even an undue stimulation and ill-timed expression of feeling. +But I have deemed it not amiss to remind the Congress that a time may +arrive when a correct policy and care for our interests, as well as a +regard for the interests of other nations and their citizens, joined by +considerations of humanity and a desire to see a rich and fertile +country intimately related to us saved from complete devastation, will +constrain our Government to such action as will subserve the interests +thus involved and at the same time promise to Cuba and its inhabitants +an opportunity to enjoy the blessings of peace. +</p> +<p> +The Venezuelan boundary question has ceased to be a matter of +difference between Great Britain and the United States, their respective +Governments having agreed upon the substantial provisions of a treaty +between Great Britain and Venezuela submitting the whole controversy to +arbitration. The provisions of the treaty are so eminently just and fair +that the assent of Venezuela thereto may confidently be anticipated. +</p> +<p> +Negotiations for a treaty of general arbitration for all differences +between Great Britain and the United States are far advanced and promise +to reach a successful consummation at an early date. +</p> +<p> +The scheme of examining applicants for certain consular positions to +test their competency and fitness, adopted under an Executive order +issued on the 20th of September, 1895,<a href="#note-36" name="noteref-36"><small>36</small></a> has fully demonstrated the +usefulness of this innovation. In connection with this plan of +examination promotions and transfers of deserving incumbents have been +quite extensively made, with excellent results. +</p> +<p> +During the past year 35 appointments have been made in the consular +service, 27 of which were made to fill vacancies caused by death or +resignation or to supply newly created posts, 2 to succeed incumbents +removed for cause, 2 for the purpose of displacing alien consular +officials by American citizens, and 4 merely changing the official +title of incumbent from commercial agent to consul. Twelve of these +appointments were transfers or promotions from other positions under the +Department of State, 4 of those appointed had rendered previous service +under the Department, 8 were made of persons who passed a satisfactory +examination, 7 were appointed to places not included in the order of +September 20, 1895, and 4 appointments, as above stated, involved no +change of incumbency. +</p> +<p> +The inspection of consular offices provided for by an appropriation for +that purpose at the last session of the Congress has been productive +of such wholesome effects that I hope this important work will in the +future be continued. I know of nothing that can be done with the same +slight expense so improving to the service. +</p> +<p> +I desire to repeat the recommendation contained in my last annual +message in favor of providing at public expense official residences +for our ambassadors and ministers at foreign capitals. The reasons +supporting this recommendation are strongly stated in the report of the +Secretary of State, and the subject seems of such importance that I hope +it may receive the early attention of the Congress. +</p> +<p> +We have during the last year labored faithfully and against unfavorable +conditions to secure better preservation of seal life in the Bering Sea. +Both the United States and Great Britain have lately dispatched +commissioners to these waters to study the habits and condition of the +seal herd and the causes of their rapid decrease. Upon the reports of +these commissioners, soon to be submitted, and with the exercise of +patience and good sense on the part of all interested parties, it is +earnestly hoped that hearty cooperation may be secured for the +protection against threatened extinction of seal life in the Northern +Pacific and Bering Sea. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary of the Treasury reports that during the fiscal year ended +June 30, 1896, the receipts of the Government from all sources amounted +to $409,475,408.78. During the same period its expenditures were +$434,678,654.48, the excess of expenditures over receipts thus amounting +to $25,203,245.70. The ordinary expenditures during the year were +$4,015,852.21 less than during the preceding fiscal year. Of the +receipts mentioned there was derived from customs the sum of +$160,021,751.67 and from internal revenue $146,830,615.66. The receipts +from customs show an increase of $7,863,134.22 over those from the same +source for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1895, and the receipts from +internal revenue an increase of $3,584,537.91. +</p> +<p> +The value of our imported dutiable merchandise during the last fiscal +year was $369,757,470 and the value of free goods imported $409,967,470, +being an increase of $6,523,675 in the value of dutiable goods and +$41,231,034 in the value of free goods over the preceding year. Our +exports of merchandise, foreign and domestic, amounted in value to +$882,606,938, being an increase over the preceding year of $75,068,773. +The average <i>ad valorem</i> duty paid on dutiable goods imported +during the year was 39.94 per cent and on free and dutiable goods taken +together 20.55 per cent. +</p> +<p> +The cost of collecting our internal revenue was 2.78 percent, as +against 2.81 per cent for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1895. The +total production of distilled spirits, exclusive of fruit brandies, was +86,588,703 taxable gallons, being an increase of 6,639,108 gallons over +the preceding year. There was also an increase of 1,443,676 gallons of +spirits produced from fruit as compared with the preceding year. The +number of barrels of beer produced was 35,859,250, as against 33,589,784 +produced in the preceding fiscal year, being an increase of 2,269,466 +barrels. +</p> +<p> +The total amount of gold exported during the last fiscal year was +$112,409,947 and of silver $60,541,670, being an increase of $45,941,466 +of gold and $13,246,384 of silver over the exportations of the preceding +fiscal year. The imports of gold were $33,525,065 and of silver +$28,777,186, being $2,859,695 less of gold and $8,566,007 more of silver +than during the preceding year. +</p> +<p> +The total stock of metallic money in the United States at the close +of the last fiscal year, ended on the 30th day of June, 1896, was +$1,228,326,035, of which $599,597,964 was in gold and $628,728,071 +in silver. +</p> +<p> +On the 1st day of November, 1896, the total stock of money of all kinds +in the country was $2,285,410,590, and the amount in circulation, not +including that in the Treasury holdings, was $1,627,055,641, being +$22.63 Per capita upon an estimated population of 71,902,000. +</p> +<p> +The production of the precious metals in the United States during the +calendar year 1895 is estimated to have been 2,254,760 fine ounces of +gold, of the value of $46,610,000, and 55,727,000 fine ounces of silver, +of the commercial value of $36,445,000 and the coinage value of +$72,051,000. The estimated production of these metals throughout the +world during the same period was 9,688,821 fine ounces of gold, +amounting to $200,285,700 in value, and 169,189,249 fine ounces of +silver, of the commercial value of $110,654,000 and of the coinage value +of $218,738,100 according to our ratio. +</p> +<p> +The coinage of these metals in the various countries of the world during +the same calendar year amounted to $232,701,438 in gold and $121,996,219 +in silver. +</p> +<p> +The total coinage at the mints of the United States during the fiscal +year ended June 30, 1896, amounted to $71,188,468.52, of which +$58,878,490 was in gold coins and $12,309,978.52 in standard silver +dollars, subsidiary coins, and minor coins. +</p> +<p> +The number of national banks organized from the time the law authorizing +their creation was passed up to October 31, 1896, was 5,051, and of +this number 3,679 were at the date last mentioned in active operation, +having authorized capital stock of $650,014,895, held by 288,902 +shareholders, and circulating notes amounting to $211,412,620. +</p> +<p> +The total outstanding circulating notes of all national banks on +the 31st day of October, 1896, amounted to $234,553,807, including +unredeemed but fully secured notes of banks insolvent and in process +of liquidation. The increase in national-bank circulation during the +year ending on that day was $21,099,429. On October 6, 1896, when the +condition of national banks was last reported, the total resources of +the 3,679 active institutions were $3,263,685,313.83, which included +$1,893,268,839.31 in loans and discounts and $362,165,733.85 in money +of all kinds on hand. Of their liabilities $1,597,891,058.03 was due +to individual depositors and $209,944,019 consisted of outstanding +circulating notes. +</p> +<p> +There were organized during the year preceding the date last mentioned +28 national banks, located in 15 States, of which 12 were organized in +the Eastern States, with a capital of $1,180,000, 6 in the Western +States, with a capital of $875,000, and 10 in the Southern States, with +a capital of $1,190,000. During the year, however, 37 banks voluntarily +abandoned their franchises under the national law, and in the case of +27 others it was found necessary to appoint receivers. Therefore, as +compared with the year preceding, there was a decrease of 36 in the +number of active banks. +</p> +<p> +The number of existing banks organized under State laws is 5,708. +</p> +<p> +The number of immigrants arriving in the United States during the fiscal +year was 343,267, of whom 340,468 were permitted to land and 2,799 were +debarred on various grounds prescribed by law and returned to the +countries whence they came at the expense of the steamship companies +by which they were brought in. The increase in immigration over the +preceding year amounted to 84,731. It is reported that with some +exceptions the immigrants of the past year were of a hardy laboring +class, accustomed and able to earn a support for themselves, and it +is estimated that the money brought with them amounted to at least +$5,000,000, though it was probably much in excess of that sum, since +only those having less than $30 are required to disclose the exact +amount, and it is known that many brought considerable sums of money to +buy land and build homes. Including all the immigrants arriving who were +over 14 years of age, 28.63 Per cent were illiterate, as against 20.37 +Per cent of those of that age arriving during the preceding fiscal year. +The number of immigrants over 14 years old, the countries from which +they came, and the percentage of illiterates among them were as follows: +Italy, 57,515, with 54.59 per cent; Ireland, 37,496, with 7 per cent; +Russia, 35,188, with 41.14 per cent; Austria-Hungary and provinces, +57,053, with 38.92 per cent; Germany, 25,334, with 2.96 per cent; +Sweden, 18,821, with 1.16 per cent; while from Portugal there came +2,067, of whom 77.69 per cent were illiterate. There arrived from Japan +during the year only 1,100 immigrants, and it is the opinion of the +immigration authorities that the apprehension heretofore existing to +some extent of a large immigration from Japan to the United States is +without any substantial foundation. +</p> +<p> +From the Life-Saving Service it is reported that the number of disasters +to documented vessels within the limits of its operations during the +year was 437. These vessels had on board 4,608 persons, of whom 4,595 +were saved and 13 lost. The value of such vessels is estimated at +$8,880,140 and of their cargoes $3,846,380, making the total value of +property imperiled $12,726,520. Of this amount $11,292,707 was saved and +$1,432,750 was lost. Sixty-seven of the vessels were totally wrecked. +There were besides 243 casualties to small undocumented craft, on board +of which there were 594 persons, of whom 587 were saved and 7 were lost. +The value of the property involved in these latter casualties is +estimated at $119,265, of which $114,915 was saved and $4,350 was lost. +The life-saving crews during the year also rescued or assisted numerous +other vessels and warned many from danger by signals, both by day and +night. The number of disasters during the year exceeded that of any +previous year in the history of the service, but the saving of both life +and property was greater than ever before in proportion to the value of +the property involved and to the number of persons imperiled. +</p> +<p> +The operations of the Marine-Hospital Service, the Revenue Cutter +Service, the Steamboat-Inspection Service, the Light-House Service, the +Bureau of Navigation, and other branches of public work attached to the +Treasury Department, together with various recommendations concerning +their support and improvement, are fully stated in the report of the +Secretary of the Treasury, to which the attention of the Congress is +especially invited. +</p> +<p> +The report of the Secretary of War exhibits satisfactory conditions in +the several branches of the public service intrusted to his charge. +</p> +<p> +The limit of our military force as fixed by law is constantly and +readily maintained. The present discipline and morale of our Army are +excellent, and marked progress and efficiency are apparent throughout +its entire organization. +</p> +<p> +With the exception of delicate duties in the suppression of slight +Indian disturbances along our southwestern boundary, in which the +Mexican troops cooperated, and the compulsory but peaceful return, with +the consent of Great Britain, of a band of Cree Indians from Montana to +the British possessions, no active operations have been required of the +Army during the year past. +</p> +<p> +Changes in methods of administration, the abandonment of unnecessary +posts and consequent concentration of troops, and the exercise of care +and vigilance by the various officers charged with the responsibility +in the expenditure of the appropriations have resulted in reducing to +a minimum the cost of maintenance of our military establishment. +</p> +<p> +During the past year the work of constructing permanent infantry and +cavalry posts has been continued at the places heretofore designated. +The Secretary of War repeats his recommendation that appropriations for +barracks and quarters should more strictly conform to the needs of the +service as judged by the Department rather than respond to the wishes +and importunities of localities. It is imperative that much of the money +provided for such construction should now be allotted to the erection +of necessary quarters for the garrisons assigned to the coast defenses, +where many men will be needed to properly care for and operate modern +guns. It is essential, too, that early provision be made to supply the +necessary force of artillery to meet the demands of this service. +</p> +<p> +The entire Army has now been equipped with the new magazine arms, and +wise policy demands that all available public and private resources +should be so employed as to provide within a reasonable time a +sufficient number to supply the State militia with these modern weapons +and provide an ample reserve for any emergency. +</p> +<p> +The organized militia numbers 112,879 men. The appropriations for its +support by the several States approximate $2,800,000 annually, and +$400,000 is contributed by the General Government. Investigation shows +these troops to be usually well drilled and inspired with much military +interest, but in many instances they are so deficient in proper arms and +equipment that a sudden call to active duty would find them inadequately +prepared for field service. I therefore recommend that prompt measures +be taken to remedy this condition and that every encouragement be given +to this deserving body of unpaid and voluntary citizen soldiers, upon +whose assistance we must largely rely in time of trouble. +</p> +<p> +During the past year rapid progress has been made toward the completion +of the scheme adopted for the erection and armament of fortifications +along our seacoast, while equal progress has been made in providing the +material for submarine defense in connection with these works. +</p> +<p> +It is peculiarly gratifying at this time to note the great advance that +has been made in this important undertaking since the date of my annual +message to the Fifty-third Congress at the opening of its second +session, in December, 1893. At that time I informed the Congress of the +approaching completion of nine 12-inch, twenty 10-inch, and thirty-four +8-inch high-power steel guns and seventy-five 12-inch rifled mortars. +</p> +<p> +This total then seemed insignificant when compared with the great work +remaining to be done. Yet it was none the less a source of satisfaction +to every citizen when he reflected that it represented the first +installment of the new ordnance of American design and American +manufacture and demonstrated our ability to supply from our own +resources guns of unexcelled power and accuracy. +</p> +<p> +At that date, however, there were practically no carriages upon which +to mount these guns and only thirty-one emplacements for guns and +sixty-four for mortars. Nor were all these emplacements in condition +to receive their armament. Only one high-power gun was at that time in +position for the defense of the entire coast. +</p> +<p> +Since that time the number of guns actually completed has been increased +to a total of twenty-one 12-inch, fifty-six 10-inch, sixty-one 8-inch +high-power breech-loading steel guns, ten rapid-fire guns, and eighty +12-inch rifled mortars. In addition there are in process of construction +one 16-inch-type gun, fifty 12-inch, fifty-six l0-inch, twenty-seven +8-inch high-power guns, and sixty-six 12-inch rifled mortars; in all, +four hundred and twenty-eight guns and mortars. +</p> +<p> +During the same year, immediately preceding the message referred to, the +first modern gun carriage had been completed and eleven more were in +process of construction. All but one were of the nondisappearing type. +These, however, were not such as to secure necessary cover for the +artillery gunners against the intense fire of modern machine rapid-fire +and high-power guns. +</p> +<p> +The inventive genius of ordnance and civilian experts has been taxed +in designing carriages that would obviate this fault, resulting, it is +believed, in the solution of this difficult problem. Since 1893 the +number of gun carriages constructed or building has been raised to a +total of 129, of which 90 are on the disappearing principle, and the +number of mortar carriages to 152, while the 95 emplacements which were +provided for prior to that time have been increased to 280 built and +building. +</p> +<p> +This improved situation is largely due to the recent generous response +of Congress to the recommendations of the War Department. +</p> +<p> +Thus we shall soon have complete about one-fifth of the comprehensive +system the first step in which was noted in my message to the Congress +of December 4, 1893.<a href="#note-37" name="noteref-37"><small>37</small></a> +</p> +<p> +When it is understood that a masonry emplacement not only furnishes +a platform for the heavy modern high power gun, but also in every +particular serves the purpose and takes the place of the fort of former +days, the importance of the work accomplished is better comprehended. +</p> +<p> +In the hope that the work will be prosecuted with no less vigor in the +future, the Secretary of War has submitted an estimate by which, if +allowed, there will be provided and either built or building by the end +of the next fiscal year such additional guns, mortars, gun carriages, +and emplacements as will represent not far from one-third of the total +work to be done under the plan adopted for our coast defenses, thus +affording a prospect that the entire work will be substantially +completed within six years. In less time than that, however, we shall +have attained a marked degree of security. +</p> +<p> +The experience and results of the past year demonstrate that with a +continuation of present careful methods the cost of the remaining work +will be much less than the original estimate. +</p> +<p> +We should always keep in mind that of all forms of military preparation +coast defense alone is essentially pacific in its nature. While it gives +the sense of security due to a consciousness of strength, it is neither +the purpose nor the effect of such permanent fortifications to involve +us in foreign complications, but rather to guarantee us against them. +They are not temptation to war, but security against it. Thus they are +thoroughly in accord with all the traditions of our national diplomacy. +</p> +<p> +The Attorney-General presents a detailed and interesting statement of +the important work done under his supervision during the last fiscal +year. +</p> +<p> +The ownership and management by the Government of penitentiaries for +the confinement of those convicted in United States courts of violations +of Federal laws, which for many years has been a subject of Executive +recommendation, have at last to a slight extent been realized by the +utilization of the abandoned military prison at Fort Leavenworth as a +United States penitentiary. +</p> +<p> +This is certainly a movement in the right direction, but it ought to be +at once supplemented by the rebuilding or extensive enlargement of this +improvised prison and the construction of at least one more, to be +located in the Southern States. The capacity of the Leavenworth +Penitentiary is so limited that the expense of its maintenance, +calculated at a per capita rate upon the number of prisoners it can +accommodate, does not make as economical an exhibit as it would if it +were larger and better adapted to prison purposes; but I am thoroughly +convinced that economy, humanity, and a proper sense of responsibility +and duty toward those whom we punish for violations of Federal law +dictate that the Federal Government should have the entire control and +management of the penitentiaries where convicted violators are confined. +</p> +<p> +It appears that since the transfer of the Fort Leavenworth Military +Prison to its new uses the work previously done by prisoners confined +there, and for which expensive machinery has been provided, has been +discontinued. This work consisted of the manufacture of articles for +army use, now done elsewhere. On all grounds it is exceedingly desirable +that the convicts confined in this penitentiary be allowed to resume +work of this description. +</p> +<p> +It is most gratifying to note the satisfactory results that have +followed the inauguration of the new system provided for by the act of +May 28, 1896, under which certain Federal officials are compensated by +salaries instead of fees. The new plan was put in operation on the 1st +day of July, 1896, and already the great economy it enforces, its +prevention of abuses, and its tendency to a better enforcement of the +laws are strikingly apparent. Detailed evidence of the usefulness of +this long-delayed but now happily accomplished reform will be found +clearly set forth in the Attorney-General's report. +</p> +<p> +Our Post-Office Department is in good condition, and the exhibit +made of its operations during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1896, +if allowance is made for imperfections in the laws applicable to +it, is very satisfactory. The total receipts during the year were +$82,499,208.40. The total expenditures were $90,626,296.84, exclusive +of the $1,559,898.27 which was earned by the Pacific Railroad for +transportation and credited on their debt to the Government. There was +an increase of receipts over the previous year of $5,516,080.21, or 7.1 +per cent, and an increase of expenditures of $3,836,124.02, or 4.42 +percent. The deficit was $1,679,956.19 less than that of the preceding +year. The chief expenditures of the postal service are regulated by law +and are not in the control of the Postmaster-General. All that he can +accomplish by the most watchful administration and economy is to enforce +prompt and thorough collection and accounting for public moneys and such +minor savings in small expenditures and in letting those contracts, for +post-office supplies and star service, which are not regulated by +statute. +</p> +<p> +An effective cooperation between the Auditor's Office and the +Post-Office Department and the making and enforcement of orders by +the Department requiring immediate notification to their sureties +of all delinquencies on the part of postmasters, and compelling such +postmasters to make more frequent deposits of postal funds, have +resulted in a prompter auditing of their accounts and much less default +to the Government than heretofore. +</p> +<p> +The year's report shows large extensions of both star-route service and +railway mail service, with increased postal facilities. Much higher +accuracy in handling mails has also been reached, as appears by the +decrease of errors in the railway mail service and the reduction of mail +matter returned to the Dead-Letter Office. +</p> +<p> +The deficit for the last year, although much less than that of the last +and preceding years, emphasizes the necessity for legislation to correct +the growing abuse of second-class rates, to which the deficiency is +mainly attributable. The transmission at the rate of 1 cent a pound of +serial libraries, advertising sheets, "house organs" (periodicals +advertising some particular "house" or institution), sample copies, and +the like ought certainly to be discontinued. A glance at the revenues +received for the work done last year will show more plainly than any +other statement the gross abuse of the postal service and the growing +waste of its earnings. +</p> +<p> +The free matter carried in the mails for the Departments, offices, etc., +of the Government and for Congress, in pounds, amounted to 94,480,189. +</p> +<p> +If this is offset against buildings for post-offices and stations, the +rental of which would more than compensate for such free postal service, +we have this exhibit: +</p> +<p> +<i>Weight of mail matter (other than above) transmitted through the +mails for the year ending June 30, 1896</i>. +</p> + +<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" summary="Postal Data"> + +<tr><th colspan="2"> Class. </th><th> Weight.<br /><i>Pounds.</i></th><th> Revenue. </th></tr> + +<tr><td> 1.</td><td>Domestic and foreign letters and postal cards, etc. </td><td align="right"> 65,337,343 </td><td align="right">$60,624,464 </td></tr> +<tr><td> 2.</td><td>Newspapers and periodicals, 1 cent per pound. </td><td align="right"> 348,988,648 </td><td align="right"> 2,996,403 </td></tr> +<tr><td> 3.</td><td>Books, seeds, etc., 8 cents a pound. </td><td align="right"> 78,701,148 </td><td align="right"> 10,324,069 </td></tr> +<tr><td> 4.</td><td>Parcels, etc., 16 cents a pound. </td><td align="right"> 19,950,187 </td><td align="right"> 3,129,321 </td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">—————</td><td align="right">—————</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td> Total </td><td align="right"> 512,977,326 </td><td align="right"> 77,044,257 </td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +The remainder of our postal revenue, amounting to something more than +$5,000,000, was derived from box rents, registry fees, money-order +business, and other similar items. +</p> +<p> +The entire expenditures of the Department, including pay for +transportation credited to the Pacific railroads, were $92,186,195.11, +which may be considered as the cost of receiving, carrying, and +delivering the above mail matter. It thus appears that though the +second-class matter constituted more than two-thirds of the total that +was carried, the revenue derived from it was less than one-thirtieth of +the total expense. +</p> + +<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" summary="Average Revenue"> +<tr><th colspan="3"> The average revenue was—</th></tr> +<tr><td> From each pound of first-class matter </td><td>cents </td><td> 93.0</td></tr> +<tr><td> From each pound of second class<a href="#note-38" name="noteref-38"><small>38</small></a> </td><td>mills </td><td> 8.5</td></tr> +<tr><td> From each pound of third class </td><td>cents </td><td> 13.1</td></tr> +<tr><td> From each pound of fourth class </td><td> do </td><td> 15.6</td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +The growth in weight of second-class matter has been from 299,000,000 +pounds in 1894 to 312,000,000 in 1895 and to almost 349,000,000 in 1896, +and it is quite evident this increasing drawback is far outstripping any +possible growth of postal revenues. +</p> +<p> +Our mail service should of course be such as to meet the wants and even +the conveniences of our people at a direct charge upon them so light +as perhaps to exclude the idea of our Post-Office Department being +a money-making concern; but in the face of a constantly recurring +deficiency in its revenues and in view of the fact that we supply the +best mail service in the world it seems to me it is quite time to +correct the abuses that swell enormously our annual deficit. If we +concede the public policy of carrying weekly newspapers free in the +county of publication, and even the policy of carrying at less than +one-tenth of their cost other <i>bona fide</i> newspapers and periodicals, +there can be no excuse for subjecting the service to the further immense +and increasing loss involved in carrying at the nominal rate of 1 cent a +pound the serial libraries, sometimes including trashy and even harmful +literature, and other matter which under the loose interpretation of +a loose statute have been gradually given second-class rates, thus +absorbing all profitable returns derived from first-class matter, which +pays three or four times more than its cost, and producing a large +annual loss to be paid by general taxation. If such second-class matter +paid merely the cost of its handling, our deficit would disappear and +a surplus result which might be used to give the people still better +mail facilities or cheaper rates of letter postage. I recommend that +legislation be at once enacted to correct these abuses and introduce +better business ideas in the regulation of our postal rates. +</p> +<p> +Experience and observation have demonstrated that certain improvements +in the organization of the Post-Office Department must be secured before +we can gain the full benefit of the immense sums expended in its +administration. This involves the following reforms, which I earnestly +recommend: +</p> +<p> +There should be a small addition to the existing inspector service, +to be employed in the supervision of the carrier force, which now +numbers 13,000 men and performs its service practically without the +surveillance exercised over all other branches of the postal or public +service. Of course such a lack of supervision and freedom from wholesome +disciplinary restraints must inevitably lead to imperfect service. There +should also be appointed a few inspectors who could assist the central +office in necessary investigation concerning matters of post-office +leases, post-office sites, allowances for rent, fuel, and lights, and +in organizing and securing the best results from the work of the 14,000 +clerks now employed in first and second class offices. +</p> +<p> +I am convinced that the small expense attending the inauguration of +these reforms would actually be a profitable investment. +</p> +<p> +I especially recommend such a recasting of the appropriations +by Congress for the Post-Office Department as will permit the +Postmaster-General to proceed with the work of consolidating +post-offices. This work has already been entered upon sufficiently to +fully demonstrate by experiment and experience that such consolidation +is productive of better service, larger revenues, and less expenditures, +to say nothing of the further advantage of gradually withdrawing +post-offices from the spoils system. +</p> +<p> +The Universal Postal Union, which now embraces all the civilized world +and whose delegates will represent 1,000,000,000 people, will hold its +fifth congress in the city of Washington in May, 1897. The United States +may be said to have taken the initiative which led to the first meeting +of this congress, at Berne in 1874, and the formation of the Universal +Postal Union, which brings the postal service of all countries to every +man's neighborhood and has wrought marvels in cheapening postal rates +and securing absolutely safe mail communication throughout the world. +Previous congresses have met in Berne, Paris, Lisbon, and Vienna, and +the respective countries in which they have assembled have made generous +provision for their accommodation and for the reception and +entertainment of the delegates. +</p> +<p> +In view of the importance of this assemblage and of its deliberations +and of the honors and hospitalities accorded to our representatives by +other countries on similar occasions, I earnestly hope that such an +appropriation will be made for the expenses necessarily attendant upon +the coming meeting in our capital city as will be worthy of our national +hospitality and indicative of our appreciation of the event. +</p> +<p> +The work of the Navy Department and its present condition are fully +exhibited in the report of the Secretary. +</p> +<p> +The construction of vessels for our new Navy has been energetically, +prosecuted by the present Administration upon the general lines +previously adopted, the Department having seen no necessity for radical +changes in prior methods, under which the work was found to be +progressing in a manner highly satisfactory. It has been decided, +however, to provide in every shipbuilding contract that the builder +should pay all trial expenses, and it has also been determined to pay no +speed premiums in future contracts. The premiums recently earned and +some yet to be decided are features of the contracts made before this +conclusion was reached. +</p> +<p> +On March 4, 1893, there were in commission but two armored vessels—the +double-turreted monitors <i>Miantonomoh</i> and <i>Monterey</i>. Since +that date, of vessels theretofore authorized, there have been placed in +their first commission 3 first-class and 2 second-class battle ships, 2 +armored cruisers, 1 harbor-defense ram, and 5 double-turreted monitors, +including the <i>Maine</i> and the <i>Puritan</i>, just completed. Eight +new unarmored cruisers and 2 new gunboats have also been commissioned. +The <i>Iowa</i>, another battle ship, will be completed about March 1, +and at least 4 more gunboats will be ready for sea in the early spring. +</p> +<p> +It is gratifying to state that our ships and their outfits are believed +to be equal to the best that can be manufactured elsewhere, and that +such notable reductions have been made in their cost as to justify the +statement that quite a number of vessels are now being constructed at +rates as low as those that prevail in European shipyards. +</p> +<p> +Our manufacturing facilities are at this time ample for all possible +naval contingencies. Three of our Government navy-yards—those at +Mare Island, Cal., Norfolk, Va., and Brooklyn, N.Y.