CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 

PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE FIFTIETH CONGRESS. 

SECOND 

SENATE. 

l\foNDA Y, December 3, 1888. 

The first Monday of December being the day prescribed by the Constitution of the United States for the annual meeting of Congress, the 

second session of the Fiftieth Congress convened this day. 

The Senators assembled in the Senate Chamber in the Capitol at 

Washington City. .. The PRESIDENT pro tempore (JonN J. INGALLS, a Senator from the 

State of Kansas) took the chair, and called the Senate to order at 12 

o'clock noon. 

PRAYER. 

Rev. J. G. BUTLER, D. D., Chaplain to the Senate, offered the following prayer: · Our Father, in this quiet moment we lift our hearts to Theein thankfulness for the kind providence that has kept us and that brings us again together in health and in strength. Breathe into our hearts the 

spirit of devotion, that we may come humbly and obediently and trustingly before Tbee as Thy servants, seeking Thy guidange and Thy help as we enter upon the new and responsible duties before us. 

For Thy continued goodness to us in our persons and in our families, we bless Thee. For the rich blessings of Thy providence in our a bundan t harvests and for Thy continued goodness upon all the varied and 

growing industries of this land, we render thanks to Thee. 

We would not be unmindful, 0 God, of Thy mercies toward us as 

a people, in filling our hearts with faith in Thee, and making llS a law-abiding and a God-fearing people. Continue Thy presence with us. Bless the President of the United States and those associated with 

him in authority. Teach our Senators wisdom. Upon the House 

of Representatives pour out Thy spirit. May our judges decree right- eons judgments. And grant that all the people of this land, 0 God, 

may walk in Thy fear and in Thy love, that our nation may be a right- eous nation and that this may be Emmanuel's land. 

Remember, we pray Thee, 'Thy servant the President-elect. Have 

him in Thy holy keeping. _Endue him with wisdom, and preparehim 

for the responsible duties about devolving upon him. And so order 

all things, 0 God, for this nation, which Thou hast so abundantly 

blessed during all thf'.se years, that we may be a united and a Godfearing people. 

Guide these, Thy servants, to-day. Have them in Thy holy keeping. Help us so to keep consciences void of offense toward God and 

toward men that the peace of God which passeth all understanding 

may keep our hearts and minds. We ask it in the name of Him who 

hath taught us to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be 

Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done upon earth as it 

is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, butdeliverus from evil: forTbineisthe kingdom, and the power, 

and the glory, forever. Amen. 

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The first Monday in December being the day appointed by the Constitution for the annual assembling 

of Congress, the Senate is now in session and will come to order. 

SESSION. 

SEN .A TOBS PRESENT. 

The following Senators were present: From the State ofAlabama-James L. Pugh. 

Arkansas-James H. Berry and James K. Jones. _Colorado-Henry M. Teller. 

Connecticut-Joseph R. Hawley and Orville H. Platt._ Delaware-George Gray and Eli Saulsbury. 

Fturida-Wilkinson Call and Samuel Pasco. 

Illinois-Shelby M. Cullom. 

Indiana-:-David Turpie. 

Iowa-William B. Allison. 

Ka.nsas-.John .J. Ingalls and Preston B. Plumb. 

Kentucky-.J oseph C. S. Blackburn. 

Louisiana-James B. Eustis and Randall L. Gibson. 

Ma.i-ne-William P. Frye and Eugene Hale. 

Maryla'nd-Arthur P. Gorman. 

Massachusetts-Henry L. Dawes and George F. Hoar. 

lJiicld_qan-Thomas W. Palmer and Francis B. Stockbridge. 

.llfississippi-'-Edward C. Walthall. 

Missouri-Francis M. Cockrell and George G. Vest. 

Nebraska-Charles F. Manderson and Algernon S. Paddock. 

Nevada-William U. Stewart. 

New Hampshire-Henry W. Blair and William E. Chandler. 

Nc.w Jerse.y-Rufus Blodgett and .John R. !icPherson. 

North Car(Jlina-Matt W. Ransom and Zebulon B. Vance. 

Oldo-Henry B. Payne and John Sherman. 

Oregon-Joseph N. Dolph and John H. Mitchell. 

Pcnnsyllmnia-James Donald Cameron. 

Rhode Isla-nd-Nelson W. AJdrich. 

South Carolina-Matthew C. Butler. 

Tennessee-William B. Bate and Isham G. Harris. 

Texas-Richard Coke. 

Permont-George F. Edmunds and Justin S. Morrill. 

West Virginia-Charles J. Faulkner. 

Wi"seonsin-Philetus Sawyer and .John C. Spooner. 

NOTIFICATION TO TIIE HOUSE. 

Mr. SHERMAN submitted the following resolution; which was Cln· 

sidered by unanimous consent, and agreed to: 

Resolved, That the Secretary inform the Honse of Representati-ves tha t a quo- rum of the Senate is assembled, and that the Senate is ready to proceed to busi- ness. 

NOTIFICATION TO THE PRESIDENT. 

Mr. MORRILL submitted the following resolution; which was oon- sjdercd by unanimous consent, and agreed to: 

Resolved, :r'hata committee co~sl ting qf two members be appointed, to join such comm1ttee as muy be appomted by the House of R epresentatives to wait 

upoR tl1e President of the United States and inform him that a quoru~ of ea<'h House is assembled, and that Congress is ready to receive any communication 

he may be pleased to JD.:lke. 

By unanimous consent, the President p;·o tempore wa.s authorized to 

appoint the committee on tbe part of the Senate; and Mr. l\IOBBILL 

and !ir. SAULSBURY were appomted. 

1 
2 OONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. DECE:MBER 3, 

HOUR OF MEETING. 

1\-fr. CAMERON submitted the following resolution; which was con- sidered by unanimous consent, and agreed to: 

Resolved, That t.he hour of the daily meeting of the Senate be 12 o'clock, 

meridian,. until otherwise ordered. _ 

RECESSES. 

Mr. SHERMAN (at 12 o'clock and 44 minutes p.m.). I move that 

the Senate take a recess for half an hour. I understand the committees appointed on the part of the two Houses to wait upon the President have gone to discharge that duty. 

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Ill the absence of objection, it is so ordered; and the Senate takes a recess for thirty minutes. 

.At the expiration of the recess (at 1 o'clock and 15 minutes p.m.) 

the Senate reassembled. 

:M:r. HARIUS. I move that the Senate take a further recess until 

half past 1 o'clock. . The motion was agreed to; and at the expiration of the recess (at 1 

o'clock and 30 minutes p. m.) the Senate reassembled. 

MES.SAGE FROM THE HOUSE. 

Mr. JoHN B. CLARK, -the Clerk of the House of Representatives, appeared below the bar of the Senate and delivered the following message: 

:Mr. President, I am directed by the House of Representatives to inform the Senate tha\ a quorum of the House of Representatives has appeared, and that the House is ready to proceed to business. 

I am further directed to inform the Senate that the House has passed 

a resolution that a committee of three members be appointed on the 

part of the House to join such committee as may be appointed by the 

Senate to wait upon the President of the United States and inform him 

that a quorum of the two Houses has assembled, and that Congress is 

ready to receive any communication he may have to make. 

I am also directed to announce that the House has appointed Mr. 

HoLMAN of Indiana, Mr. TURNER of Georgia, and Mr. O'NEILL of 

Pennsylvania the committee on the part of the House. 

NOTIFICATION TO THE PRESIDENT. 

1\fr. MoRRILL and Mr. SAULSBURY, the committee appointed in con- junction with a· similar committee of the House of Representatives to 

wait upon the President of the United States, appeared below the bar, 

and 

Mr.- MORRILL said: 1\fr. President, the committee appointed to 

wait upon the President of the United States and inform him that the 

•two Houses of Congress had assembled and were ready to receive any 

communication he had to make have performed that service and have 

been informed by the President that he will communicate in writing imm~diately. 

PRESIDENT'S A:.."n.TUAL 1\!.ESSAGE. 

At 1 o'clock and 31 minutes p. m., Mr. 0. L. PRUDEX, one of the 

secretaries of the President of the United States, appeared below the 

bar and said: 

Mr. President, I am directed by the President of the United States 

to deli f"er to the Senate a message in writing. 

The me.<~sa.ge was received from the secretary and handed to the Pres· 

ident pro tempore. · 

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chair lays before the Senate the 

annual message of the President of the United States, which the Secretary will read. 

. The Secretary of the Senate (Mr. ANsoN G. McCooK) read themessage, as follows: 

To the Congress of the United States: 

As you a.~emble for the discharge of the duties you have assumed as the representatives of a. free and generous people, your meeting is 

marked by au interesting and impressive incident. With the expiration of the present session of the Congress the first century of our constitutional existence as a nation will be completed. 

Our survival for one hundred years is not sufficient to assure us that 

we no longer have dangers to fear in the maintenance; with all its 

promised blessings, of a government founded upon the freedom of the 

people. The time rather admonishes us to soberly inquire whether in 

the past we have a1 ways closely kept in the course of safety, and 

whether we have before us a way plain and clear which leads to happiness and perpetuity. 

When the experiment of our Government was undertaken, the chart 

adopted for our guidance was the Constitution. Departure from the 

lines there laid dcwn is failure. It is only by a strict adherence to 

the direction they indicate and by restraint within the limitations 

they fix that we can furnish proof to the world of the fitness of the 

American people for self-government. 

T!te equal and exact justice of which we boast as the underlying 

principle of our institutions should not be confined to the relations of our citizens to each other. The Government itself is under bond to 

the American people, that in the exercise of its functions and powers 

it will deal with the body of our citizens in a manner scrupnlonsly 

honest and fair and absolutely just. It bas agreed that American citizenship shall be the only credential necessary to justify the claim of 

equality before the law, and thrtt no condition in life shall give rise to 

discrimination in the treatment of the people by their Government. 

The citizen of our Republic in its early days rigidly insisted upon 

full compliance with the letter of this bond, and saw stretching out 

bt'fore him a clear field for individual endeavor. IIis tribute to the 

support of his Government was measured by the cost of its economical 

maintenance, and he was secure in the enjoyment of the remaining 

recompense of his steady and contented toil. In those days the frugality of the people was stamped upon their Government, and was en- forced by the free, thoughtful, and intelligent suffrage of the citizen. 

Combinations, monopolies, and aggregations of capital were either 

avoided or sternly regulated and restrained. The pomp and glitter <?f 

governments less free offered no temptation and presented no delusion 

to the plain people who, side by side, in friendly competition wrought 

for the ennoblement and dignity of man, for the solution of the problem 

of free government, and for the achievement of the grand destiny awaiting the land which God had given them. 

A century has passed. Our cities are the abiding places of wealth 

and luxury; our manufactories yield fortunes never dreamed of by the 

fathers of the Republic; our business men are madly striving in the race for riches, and immense aggregations of capital outrun the imagi· 

nation in the magnituile of their undertakings. 

We view with pride and satisfaction this bright picture of our coun- try's growth and prosperity, while only a closer scrutiny develops a 

somber shading. Upon more careful inspection we find the wealth and 

luxury of our cities mingled with poverty and wretchedness and un- remunerative toil. A crowded and constantly increaE'ing urban population suggests the impoverishment of rural sections, and discontent 

with agricultural pursuits. The farmer's son, not satisfied with his 

father's simple and laborious life, joins the eager chace for easily ac- quired wealth. -We discover that the fortunes realized by our manufacturers are no longer solely the reward of sturdy industry and enlightened foresight, 

but that they result from the discriminating favor of the Government, 

and are largely built-upon undue exactions from the masses of our pea· 

ple. The gulf between employers and the employed is constantly widening and classes are rapidly forming, one comprising the very rich and 

powerful, while in another are found the toiling poor. 

As we view the achievements of aggregated capital, we discover the 

existence of trusts! combinations, and monopolies, while the citizen is 

struggling. far in the rear or is trampled to death beneath an iron heel. 

Corporations, which should be the carefuUy restrained creatures of the 

law and the servants of the people, are fast becoming the people's 

masters. 

Still congratulating ourselves upon the wealth and prosperity of our conntry, and complacently contemplating every incident of change 

inseparable from these conditions, it is our duty as patriotic citizens 

to inquire, at the present stage of our progress, how the bond of the 

Government made with the people bas been kept and performed. 

Instead of limiting the tribute drawn from our citizens to the neces- sities of its economical administration, the Government persists in exacting, from the substance of the people, millions which unapplied and 

useless lie dormant in its Treasury. This flagrant injustice and this 

breach of faith anu obligation add to extortion the danger attending 

the diversion of the currency of the country from the legitimate channels of business. 

Under the same laws by which these results are produced, the Government permits many millions more to be' added to the cost of the 

living of our people and to be taken from our consumers, which un- , reRSonably swell the profits of a small out powerful minority. 

The people must still be taxed for the support of the Government 

under the operation of tariff laws. But to the extent that the mass of our citizens are inordinately burdened beyond any useful public pur-. pose, and for the benefit of a favored few, the Government, under pre· 

text of an exercise of its taxing power, enters gratuitously into partnership with these favorites, to their advantage and ta the iiljury of a 

vast majority of our people. 

This is not equality before the law. . The e:Dsting situation is injurious to the h~l.th of o~r entire bodJ:'-

politic. It stifles, in those for whose benefit It IS pernntted