—are equipped for +shipbuilding, our ordnance plant in Washington is equal to any in +the world, and at the torpedo station we are successfully making the +highest grades of smokeless powder. The first-class private shipyards +at Newport News, Philadelphia, and San Francisco are building battle +ships; eleven contractors, situated in the States of Maine, Rhode +Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and the State +of Washington, are constructing gunboats or torpedo boats; two plants +are manufacturing large quantities of first-class armor, and American +factories are producing automobile torpedoes, powder, projectiles, +rapid-fire guns, and everything else necessary for the complete outfit +of naval vessels. +</p> +<p> +There have been authorized by Congress since March, 1893, 5 battle +ships, 6 light-draft gunboats, 16 torpedo boats, and 1 submarine torpedo +boat. Contracts for the building of all of them have been let. The +Secretary expresses the opinion that we have for the present a +sufficient supply of cruisers and gunboats, and that hereafter the +construction of battle ships and torpedo boats will supply our needs. +</p> +<p> +Much attention has been given to the methods of carrying on departmental +business. Important modifications in the regulations have been made, +tending to unify the control of shipbuilding as far as may be under the +Bureau of Construction and Repair, and also to improve the mode of +purchasing supplies for the Navy by the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts. +The establishment under recent acts of Congress of a supply fund with +which to purchase these supplies in large quantities and other +modifications of methods have tended materially to their cheapening and +better quality. +</p> +<p> +The War College has developed into an institution which it is believed +will be of great value to the Navy in teaching the science of war, as +well as in stimulating professional zeal in the Navy, and it will be +especially useful in the devising of plans for the utilization in case +of necessity of all the naval resources of the United States. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary has persistently adhered to the plan he found in operation +for securing labor at navy-yards through boards of labor employment, and +has done much to make it more complete and efficient. The naval officers +who are familiar with this system and its operation express the decided +opinion that its results have been to vastly improve the character of +the work done at our yards and greatly reduce its cost. +</p> +<p> +Discipline among the officers and men of the Navy has been maintained +to a high standard and the percentage of American citizens enlisted has +been very much increased. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary is considering and will formulate during the coming winter +a plan for laying up ships in reserve, thereby largely reducing the cost +of maintaining our vessels afloat. This plan contemplates that battle +ships, torpedo boats, and such of the cruisers as are not needed for +active service at sea shall be kept in reserve with skeleton crews on +board to keep them in condition, cruising only enough to insure the +efficiency of the ships and their crews in time of activity. +</p> +<p> +The economy to result from this system is too obvious to need comment. +</p> +<p> +The Naval Militia, which was authorized a few years ago as an +experiment, has now developed into a body of enterprising young men, +active and energetic in the discharge of their duties and promising +great usefulness. This establishment has nearly the same relation to our +Navy as the National Guard in the different States bears to our Army, +and it constitutes a source of supply for our naval forces the +importance of which is immediately apparent. +</p> +<p> +The report of the Secretary of the Interior presents a comprehensive and +interesting exhibit of the numerous and important affairs committed to +his supervision. It is impossible in this communication to do more than +briefly refer to a few of the subjects concerning which the Secretary +gives full and instructive information. +</p> +<p> +The money appropriated on account of this Department and for its +disbursement for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1896, amounted to more +than $157,000,000, or a greater sum than was appropriated for the entire +maintenance of the Government for the two fiscal years ended June 30, +1861. +</p> +<p> +Our public lands, originally amounting to 1,840,000,000 acres, have been +so reduced that only about 600,000,000 acres still remain in Government +control, excluding Alaska. The balance, being by far the most valuable +portion, has been given away to settlers, to new States, and to +railroads or sold at a comparatively nominal sum. The patenting of land +in execution of railroad grants has progressed rapidly during the +year, and since the 4th day of March, 1893, about 25,000,000 acres have +thus been conveyed to these corporations. +</p> +<p> +I agree with the Secretary that the remainder of our public lands should +be more carefully dealt with and their alienation guarded by better +economy and greater prudence. +</p> +<p> +The commission appointed from the membership of the National Academy of +Sciences, provided for by an act of Congress, to formulate plans for a +national forestry system will, it is hoped, soon be prepared to present +the result of thorough and intelligent examination of this important +subject. +</p> +<p> +The total Indian population of the United States is 177,235, according +to a census made in 1895, exclusive of those within the State of New +York and those comprising the Five Civilized Tribes. Of this number +there are approximately 38,000 children of school age. During the year +23,393 of these were enrolled in schools. The progress which has +attended recent efforts to extend Indian-school facilities and the +anticipation of continued liberal appropriations to that end can not +fail to afford the utmost satisfaction to those who believe that the +education of Indian children is a prime factor in the accomplishment of +Indian civilization. +</p> +<p> +It may be said in general terms that in every particular the improvement +of the Indians under Government care has been most marked and +encouraging. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and the agents having +charge of Indians to whom allotments have been made strongly urge the +passage of a law prohibiting the sale of liquor to allottees who have +taken their lands in severalty. I earnestly join in this recommendation +and venture to express the hope that the Indian may be speedily +protected against this greatest of all obstacles to his well-being and +advancement. +</p> +<p> +The condition of affairs among the Five Civilized Tribes, who occupy +large tracts of land in the Indian Territory and who have governments +of their own, has assumed such an aspect as to render it almost +indispensable that there should be an entire change in the relations of +these Indians to the General Government. This seems to be necessary in +furtherance of their own interests, as well as for the protection of +non-Indian residents in their territory. A commission organized and +empowered under several recent laws is now negotiating with these +Indians for the relinquishment of their courts and the division of their +common lands in severalty and are aiding in the settlement of the +troublesome question of tribal membership. The reception of their first +proffers of negotiation was not encouraging, but through patience and +such conduct on their part as demonstrated that their intentions were +friendly and in the interest of the tribes the prospect of success has +become more promising. The effort should be to save these Indians from +the consequences of their own mistakes and improvidence and to secure to +the real Indian his rights as against intruders and professed friends +who profit by his retrogression. A change is also needed to protect life +and property through the operation of courts conducted according to +strict justice and strong enough to enforce their mandates. +</p> +<p> +As a sincere friend of the Indian, I am exceedingly anxious that +these reforms should be accomplished with the consent and aid of the +tribes and that no necessity may be presented for radical or drastic +legislation. I hope, therefore, that the commission now conducting +negotiations will soon be able to report that progress has been made +toward a friendly adjustment of existing difficulties. +</p> +<p> +It appears that a very valuable deposit of gilsonite or asphaltum has +been found on the reservation in Utah occupied by the Uncompahgre Ute +Indians. Every consideration of care for the public interest and every +sensible business reason dictate such management or disposal of this +important source of public revenue as will except it from the general +rules and incidents attending the ordinary disposition of public lands +and secure to the Government a fair share at least of its advantages in +place of its transfer for a nominal sum to interested individuals. +</p> +<p> +I indorse the recommendation made by the present Secretary of the +Interior, as well as his predecessor, that a permanent commission, +consisting of three members, one of whom shall be an army officer, be +created to perform the duties now devolving upon the Commissioner and +Assistant Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The management of the Bureau +involves such numerous and diverse details and the advantages of an +uninterrupted policy are so apparent that I hope the change suggested +will meet the approval of the Congress. +</p> +<p> +The diminution of our enormous pension roll and the decrease of pension +expenditure, which have been so often confidently foretold, still fail +in material realization. The number of pensioners on the rolls at the +close of the fiscal year ended June 30, 1896, was 970,678. This is the +largest number ever reported. The amount paid exclusively for pensions +during the year was $138,214,761.94, a slight decrease from that of the +preceding year, while the total expenditures on account of pensions, +including the cost of maintaining the Department and expenses attending +pension distribution, amounted to $142,206,550.59, or within a very +small fraction of one third of the entire expense of supporting the +Government during the same year. The number of new pension certificates +issued was 90,640. Of these, 40,374 represent original allowances of +claims and 15,878 increases of existing pensions. +</p> +<p> +The number of persons receiving pensions from the United States, but +residing in foreign countries, at the close of the last fiscal year was +3,781, and the amount paid to them during the year was $582,735.38. +</p> +<p> +The sum appropriated for the payment of pensions for the current fiscal +year, ending June 30, 1897, is $140,000,000, and for the succeeding year +it is estimated that the same amount will be necessary. +</p> +<p> +The Commissioner of Pensions reports that during the last fiscal year +339 indictments were found against violators of the pension laws. Upon +these indictments 167 convictions resulted. +</p> +<p> +In my opinion, based upon such statements as these and much other +information and observation, the abuses which have been allowed to creep +into our pension system have done incalculable harm in demoralizing our +people and undermining good citizenship. I have endeavored within my +sphere of official duty to protect our pension roll and make it what it +should be, a roll of honor, containing the names of those disabled in +their country's service and worthy of their country's affectionate +remembrance. When I have seen those who pose as the soldiers' friends +active and alert in urging greater laxity and more reckless pension +expenditure, while nursing selfish schemes, I have deprecated the +approach of a situation when necessary retrenchment and enforced economy +may lead to an attack upon pension abuses so determined as to overlook +the discrimination due to those who, worthy of a nation's care, ought to +live and die under the protection of a nation's gratitude. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary calls attention to the public interests involved in an +adjustment of the obligations of the Pacific railroads to the +Government. I deem it to be an important duty to especially present this +subject to the consideration of the Congress. +</p> +<p> +On January 1, 1897, with the amount already matured, more than +$13,000,000 of the principal of the subsidy bonds issued by the United +States in aid of the construction of the Union Pacific Railway, +including its Kansas line, and more than $6,000,000 of like bonds issued +in aid of the Central Pacific Railroad, including those issued to the +Western Pacific Railroad Company, will have fallen due and been paid or +must on that day be paid by the Government. Without any reference to the +application of the sinking fund now in the Treasury, this will create +such a default on the part of these companies to the Government as will +give it the right to at once institute proceedings to foreclose its +mortgage lien. In addition to this indebtedness, which will be due +January 1, 1897, there will mature between that date and January 1, +1899, the remaining principal of such subsidy bonds, which must also be +met by the Government. These amount to more than $20,000,000 on account +of the Union Pacific lines and exceed $21,000,000 on account of the +Central Pacific lines. +</p> +<p> +The situation of these roads and the condition of their indebtedness to +the Government' have been fully set forth in the reports of various +committees to the present and prior Congresses, and as early as 1887 +they were thoroughly examined by a special commission appointed pursuant +to an act of Congress. The considerations requiring an adjustment of the +Government's relations to the companies have been clearly presented and +the conclusion reached with practical uniformity that if these relations +are not terminated they should be revised upon a basis securing their +safe continuance. +</p> +<p> +Under section 4 of the act of Congress passed March 3, 1887, the +President is charged with the duty, in the event that any mortgage or +other incumbrance paramount to the interest of the United States in the +property of the Pacific railroads should exist and be lawfully liable +to be enforced, to direct the action of the Departments of Treasury and +of Justice in the protection of the interest of the United States by +redemption or through judicial proceedings, including foreclosures of +the Government liens. +</p> +<p> +In view of the fact that the Congress has for a number of years almost +constantly had under consideration various plans for dealing with the +conditions existing between these roads and the Government, I have thus +far felt justified in withholding action under the statute above +mentioned. +</p> +<p> +In the case of the Union Pacific Company, however, the situation +has become especially and immediately urgent. Proceedings have been +instituted to foreclose a first mortgage upon those aided parts of the +main lines upon which the Government holds a second and subordinate +mortgage lien. In consequence of those proceedings and increasing +complications, added to the default occurring on the 1st day of January, +1897, a condition will be presented at that date, so far as this company +is concerned, that must emphasize the mandate of the act of 1887 and +give to Executive duty under its provisions a more imperative aspect. +Therefore, unless Congress shall otherwise direct or shall have +previously determined upon a different solution of the problem, there +will hardly appear to exist any reason for delaying beyond the date of +the default above mentioned such Executive action as will promise to +subserve the public interests and save the Government from the loss +threatened by further inaction. +</p> +<p> +The Department of Agriculture is so intimately related to the welfare of +our people and the prosperity of our nation that it should constantly +receive the care and encouragement of the Government. From small +beginnings it has grown to be the center of agricultural intelligence +and the source of aid and encouragement to agricultural efforts. Large +sums of money are annually appropriated for the maintenance of this +Department, and it must be confessed that the legislation relating to it +has not always been directly in the interest of practical farming or +properly guarded against waste and extravagance. So far, however, as +public money has been appropriated fairly and sensibly to help those who +actually till the soil, no expenditure has been more profitably made or +more generally approved by the people. +</p> +<p> +Under the present management of the Department its usefulness has been +enhanced in every direction, and at the same time strict economy has +been enforced to the utmost extent permitted by Congressional action. +From the report of the Secretary it appears that through careful and +prudent financial management he has annually saved a large sum from his +appropriations, aggregating during his incumbency and up to the close +of the present fiscal year nearly one-fifth of the entire amount +appropriated. These results have been accomplished by a conscientious +study of the real needs of the farmer and such a regard for economy +as the genuine farmer ought to appreciate, supplemented by a rigid +adherence to civil-service methods in a Department which should be +conducted in the interest of agriculture instead of partisan politics. +</p> +<p> +The Secretary reports that the value of our exports of farm products +during the last fiscal year amounted to $570,000,000, an increase of +$17,000,000 over those of the year immediately preceding. This statement +is not the less welcome because of the fact that, notwithstanding such +increase, the proportion of exported agricultural products to our total +exports of all descriptions fell off during the year. The benefits of +an increase in agricultural exports being assured, the decrease in its +proportion to our total exports is the more gratifying when we consider +that it is owing to the fact that such total exports for the year +increased more than $75,000,000. +</p> +<p> +The large and increasing exportation of our agricultural products +suggests the great usefulness of the organization lately established in +the Department for the purpose of giving to those engaged in farming +pursuits reliable information concerning the condition, needs, and +advantages of different foreign markets. Inasmuch as the success of the +farmer depends upon the advantageous sale of his products, and inasmuch +as foreign markets must largely be the destination of such products, +it is quite apparent that a knowledge of the conditions and wants that +affect those markets ought to result in sowing more intelligently and +reaping with a better promise of profit. Such information points out the +way to a prudent foresight in the selection and cultivation of crops and +to a release from the bondage of unreasoning monotony of production, a +glutted and depressed market, and constantly recurring unprofitable toil. +</p> +<p> +In my opinion the gratuitous distribution of seeds by the Department +as at present conducted ought to be discontinued. No one can read the +statement of the Secretary on this subject and doubt the extravagance +and questionable results of this practice. The professed friends of the +farmer, and certainly the farmers themselves, are naturally expected +to be willing to rid a Department devoted to the promotion of farming +interests of a feature which tends so much to its discredit. +</p> +<p> +The Weather Bureau, now attached to the Department of Agriculture, has +continued to extend its sphere of usefulness, and by an uninterrupted +improvement in the accuracy of its forecasts has greatly increased its +efficiency as an aid and protection to all whose occupations are related +to weather conditions. +</p> +<p> +Omitting further reference to the operations of the Department, I +commend the Secretary's report and the suggestions it contains to the +careful consideration of the Congress. +</p> +<p> +The progress made in civil-service reform furnishes a cause for the +utmost congratulation. It has survived the doubts of its friends as well +as the rancor of its enemies and has gained a permanent place among the +agencies destined to cleanse our politics and to improve, economize, and +elevate the public service. +</p> +<p> +There are now in the competitive classified service upward of 84,000 +places, more than half of these having been included from time to time +since March 4, 1893. A most radical and sweeping extension was made by +Executive order dated the 6th day of May, 1896,<a href="#note-39" name="noteref-39"><small>39</small></a> and if fourth-class +postmasterships are not included in the statement it may be said that +practically all positions contemplated by the civil-service law are now +classified. Abundant reasons exist for including these postmasterships, +based upon economy, improved service, and the peace and quiet of +neighborhoods. If, however, obstacles prevent such action at present, +I earnestly hope that Congress will, without increasing post-office +appropriations, so adjust them as to permit in proper cases a +consolidation of these post-offices, to the end that through this +process the result desired may to a limited extent be accomplished. +</p> +<p> +The civil-service rules as amended during the last year provide for a +sensible and uniform method of promotion, basing eligibility to better +positions upon demonstrated efficiency and faithfulness. The absence of +fixed rules on this subject has been an infirmity in the system more and +more apparent as its other benefits have been better appreciated. +</p> +<p> +The advantages of civil-service methods in their business aspects are +too well understood to require argument. Their application has become a +necessity to the executive work of the Government. But those who gain +positions through the operation of these methods should be made to +understand that the nonpartisan scheme through which they receive their +appointments demands from them by way of reciprocity nonpartisan and +faithful performance of duty under every Administration and cheerful +fidelity to every chief. While they should be encouraged to decently +exercise their rights of citizenship and to support through their +suffrages the political beliefs they honestly profess, the noisy, +pestilent, and partisan employee, who loves political turmoil and +contention or who renders lax and grudging service to an Administration +not representing his political views, should be promptly and fearlessly +dealt with in such a way as to furnish a warning to others who may be +likewise disposed. +</p> +<p> +The annual report of the Commissioners will be duly transmitted, and +I commend the important matter they have in charge to the careful +consideration of the Congress. +</p> +<p> +The Interstate Commerce Commission has during the last year supplied +abundant evidence of its usefulness and the importance of the work +committed to its charge. +</p> +<p> +Public transportation is a universal necessity, and the question of just +and reasonable charges therefor has become of vital importance not only +to shippers and carriers, but also to the vast multitude of producers +and consumers. The justice and equity of the principles embodied in the +existing law passed for the purpose of regulating these charges are +everywhere conceded, and there appears to be no question that the policy +thus entered upon has a permanent place in our legislation. +</p> +<p> +As the present statute when enacted was in the nature of the case more +or less tentative and experimental, it was hardly expected to supply a +complete and adequate system. While its wholesome effects are manifest +and have amply justified its enactment, it is evident that all desired +reforms in transportation methods have not been fully accomplished. +In view of the judicial interpretation which some provisions of this +statute have received and the defects disclosed by the efforts made for +its enforcement, its revision and amendment appear to be essential, to +the end that it may more effectually reach the evils designed to be +corrected. I hope the recommendations of the Commission upon this +subject will be promptly and favorably considered by the Congress. +</p> +<p> +I desire to recur to the statements elsewhere made concerning the +Government's receipts and expenditures for the purpose of venturing upon +some suggestions touching our present tariff law and its operation. +</p> +<p> +This statute took effect on the 28th day of August, 1894. Whatever may +be its shortcomings as a complete measure of tariff reform, it must be +conceded that it has opened the way to a freer and greater exchange of +commodities between us and other countries, and thus furnished a wider +market for our products and manufactures. +</p> +<p> +The only entire fiscal year during which this law has been in force +ended on the 30th day of June, 1896. In that year our imports increased +over those of the previous year more than $6,500,000, while the value +of the domestic products we exported and which found markets abroad was +nearly $70,000,000 more than during the preceding year. +</p> +<p> +Those who insist that the cost to our people of articles coming to +them from abroad for their needful use should only be increased through +tariff charges to an extent necessary to meet the expenses of the +Government, as well as those who claim that tariff charges may be laid +upon such articles beyond the necessities of Government revenue and with +the additional purpose of so increasing their price in our markets as +to give American manufacturers and producers better and more profitable +opportunities, must agree that our tariff laws are only primarily +justified as sources of revenue to enable the Government to meet the +necessary expenses of its maintenance. Considered as to its efficiency +in this aspect, the present law can by no means fall under just +condemnation. During the only complete fiscal year of its operation it +has yielded nearly $8,000,000 more revenue than was received from tariff +duties in the preceding year. There was, nevertheless, a deficit between +our receipts and expenditures of a little more than $25,000,000. This, +however, was not unexpected. +</p> +<p> +The situation was such in December last, seven months before the close +of the fiscal year, that the Secretary of the Treasury foretold a +deficiency of $17,000,000. The great and increasing apprehension and +timidity in business circles and the depression in all activities +intervening since that time, resulting from causes perfectly well +understood and entirely disconnected with our tariff law or its +operation, seriously checked the imports we would have otherwise +received and readily account for the difference between this estimate +of the Secretary and the actual deficiency, as well as for a continued +deficit. Indeed, it must be confessed that we could hardly have had a +more unfavorable period than the last two years for the collection of +tariff revenue. We can not reasonably hope that our recuperation from +this business depression will be sudden, but it has already set in with +a promise of acceleration and continuance. +</p> +<p> +I believe our present tariff law, if allowed a fair opportunity, will +in the near future yield a revenue which, with reasonably economical +expenditures, will overcome all deficiencies. In the meantime no deficit +that has occurred or may occur need excite or disturb us. To meet any +such deficit we have in the Treasury in addition to a gold reserve of +one hundred millions a surplus of more than $128,000,000 applicable +to the payment of the expenses of the Government, and which must, +unless expended for that purpose, remain a useless hoard, or, if not +extravagantly wasted, must in any event be perverted from the purpose of +its exaction from our people. The payment, therefore, of any deficiency +in the revenue from this fund is nothing more than its proper and +legitimate use. The Government thus applying a surplus fortunately in +its Treasury to the payment of expenses not met by its current revenues +is not at all to be likened to a man living beyond his income and thus +incurring debt or encroaching on his principal. +</p> +<p> +It is not one of the functions of our Government to accumulate +and make additions to a fund not needed for immediate expenditure. +With individuals it is the chief object of struggle and effort. The +application of an accumulated fund by the Government to the payment of +its running expenses is a duty. An individual living beyond his income +and embarrassing himself with debt or drawing upon his accumulated fund +of principal is either unfortunate or improvident. The distinction is +between a government charged with the duty of expending for the benefit +of the people and for proper purposes all the money it receives from any +source, and the individual, who is expected to manifest a natural desire +to avoid debt or to accumulate as much as possible and to live within +the income derived from such accumulations, to the end that they may be +increased or at least remain unimpaired for the future use and enjoyment +of himself or the objects of his love and affection who may survive him. +</p> +<p> +It is immeasurably better to appropriate our surplus to the payment +of justifiable expenses than to allow it to become an invitation to +reckless appropriations and extravagant expenditures. +</p> +<p> +I suppose it will not be denied that under the present law our people +obtain the necessaries of a comfortable existence at a cheaper rate +than formerly. This is a matter of supreme importance, since it is the +palpable duty of every just government to make the burdens of taxation +as light as possible. The people should not be required to relinquish +this privilege of cheaper living except under the stress of their +Government's necessity made plainly manifest. +</p> +<p> +This reference to the condition and prospects of our revenues naturally +suggests an allusion to the weakness and vices of our financial methods. +They have been frequently pressed upon the attention of Congress in +previous Executive communications and the inevitable danger of their +continued toleration pointed out. Without now repeating these details, +I can not refrain from again earnestly presenting the necessity of the +prompt reform of a system opposed to every rule of sound finance and +shown by experience to be fraught with the gravest peril and perplexity. +The terrible Civil War, which shook the foundations of our Government +more than thirty years ago, brought in its train the destruction of +property, the wasting of our country's substance, and the estrangement +of brethren. These are now past and forgotten. Even the distressing +loss of life the conflict entailed is but a sacred memory which fosters +patriotic sentiment and keeps alive a tender regard for those who +nobly died. And yet there remains with us to-day in full strength and +activity, as an incident of that tremendous struggle, a feature of its +financial necessities not only unsuited to our present circumstances, +but manifestly a disturbing menace to business security and an +ever-present agent of monetary distress. +</p> +<p> +Because we may be enjoying a temporary relief from its depressing +influence, this should not lull us into a false security nor lead us to +forget the suddenness of past visitations. +</p> +<p> +I am more convinced than ever that we can have no assured financial +peace and safety until the Government currency obligations upon which +gold may be demanded from the Treasury are withdrawn from circulation +and canceled. This might be done, as has been heretofore recommended, +by their exchange for long-term bonds bearing a low rate of interest or +by their redemption with the proceeds of such bonds. Even if only the +United States notes known as greenbacks were thus retired it is probable +that the Treasury notes issued in payment of silver purchases under the +act of July 14, 1890, now paid in gold when demanded, would not create +much disturbance, as they might from time to time, when received in the +Treasury by redemption in gold or otherwise, be gradually and prudently +replaced by silver coin. +</p> +<p> +This plan of issuing bonds for the purpose of redemption certainly +appears to be the most effective and direct path to the needed reform. +In default of this, however, it would be a step in the right direction +if currency obligations redeemable in gold whenever so redeemed should +be canceled instead of being reissued. This operation would be a slow +remedy, but it would improve present conditions. +</p> +<p> +National banks should redeem their own notes. They should be allowed to +issue circulation to the par value of bonds deposited as security for +its redemption and the tax on their circulation should be reduced to +one-fourth of 1 per cent. +</p> +<p> +In considering projects for the retirement of United States notes and +Treasury notes issued under the law of 1890, I am of the opinion that we +have placed too much stress upon the danger of contracting the currency +and have calculated too little upon the gold that would be added to our +circulation if invited to us by better and safer financial methods. It +is not so much a contraction of our currency that should be avoided as +its unequal distribution. +</p> +<p> +This might be obviated and any fear of harmful contraction at the same +time removed by allowing the organization of smaller banks and in less +populous communities than are now permitted, and also authorizing +existing banks to establish branches in small communities under proper +restrictions. +</p> +<p> +The entire case may be presented by the statement that the day of +sensible and sound financial methods will not dawn upon us until our +Government abandons the banking business and the accumulation of funds +and confines its monetary operations to the receipt of the money +contributed by the people for its support and to the expenditure of such +money for the people's benefit. +</p> +<p> +Our business interests and all good citizens long for rest from feverish +agitation and the inauguration by the Government of a reformed financial +policy which will encourage enterprise and make certain the rewards of +labor and industry. +</p> +<p> +Another topic in which our people rightfully take a deep interest +may be here briefly considered. I refer to the existence of trusts and +other huge aggregations of capital the object of which is to secure the +monopoly of some particular branch of trade, industry, or commerce and +to stifle wholesome competition. When these are defended, it is usually +on the ground that though they increase profits they also reduce prices, +and thus may benefit the public. It must be remembered, however, that +a reduction of prices to the people is not one of the real objects +of these organizations, nor is their tendency necessarily in that +direction. If it occurs in a particular case it is only because it +accords with the purposes or interests of those managing the scheme. +</p> +<p> +Such occasional results fall far short of compensating the palpable +evils charged to the account of trusts and monopolies. Their tendency +is to crush out individual independence and to hinder or prevent the +free use of human faculties and the full development of human character. +Through them the farmer, the artisan, and the small trader is in danger +of dislodgment from the proud position of being his own master, watchful +of all that touches his country's prosperity, in which he has an +individual lot, and interested in all that affects the advantages of +business of which he is a factor, to be relegated to the level of a mere +appurtenance to a great machine, with little free will, with no duty but +that of passive obedience, and with little hope or opportunity of rising +in the scale of responsible and helpful citizenship. +</p> +<p> +To the instinctive belief that such is the inevitable trend of trusts +and monopolies is due the widespread and deep-seated popular aversion in +which they are held and the not unreasonable insistence that, whatever +may be their incidental economic advantages, their general effect upon +personal character, prospects, and usefulness can not be otherwise than +injurious. +</p> +<p> +Though Congress has attempted to deal with this matter by legislation, +the laws passed for that purpose thus far have proved ineffective, not +because of any lack of disposition or attempt to enforce them, but +simply because the laws themselves as interpreted by the courts do not +reach the difficulty. If the insufficiencies of existing laws can be +remedied by further legislation, it should be done. The fact must be +recognized, however, that all Federal legislation on this subject may +fall short of its purpose because of inherent obstacles and also because +of the complex character of our governmental system, which, while making +the Federal authority supreme within its sphere, has carefully limited +that sphere by metes and bounds that can not be transgressed. The +decision of our highest court on this precise question renders it quite +doubtful whether the evils of trusts and monopolies can be adequately +treated through Federal action unless they seek directly and purposely +to include in their objects transportation or intercourse between States +or between the United States and foreign countries. +</p> +<p> +It does not follow, however, that this is the limit of the remedy that +may be applied. Even though it may be found that Federal authority is +not broad enough to fully reach the case, there can be no doubt of the +power of the several States to act effectively in the premises, and +there should be no reason to doubt their willingness to judiciously +exercise such power. +</p> +<p> +In concluding this communication its last words shall be an appeal to +the Congress for the most rigid economy in the expenditure of the money +it holds in trust for the people. The way to perplexing extravagance +is easy, but a return to frugality is difficult. When, however, it is +considered that those who bear the burdens of taxation have no guaranty +of honest care save in the fidelity of their public servants, the duty +of all possible retrenchment is plainly manifest. +</p> +<p> +When our differences are forgotten and our contests of political +opinion are no longer remembered, nothing in the retrospect of our +public service will be as fortunate and comforting as the recollection +of official duty well performed and the memory of a constant devotion to +the interests of our confiding fellow-countrymen. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + SPECIAL MESSAGES. +</h2> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, January 5, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to a resolution of the Senate of the +22d ultimo, a report from the Secretary of State, accompanied by copies +of correspondence concerning the death of Charles Govin, a citizen of +the United States, in the island of Cuba. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, January 8, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to the resolution of the House of +Representatives of May 8, 1896, requesting information as to what had +been done by the Department of State to carry out the provision in the +act of March 2, 1895, making appropriations for the Department of +Agriculture for the year 1896, as to negotiations with Great Britain to +secure the abrogation or modification of the regulations requiring the +slaughter of cattle from the United States at the port of entry, a +report from the Secretary of State, with accompanying papers. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, January 8, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith the report of the Secretary of State in response to +the resolution of the House of Representatives of June 5, 1896, calling +for information concerning the changes made in the force of his +Department since the 4th day of March, 1893. +</p> +<p> +This report has been in my hands since the 9th day of December, 1896, +and its transmission to the House of Representatives has been delayed by +my inadvertence. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 11, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a treaty for the arbitration of all matters in +difference between the United States and Great Britain. +</p> +<p> +The provisions of the treaty are the result of long and patient +deliberation and represent concessions made by each party for the sake +of agreement upon the general scheme. +</p> +<p> +Though the result reached may not meet the views of the advocates of +immediate, unlimited, and irrevocable arbitration of all international +controversies, it is nevertheless confidently believed that the treaty +can not fail to be everywhere recognized as making a long step in the +right direction and as embodying a practical working plan by which +disputes between the two countries will reach a peaceful adjustment as +matter of course and in ordinary routine. +</p> +<p> +In the initiation of such an important movement it must be expected that +some of its features will assume a tentative character looking to a +further advance, and yet it is apparent that the treaty which has been +formulated not only makes war between the parties to it a remote +possibility, but precludes those fears and rumors of war which of +themselves too often assume the proportions of national disaster. +</p> +<p> +It is eminently fitting as well as fortunate that the attempts to +accomplish results so beneficent should be initiated by kindred peoples, +speaking the same tongue and joined together by all the ties of common +traditions, common institutions, and common aspirations. The experiment +of substituting civilized methods for brute force as the means of +settling international questions of right will thus be tried under the +happiest auspices. Its success ought not to be doubtful, and the fact +that its ultimate ensuing benefits are not likely to be limited to the +two countries immediately concerned should cause it to be promoted all +the more eagerly. The examples set and the lesson furnished by the +successful operation of this treaty are sure to be felt and taken to +heart sooner or later by other nations, and will thus mark the beginning +of a new epoch in civilization. +</p> +<p> +Profoundly impressed as I am, therefore, by the promise of transcendent +good which this treaty affords, I do not hesitate to accompany its +transmission with an expression of my earnest hope that it may commend +itself to the favorable consideration of the Senate. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 18, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith the report of Messrs. James B. Angell, of Michigan, +John E. Russell, of Massachusetts, and Lyman E. Cooley, of Illinois, who +were appointed commissioners under the authority of a law passed March +2, 1895, to make inquiry and report, after conference with such similar +commissioners as might be appointed on behalf of Great Britain or the +Dominion of Canada, concerning the feasibility of the construction of +such canals as will enable vessels engaged in ocean commerce to pass +between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean, and the most convenient +location and probable cost of such canals, together with other facts and +information in said act specified relating to their construction and +use. +</p> +<p> +The commissioners have prosecuted the work assigned them with great zeal +and intelligence, resulting in the collection of a mass of information +embodied in their report and its accompanying exhibits which is of great +importance and interest as related to the project subjected to their +examination. +</p> +<p> +The advantages of direct and unbroken water transportation of the +products of our Western States and Territories from convenient points of +shipment to our seaboard ports are plainly palpable. The report of the +commissioners contains, in my opinion, demonstration of the feasibility +of securing such transportation, and gives ground for the anticipation +that better and more uninterrupted commerce, through the plan suggested, +between the great West and foreign ports, with the increase of national +prosperity which must follow in its train, will not long escape American +enterprise and activity. +</p> +<p> +It will be observed that the report of the commissioners, though as +comprehensive as the time and facilities at their disposal permitted, +does not definitely deal with the cost of the work they were called upon +to consider and omits some of the other details related to it. Thus far +they have labored without compensation, and a part of the small sum +appropriated for the payment of their expenses still remains unexpended. +</p> +<p> +I suggest to the Congress the propriety of making economical provision +for such further prosecution of their work as will more fully develop +the information necessary to an exact and complete understanding of this +interesting and important subject. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, January 22, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of the Senate of December 15, 1896, +relating to Cuban affairs, I transmit a report from the Secretary of +State, submitting a list of the claims filed in the Department of State +by citizens of the United States against Spain arising out of the +insurrection existing in the island of Cuba, and the accompanying +correspondence relating to the vessel called the <i>Competitor</i> and +the persons claiming American citizenship captured thereon, which I deem +it not incompatible with the public interests to communicate. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, January 25, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to the Senate resolution of December +21, 1896, addressed to the Secretary of State, a report of that officer +covering a list of persons claiming to be citizens of the United States +who have been arrested on the island of Cuba since February 24, 1895, to +the present time. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 1, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to a resolution of the Senate of the +6th ultimo, a report from the Secretary of State, accompanied by copies +of correspondence concerning the arrest, imprisonment, trial, and +condemnation to perpetual imprisonment in chains of Jules Sanguily, a +citizen of the United States, by the authorities of Spain in Cuba. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 5, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +The World's Columbian Commission has delivered to me certain documents +and exhibits which they desire should constitute the final report +required by section 12 of the act of Congress passed April 25, 1890, +providing for the celebration of the four hundredth anniversary of the +discovery of America and the holding of an international exhibition in +the city of Chicago. +</p> +<p> +The documents referred to embrace the reports of the president and +secretary of the commission and a report of the executive committee on +awards, with exhibits relating to the same. They are contained in five +boxes of considerable size, which, instead of actually transmitting with +this communication, I have deposited in the State Department subject to +the action and direction of the Congress. +</p> +<p> +I am informed that the director-general of the exposition has made a +report directly to the Congress, and that no report of the lady managers +has yet been made. +</p> +<p> +The selection of such part of the material mentioned as may be +considered necessary to constitute a final exhibit of the action of +the commission and the results of the exposition is submitted to the +discretion of Congress. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 8, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State and +accompanying reports from diplomatic and consular officers of the United +States on the passport regulations of foreign countries. In view of the +evident value of the information contained in these reports, especially +to American citizens going abroad and sojourning or traveling in foreign +lands, I approve the recommendation of the Secretary that Congress +authorize the printing of a special edition of 3,000 copies of the work, +to be distributed by the Department of State as indicated in the +Secretary's report. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 8, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith submit the thirteenth annual report of the Civil Service +Commission, containing a detailed statement of its important work and +exhibiting the present condition of the classified service of the +Government. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 10, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 9th instant, the +House of Representatives concurring, I return herewith Senate bill No. +3328, entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to repeal the +timber-culture laws, and for other purposes.'" +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 11, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of the Senate of February 4, 1897, I +transmit a report from the Secretary of State, submitting copies of +correspondence relative to the arrest and detention of Gaspar A. +Betancourt, a citizen of the United States, by the Spanish authorities +in Cuba. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 11, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate of the United States</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of the Senate of February 2, 1897, I +transmit a report from the Secretary of State, relative to the killing +of Segundo N. Lopez, son of M.F. Lopez, at Sagua la Grande, in Cuba. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 20, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in answer to the resolution of the Senate of the +17th instant, a report from the Secretary of State, touching the reply +of the British Government in regard to the failure of the negotiations +of the Paris Tribunal to protect the fur-seal herd of Alaska. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 20, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in answer to the resolution of the Senate of the +15th instant, a report from the Secretary of State, accompanied by +copies of correspondence with the German Government in reference to +American insurance companies. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 23, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to the resolution of the Senate of +February 6, 1897, a report from the Secretary of State, in regard to the +persons claiming American citizenship captured on board of the +<i>Competitor</i>. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 24, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State, +covering the report of the joint commission on behalf of the United +States and Great Britain, dated December 31, 1896, relative to the +preservation of the fisheries in waters contiguous to the United States +and Canada, as provided by the joint agreement between the United States +and Great Britain dated December 6, 1892. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 25, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate and House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, for the information of the Congress, a +communication from the Secretary of State, covering the report of the +Director of the Bureau of the American Republics for the year 1896. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, February 26, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State, +accompanying the annual reports of the consuls of the United States +upon foreign industries and commerce. In view of the value of these +reports to the business interests throughout the country, I indorse the +recommendation of the Secretary of State that Congress authorize the +printing of a special edition of 10,000 copies of the general summary +entitled Review of the World's Commerce, and of 5,000 copies of +Commercial Relations (including this summary), to enable the Department +of State to meet the demand for such information. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>March 1, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Congress</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith the report of the board of lady managers of the +World's Columbian Commission. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, March 1, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +In response to the resolution of the Senate of the 24th ultimo, I +transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State, covering copies +of the correspondence and reports of the consul-general of the United +States at Havana relating to all American citizens now in prison in the +island of Cuba not previously reported on. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, March 2, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in response to the resolution of the Senate of +February 24, 1897, a report from the Secretary of State, in relation to +the claim of M.A. Cheek against the Siamese Government, with +accompanying papers. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, March 2, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith transmit a report of the Secretary of State upon a resolution +of the Senate relating to the arrest, imprisonment, and death of Dr. +Ricardo Ruiz in the jail of Guanabacoa, on the island of Cuba. Agreeing +with the suggestion of the Secretary, I have not thought it compatible +with the public interest that the correspondence referred to in the +resolution should be communicated pending the public and exhaustive +investigation about to be instituted. +</p> +<p> +Though it seems to be clear that the consul-general should have +professional aid in such investigation, that matter, together with the +selection of the particular persons to act with him, properly devolves +upon my successor in office. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, March 3, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I transmit herewith, in reply to the resolution of the Senate of January +23, 1897, a report from the Secretary of State, accompanied by copies of +the correspondence therein requested, relating to the Nicaraguan Canal +or the Maritime Canal Company of Nicaragua, since 1887. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + VETO MESSAGES. +</h2> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 14, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without my approval House bill No. 9469, entitled +"An act to constitute a new division of the eastern judicial district +of Texas, and to provide for the holding of terms of court at Beaumont, +Tex., and for the appointment of a clerk for said court." +</p> +<p> +It appears that terms of court are now held at four different places +within the eastern judicial district of Texas and that parties having +business in the courts are not seriously inconvenienced under present +arrangements. +</p> +<p> +Both the Federal judge and district attorney in this district express +themselves in opposition to the bill as unnecessary and an interruption +to the transaction of the large volume of business now pending and +constantly coming before the court. +</p> +<p> +I have before me certificates of the clerks of the present divisions of +the courts showing that during the last five years the counties which +it is proposed shall constitute the new division have contributed but +forty-two cases to the calendars of the court. +</p> +<p> +Conclusive proof is also before me that the additional terms of court +provided for in this bill would so interfere with the terms already +appointed in the existing divisions that the proper administration of +the civil as well as the criminal law would be impracticable. +</p> +<p> +The criminal docket of the terms held at Paris is so large that under +present arrangements and with the utmost industry trials can not now be +as promptly disposed of as the ends of justice require. This condition +would be further aggravated if terms of the court should be held at +Beaumont on the dates proposed in this bill, since they are fixed at +such times as to necessarily curtail the period now devoted to the +Paris terms. +</p> +<p> +On the grounds stated and because I am unable to discover how the public +interests can possibly be promoted by the proposed legislation I am +constrained to withhold my approval of the bill under consideration. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 22, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without my approval House bill No. 2189, entitled +"An act granting a pension to Mrs. Mary A. Freeman." +</p> +<p> +A former husband of the beneficiary, named Andrew V. Pritchard, did +service in the Mexican War, and on July 22, 1847, died of disease +contracted in such service. Thereupon the beneficiary named in this bill +was pensioned as his widow. She continued to receive this pension until +1852, when she married John Freeman, through which she of course lost +her pensionable status. Two minor children of the soldier were, however, +placed on the pension roll in her stead, and their pension was paid to +them until the youngest became 16 years of age, in 1863. +</p> +<p> +John Freeman died in December, 1871, the beneficiary having been his +wife for almost twenty years. It is now proposed to restore her to the +pension roll as the widow of her former husband, the Mexican soldier, +who died nearly fifty years ago, and notwithstanding the fact that less +than five years after his death she relinquished her right to a pension +and surrendered her widowhood to become the wife of another husband, +with whom she lived for many years. +</p> +<p> +I am not willing, even by inaction, to be charged with acquiescence in +what appears to be such an entire departure from the principle, as well +as sentiment, connected with reasonable pension legislation. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 22, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without approval Senate bill No. 1323, entitled "An +act granting a pension to Maria Somerlat, widow of Valentine Somerlat." +</p> +<p> +This beneficiary, under the name of Maria Somerlat, was pensioned in +1867 as the widow of Valentine Somerlat, a volunteer soldier, dating +from his death, in 1864. She continued to draw the pension allowed +her as such widow until 1881, when she married one Hiram Smith. +Subsequently, but at what time does not appear, she was divorced from +Smith in a suit that seems to have been begun by him, but in which +she interposed a cross bill and obtained judgment in her favor. +Notwithstanding her remarriage, through which she ceased to be the widow +of the dead soldier, it is proposed to pension her again on account of +his death. +</p> +<p> +The rule governing the operation of general pension laws which forfeits +a widow's pension on her remarriage seems so reasonable and just and +its relaxation must necessarily lead to such a departure from just +principles and to such vexatious pension administration that I am +convinced it ought to be strictly maintained. +</p> +<p> +I hope I may be permitted to call the attention of the Senate to the +increasing latitude clearly discernible in special pension legislation. +It has seemed to me so useless to attempt to stem the tide of this +legislation by Executive interference that I have contented myself with +nonacquiescence in numerous cases where I could not approve. +</p> +<p> +There have been already presented to me for Executive action during the +present session of the Congress 206 special pension bills, of which I +have actually examined 115. The entire number of such bills that have +become laws during the four sessions of the Congress since March 4, +1893, is 391. Some of those presented at the present session are not +based upon the least pretext that the death or disability involved is +related to army service, while in numerous other cases it is extremely +difficult to satisfactorily discover such relationship. +</p> +<p> +There is one feature of this legislation which I am sure deserves +attention. I refer to the great number of special bills passed for +the purpose of increasing the pensions of those already on the rolls. +Of the 115 special pension bills which I have examined since the +beginning of the present session of the Congress, 58 granted or restored +pensions and 57 increased those already existing, and the appropriation +of money necessary to meet these increases exceeds considerably the +amount required to pay the original pensions granted or restored by the +remaining 58 bills. +</p> +<p> +I can not discover that these increases are regulated by any rule +or principle, and when we remember that there are nearly a million +pensioners on our rolls and consider the importunity for such increase +that must follow the precedents already made, the relation of the +subject to a justifiable increase of our national revenues can not +escape attention. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>February 22, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without my approval House bill No. 6902, entitled +"An act granting a pension to Mrs. Mary A. Viel." +</p> +<p> +This beneficiary was married in 1862 to Major W.D. Sanger, then in the +volunteer military service. He died in 1872, never having made any +application for pension. His widow made no application for pension, but +within three years after her husband's death, and in 1875, became the +wife of Paul Viel. Eight years thereafter he died, leaving her his +widow, and it is now proposed to pension her as the widow of the +soldier, Major Sanger, though she long ago by her own deliberate act +surrendered that title and all its incidents. +</p> +<p> +There is a further objection to granting this pension. I do not find +that any claim is made that the death of the soldier, who was the +beneficiary's first husband, was at all attributable to his army +service. Neither he nor his widow, while she remained such, presented +any such claim, nor is it found in reports of the committees in the +Senate or House to whom the bill under consideration was referred. +On the contrary, the Senate Committee on Pensions in their report +distinctly state that "there is no proof that soldier contracted disease +while in the service or that he died of pensionable disabilities." +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>March i, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the Senate</i>: +</p> +<p> +I return herewith without approval Senate bill No. 719, entitled "An act +to restore a pension to Harriet M. Knowlton." +</p> +<p> +Major William Knowlton, a most worthy volunteer soldier, died of wounds +received in battle on the 20th day of September, 1864. +</p> +<p> +In 1865 his widow, the beneficiary named in this bill, was pensioned at +the rate of $25 a month, commencing on the day of her husband's death, +with an additional allowance for four minor children dating from July, +1866. +</p> +<p> +She continued to receive this pension and allowance until November, +1867, when she married Albin P. Stinchfield. +</p> +<p> +Thereupon her name was dropped from the pension roll, she having by +her remarriage lost her pensionable condition, and her children were +pensioned at a small monthly rate from the date of their mother's +remarriage until June 1, 1880, when the youngest became 16 years of age. +</p> +<p> +The beneficiary, after living with her second husband about twenty-two +years, secured a divorce from him in the year 1889, and it is now +proposed to pension the divorced wife as the widow of her deceased +soldier husband at the rate she received while she was actually his +widow, thirty years ago. +</p> +<p> +Her pensionable relation to the Government terminated with her +remarriage, and her divorce from her second husband could not upon any +ground of principle restore it. A departure from this rule, even in aid +of cases of hardship, can not fail to establish precedents inviting the +abandonment of reasonable and justifiable pension theories. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>March 1, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without approval House bill No. 1299, entitled "An act +to pension Harriet Woodbury, of Windsor, Vt." +</p> +<p> +The beneficiary named in this bill was the wife of Aaron G. Firman at +the time of his enlistment in 1863. He died October 2, 1864, and the +beneficiary, as his widow, was pensioned in 1865, from the day of her +soldier husband's death. +</p> +<p> +She continued to receive the pension allowed to her as such widow until +July 14, 1866, when she married Samuel H. Woodbury. She was thereupon +dropped from the pension roll pursuant to law, and in 1868 the minor son +of the soldier was allowed a pension of $8 a month, commencing at the +date of the remarriage of his mother. This pension was increased to $10 +a month in 1873, from July 25, 1866, and was continued until 1880, when +the minor child reached the age of 16 years. +</p> +<p> +On July 26, 1886, twenty years after the beneficiary ceased to be the +widow of the soldier Aaron G. Firman and became the wife of the civilian +Samuel H. Woodbury, he died and she became his widow. +</p> +<p> +It is now proposed by this bill to pension her again as the widow of the +deceased soldier, notwithstanding her voluntary abandonment of that +relation to become the wife of another more than thirty years ago. +</p> +<p> +No feature of our pension laws is so satisfactory and just as a fair +allowance to the widows of our soldiers who have died from causes +attributable to their army service. When, however, such a beneficiary +by remarriage surrenders her soldier widowhood and turns away from its +tender and patriotic associations to assume again the relation and +allegiance of wife to another husband, when she discards the soldier's +name and in every way terminates her pensionable relationship to the +Government, I am unable to discover any principle which justifies her +restoration to that relationship upon the death of her second husband. +</p> +<p> +No one can be insensible to the sad plight of a widow in needy +condition, but our pension laws should deal with soldiers' widows. I +understand that only the existence of this relationship to a deceased +soldier creates through him the Government's duty and justifies the +application of public money to the relief of such widows. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>March 2, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +<i>To the House of Representatives</i>: +</p> +<p> +I herewith return without approval House bill No. 7864, entitled "An act +to amend the immigration laws of the United States." +</p> +<p> +By the first section of this bill it is proposed to amend section 1 of +the act of March 3, 1891, relating to immigration by adding to the +classes of aliens thereby excluded from admission to the United States +the following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + All persons physically capable and over 16 years of age who can not read + and write the English language or some other language; but a person not + so able to read and write who is over 50 years of age and is the parent + or grandparent of a qualified immigrant over 21 years of age and capable + of supporting such parent or grandparent may accompany such immigrant, + or such a parent or grandparent may be sent for and come to join the + family of a child or grandchild over 21 years of age similarly qualified + and capable, and a wife or minor child not so able to read and write may + accompany or be sent for and come and join the husband or parent + similarly qualified and capable. +</p> +<p> +A radical departure from our national policy relating to immigration is +here presented. Heretofore we have welcomed all who came to us from +other lands except those whose moral or physical condition or history +threatened danger to our national welfare and safety. Relying upon the +zealous watchfulness of our people to prevent injury to our political +and social fabric, we have encouraged those coming from foreign +countries to cast their lot with us and join in the development of our +vast domain, securing in return a share in the blessings of American +citizenship. +</p> +<p> +A century's stupendous growth, largely due to the assimilation and +thrift of millions of sturdy and patriotic adopted citizens, attests the +success of this generous and free-handed policy which, while guarding +the people's interests, exacts from our immigrants only physical and +moral soundness and a willingness and ability to work. +</p> +<p> +A contemplation of the grand results of this policy can not fail to +arouse a sentiment in its defense, for however it might have been +regarded as an original proposition and viewed as an experiment its +accomplishments are such that if it is to be uprooted at this late day +its disadvantages should be plainly apparent and the substitute adopted +should be just and adequate, free from uncertainties, and guarded +against difficult or oppressive administration. +</p> +<p> +It is not claimed, I believe, that the time has come for the further +restriction of immigration on the ground that an excess of population +overcrowds our land. +</p> +<p> +It is said, however, that the quality of recent immigration is +undesirable. The time is quite within recent memory when the same thing +was said of immigrants who, with their descendants, are now numbered +among our best citizens. +</p> +<p> +It is said that too many immigrants settle in our cities, thus +dangerously increasing their idle and vicious population. This is +certainly a disadvantage. It can not be shown, however, that it affects +all our cities, nor that it is permanent; nor does it appear that this +condition where it exists demands as its remedy the reversal of our +present immigration policy. +</p> +<p> +The claim is also made that the influx of foreign laborers deprives of +the opportunity to work those who are better entitled than they to the +privilege of earning their livelihood by daily toil. An unfortunate +condition is certainly presented when any who are willing to labor are +unemployed, but so far as this condition now exists among our people it +must be conceded to be a result of phenomenal business depression and +the stagnation of all enterprises in which labor is a factor. With the +advent of settled and wholesome financial and economic governmental +policies and consequent encouragement to the activity of capital the +misfortunes of unemployed labor should, to a great extent at least, be +remedied. If it continues, its natural consequences must be to check the +further immigration to our cities of foreign laborers and to deplete the +ranks of those already there. In the meantime those most willing and +best entitled ought to be able to secure the advantages of such work as +there is to do. +</p> +<p> +It is proposed by the bill under consideration to meet the alleged +difficulties of the situation by establishing an educational test by +which the right of a foreigner to make his home with us shall be +determined. Its general scheme is to prohibit from admission to our +country all immigrants "physically capable and over 16 years of age who +can not read and write the English language or some other language," and +it is provided that this test shall be applied by requiring immigrants +seeking admission to read and afterwards to write not less than twenty +nor more than twenty-five words of the Constitution of the United States +in some language, and that any immigrant failing in this shall not be +admitted, but shall be returned to the country from whence he came at +the expense of the steamship or railroad company which brought him. +</p> +<p> +The best reason that could be given for this radical restriction of +immigration is the necessity of protecting our population against +degeneration and saving our national peace and quiet from imported +turbulence and disorder. +</p> +<p> +I can not believe that we would be protected against these evils by +limiting immigration to those who can read and write in any language +twenty-five words of our Constitution. In my opinion, it is infinitely +more safe to admit a hundred thousand immigrants who, though unable to +read and write, seek among us only a home and opportunity to work than +to admit one of those unruly agitators and enemies of governmental +control who can not only read and write, but delights in arousing by +inflammatory speech the illiterate and peacefully inclined to discontent +and tumult. Violence and disorder do not originate with illiterate +laborers. They are, rather, the victims of the educated agitator. The +ability to read and write, as required in this bill, in and of itself +affords, in my opinion, a misleading test of contented industry and +supplies unsatisfactory evidence of desirable citizenship or a proper +apprehension of the benefits of our institutions. If any particular +element of our illiterate immigration is to be feared for other causes +than illiteracy, these causes should be dealt with directly, instead of +making illiteracy the pretext for exclusion, to the detriment of other +illiterate immigrants against whom the real cause of complaint can not +be alleged. +</p> +<p> +The provisions intended to rid that part of the proposed legislation +already referred to from obvious hardship appears to me to be indefinite +and inadequate. +</p> +<p> +A parent, grandparent, wife, or minor child of a qualified immigrant, +though unable to read and write, may accompany the immigrant or be sent +for to join his family, provided the immigrant is capable of supporting +such relative. These exceptions to the general rule of exclusion +contained in the bill were made to prevent the separation of families, +and yet neither brothers nor sisters are provided for. In order that +relatives who are provided for may be reunited, those still in foreign +lands must be sent for to join the immigrant here. What formality is +necessary to constitute this prerequisite, and how are the facts of +relationship and that the relative is sent for to be established? +Are the illiterate relatives of immigrants who have come here under +prior laws entitled to the advantage of these exceptions? A husband who +can read and write and who determines to abandon his illiterate wife +abroad will find here under this law an absolutely safe retreat. The +illiterate relatives mentioned must not only be sent for, but such +immigrant must be capable of supporting them when they arrive. This +requirement proceeds upon the assumption that the foreign relatives +coming here are in every case, by reason of poverty, liable to become +a public charge unless the immigrant is capable of their support. The +contrary is very often true. And yet if unable to read and write, though +quite able and willing to support themselves and their relatives here +besides, they could not be admitted under the provisions of this bill +if the immigrant was impoverished, though the aid of his fortunate but +illiterate relative might be the means of saving him from pauperism. +</p> +<p> +The fourth section of this bill provides— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That it shall be unlawful for any male alien who has not in good faith + made his declaration before the proper court of his intention to become + a citizen of the United States to be employed on any public works of the + United States or to come regularly or habitually into the United States + by land or water for the purpose of engaging in any mechanical trade or + manual labor for wages or salary, returning from time to time to a + foreign country. +</p> +<p> +The fifth section provides— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That it shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, company, or + corporation knowingly to employ any alien coming into the United States + in violation of the next preceding section of this act. +</p> +<p> +The prohibition against the employment of aliens upon any public works +of the United States is in line with other legislation of a like +character. It is quite a different thing, however, to declare it a crime +for an alien to come regularly and habitually into the United States for +the purpose of obtaining work from private parties, if such alien +returns from time to time to a foreign country, and to constitute any +employment of such alien a criminal offense. +</p> +<p> +When we consider these provisions of the bill in connection with our +long northern frontier and the boundaries of our States and Territories, +often but an imaginary line separating them from the British dominions, +and recall the friendly intercourse between the people who are neighbors +on either side, the provisions of this bill affecting them must be +regarded as illiberal, narrow, and un-American. +</p> +<p> +The residents of these States and Territories have separate and especial +interests which in many cases make an interchange of labor between their +people and their alien neighbors most important, frequently with the +advantage largely in favor of our citizens. This suggests the +inexpediency of Federal interference with these conditions when not +necessary to the correction of a substantial evil, affecting the general +welfare. Such unfriendly legislation as is proposed could hardly fail to +provoke retaliatory measures, to the injury of many of our citizens who +now find employment on adjoining foreign soil. +</p> +<p> +The uncertainty of construction to which the language of these +provisions is subject is a serious objection to a statute which +describes a crime. An important element in the offense sought to be +created by these sections is the coming "regularly or habitually into +the United States." These words are impossible of definite and certain +construction. The same may be said of the equally important words +"returning from time to time to a foreign country." +</p> +<p> +A careful examination of this bill has convinced me that for the reasons +given and others not specifically stated its provisions are +unnecessarily harsh and oppressive, and that its defects in construction +would cause vexation and its operation would result in harm to our +citizens. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + POCKET VETOES. +</h2> +<center> +["An act granting a pension to Mrs. Mary Gould Carr, widow of the late +Brigadier and Brevet Major General Joseph B. Carr, United States +Volunteers, deceased."] +</center> +<p class="r"> +DECEMBER 30, 1896. +</p> +<p> +This bill was presented to me on the 16th day of December, 1896. +Congress, pursuant to a concurrent resolution adopted by both Houses of +Congress, adjourned from the 22d day of December, 1896, to January 5, +1897. I have not approved the bill. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +"An act to increase the pension of Caroline A. Hough, widow of +Brigadier-General John Hough." +</center> +<p class="r"> +DECEMBER 31, 1896. +</p> +<p> +This bill was presented to me on the 16th day of December, 1896. +Congress, pursuant to a concurrent resolution adopted by both Houses of +Congress, adjourned from the 22d day of December, 1896, to January 5, +1897. I have not approved the bill. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + PROCLAMATIONS. +</h2> +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas an act of Congress entitled "An act to adopt regulations for +preventing collisions at sea" was approved August 19, 1890, the said act +being in the following words: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the + United States of America in Congress assembled</i>, That the following + regulations for preventing collisions at sea shall be followed by all + public and private vessels of the United States upon the high seas and + in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + PRELIMINARY. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the following rules every steam vessel which is under sail and not + under steam is to be considered a sailing vessel, and every vessel under + steam, whether under sail or not, is to be considered a steam vessel. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The words "steam vessel" shall include any vessel propelled by + machinery. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + A vessel is "under way" within the meaning of these rules when she is + not at anchor or made fast to the shore or aground. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RULES CONCERNING LIGHTS, ETC. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The word "visible" in these rules when applied to lights shall mean + visible on a dark night with a clear atmosphere. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ARTICLE 1. The rules concerning lights shall be complied with in all + weathers from sunset to sunrise, and during such time no other lights + which may be mistaken for the prescribed lights shall be exhibited. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 2. A steam vessel when under way shall carry— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) On or in front of the foremast, or if a vessel without a + foremast, then in the fore part of the vessel, at a height above the + hull of not less than 20 feet, and if the breadth of the vessel exceeds + 20 feet, then at a height above the hull not less than such breadth, so, + however, that the light need not be carried at a greater height above + the hull than 40 feet, a bright white light so constructed as to show an + unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 20 points of the compass, + so fixed as to throw the light 10 points on each side of the + vessel—namely, from right ahead to 2 points abaft the beam on either + side—and of such a character as to be visible at a distance of at least + 5 miles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) On the starboard side a green light so constructed as to show + an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points of the + compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to 2 points + abaft the beam on the starboard side, and of such a character as to be + visible at a distance of at least 2 miles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) On the port side a red light so constructed as to show an + unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points of the compass, + so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to 2 points abaft the + beam on the port side, and of such a character as to be visible at a + distance of at least 2 miles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) The said green and red side lights shall be fitted with + inboard screens projecting at least 3 feet forward from the light, so as + to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>e</i>) A steam vessel when under way may carry an additional white + light similar in construction to the light mentioned in subdivision + (<i>a</i>). These two lights shall be so placed in line with the keel + that one shall be at least 15 feet higher than the other, and in such a + position with reference to each other that the lower light shall be + forward of the upper one. The vertical distance between these lights + shall be less than the horizontal distance. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 3. A steam vessel when towing another vessel shall, in addition to + her side lights, carry two bright white lights in a vertical line one + over the other, not less than 6 feet apart, and when towing more than + one vessel shall carry an additional bright white light 6 feet above or + below such light, if the length of the tow measuring from the stern of + the towing vessel to the stern of the last vessel towed exceeds 600 + feet. Each of these lights shall be of the same construction and + character and shall be carried in the same position as the white light + mentioned in article 2 (<i>a</i>), excepting the additional light, which + may be carried at a height of not less than 14 feet above the hull. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Such steam vessel may carry a small white light abaft the funnel or + aftermast for the vessel towed to steer by, but such light shall not be + visible forward of the beam. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 4. (<i>a</i>) A vessel which from any accident is not under command + shall carry at the same height as a white light mentioned in article 2 + (<i>a</i>), where they can best be seen, and if a steam vessel in lieu + of that light, two red lights in a vertical line one over the other, not + less than 6 feet apart, and of such a character as to be visible all + around the horizon at a distance of at least 2 miles, and shall by day + carry in a vertical line one over the other, not less than 6 feet apart, + where they can best be seen, two black balls or shapes each 2 feet in + diameter. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) A vessel employed in laying or in picking up a telegraph + cable shall carry in the same position as the white light mentioned in + articles (<i>a</i>), and if a steam vessel in lieu of that light, three + lights in a vertical line one over the other, not less than 6 feet + apart. The highest and lowest of these lights shall be red and the + middle light shall be white, and they shall be of such a character as to + be visible all around the horizon at a distance of at least 2 miles. By + day she shall carry in a vertical line one over the other, not less than + 6 feet apart, where they can best be seen, three shapes not less than 2 + feet in diameter, of which the highest and lowest shall be globular in + shape and red in color and the middle one diamond in shape and white. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) The vessels referred to in this article when not making way + through the water shall not carry the side lights, but when making way + shall carry them. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) The lights and shapes required to be shown by this article + are to be taken by other vessels as signals that the vessel showing them + is not under command and can not, therefore, get out of the way. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + These signals are not signals of vessels in distress and requiring + assistance. Such signals are contained in article 31. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 5. A sailing vessel under way and any vessel being towed shall + carry the same lights as are prescribed by article 2 for a steam vessel + under way, with the exception of the white lights mentioned therein, + which they shall never carry. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 6. Whenever, as in the case of small vessels under way during bad + weather, the green and red side lights can not be fixed, these lights + shall be kept at hand, lighted and ready for use, and shall on the + approach of or to other vessels be exhibited on their respective sides, + in sufficient time to prevent collision, in such manner as to make them + most visible and so that the green light shall not be seen on the port + side nor the red light on the starboard side, nor, if practicable, more + than 2 points abaft the beam on their respective sides. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + To make the use of these portable lights more certain and easy the + lanterns containing them shall each be painted outside with the color of + the light they respectively contain and shall be provided with proper + screens. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 7. Steam vessels of less than 40 and vessels under oars or sails of + less than 20 tons gross tonnage, respectively, when under way shall not + be obliged to carry the lights mentioned in article 2 (<i>a</i>), + (<i>b</i>), and (<i>c</i>), but if they do not carry them they shall be + provided with the following lights: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + First. Steam vessels of less than 40 tons shall carry— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) In the fore part of the vessel or on or in front of the + funnel, where it can best be seen, and at a height above the gunwale of + not less than 9 feet, a bright white light constructed and fixed as + prescribed in article 2 (<i>a</i>) and of such a character as to be + visible at a distance of at least 2 miles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) Green and red side lights constructed and fixed as prescribed + in article 2 (<i>b</i>) and (<i>c</i>) and of such a character as to be + visible at a distance of at least 1 mile, or a combined lantern showing + a green light and a red light from right ahead to 2 points abaft the + beam on their respective sides. Such lanterns shall be carried not less + than 3 feet below the white light. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Second. Small steamboats, such as are carried by seagoing vessels, may + carry the white light at a less height than 9 feet above the gunwale, + but it shall be carried above the combined lantern mentioned in + subdivision 1 (<i>b</i>). +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Third. Vessels under oars or sails of leas than 20 tons shall have ready + at hand a lantern with a green glass on one side and a red glass on the + other, which on the approach of or to other vessels shall be exhibited, + in sufficient time to prevent collision, so that the green light shall + not be seen on the port side nor the red light on the starboard side. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The vessels referred to in this article shall not be obliged to carry + the lights prescribed by article 4 (<i>a</i>) and article 11 last + paragraph. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 8. Pilot vessels when engaged on their station on pilotage duty + shall not show the lights required for other vessels, but shall carry a + white light at the masthead, visible all around the horizon, and shall + also exhibit a flare-up light or flare-up lights at short intervals, + which shall never exceed fifteen minutes. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + On the near approach of or to other vessels they shall have their side + lights lighted ready for use and shall flash or show them at short + intervals to indicate the direction in which they are heading; but the + green light shall not be shown on the port side nor the red light on the + starboard side. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + A pilot vessel of such a class as to be obliged to go alongside of a + vessel to put a pilot on board may show the white light instead of + carrying it at the masthead, and may instead of the colored lights above + mentioned have at hand ready for use a lantern with a green glass on the + one side and a red glass on the other, to be used as prescribed above. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Pilot vessels when not engaged on their station on pilotage duty shall + carry lights similar to those of other vessels of their tonnage. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 9. Fishing vessels and fishing boats when under way and when not + required by this article to carry or show the lights therein named shall + carry or show the lights prescribed for vessels of their tonnage under + way. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) Vessels and boats when fishing with drift nets shall exhibit + two white lights from any part of the vessel where they can best be + seen. Such lights shall be placed so that the vertical distance between + them shall be not less than 6 feet and not more than 10 feet, and so + that the horizontal distance between them measured in a line with the + keel shall be not less than 5 feet and not more than 10 feet. The lower + of these two lights shall be the more forward, and both of them shall be + of such a character as to show all around the horizon and to be visible + at a distance of not less than 3 miles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) Vessels when engaged in trawling, by which is meant the + dragging of an apparatus along the bottom of the sea— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + First. If steam vessels, shall carry in the same position as the white + light mentioned in article 2 (<i>a</i>) tricolored lantern so + constructed and fixed as to show a white light from right ahead to 2 + points on each bow and a green light and a red light over an arc of the + horizon from 2 points on either bow to 2 points abaft the beam on the + starboard and port sides, respectively, and not less than 6 nor more + than 12 feet below the tricolored lantern a white light in a lantern so + constructed as to show a clear, uniform, and unbroken light all around + the horizon. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Second. If sailing vessels of 7 tons gross tonnage and upward, shall + carry a white light in a lantern so constructed as to show a clear, + uniform, and unbroken light all around the horizon, and shall also be + provided with a sufficient supply of red pyrotechnic lights, which shall + each burn for at least thirty seconds and shall be shown on the approach + of or to other vessels in sufficient time to prevent collision. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the Mediterranean Sea the vessels referred to in subdivision + (<i>b</i>) 2 may use a flare-up light in lieu of a pyrotechnic light. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + All lights mentioned in subdivision (<i>b</i>) 1 and 2 shall be visible + at a distance of at least 2 miles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Third. If sailing vessels of less than 7 tons gross tonnage, shall not + be obliged to carry the white light mentioned in subdivision (<i>b</i>) + 2 of this article, but if they do not carry such light they shall have + at hand, ready for use, a lantern showing a bright white light, which + shall on the approach of or to other vessels be exhibited where it can + best be seen in sufficient time to prevent collision; and they shall + also show a red pyrotechnic light, as prescribed in subdivision + (<i>b</i>) 2, or in lieu thereof a flare-up light. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) Vessels and boats when line fishing with their lines out and + attached to their lines, and when not at anchor or stationary, shall + carry the same lights as vessels fishing with drift nets. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) Fishing vessels and fishing boats may at any time use a + flare-up light in addition to the lights which they are by this article + required to carry and show. All flare-up lights exhibited by a vessel + when trawling or fishing with any kind of drag net shall be shown at the + after part of the vessel, excepting that if the vessel is hanging by the + stern to her fishing gear they shall be exhibited from the bow. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>e</i>) Every fishing vessel and every boat when at anchor shall + exhibit a white light visible all around the horizon at a distance of at + least 1 mile. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>f</i>) If a vessel or boat when fishing becomes stationary in + consequence of her gear getting fast to a rock or other obstruction, she + shall show the light and make the fog signal prescribed for a vessel at + anchor, respectively. (See article 15 (<i>d</i>), (<i>e</i>), and last + paragraph.) +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>g</i>) In fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain storms drift-net + vessels attached to their nets, and vessels when trawling, dredging, or + fishing with any kind of dragnet, and vessels line fishing with their + lines out shall, if of 20 tons gross tonnage or upward, respectively, at + intervals of not more than one minute make a blast—if steam vessels, + with the whistle or siren, and if sailing vessels, with the fog + horn—each blast to be followed by ringing the bell. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>h</i>) Sailing vessels or boats fishing with nets or lines or trawls + when under way shall in daytime indicate their occupation to an + approaching vessel by displaying a basket or other efficient signal + where it can best be seen. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The vessels referred to in this article shall not be obliged to carry + the light prescribed by article 4 (<i>a</i>) and article 11, last + paragraph. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 10. A vessel which is being overtaken by another shall show from + her stern to such last-mentioned vessel a white light or a flare-up + light. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The white light required to be shown by this article may be fixed and + carried in a lantern, but in such case the lantern shall be so + constructed, fitted, and screened that it shall throw an unbroken light + over an arc of the horizon of 12 points of the compass—namely, for 6 + points from right aft on each side of the vessel—so as to be visible at + a distance of at least 1 mile. Such light shall be carried as nearly as + practicable on the same level as the side lights. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 11. A vessel under 150 feet in length when at anchor shall carry + forward, where it can best be seen, but at a height not exceeding 20 + feet above the hull, a white light in a lantern so constructed as to + show a clear, uniform, and unbroken light visible all around the horizon + at a distance of at least 1 mile. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + A vessel of 150 feet or upward in length when at anchor shall carry in + the forward part of the vessel, at a height of not less than 20 and not + exceeding 40 feet above the hull, one such light, and at or near the + stern of the vessel, and at such a height that it shall be not less than + 15 feet lower than the forward light, another such light. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The length of a vessel shall be deemed to be the length appearing in her + certificate of registry. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + A vessel aground in or near a fairway shall carry the above light or + lights and the two red lights prescribed by article 4 (<i>a</i>). +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 12. Every vessel may, if necessary in order to attract attention, + in addition to the lights which she is by these rules required to carry, + show a flare-up light or use any detonating signal that can not be + mistaken for a distress signal. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 13. Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the operation of + any special rules made by the government of any nation with respect to + additional station and signal lights for two or more ships of war or + for vessels sailing under convoy, or with the exhibition of recognition + signals adopted by ship owners, which have been authorized by their + respective governments and duly registered and published. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 14. A steam vessel proceeding under sail only, but having her + funnel up, shall carry in daytime forward, where it can best be seen, + one black ball or shape 2 feet in diameter. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SOUND SIGNALS FOR FOG, ETC. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 15. All signals prescribed by this article for vessels under way + shall be given— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 1. By "steam vessels," on the whistle or siren. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + 2. By "sailing vessels" and "vessels towed," on the fog horn. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The words "prolonged blast" used in this article shall mean a blast of + from four to six seconds' duration. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + A steam vessel shall be provided with an efficient whistle or siren, + sounded by steam or by some substitute for steam, so placed that the + sound may not be intercepted by any obstruction, and with an efficient + fog horn, to be sounded by mechanical means, and also with an efficient + bell. (In all cases where the rules require a bell to be used a drum may + be substituted on board Turkish vessels or a gong where such articles + are used on board small seagoing vessels.) A sailing vessel of 20 tons + gross tonnage or upward shall be provided with a similar fog horn and + bell. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain storms, whether by day or + night, the signals described in this article shall be used as follows, + viz: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) A steam vessel having way upon her shall sound at intervals + of not more than two minutes a prolonged blast. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) A steam vessel under way, but stopped and having no way upon + her, shall sound at intervals of not more than two minutes two prolonged + blasts, with an interval of about one second between them. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) A sailing vessel under way shall sound at intervals of not + more than one minute, when on the starboard tack one blast, when on the + port tack two blasts in succession, and when with the wind abaft the + beam three blasts in succession. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) A vessel when at anchor shall at intervals of not more than + one minute ring the bell rapidly for about five seconds. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>e</i>) A vessel at anchor at sea, when not in ordinary anchorage + ground and when in such a position as to be an obstruction to vessels + under way, shall sound, if a steam vessel, at intervals of not more than + two minutes, two prolonged blasts with her whistle or siren, followed by + ringing her bell, or if a sailing vessel, at intervals of not more than + one minute, two blasts with her fog horn, followed by ringing her bell. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>f</i>) A vessel when towing shall, instead of the signals prescribed + in subdivisions (<i>a</i>) and (<i>c</i>) of this article, at intervals + of not more than two minutes sound three blasts in succession, namely, + one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. A vessel towed may + give this signal, and she shall not give any other. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>g</i>) A steam vessel wishing to indicate to another "The way is off + my vessel; you may feel your way past me" may sound three blasts in + succession—namely, short, long, short—with intervals of about one + second between them. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>h</i>) A vessel employed in laying or picking up a telegraph cable + shall on hearing the fog signal of an approaching vessel sound in answer + three prolonged blasts in succession. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>i</i>) A vessel under way which is unable to get out of the way of + an approaching vessel through being not under command or unable to + maneuver as required by these rules shall on hearing the fog signal of + an approaching vessel sound in answer four short blasts in succession. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Sailing vessels and boats of less than 20 tons gross tonnage shall not + be obliged to give the above-mentioned signals, but if they do not they + shall make some other efficient sound signal at intervals of not more + than one minute. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SPEED OF SHIPS TO BE MODERATE IN FOG, ETC. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 16. Every vessel shall in a fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain + storms go at a moderate speed, having careful regard to the existing + circumstances and conditions. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + A steam vessel hearing, apparently forward of her beam, the fog signal + of a vessel the position of which is not ascertained shall, so far as + the circumstances of the case admit, stop her engines and then navigate + with caution until danger of collision is over. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + STEERING AND SAILING RULES. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + PRELIMINARY.—RISK OF COLLISION. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Risk of collision can, when circumstances permit, be ascertained by + carefully watching the compass bearing of an approaching vessel. If the + bearing does not appreciably change, such risk should be deemed to + exist. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 17. When two sailing vessels are approaching one another so as to + involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep out of the way of the + other as follows, namely: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) A vessel which is running free shall keep out of the way of a + vessel which is closehauled. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) A vessel which is closehauled on the port tack shall keep out + of the way of a vessel which is closehauled on the starboard tack. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) When both are running free with the wind on different sides, + the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way + of the other. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) When both are running free with the wind on the same side, + the vessel which is to the windward shall keep out of the way of the + vessel which is to leeward. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>e</i>) A vessel which has the wind aft shall keep out of the way of + the other vessel. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 18. When two steam vessels are meeting end on or nearly end on, so + as to involve risk of collision, each shall alter her course to + starboard, so that each may pass on the port side of the other. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + This article only applies to cases where vessels are meeting end on or + nearly end on in such a manner as to involve risk of collision, and does + not apply to two vessels which must, if both keep on their respective + courses, pass clear of each other. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The only cases to which it does apply are when each of the two vessels + is end on or nearly end on to the other; in other words, to cases in + which by day each vessel sees the masts of the other in a line or nearly + in a line with her own, and by night to cases in which each vessel is in + such a position as to see both the side lights of the other. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + It does not apply by day to cases in which a vessel sees another ahead + crossing her own course, or by night to cases where the red light of one + vessel is opposed to the red light of the other, or where the green + light of one vessel is opposed to the green light of the other, or where + a red light without a green light or a green light without a red light + is seen ahead, or where both green and red lights are seen anywhere but + ahead. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 19. When two steam vessels are crossing, so as to involve risk of + collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side + shall keep out of the way of the other. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 20. When a steam vessel and a sailing vessel are proceeding in such + directions as to involve risk of collision, the steam vessel shall keep + out of the way of the sailing vessel. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 21. Where by any of these rules one of two vessels is to keep out + of the way, the other shall keep her course and speed. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 22. Every vessel which is directed by these rules to keep out + of the way of another vessel shall, if the circumstances of the case + admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 23. Every steam vessel which is directed by these rules to keep out + of the way of another vessel shall on approaching her, if necessary, + slacken her speed or stop or reverse. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 24. Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules every vessel + overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the overtaken vessel. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Every vessel coming up with another vessel from any direction more than + 2 points abaft her beam—that is, in such a position with reference to + the vessel which she is overtaking that at night she would be unable to + see either of that vessel's side lights—shall be deemed to be an + overtaking vessel, and no subsequent alteration of the bearing between + the two vessels shall make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessel + within the meaning of these rules or relieve her of the duty of keeping + clear of the overtaken vessel until she is finally past and clear. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + As by day the overtaking vessel can not always know with certainty + whether she is forward of or abaft this direction from the other vessel, + she should if in doubt assume that she is an overtaking vessel and keep + out of the way. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 25. In narrow channels every steam vessel shall, when it is safe + and practicable, keep to that side of the fairway or mid-channel which + lies on the starboard side of such vessel. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 26. Sailing vessels under way shall keep out of the way of sailing + vessels or boats fishing with nets or lines or trawls. This rule shall + not give to any vessel or boat engaged in fishing the right of + obstructing a fairway used by vessels other than fishing vessels or + boats. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 27. In obeying and construing these rules due regard shall be had + to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special + circumstances which may render a departure from the above rules + necessary in order to avoid immediate danger. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SOUND SIGNALS FOR VESSELS IN SIGHT OF ONE ANOTHER. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 28. The words "short blast" used in this article shall mean a blast + of about one second's duration. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + When vessels are in sight of one another, a steam vessel under way in + taking any course authorized or required by these rules shall indicate + that course by the following signals on her whistle or siren, namely: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + One short blast to mean, "I am directing my course to starboard." +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Two short blasts to mean, "I am directing my course to port." +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Three short blasts to mean, "My engines are going at full speed astern." +</p> +<p class="quote"> + NO VESSEL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TO NEGLECT PROPER PRECAUTIONS. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 29. Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any vessel or the owner + or master or crew thereof from the consequences of any neglect to carry + lights or signals, or of any neglect to keep a proper lookout, or of the + neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice + of seamen or by the special circumstances of the case. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + RESERVATION OF RULES FOR HARBORS AND INLAND NAVIGATION. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 30. Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the operation of a + special rule duly made by local authority relative to the navigation of + any harbor, river, or inland waters. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + DISTRESS SIGNALS. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 31. When a vessel is in distress and requires assistance from other + vessels or from the shore, the following shall be the signals to be used + or displayed by her either together or separately, namely: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + In the daytime— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + First. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Second. The international code signal of distress indicated by N.C. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Third. The distance signal, consisting of a square flag, having either + above or below it a ball or anything resembling a ball. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Fourth. Rockets or shells as prescribed below for use at night. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Fifth. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + At night— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + First. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Second. Flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, + etc.). +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Third. Rockets or shells bursting in the air with a loud report and + throwing stars of any color or description, fired one at a time at short + intervals. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Fourth. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 2. That all laws or parts of laws inconsistent with the foregoing + regulations for preventing collisions at sea, for the navigation of all + public and private vessels of the United States upon the high seas and + in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels, are + hereby repealed. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 3. That this act shall take effect at a time to be fixed by the + President by proclamation issued for that purpose. +</p> +<p> +And whereas an act of Congress entitled "An act to amend an act approved +August 19, 1890, entitled 'An act to adopt regulations for preventing +collisions at sea,'" was approved May 28, 1894, the said act being in +the following words: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the + United States of America in Congress assembled</i>. That article 7 of + the act approved August 19, 1890, entitled "An act to adopt regulations + for preventing collisions at sea," be amended to read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "ART. 7. Steam vessels of less than 40 and vessels under oars or sails + of less than 20 tons gross tonnage, respectively, and rowing boats, when + under way, shall not be required to carry the lights mentioned in + article 2 (<i>a</i>), (<i>b</i>), and (<i>c</i>), but if they do not + carry them they shall be provided with the following lights: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "First. Steam vessels of less than 40 tons shall carry— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "(<i>a</i>) In the fore part of the vessel or on or in front of the + funnel, where it can best be seen, and at a height above the gunwale of + not less than 9 feet, a bright white light constructed and fixed as + prescribed in article 2 (<i>a</i>) and of such a character as to be + visible at a distance of at least 2 miles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "(<i>b</i>) Green and red side lights constructed and fixed as + prescribed in article 2 (<i>b</i>) and (<i>c</i>) and of such a + character as to be visible at a distance of at least 1 mile, or a + combined lantern showing a green light and a red light from right ahead + to 2 points abaft the beam on their respective sides. Such lanterns + shall be carried not less than 3 feet below the white light. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Second. Small steamboats, such as are carried by seagoing vessels, may + carry the white light at a less height than 9 feet above the gunwale, + but it shall be carried above the combined lantern mentioned in + subdivision 1 (<i>b</i>). +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Third. Vessels under oars or sails of less than 20 tons shall have + ready at hand a lantern with a green glass on one side and a red glass + on the other, which on the approach of or to other vessels shall be + exhibited, in sufficient time to prevent collision, so that the green + light shall not be seen on the port side nor the red light on the + starboard side. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Fourth. Rowing boats, whether under oars or sail, shall have ready at + hand a lantern showing a white light, which shall be temporarily + exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "The vessels referred to in this article shall not be obliged to carry + the lights prescribed by article 4 (<i>a</i>) and article 11, last + paragraph." +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That article 9 be hereby repealed. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That article 21 be amended to read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "ART. 21. Where by any of these rules one of two vessels is to keep out + of the way the other shall keep her course and speed. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "NOTE.—When in consequence of thick weather or other causes such vessel + finds herself so close that collision can not be avoided by the action + of the giving-way vessel alone, she also shall take such action as will + best aid to avert collision." (See articles 27 and 29.) +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That article 31 be amended to read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "DISTRESS SIGNALS. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "ART. 31. When a vessel is in distress and requires assistance from + other vessels or from the shore, the following shall be the signals to + be used or displayed by her, either together or separately, namely: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "In the daytime— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "First. A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a + minute. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Second. The international code signal of distress indicated by N.C. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Third. The distance signal, consisting of a square flag, having either + above or below it a ball or anything resembling a ball. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Fourth. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "At night— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "First. A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a + minute. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Second. Flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, + etc.). +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Third. Rockets or shells throwing stars of any color or description, + fired one at a time at short intervals. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Fourth. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus." +</p> +<p> +And whereas it was provided by section 3 of the said act of August 19, +1890, that it should take effect at a time to be fixed by the President +by proclamation issued for that purpose; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas the President did, in virtue of the authority vested in him by +the said section 3 of the act of August 19, 1890, issue a proclamation +on the 13th day of July, 1894,<a href="#note-40" name="noteref-40"><small>40</small></a> declaring the 1st day of March, 1895, +as the day on which the said act approved August 19, 1890, as amended by +the act approved May 28, 1894, should take effect; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas an act of Congress entitled "An act relating to lights on +fishing vessels" was approved August 13, 1894, the said act being in the +following words: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the + United States of America in Congress assembled</i>, That article 10 of + the act approved March 3, 1885, entitled "An act to adopt the 'Revised + international regulations for preventing collisions at sea,'" so far as + said article relates to lights for fishing vessels, is hereby reenacted + and continued in force, anything in the act approved May 28, 1894, + entitled "An act to amend an act approved August 19, 1890, entitled + 'An act to adopt regulations for preventing collisions at sea,'" to + the contrary notwithstanding. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the said article of the act approved March 3, 1885, entitled +"An act to adopt the 'Revised international regulations for preventing +collisions at sea,'" reenacted by the said act of August 13, 1894, is as +follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ART. 10. Open boats and fishing vessels of less than 20 tons net + registered tonnage when under way and when not having their nets, + trawls, dredges, or lines in the water shall not be obliged to carry + the colored side lights; but every such boat and vessel shall in lieu + thereof have ready at hand a lantern with a green glass on the one + side and a red glass on the other side, and on approaching to or being + approached by another vessel such lantern shall be exhibited, in + sufficient time to prevent collision, so that the green light shall not + be seen on the port side nor the red light on the starboard side. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The following portion of this article applies only to fishing vessels + and boats when in the sea off the coast of Europe lying north of Cape + Finisterre: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>a</i>) All fishing vessels and fishing boats of 20 tons net + registered tonnage or upward when under way and when not having their + nets, trawls, dredges, or lines in the water shall carry and show the + same lights as other vessels under way. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>b</i>) All vessels when engaged in fishing with drift nets shall + exhibit two white lights from any part of the vessel where they can be + best seen. Such lights shall be placed so that the vertical distance + between them shall be not less than 6 feet and not more than 10 feet and + so that the horizontal distance between them measured in a line with the + keel of the vessel shall be not less than 5 feet and not more than 10 + feet. The lower of these two lights shall be the more forward, and both + of them shall be of such a character and contained in lanterns of such + construction as to show all round the horizon on a dark night with a + clear atmosphere for a distance of not less than 3 miles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>c</i>) All vessels when trawling, dredging, or fishing with any kind + of dragnets shall exhibit from some part of the vessel where they can be + best seen two lights. One of these lights shall be red and the other + shall be white. The red light shall be above the white light and shall + be at a vertical distance from it of not less than 6 feet and not more + than 12 feet, and the horizontal distance between them, if any, shall + not be more than 10 feet. These two lights shall be of such a character + and contained in lanterns of such construction as to be visible all + round the horizon on a dark night with a clear atmosphere, the white + light to a distance of not less than 3 miles and the red light of not + less than 2 miles. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) A vessel employed in line fishing with her lines out shall + carry the same lights as a vessel when engaged in fishing with drift + nets. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>e</i>) If a vessel when fishing with a trawl, dredge, or any kind of + dragnet becomes stationary in consequence of her gear getting fast to a + rock or other obstruction, she shall show the light and make the fog + signal for a vessel at anchor. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>f</i>) Fishing vessels and open boats may at any time use a flare-up + in addition to the lights which they are by this article required to + carry and show. All flare-up lights exhibited by a vessel when trawling, + dredging, or fishing with any kind of dragnet shall be shown at the + after part of the vessel, excepting that if the vessel is hanging by the + stern to her trawl, dredge, or dragnet they shall be exhibited from the + bow. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>g</i>) Every fishing vessel and every open boat when at anchor + between sunset and sunrise shall exhibit a white light visible all round + the horizon at a distance of at least 1 mile. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>h</i>) In a fog a drift-net vessel attached to her nets, and a + vessel when trawling, dredging, or fishing with any kind of dragnet, and + a vessel employed in line fishing with her lines out shall at intervals + of not more than two minutes make a blast with her fog horn and ring her + bell alternately. +</p> +<p> +And whereas an act of Congress entitled "An act to postpone the +enforcement of the act of August 19, 1890, entitled 'An act to adopt +regulations for preventing collisions at sea,'" was approved February +23, 1895, the said act being in the following words: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Whereas the President, in accordance with the proposition of Great + Britain to enforce on March 1, 1895, the "Revised international + regulations for preventing collisions at sea," and on the + representations of that Government that those regulations had received + the general approval of the several foreign maritime powers, pursuant + to section 3 of the act of August 19, 1890, entitled "An act to adopt + regulations for preventing collisions at sea," issued on July 13, + 1894, his proclamation<a href="#note-41" name="noteref-41"><small>41</small></a> fixing March 1, 1895, as the time when the + provisions of said act, as amended, embodying said revised international + regulations, shall take effect; and +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Whereas the Government of Great Britain has withdrawn from the position + communicated to this Government on April 25, 1894, that no time should + be lost in carrying those regulations into effect, and on January 16, + 1895, announced to this Government that the Government of Great Britain + now finds it impossible until Parliament has been consulted to fix a + date for bringing the regulations into force, and earnestly requests + this Government to consent to a temporary postponement of the + enforcement of said regulations; and +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Whereas it is desirable that the "Revised international regulations for + preventing collisions at sea" shall be put into force simultaneously by + the maritime powers: Therefore, +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the + United States of America in Congress assembled</i>, That said act of + August 19, 1890, take effect not on March 1, 1895, but at a subsequent + time, to be fixed by the President by proclamation issued for that + purpose. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the President did, in virtue of the authority vested in him +by the said act of February 23, 1895, issue a proclamation on the 25th +day of February, 1895,<a href="#note-42" name="noteref-42"><small>42</small></a> giving notice that the said act of August 19, +1890, as amended by the act of May 28, 1894, would not go into force on +March 1, 1895, the date fixed in his said proclamation of July 13, +1894,<a href="#note-43" name="noteref-43"><small>43</small></a> but on such future date as might be designated in a +proclamation of the President to be issued for that purpose; and +</p> +<p> +Whereas an act of Congress entitled "An act to amend an act approved +August 19, 1890, entitled 'An act to adopt regulations for preventing +collisions at sea,'" was approved June 10, 1896, the said act being in +the following words: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the + United States of America in Congress assembled</i>, That article 15 of + the act approved August 19, 1890, entitled "An act to adopt regulations + for preventing collisions at sea," be amended to read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "ART. 15. All signals prescribed by this article for vessels under way + shall be given— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "First. By 'steam vessels,' on the whistle or siren. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Second. By 'sailing vessels' and 'vessels towed,' on the fog horn. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "The words 'prolonged blast' used in this article shall mean a blast of + from four to six seconds' duration. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "A steam vessel shall be provided with an efficient whistle or siren, + sounded by steam or some substitute for steam, so placed that the sound + may not be intercepted by any obstruction, and with an efficient fog + horn to be sounded by mechanical means, and also with an efficient bell. + (In all cases where the rules require a bell to be used a drum may be + substituted on board Turkish vessels or a gong where such articles are + used on board small seagoing vessels.) A sailing vessel of 20 tons gross + tonnage or upward shall be provided with a similar fog horn and bell. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "In fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain storms, whether by day or + night, the signals described in this article shall be used as follows, + namely: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "(<i>a</i>) A steam vessel having way upon her shall sound at intervals + of not more than two minutes a prolonged blast. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "(<i>b</i>) A steam vessel under way, but stopped and having no way upon + her, shall sound at intervals of not more than two minutes two prolonged + blasts with an interval of about one second between. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "(<i>c</i>) A sailing vessel under way shall sound at intervals of not + more than one minute, when on the starboard tack one blast, when on the + port tack two blasts in succession, and when with the wind abaft the + beam three blasts in succession. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "(<i>d</i>) A vessel when at anchor shall at intervals of not more than + one minute ring the bell rapidly for about five seconds. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "(<i>e</i>) A vessel when towing, a vessel employed in laying or in + picking up a telegraph cable, and a vessel under way which is unable to + get out of the way of an approaching vessel through being not under + command or unable to maneuver as required by the rules shall, instead of + the signals prescribed in subdivisions (<i>a</i>) and (<i>c</i>) of this + article, at intervals of not more than two minutes sound three blasts in + succession, namely, one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. A + vessel towed may give this signal, and she shall not give any other. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Sailing vessels and boats of less than 20 tons gross tonnage shall not + be obliged to give the above-mentioned signals, but if they do not they + shall make some other efficient sound signal at intervals of not more + than one minute." +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SEC. 2. That said act of August 19, 1890, as amended, shall take effect + at a subsequent time to be fixed by the President by proclamation issued + for that purpose. +</p> +<p> +And whereas it was provided by section 2 of the act approved June 10, +1896, that the said act of August 19, 1890, as amended should take +effect at a subsequent time to be fixed by the President by proclamation +issued for that purpose: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States of +America, do hereby, in virtue of the authority vested in me by section 3 +of the act of August 19, 1890, and by section 2 of the act of June 10, +1896, proclaim the 1st day of July, 1897, as the day on which the said +act approved August 19, 1890, as amended by the act approved May 28, +1894, by the act approved August 13, 1894, and by the act approved June +10, 1896, shall take effect. +</p> +<p> +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States of America to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 31st day of December, 1896, and of +the Independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 24 of the act of Congress approved +March 3, 1891, entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for +other purposes"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the President of the United States may from time to time set + apart and reserve in any State or Territory having public land bearing + forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with + timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public + reservations; and the President shall by public proclamation declare + the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the public lands in the State of Utah within the limits +hereinafter described are in part covered with timber, and it appears +that the public good would be promoted by setting apart and reserving +said lands as a public reservation: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, by +virtue of the power in me vested by section 24 of the aforesaid act of +Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that there is hereby +reserved from entry or settlement and set apart as a public reservation +all those certain tracts, pieces, or parcels of land lying and being +situate in the State of Utah and within the boundaries particularly +described as follows, to wit: +</p> +<p> +Beginning at the northwest corner of township one (1) south, range seven +(7) east, Salt Lake meridian, Utah; thence easterly along the base line +to the southeast corner of township one (1) north, range eight (8) east; +thence northerly along the range line to the northeast corner of said +township; thence easterly along the township line between townships one +(1) and two (2) north to the southeast corner of township two (2) north, +range thirteen (13) east; thence northerly along the range line to the +northeast corner of said township; thence easterly along the surveyed +and unsurveyed township line between townships two (2) and three (3) +north to its point of intersection with the Green River; thence in a +southeasterly direction along the middle of the channel of said river to +the point for the unsurveyed range line between ranges twenty-two (22) +and twenty-three (23) east; thence southerly along the unsurveyed and +surveyed range line between said ranges to the point for the southeast +corner of township two (2) south, range twenty-two (22) east; thence +westerly along the unsurveyed and surveyed township line between +townships two (2) and three (3) south to the northwest corner of +township three (3) south, range nineteen (19) east; thence southerly +along the west boundary of said township to its intersection with the +east boundary of the Uintah Indian Reservation; thence northwesterly +along said Indian-reservation boundary to the northeast corner of said +reservation; thence southwesterly along the north boundary of said +Indian reservation to the intersection therewith by the range line +between ranges six (6) and seven (7) east; thence northerly along said +range line, surveyed and unsurveyed, to the northwest corner of township +one (1) south, range seven (7) east, the place of beginning. +</p> +<p> +Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which +may have been prior to the date hereof embraced in any legal entry or +covered by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States +land office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant +to law and the statutory period within which to make entry or filing +of record has not expired, and all mining claims duly located and held +according to the laws of the United States and rules and regulations not +in conflict therewith. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That this exception shall not continue to apply to any +particular tract of land unless the entryman, settler, or claimant +continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing, +settlement, or location was made. +</p> +<p> +Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to enter or make +settlement upon the tract of land reserved by this proclamation. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 22d day of February, A.D. 1897, and +of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 24 of the act of Congress approved +March 3, 1891, entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for +other purposes"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the President of the United States may from time to time set + apart and reserve in any State or Territory having public land bearing + forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with + timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public + reservations; and the President shall by public proclamation declare + the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the public lands in the State of California within the +limits hereinafter described are in part covered with timber, and it +appears that the public good would be promoted by setting apart and +reserving said lands as a public reservation: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, by +virtue of the power in me vested by section 24 of the aforesaid act of +Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that there is hereby +reserved from entry or settlement and set apart as a public reservation +all those certain tracts, pieces, or parcels of land lying and being +situate in the State of California and within the boundaries +particularly described as follows, to wit: +</p> +<p> +Beginning at the southeast corner of township eight (8) south, range +eight (8) east, San Bernardino base and meridian, California; thence +northerly along the range line to the northeast corner of said township; +thence westerly along the township line to the southwest corner of +township seven (7) south, range eight (8) east; thence northerly along +the range line to the northwest corner of said township; thence westerly +along the township line to the southwest corner of township six (6) +south, range seven (7) east; thence northerly along the range line +to the northwest corner of said township; thence westerly along the +unsurveyed and surveyed township line to the southwest corner of +township five (5) south, range six (6) east; thence northerly along the +range line to the northwest corner of said township; thence westerly +along the first (1st) standard parallel south to the southwest corner of +township four (4) south, range four (4) east; thence northerly along the +range line to the northwest corner of said township; thence westerly +along the unsurveyed and surveyed township line between townships three +(3) and four (4) south to its intersection with the east boundary line +of the "Rancho San Jacinto Neuvo y Potrero;" thence southeasterly along +the boundary line of said rancho and the boundary line of "Rancho San +Jacinto Viejo" to the most southeasterly point of said last-named +rancho; thence westerly along the south boundary of said "Rancho San +Jacinto Viejo" to the point of intersection by the section line between +sections fifteen (15) and sixteen (16), township five (5) south, range +one (1) east; thence southerly along the section line to the southwest +corner of section thirty-four (34), township six (6) south, range one +(1) east; thence easterly along the township line to the northwest +corner of township seven (7) south, range two (2) east; thence southerly +along the range line between ranges one (1) and two (2) east to the +southwest corner of township eight (8) south, range two (2) east; thence +along the second (2d) standard parallel south to the northwest corner of +township nine (9) south, range two (2) east; thence southerly along the +range line to the southwest corner of said township; thence easterly +along the township line between townships nine (9) and ten (10) south to +the southeast corner of township nine (9) south, range four (4) east; +thence northerly along the range line to the northeast corner of said +township; thence easterly along the second (2d) standard parallel south +to the north west corner of township nine (9) south, range seven (7) +east; thence southerly along the range line to the southwest corner of +section eighteen (18), said township; thence easterly along the section +line to the southeast corner of section thirteen (13), said township; +thence southerly along the range line between ranges seven (7) and eight +(8) east to the southwest corner of township ten (10) south, range eight +(8) east; thence easterly along the township line to the southeast +corner of said township; thence northerly along the range line between +ranges eight (8) and nine (9) east to the northeast corner of township +nine (9) south, range eight (8) east; thence westerly along the second +(2d) standard parallel south to the southeast corner of township eight +(8) south, range eight (8) east, the place of beginning. +</p> +<p> +Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all irrigation +rights and lands lawfully acquired therefor and all lands which may have +been prior to the date hereof embraced in any legal entry or covered +by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States land +office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant to law +and the statutory period within which to make entry or filing of record +has not expired, and all mining claims duly located and held according +to the laws of the United States and rules and regulations not in +conflict therewith. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That this exception shall not continue to apply to any +particular tract of land unless the entryman, settler, or claimant +continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing, +settlement, or location was made. +</p> +<p> +Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to enter or make +settlement upon the tract of land reserved by this proclamation. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 22d day of February, A.D. 1897, and +of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 24 of the act of Congress approved +March 3, 1891, entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for +other purposes"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the President of the United States may from time to time set + apart and reserve in any State or Territory having public land bearing + forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with + timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public + reservations; and the President shall by public proclamation declare + the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the public lands in the State of Washington within the +limits hereinafter described are in part covered with timber, and it +appears that the public good would be promoted by setting apart and +reserving said lands as a public reservation: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, by +virtue of the power in me vested by section 24 of the aforesaid act of +Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that there is hereby +reserved from entry or settlement and set apart as a public reservation +all those certain tracts, pieces, or parcels of land lying and being +situate in the State of Washington and within the boundaries +particularly described as follows, to wit: +</p> +<p> +Beginning at the southeast corner of township four (4) north, range +nine (9) east, Willamette base and meridian, Washington; thence +northerly along the range line between ranges nine (9) and (10) east, +subject to the proper offset on the first (1st) standard parallel north +to the northwest corner of township six (6) north, range ten (10) east; +thence easterly along the township line to the northeast corner of said +township; thence northerly along the range line to the northwest corner +of township seven (7) north, range eleven (11) east; thence easterly +along the township line between townships seven (7) and eight (8) north +to the northeast corner of township seven (7) north, range twelve (12) +east; thence northerly along the surveyed and unsurveyed range line +between ranges twelve (12) and thirteen (13) east, subject to the proper +offset on the second (2d) standard parallel north, to the northwest +corner of township (11) north, range thirteen (13) east; thence easterly +along the surveyed and unsurveyed township line between townships eleven +(11) and twelve (12) north to the southwest corner of township twelve +(12) north, range (15) east; thence northerly along the surveyed and +unsurveyed range line between ranges fourteen (14) and fifteen (15) +east, subject to the proper offsets on the third (3d) and fourth (4th) +standard parallels north to the point for the northeast corner of +township eighteen (18) north, range fourteen (14) east; thence westerly +along the unsurveyed and surveyed township line between townships +eighteen (18) and nineteen (19) north to the southwest corner of +township nineteen (19) north, range seven (7) east; thence southerly +along the surveyed and unsurveyed range line between ranges six (6) and +seven (7) east, subject to the proper offsets on the township line +between townships seventeen (17) and eighteen (18) north and on the +fourth (4th), third (3d), and second (2d) standard parallels north, to +the point for the northeast corner of township five (5) north, range six +(6) east; thence westerly along the unsurveyed township line between +townships five (5) and (6) north to the southeast corner of township six +(6) north, range four (4) east; thence southerly along the unsurveyed +range line between ranges four (4) and five (5) east, subject to the +proper offset on the first (1st) standard parallel north, to the point +for the southwest corner of township four (4) north, range five (5) +east; thence easterly along the unsurveyed and surveyed township line +between townships three (3) and four (4) north to the southeast corner +of township four (4) north, range nine (9) east, the place of beginning. +</p> +<p> +Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which +may have been prior to the date hereof embraced in any legal entry or +covered by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States +land office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant +to law and the statutory period within which to make entry or filing of +record has not expired, and all mining claims duly located and held +according to the laws of the United States and rules and regulations not +in conflict therewith. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That this exception shall not continue to apply to any +particular tract of land unless the entry man, settler, or claimant +continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing, +settlement, or location was made. +</p> +<p> +Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to enter or make +settlement upon the tract of land reserved by this proclamation. +</p> +<p> +Whereas a portion of the land embraced within the limits above described +was reserved by proclamation of February 20, 1893, and designated as +"The Pacific Forest Reserve," and whereas it appearing proper that the +entire area herein described should be distinguished by the name of the +most notable landmark within its boundaries, the title "The Pacific +Forest Reserve" is hereby abolished, and the reservation established by +this proclamation shall be known as "The Mount Rainier Forest Reserve." +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 22d day of February, A.D. 1897, and +of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 24 of the act of Congress approved +March 3, 1891, entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for +other purposes"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the President of the United States may from time to time set + apart and reserve in any State or Territory having public land bearing + forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with + timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public + reservations; and the President shall by public proclamation declare + the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the public lands in the State of California within the +limits hereinafter described are in part covered with timber, and it +appears that the public good would be promoted by setting apart and +reserving said lands as a public reservation: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, +by virtue of the power in me vested by section 24 of the aforesaid act +of Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that there is hereby +reserved from entry or settlement and set apart as a public reservation +all those certain tracts, pieces, or parcels of land lying and being +situate in the State of California and within the boundaries +particularly described as follows, to wit: +</p> +<p> +Beginning at the southeast corner of township three (3) north, range +twenty-four (24) east, Mount Diablo base and meridian, California; +thence northerly along the range line to the northeast corner of said +township; thence westerly along the township line to the northwest +corner of said township; thence northerly along the range line to the +township line between townships four (4) and five (5) north, range +twenty-three (23) east; thence easterly along the township line to the +southeast corner of township five (5) north, range twenty-three (23) +east; thence northerly along the range line to the northeast corner of +said township; thence westerly along the first (1st) standard parallel +north to the southwest corner of township six (6) north, range +twenty-two (22) east; thence northerly along the range line between +ranges twenty-one (21) and twenty-two (22) east to the northeast corner +of township seven (7) north, range twenty-one (21) east; thence westerly +along the township line to the northwest corner of said township; thence +northerly along the range line to the northeast corner of township eight +(8) north, range twenty (20) east; thence westerly along the surveyed +and unsurveyed township line between townships eight (8) and nine (9) +north to the northwest corner of township eight (8) north, range +seventeen (17) east; thence southerly along the range line to the +southeast corner of township eight (8) north, range sixteen (16) east; +thence easterly along the unsurveyed township line to the point for the +southeast corner of township eight (8) north, range seventeen (17) east; +thence southerly along the unsurveyed and surveyed range line between +ranges seventeen (17) and eighteen (18) east, subject to the easterly +offset on the first (1st) standard parallel north, to the southeast +corner of township four (4) north, range seventeen (17) east; thence +easterly along the township line to the northeast corner of township +three (3) north, range eighteen (18) east; thence southerly along the +range line to the southeast corner of said township; thence easterly +along the township line between townships two (2) and three (3) north to +the southeast corner of township three (3) north, range twenty-four (24) +east, the place of beginning. +</p> +<p> +Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which +may have been prior to the date hereof embraced in any legal entry or +covered by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States +land office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant +to law and the statutory period within which to make entry or filing of +record has not expired, and all mining claims duly located and held +according to the laws of the United States and rules and regulations not +in conflict therewith. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That this exception shall not continue to apply to any +particular tract of land unless the entryman, settler, or claimant +continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing, +settlement, or location was made. +</p> +<p> +Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to enter or make +settlement upon the tract of land reserved by this proclamation. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 22d day of February, A.D. 1897 +and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 24 of the act of Congress approved +March 3, 1891, entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for +other purposes"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the President of the United States may from time to time set + apart and reserve in any State or Territory having public land bearing + forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with + timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public + reservations; and the President shall by public proclamation declare + the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the public lands in the States of Idaho and Montana within +the limits hereinafter described are in part covered with timber, and it +appears that the public good would be promoted by setting apart and +reserving said lands as a public reservation: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, by +virtue of the power in me vested by section 24 of the aforesaid act of +Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that there is hereby +reserved from entry or settlement and set apart as a public reservation +all those certain tracts, pieces, or parcels of land lying and being +situate in the States of Idaho and Montana and within the boundaries +particularly described as follows, to wit: +</p> +<p> +Beginning at the northeast corner of township thirty-six (36) north, +range five (5) east, Boise meridian, Idaho; thence southerly along the +surveyed and unsurveyed range line between ranges five (5) and six (6) +east to the point of intersection with the Salmon River; thence in an +easterly direction along the middle of the channel of said river to the +point of intersection for the unsurveyed range line between ranges +eighteen (18) and nineteen (19) east; thence northerly along said +unsurveyed range line to the point of intersection with the boundary +line between the States of Idaho and Montana; thence in an easterly +direction along said State boundary line to the point for the unsurveyed +range line between ranges nineteen (19) and twenty (20) west, principal +meridian, Montana; thence northerly along said range line to the base +line; thence westerly along said base line to the southeast corner of +township one (1) north, range twenty (20) west; thence northerly along +the range line to the northeast corner of said township; thence westerly +along the surveyed and unsurveyed township line between townships one +(1) and two (2) north to the point for the southeast corner of township +two (2) north, range twenty-two (22) west; thence northerly along the +unsurveyed range line between ranges twenty-one (21) and twenty-two (22) +west, allowing for the proper offsets on the first (1st) and second (2d) +standard parallels north, to the point for the northeast corner of +township ten (10) north, range twenty-two (22) west; thence westerly +along the unsurveyed township line between townships ten (10) and eleven +(11) north to the point of intersection with the boundary line between +the States of Montana and Idaho; thence along said State boundary +line to the point for the unsurveyed township line between townships +thirty-eight (38) and thirty-nine (39) north, Idaho; thence westerly +along said township line to the point for the northwest corner of +township thirty-eight (38) north, range ten (10) east; thence southerly +along the unsurveyed range line between ranges nine (9) and ten (10) +east to the point for the southwest corner of township thirty-seven (37) +north, range ten (10) east; thence westerly along the unsurveyed seventh +(7th) standard parallel north to the northeast corner of township +thirty-six (36) north, range five (5) east, the place of beginning. +</p> +<p> +Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which +may have been prior to the date hereof embraced in any legal entry or +covered by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States +land office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant +to law and the statutory period within which to make entry or filing of +record has not expired, and all mining claims duly located and held +according to the laws of the United States and rules and regulations not +in conflict therewith. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That this exception shall not continue to apply to any +particular tract of land unless the entryman, settler, or claimant +continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing, +settlement, or location was made. +</p> +<p> +Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to enter or make +settlement upon the tract of land reserved by this proclamation. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 22d day of February, A.D. 1897, and +of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 24 of the act of Congress approved +March 3, 1891, entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for +other purposes"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the President of the United States may from time to time set + apart and reserve in any State or Territory having public land bearing + forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with + timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public + reservations; and the President shall by public proclamation declare + the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the public lands in the State of Washington within the +limits hereinafter described are in part covered with timber, and it +appears that the public good would be promoted by setting apart and +reserving said lands as a public reservation: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, by +virtue of the power in me vested by section 24 of the aforesaid act of +Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that there is hereby +reserved from entry or settlement and set apart as a public reservation +all those certain tracts, pieces, or parcels of land lying and being +situate in the State of Washington and within the boundaries +particularly described as follows, to wit: +</p> +<p> +Beginning at the southeast corner of township twenty-one (21) north, +range five (5) west, Willamette base and meridian, Washington; thence +northerly along the surveyed and unsurveyed range line between ranges +four (4) and five (5) west to the point for the northeast corner of +township twenty-three (23) north, range five (5) west; thence easterly +along the unsurveyed and surveyed township line to the point for the +southeast corner of township twenty-four (24) north, range four (4) +west; thence northerly along the unsurveyed range line to the point +for the northeast corner of said township; thence easterly along the +unsurveyed and surveyed sixth (6th) standard parallel north to the +southeast corner of township twenty-five (25) north, range three (3) +west; thence northerly along the surveyed and unsurveyed range line +between ranges two (2) and three (3) west to the northeast corner of +township twenty-nine (29) north, range three (3) west; thence westerly +along the surveyed and unsurveyed seventh (7th) standard parallel north +to the point for the southeast corner of township thirty (30) north, +range nine (9) west; thence northerly along the unsurveyed and surveyed +range line to the northeast corner of said township; thence westerly +along the township line between townships thirty (30) and thirty-one +(31) north to the northeast corner of township thirty (30) north, range +fourteen (14) west; thence northerly along the range line to its +intersection with the shore of the Strait of Juan de Fuca; thence +northwesterly along said shore line to the east boundary of the Makah +Indian Reservation; thence southerly along the east boundary to the +southeast corner of said reservation and westerly along the south +boundary thereof to the high-water mark on the Pacific coast; thence +southerly along said coast line to the north boundary of the Quinaielt +Indian Reservation; thence southeasterly along the north boundary to +the eastern point of said reservation and southwesterly along the south +boundary thereof to the point of intersection with the fifth (5th) +standard parallel north; thence easterly along said parallel to the +southeast corner of township twenty-one (21) north, range five (5) west, +the place of beginning. +</p> +<p> +Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which +may have been prior to the date hereof embraced in any legal entry or +covered by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States +land office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant +to law and the statutory period within which to make entry or filing of +record has not expired, and all mining claims duly located and held +according to the laws of the United States and rules and regulations not +in conflict therewith. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That this exception shall not continue to apply to any +particular tract of land Unless the entryman, settler, or claimant +continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing, +settlement, or location was made. +</p> +<p> +Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to enter or make +settlement upon the tract of land reserved by this proclamation. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 22d day of February, A.D. 1897, and +of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 24 of the act of Congress approved +March 3, 1891, entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for +other purposes"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the President of the United States may from time to time set + apart and reserve in any State or Territory having public land bearing + forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with + timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public + reservations; and the President shall by public proclamation declare + the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the public lands in the State of South Dakota within the +limits hereinafter described are in part covered with timber, and it +appears that the public good would be promoted by setting apart and +reserving said lands as a public reservation: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, +by virtue of the power in me vested by section 24 of the aforesaid act +of Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that there is hereby +reserved from entry or settlement and set apart as a public reservation +all those certain tracts, pieces, or parcels of land lying and being +situate in the State of South Dakota and within the boundaries +particularly described as follows, to wit: +</p> +<p> +Beginning at the northwest corner of township one (1) south, range seven +(7) east, Black Hills meridian, South Dakota; thence westerly along the +Black Hills base line to the southwest corner of township one (1) north, +range six (6) east; thence northerly along the range line between ranges +five (5) and six (6) east to the northwest corner of township two (2) +north, range six (6) east; thence westerly along the unsurveyed township +line between townships two (2) and three (3) north to the point of +intersection with the boundary line between the States of South Dakota +and Wyoming; thence southerly along said State boundary line to the +point of intersection by the township line between townships six (6) and +seven (7) south, Black Hills base line; thence easterly along said +township line to the southwest corner of township six (6) south, range +four (4) east; thence northerly along the range line to the northwest +corner of said township; thence easterly along the township line between +townships five (5) and six (6) south to the southwest corner of township +five (5) south, range (6) east; thence northerly along the range line to +the northwest corner of said township; thence easterly along the first +(1st) standard parallel south to the southwest corner of township four +(4) south, range seven (7) east; thence northerly along the range line +between ranges six (6) and seven (7) east to the northwest corner of +township one (1) south, range seven (7) east, the place of beginning. +</p> +<p> +Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which +may have been prior to the date hereof embraced in any legal entry or +covered by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States +land office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant +to law and the statutory period within which to make entry or filing of +record has not expired, and all mining claims duly located and held +according to the laws of the United States and rules and regulations not +in conflict therewith. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That this exception shall not continue to apply to any +particular tract of land unless the entry man, settler, or claimant +continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing, +settlement, or location was made. +</p> +<p> +Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to enter or make +settlement upon the tract of land reserved by this proclamation. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 22d day of February, A.D. 1897, and +of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 24 of the act of Congress approved +March 3, 1891, entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for +other purposes"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the President of the United States may from time to time set + apart and reserve in any State or Territory having public land bearing + forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with + timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public + reservations; and the President shall by public proclamation declare + the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the public lands in the States of Idaho and Washington +within the limits hereinafter described are in part covered with timber, +and it appears that the public good would be promoted by setting apart +and reserving said lands as a public reservation: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, +by virtue of the power in me vested by section 24 of the aforesaid act +of Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that there is hereby +reserved from entry or settlement and set apart as a public reservation +all that tract of land situate in the States of Idaho and Washington +embraced within the following boundaries, to wit: +</p> +<p> +Bounded on the east by the summit of the ridges dividing the waters +tributary to the Kootenai River and Priest Lake and River; on the west +by the summit of the ridges dividing the waters tributary to the Pend +Oreille River or Clark Fork of the Columbia River and Priest Lake and +River; on the north by the international boundary line between the +States of Idaho and Washington and the British possessions, connecting +the east and west boundaries above described; on the south by the +township line between townships fifty-six (56) and fifty-seven (57) +north of the base line, Idaho, projected to connect the east and west +boundaries above described. +</p> +<p> +Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which +may have been prior to the date hereof embraced in any legal entry or +covered by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States +land office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant +to law and the statutory period within which to make entry or filing +of record has not expired, and all mining claims duly located and held +according to the laws of the United States and rules and regulations not +in conflict therewith. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That this exception shall not continue to apply to any +particular tract of land unless the entryman, settler, or claimant +continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing, +settlement, or location was made. +</p> +<p> +Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to enter or make +settlement upon the tract of land reserved by this proclamation. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 22d day of February, A.D. 1897, and +of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 24 of the act of Congress approved +March 3, 1891, entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for +other purposes"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the President of the United States may from time to time set + apart and reserve in any State or Territory having public land bearing + forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with + timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public + reservations; and the President shall by public proclamation declare + the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the public lands in the State of Washington within the +limits hereinafter described are in part covered with timber, and it +appears that the public good would be promoted by setting apart and +reserving said lands as a public reservation: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, +by virtue of the power in me vested by section 24 of the aforesaid act +of Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that there is hereby +reserved from entry or settlement and set apart as a public reservation +all those certain tracts, pieces, or parcels of land lying and being +situate in the State of Washington and within the boundaries +particularly described as follows, to wit: +</p> +<p> +Beginning at the point for the southwest corner of township twenty-nine +(29) north, range eight (8) east, Willamette meridian, Washington; +thence northerly along the unsurveyed range line between ranges seven +(7) and eight (8) east to the point for the northwest corner of township +thirty-two (32) north, range eight (8) east; thence easterly along the +unsurveyed eighth (8th) standard parallel north to the point for the +southwest corner of township thirty-three (33) north, range twelve (12) +east; thence northerly along the unsurveyed range line between ranges +eleven (11) and twelve (12) east to the point for the northwest corner +of township thirty-six (36) north, range twelve (12) east; thence +westerly along the unsurveyed ninth (9th) standard parallel north to the +point for the southwest corner of township thirty-seven (37) north, +range seven (7) east; thence northerly along the unsurveyed range line +between ranges six (6) and seven (7) east to its point of intersection +with the international boundary line between the State of Washington +and the British possessions; thence easterly along said international +boundary line to the point for the unsurveyed range line between ranges +twenty-two (22) and twenty-three (23) east; thence southerly along said +unsurveyed range line, subject to the proper easterly or westerly +offsets on the ninth (9th) and eighth (8th) standard parallels north, to +the point for the southeast corner of township twenty-nine (29) north, +range twenty-two (22) east; thence westerly along the unsurveyed and +surveyed seventh (7th) standard parallel north to the point for the +southwest corner of township twenty-nine (29) north, range (8) east, the +place of beginning. +</p> +<p> +Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which +may have been prior to the date hereof embraced in any legal entry or +covered by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States +land office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant +to law and the statutory period within which to make entry or filing of +record has not expired, and all mining claims duly located and held +according to the laws of the United States and rules and regulations not +in conflict therewith. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That this exception shall not continue to apply to any +particular tract of land unless the entry man, settler, or claimant +continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing, +settlement, or location was made. +</p> +<p> +Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to enter or make +settlement upon the tract of land reserved by this proclamation. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 22d day of February, A.D. 1897, and +of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 24 of the act of Congress approved +March 3, 1891, entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for +other purposes"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the President of the United States may from time to time set + apart and reserve in any State or Territory having public land bearing + forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with + timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public + reservations; and the President shall by public proclamation declare + the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the public lands in the State of Wyoming within the limits +hereinafter described are in part covered with timber, and it appears +that the public good would be promoted by setting apart and reserving +said lands as a public reservation: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, by +virtue of the power in me vested by section 24 of the aforesaid act of +Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that there is hereby +reserved from entry or settlement and set apart as a public reservation +all those certain tracts, pieces, or parcels of land lying and being +situate in the State of Wyoming and within the boundaries particularly +described as follows, to wit: +</p> +<p> +Beginning at the southeast corner of township forty-three (43) north, +range one hundred and ten (110) west sixth (6th) principal meridian, +Wyoming; thence northerly along the surveyed and unsurveyed range line +between ranges one hundred and nine (109) and one hundred and ten +(110) west to the point of intersection with the south boundary of +the Yellowstone National Park Timber Land Reserve as established by +proclamation of September 10, 1891;<a href="#note-44" name="noteref-44"><small>44</small></a> thence westerly along said +boundary to its intersection with the boundary line between the States +of Wyoming and Idaho; thence southerly along said State boundary line to +the point for the unsurveyed township line between townships forty-two +(42) and forty-three (43) north; thence easterly along the unsurveyed +and surveyed township line between townships forty-two (42) and +forty-three (43) north to the southeast corner of township forty-three +(43) north, range one hundred and ten (110) west, the place of +beginning. +</p> +<p> +Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which +may have been prior to the date hereof embraced in any legal entry or +covered by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States +land office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant +to law and the statutory period within which to make entry of filing of +record has not expired, and all mining claims duly located and held +according to the laws of the United States and rules and regulations not +in conflict therewith. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That this exception shall not continue to apply to any +particular tract of land unless the entryman, settler, or claimant +continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing, +settlement, or location was made. +</p> +<p> +Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to enter or make +settlement upon the tract of land reserved by this proclamation. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 22d day of February, A.D. 1897, and +of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 24 of the act of Congress approved +March 3, 1891, entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for +other purposes"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the President of the United States may from time to time set + apart and reserve in any State or Territory having public land bearing + forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with + timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public + reservations; and the President shall by public proclamation declare + the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the public lands in the State of Montana within the limits +hereinafter described are in part covered with timber, and it appears +that the public good would be promoted by setting apart and reserving +said lands as a public reservation: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, +by virtue of the power in me vested by section 24 of the aforesaid act +of Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that there is hereby +reserved from entry or settlement and set apart as a public reservation +all those certain tracts, pieces, or parcels of land lying and being +situate in the State of Montana and within the boundaries particularly +described as follows, to wit: +</p> +<p> +Beginning at the point on the south boundary of the Blackfeet Indian +Reservation where said boundary line is intersected by the range line +between ranges eight (8) and nine (9) west, principal meridian, Montana; +thence southwesterly along the south boundary to the southwest corner of +said reservation and northwesterly along the west boundary thereof as +defined and described in the act of Congress approved June 10, 1896, +entitled "An act making appropriations for current and contingent +expenses of the Indian Department and fulfilling treaty stipulations +with various Indian tribes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1897, +and for other purposes," to the point where the unsurveyed range line +between ranges twelve (12) and thirteen (13) west will intersect said +boundary line; thence southerly along said unsurveyed range line to the +point for the northeast corner of township twenty-nine (29) north, range +thirteen (13) west; thence westerly along the unsurveyed township line +to the point for the northwest corner of said township; thence southerly +along the unsurveyed range line to the point for the southwest corner +of section eighteen (18), said township; thence westerly along the +unsurveyed section line to the point for the northwest corner of section +nineteen (19), township twenty-nine (29) north, range fourteen (14) +west; thence southerly along the unsurveyed range line to the point for +the southwest corner of said township twenty-nine (29) north, range +fourteen (14) west; thence westerly along the unsurveyed seventh (7th) +standard parallel north to the point for the southeast corner of +township twenty-nine (29) north, range seventeen (17) west; thence +northerly along the unsurveyed range line to the point for the northeast +corner of said township; thence westerly along the unsurveyed township +line to the point for the northwest corner of section three (3), said +township; thence northerly along the unsurveyed section line to the +point for the northeast corner of section four (4), township thirty (30) +north, range seventeen (17) west; thence westerly along the unsurveyed +township line to the point for the northwest corner of section three +(3), township thirty (30) north, range nineteen (19) west; thence +southerly along the unsurveyed and surveyed section line, subject to +the proper offset on the seventh (7th) standard parallel north, to the +southeast corner of section twenty-one (21), township twenty-eight (28) +north, range nineteen (19) west; thence easterly along the unsurveyed +section line to the point for the southeast corner of section +twenty-four (24), said township; thence southerly along the unsurveyed +and surveyed range line to the southeast corner of township twenty-seven +(27) north, range nineteen (19) west; thence easterly along the surveyed +and unsurveyed township line to the point for the northwest corner of +section three (3), township twenty-six (26) north, range eighteen (18) +west; thence southerly along the unsurveyed section line to the point +for the southwest corner of section thirty-four (34), said township; +thence westerly along the unsurveyed and surveyed township line to its +intersection with the east shore of Flathead Lake; thence southerly +along the shore of said lake to the north boundary of the Flathead +Indian Reservation; thence easterly along the north boundary to the +northeast corner of said reservation and southerly along the east +boundary thereof to the point where said boundary line will be +intersected by the unsurveyed fourth (4th) standard parallel north; +thence easterly along said unsurveyed parallel to the point for the +southeast corner of township seventeen (17) north, range seven (7) west; +thence northerly along the unsurveyed range line to the point for the +northeast corner of said township; thence westerly along the unsurveyed +township line to the point for the northwest corner of said township; +thence northerly along the unsurveyed range line to the point for the +northeast corner of township eighteen (18) north, range eight (8) west; +thence westerly along the unsurveyed township line to the point for the +southeast corner of township nineteen (19) north, range nine (9) west; +thence northerly along the unsurveyed and surveyed range line between +ranges eight (8) and nine (9) west, subject to the proper offsets on the +fifth (5th), sixth (6th), and seventh (7th) standard parallels north, +to the point of intersection with the south boundary of the Blackfeet +Indian Reservation, the place of beginning. +</p> +<p> +Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which +may have been prior to the date hereof embraced in any legal entry or +covered by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States +land office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant +to law and the statutory period within which to make entry or filing of +record has not expired, and all mining claims duly located and held +according to the laws of the United States and rules and regulations not +in conflict therewith. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That this exception shall not continue to apply to any +particular tract of land unless the entryman, settler, or claimant +continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing, +settlement, or location was made. +</p> +<p> +Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to enter or make +settlement upon the tract of land reserved by this proclamation. +</p> +<p> +The rights and privileges reserved to the Indians of the Blackfeet +Indian Reservation by Article I of the agreement set forth in and +accepted, ratified, and confirmed by the act of Congress approved June +10, 1896, hereinbefore referred to, respecting that portion of their +reservation relinquished to the United States by said Article I shall be +in no way infringed or modified by reason of the fact that a part of the +area so relinquished is embraced within the limits of the boundaries +herein described and set apart as a forest reservation, nor shall the +right of occupation, location, and purchase of said relinquished lands +under the provisions of the mineral-land laws accorded by said act of +Congress be abridged. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 22d day of February, A.D. 1897, +and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 24 of the act of Congress approved +March 3, 1891, entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for +other purposes"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the President of the United States may from time to time set + apart and reserve in any State or Territory having public land bearing + forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with + timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public + reservations; and the President shall by public proclamation declare + the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the public lands in the State of Wyoming within the limits +hereinafter described are in part covered with timber, and it appears +that the public good would be promoted by setting apart and reserving +said lands as a public reservation: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, +by virtue of the power in me vested by section 24 of the aforesaid act +of Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that there is hereby +reserved from entry or settlement and set apart as a public reservation +all those certain tracts, pieces, or parcels of land lying and being +situate in the State of Wyoming and within the boundaries particularly +described as follows, to wit: +</p> +<p> +Beginning at the southeast corner of township forty-eight (48) north, +range eighty-four (84) west, sixth (6th) principal meridian, Wyoming; +thence northerly along the range line to the northeast corner of said +township; thence westerly along the twelfth (12th) standard parallel +north to the southeast corner of township forty-nine (49) north, range +eighty-four (84) west; thence northerly along the range line to the +northeast corner of section thirteen (13), township fifty (50) north, +range eighty-four (84) west; thence westerly along the section line to +the northeast corner of section seventeen (17), said township; thence +northerly along the section line to the southeast corner of section +twenty-nine (29), township fifty-one (51) north, range eighty-four (84) +west; thence easterly along the section line to the southeast corner of +section twenty-six (26), said township; thence northerly along the +section line to the northeast corner of section two (2), township +fifty-two (52) north, range eighty-four (84) west; thence westerly along +the thirteenth (13th) standard parallel north to the southeast corner of +section thirty-five (35), township fifty-three (53) north, range +eighty-four (84) west; thence northerly along the section line to the +northeast corner of section fourteen (14), said township; thence +westerly along the section line to the northeast corner of section +fourteen (14), township fifty-three (53) north, range eighty-five (85) +west; thence northerly along the section line to the northeast corner of +section two (2), said township; thence westerly along the township line +to the northeast corner of section two (2), township fifty-three (53) +north, range eighty-six (86) west; thence northerly along the section +line to the northeast corner of section two (2), township fifty-four +(54) north, range eighty-six (86) west; thence westerly along the +township line to the southeast corner of township fifty-five (55) north, +range eighty-seven (87) west; thence northerly along the range line to +the northeast corner of said township; thence westerly along the +township line to the northwest corner of said township; thence southerly +along the range line to the southwest corner of said township; thence +westerly along the township line to the northwest corner of township +fifty-four (54) north, range eighty-eight (88) west; thence northerly +along the range line between ranges eighty-eight (88) and eighty-nine +(89) west to the northwest corner of township fifty-six (56) north, +range eighty-eight (88) west; thence westerly along the fourteenth +(14th) standard parallel north to the southwest corner of township +fifty-seven (57) north, range eighty-eight (88) west; thence northerly +along the range line between ranges eighty-eight (88) and eighty-nine +(89) west to the point of intersection with the boundary line between +the States of Wyoming and Montana; thence westerly along said State +boundary line to the point for the unsurveyed range line between ranges +ninety-two (92) and ninety-three (93) west; thence southerly along said +unsurveyed range line to the fourteenth (14th) standard parallel north; +thence easterly along said standard parallel to the northeast corner of +township fifty-six (56) north, range ninety-three (93) west; thence +southerly along the range line between ranges ninety-two (92) and +ninety-three (93) west to the northwest corner of township fifty-four +(54) north, range ninety-two (92) west; thence easterly along the +township line to the northeast corner of said township; thence southerly +along the range line to the southeast corner of said township; thence +easterly along the township line to the northeast corner of township +fifty-three (53) north, range ninety-one (91) west; thence southerly +along the range line to the southeast corner of said township; thence +easterly along the thirteenth (13th) standard parallel north to the +northwest corner of township fifty-two (52) north, range eighty-eight +(88) west; thence southerly along the range line between ranges +eighty-eight (88) and eighty-nine (89) west to the southwest corner of +township fifty-one (51) north, range eighty-eight (88) west; thence +easterly along the township line to the southeast corner of said +township; thence southerly along the range line between ranges +eighty-seven (87) and eighty-eight (88) west to the southwest corner of +township forty-nine (49) north, range eighty-seven (87) west; thence +easterly along the twelfth (12th) standard parallel north to the +northwest corner of township forty-eight (48) north, range eighty-seven +(87) west; thence southerly along the range line to the southwest corner +of said township; thence easterly along the township line between +townships forty-seven (47) and forty-eight (48) north to the southeast +corner of township forty-eight (48) north, range eighty-four (84) west, +the place of beginning. +</p> +<p> +Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which +may have been prior to the date hereof embraced in any legal entry or +covered by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States +land office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant +to law and the statutory period within which to make entry or filing of +record has not expired, and all mining claims duly located and held +according to the laws of the United States and rules and regulations not +in conflict therewith. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That this exception shall not continue to apply to any +particular tract of land unless the entryman, settler, or claimant +continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing, +settlement, or location was made. +</p> +<p> +Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to enter or make +settlement upon the tract of land reserved by this proclamation. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 22d day of February, A.D. 1897, +and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas it is provided by section 24 of the act of Congress approved +March 3, 1891, entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for +other purposes"— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + That the President of the United States may from time to time set + apart and reserve in any State or Territory having public land bearing + forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with + timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public + reservations; and the President shall by public proclamation declare + the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof. +</p> +<p> +And whereas the public lands in the State of Montana within the limits +hereinafter described are in part covered with timber, and it appears +that the public good would be promoted by setting apart and reserving +said lands as a public reservation: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, +by virtue of the power in me vested by section 24 of the aforesaid act +of Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that there is hereby +reserved from entry or settlement and set apart as a public reservation +all those certain tracts, pieces, or parcels of land lying and being +situate in the State of Montana and within the boundaries particularly +described as follows, to wit: +</p> +<p> +Beginning at the southwest corner of township thirty-three (33) north, +range twenty-five (25) west, principal meridian, Montana; thence +easterly along the surveyed and unsurveyed eighth (8th) standard +parallel north to the northeast corner of township thirty-two (32) +north, range twenty-two (22) west; thence southerly along the range line +between ranges twenty-one (21) and twenty-two (22) west to the southeast +corner of section thirteen (13) of said township thirty-two (32) north, +range twenty-two (22) west; thence easterly along the unsurveyed section +line to the point for the southeast corner of section thirteen (13), +township thirty-two (32) north, range eighteen (18) west; thence +southerly along the unsurveyed range line between ranges seventeen (17) +and eighteen (18) west to the northwest corner of township thirty-one +(31) north, range seventeen (17) west; thence easterly along the +township line between townships thirty-one (31) and thirty-two (32) +north to the northwest corner of section two (2), township thirty-one +(31) north, range seventeen (17) west; thence along the section lines +southerly to the southwest corner of section twenty-three (23) and +easterly to the northeast corner of section twenty-five (25), said +township; thence southerly along the range line between ranges sixteen +(16) and seventeen (17) west to the southeast corner of said township +thirty-one (31) north, range seventeen (17) west; thence easterly along +the unsurveyed township line between townships thirty (30) and +thirty-one (31) north to the point for the southeast corner of township +thirty-one (31) north, range sixteen (16) west; thence southerly along +the unsurveyed range line between ranges fifteen (15) and sixteen (16) +west to the point for the southwest corner of township thirty (30) +north, range fifteen (15) west; thence easterly along the unsurveyed +township line between townships twenty-nine (29) and thirty (30) north +to the point for the southeast corner of said township thirty (30) +north; thence northerly along the unsurveyed range line between ranges +fourteen (14) and fifteen (15) west to the point for the southeast +corner of section thirteen (13), said township thirty (30) north, range +fifteen (15) west; thence along the unsurveyed section lines easterly to +the point for the southeast corner of section sixteen (16) and northerly +to the point for the northeast corner of section four (4), township +thirty (30) north, range fourteen (14) west; thence easterly along the +unsurveyed township line between townships thirty (30) and thirty-one +(31) north to the point for the southeast corner of township thirty-one +(31) north, range fourteen (14) west; thence northerly along the +unsurveyed range line between ranges thirteen (13) and fourteen (14) +west to the point where it will intersect the west boundary of the +Blackfeet Indian Reservation as said boundary is defined and described +in the act of Congress approved June 10, 1896, entitled "An act making +appropriations for current and contingent expenses of the Indian +Department and fulfilling treaty stipulations with various Indian tribes +for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1897, and for other purposes;" +thence northwesterly along the boundary of said Indian reservation to +its point of intersection with the international boundary line between +the State of Montana and the British possessions; thence westerly along +said international boundary line to the point for the unsurveyed range +line between ranges twenty-five (25) and twenty-six (26) west; thence +southerly along the unsurveyed range line between ranges twenty-five +(25) and twenty-six (26) west to the ninth (9th) standard parallel +north; thence easterly along said parallel to the northeast corner of +township thirty-six (36) north, range twenty-six (26) west; thence +southerly along the range line between ranges twenty-five (25) and +twenty-six (26) west to the southwest corner of township thirty-three +(33) north, range twenty-five (25) west, the place of beginning. +</p> +<p> +Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which +may have been prior to the date hereof embraced in any legal entry or +covered by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States +land office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant +to law and the statutory period within which to make entry or filing of +record has not expired, and all mining claims duly located and held +according to the laws of the United States and rules and regulations not +in conflict therewith. +</p> +<p> +<i>Provided</i>, That this exception shall not continue to apply to any +particular tract of land unless the entryman, settler, or claimant +continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing, +settlement, or location was made. +</p> +<p> +Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to enter or make +settlement upon the tract of land reserved by this proclamation. +</p> +<p> +The rights and privileges reserved to the Indians of the Blackfeet +Indian Reservation by Article I of the agreement set forth in and +accepted, ratified, and confirmed by the act of Congress approved June +10, 1896, hereinbefore referred to, respecting that portion of their +reservation relinquished to the United States by said Article I shall be +in no way infringed or modified by reason of the fact that a part of the +area so relinquished is embraced within the limits of the boundaries +herein described and set apart as a forest reservation, nor shall the +right of occupation, location, and purchase of said relinquished lands +under the provisions of the mineral-land laws accorded by said act of +Congress be abridged. +</p> +<p> +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p> +Done at the city of Washington, this 22d day of February, A.D. 1897, +and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-first. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h3> +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</h3> +<h4> +A PROCLAMATION. +</h4> +<p> +Whereas public interests require that the Senate should be convened at +12 o'clock on the 4th day of March next to receive such communications +as may be made by the Executive: +</p> +<p> +Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States of +America, do hereby proclaim and declare that an extraordinary occasion +requires the Senate of the United States to convene at the Capitol, in +the city of Washington, on the 4th day of March next, at 12 o'clock +noon, of which all persons who shall at that time be entitled to act as +members of that body are hereby required to take notice. +</p> +<p> +Given under my hand and the seal of the United States, at Washington, +the 24th day of February, A.D. 1897, and of the Independence of the +United States the one hundred and twenty-first. +</p> +<p> +[SEAL.] +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p><br /> +By the President<br /> +RICHARD OLNEY,<br /> +<i>Secretary of State</i>. +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + EXECUTIVE ORDERS. +</h2> +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>December 23, 1896</i>. +</p> +<p> +Amend clause 2 (<i>b</i>) of Rule III by adding at the end thereof the +following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + And all officers and employees in the penitentiary service who are by + law subject to classification. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 2, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +Amend Rule VIII by striking out section 12 and substituting therefor the +following: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Whenever there are no names of eligibles upon a register for any grade + in which a vacancy exists, and the public interest requires that it + must be filled before eligibles can be provided by the Commission, such + vacancy may, subject to the approval of the Commission, be filled by + appointment without examination and certification for such part of + three months as will enable the Commission to provide eligibles. Such + temporary appointment shall expire by limitation as soon as an eligible + shall be provided, and no person shall serve longer than three months + in any one year under such temporary appointment or appointments unless + by special authority of the Commission previously obtained. Said year + limitation shall commence from the date of such first appointment: + <i>Provided</i>, That whenever an emergency shall arise requiring that + a vacancy shall be filled before a certification can be issued and an + appointment made thereto in the manner provided in these rules, such + vacancy may be filled without regard to the provisions of these rules + for such part of thirty days as may be required for the issuance of a + certificate and the execution of the necessary details of an appointment + thereto in accordance with said provisions. Such appointment shall in + no case continue longer than thirty days. +</p> +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>January 2, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +Amend Rule V, section 4, prescribing age limitations for the classified +service, by striking out the table after the tenth line and substituting +therefor the following: +</p> + +<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" summary="Age limitations."> + +<tr><td> </td><th>Minimum. </th><th>Maximum.</th></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3"> Departmental Service:</td></tr> +<tr><td> Page, messenger boy, apprentice, or student. </td><td> 14 </td><td> 20</td></tr> +<tr><td> Printer's assistant and messenger. </td><td> 18 </td><td>No limit.</td></tr> +<tr><td> Positions in the railway mail service. </td><td> 18 </td><td> 35</td></tr> +<tr><td> Internes and hospital stewards in the +marine-hospital service and acting second +assistant engineer in the revenue-cutter +service.</td><td> 21 </td><td> 30</td></tr> +<tr><td> Cadet in the revenue-cutter service and aid in +the Coast and the Geodetic Survey. </td><td> 18 </td><td> 25</td></tr> +<tr><td> Surfmen in the life-saving service. </td><td> 18 </td><td> 45</td></tr> +<tr><td> Superintendent, physician, supervisor +day-school inspector, and disciplinarian in +the Indian service; inspector and assistant +inspector of hulls, an inspector and an +assistant inspector of boilers, in the +steamboat-inspection service. </td><td> 25 </td><td> 55</td></tr> +<tr><td> All other positions. </td><td> 20 </td><td>No limit.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3"> + (The age limitation shall not apply in the case + of the wife of the superintendent of an Indian + school who applies for examination for the + position of teacher or matron.) +</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3"> Custom-house service:</td></tr> +<tr><td> All positions </td><td>20 </td><td>No limit.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3"> Post-office service:</td></tr> +<tr><td> Letter carrier </td><td>21 </td><td> 40</td></tr> +<tr><td> All other positions </td><td>18 </td><td>No limit.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3"> Government printing service:</td></tr> +<tr><td> All positions (male) </td><td>21 </td><td>No limit.</td></tr> +<tr><td> All positions (female) </td><td>18 </td><td>No limit.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3"> Internal-revenue service:</td></tr> +<tr><td> All positions </td><td>21 </td><td>No limit.</td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +Approved: +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +CIVIL SERVICE.—CLASSIFICATION OF THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. +</center> +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE OFFICE, <i>Washington, D.C. January 12, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +In accordance with the third clause of section 6 of the act entitled "An +act to regulate and improve the civil service of the United States," +approved January 16, 1883— +</p> +<p> +<i>It is ordered</i>, That the officers and employees in or under this +office included within the provisions of the civil-service law and rules +be, and they are hereby, arranged in the following classes: +</p> +<p> +<i>Class A</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of less than +$720, or a compensation at the rate of less than $720 per annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class B</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $720 or more, +or a compensation at the rate of $720 or more, but less than $840 per +annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class C</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $840 or more, +or a compensation at the rate of $840 or more, but less than $900 per +annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class D</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $900 or more, +or a compensation at the rate of $900 or more, but less than $1,000 per +annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class E</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,000 or +more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,000 or more, but less than +$1,200 per annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class 1</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,200 or +more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,200 or more, but less than +$1,400 per annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class 2</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,400 or +more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,400 or more, but less than +$1,600 per annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class 3</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,600 or +more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,600 or more, but less than +$1,800 per annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class 4</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,800 or +more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,800 or more, but less than +$2,000 per annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class 5</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $2,000 or +more, or a compensation at the rate of $2,000 or more, but less than +$2,500 per annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>Class 6</i>.—All persons receiving an annual salary of $2,500 or +more, or a compensation at the rate of $2,500 or more per annum. +</p> +<p> +<i>It is provided</i>, That this classification shall not include +persons appointed to an office by and with the advice and consent of +the Senate nor persons employed as mere laborers or workmen; but all +positions whose occupants are designated as laborers or workmen, and who +were prior to May 6, 1896, and are now regularly assigned to work of the +same grade as that performed by classified employees, shall be included +within this classification. Hereafter no person who is appointed as a +laborer or workman, without examination under the civil-service rules, +shall be assigned to work of the same grade as that performed by +classified employees. +</p> +<p> +<i>It is also ordered</i>, That no person shall be admitted into any +place not excepted from examination by the civil-service rules in any of +the classes above designated until he shall have passed an appropriate +examination prepared by the United States Civil Service Commission and +his eligibility has been certified to this office by said Commission. +</p> +<p> +By direction of the President: +</p> +<p class="r"> +HENRY T. THURBER,<br /> + <i>Private Secretary</i>. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<p class="r"> +EXECUTIVE MANSION, <i>Washington, January 12, 1897</i>. +</p> +<p> +Hon. JUDSON HARMON,<br /> + <i>Attorney-General of the United States</i>. +</p> +<p> +DEAR SIR: The bill which has been for some time pending before the +Congress providing for the adjustment and extension of the indebtedness +of the Pacific railroads to the Government of the United States has been +defeated in the House of Representatives. +</p> +<p> +In the case of the Union Pacific Railroad and the Kansas Pacific +Railroad, a default in the payment of their indebtedness having occurred +and suits having been commenced for the foreclosure of the lien upon +said roads which is paramount to the lien and security of the United +States, you are hereby directed, pursuant to the provisions of an act of +Congress passed March 3, 1887, after taking such precautions and +perfecting such arrangements as are possible to assure as far as +practicable the payment of their indebtedness to the Government as a +result of the suits now pending or others to be instituted, to take such +proceedings in the courts as shall be needful to protect and defend the +rights and interests of the United States in respect of such +indebtedness, and to take steps to foreclose the mortgages or liens of +the United States upon the property of these railroad companies. +</p> +<p> +In the case of the other aided Pacific railroads, as to which no +foreclosure suits are pending, a different situation is presented, which +requires further consideration before deciding the course to be taken by +the Government. +</p> +<p> +Yours, truly, +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<center> +AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES. +</center> +<p> +Rule VI of the civil-service rules is hereby amended by adding to the +exceptions from examination in the departmental service a new clause, to +read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + (<i>d</i>) Assistant Secretary Smithsonian Institution, in charge of + United States National Museum. +</p> +<p> +Approved, January 27, 1897. +</p> +<p class="r"> +GROVER CLEVELAND. +</p> +<hr /> + + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2>Footnotes</h2> + +<a name="note-1"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>1</u> (<a href="#noteref-1">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 377-378. +</p> +<a name="note-2"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>2</u> (<a href="#noteref-2">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 395-396. +</p> +<a name="note-3"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>3</u> (<a href="#noteref-3">return</a>)<br /> +See Vol. VIII, pp. 353-355. +</p> +<a name="note-4"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>4</u> (<a href="#noteref-4">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 348-349. +</p> +<a name="note-5"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>5</u> (<a href="#noteref-5">return</a>)<br /> +Relating to the coined silver money and the products of +India, Russia, and the Argentine Republic. +</p> +<a name="note-6"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>6</u> (<a href="#noteref-6">return</a>)<br /> +Relating to the probable retaliatory action of foreign +governments for the proposed imposition by the United States of a duty +on sugar. +</p> +<a name="note-7"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>7</u> (<a href="#noteref-7">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 368-369. +</p> +<a name="note-8"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>8</u> (<a href="#noteref-8">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 94-97. +</p> +<a name="note-9"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>9</u> (<a href="#noteref-9">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 440-441. +</p> +<a name="note-10"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>10</u> (<a href="#noteref-10">return</a>)<br /> +See p. 439. +</p> +<a name="note-11"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>11</u> (<a href="#noteref-11">return</a>)<br /> +See p. 477. +</p> +<a name="note-12"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>12</u> (<a href="#noteref-12">return</a>)<br /> +See Vol. VIII, pp. 517-518. +</p> +<a name="note-13"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>13</u> (<a href="#noteref-13">return</a>)<br /> +See p. 478. +</p> +<a name="note-14"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>14</u> (<a href="#noteref-14">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 553-556. +</p> +<a name="note-15"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>15</u> (<a href="#noteref-15">return</a>)<br /> +See p. 476. +</p> +<a name="note-16"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>16</u> (<a href="#noteref-16">return</a>)<br /> +See p. 557. +</p> +<a name="note-17"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>17</u> (<a href="#noteref-17">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 561-565. +</p> +<a name="note-18"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>18</u> (<a href="#noteref-18">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 501-510. +</p> +<a name="note-19"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>19</u> (<a href="#noteref-19">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 167-172. +</p> +<a name="note-20"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>20</u> (<a href="#noteref-20">return</a>)<br /> +Upon trial for desertion and conviction of absence without +leave only, the court may, in addition to the limit prescribed for such +absence, award a stoppage of the amount paid for apprehension. +</p> +<a name="note-21"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>21</u> (<a href="#noteref-21">return</a>)<br /> +Including first and excluding last. +</p> +<a name="note-22"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>22</u> (<a href="#noteref-22">return</a>)<br /> +In specifications to charges of larceny or embezzlement the +value of the property shall be stated. +</p> +<a name="note-23"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>23</u> (<a href="#noteref-23">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 439, 531-532. +</p> +<a name="note-24"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>24</u> (<a href="#noteref-24">return</a>)<br /> +See p. 477. +</p> +<a name="note-25"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>25</u> (<a href="#noteref-25">return</a>)<br /> +See p. 624. +</p> +<a name="note-26"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>26</u> (<a href="#noteref-26">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 561-565. +</p> +<a name="note-27"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>27</u> (<a href="#noteref-27">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 567-568. +</p> +<a name="note-28"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>28</u> (<a href="#noteref-28">return</a>)<br /> +See p. 632. +</p> +<a name="note-29"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>29</u> (<a href="#noteref-29">return</a>)<br /> +See p. 634. +</p> +<a name="note-30"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>30</u> (<a href="#noteref-30">return</a>)<br /> +See p. 633. +</p> +<a name="note-31"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>31</u> (<a href="#noteref-31">return</a>)<br /> +See Vol. IV, pp. 466-469. +</p> +<a name="note-32"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>32</u> (<a href="#noteref-32">return</a>)<br /> +See Vol. V, pp. 307-322. +</p> +<a name="note-33"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>33</u> (<a href="#noteref-33">return</a>)<br /> +See p. 93 +</p> +<a name="note-34"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>34</u> (<a href="#noteref-34">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 591-592. +</p> +<a name="note-35"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>35</u> (<a href="#noteref-35">return</a>)<br /> +See Vol. VIII, pp. 741-742. +</p> +<a name="note-36"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>36</u> (<a href="#noteref-36">return</a>)<br /> +See p. 624. +</p> +<a name="note-37"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>37</u> (<a href="#noteref-37">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 450-451. +</p> +<a name="note-38"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>38</u> (<a href="#noteref-38">return</a>)<br /> +Of the second class 52,348,297 was county-free matter. +</p> +<a name="note-39"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>39</u> (<a href="#noteref-39">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 701-711. +</p> +<a name="note-40"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>40</u> (<a href="#noteref-40">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 501-510. +</p> +<a name="note-41"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>41</u> (<a href="#noteref-41">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 501-510 +</p> +<a name="note-42"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>42</u> (<a href="#noteref-42">return</a>)<br /> +See p. 584 +</p> +<a name="note-43"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>43</u> (<a href="#noteref-43">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 501-510 +</p> +<a name="note-44"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>44</u> (<a href="#noteref-44">return</a>)<br /> +See pp. 155-156. +</p> + +<div style="height: 6em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14137 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + |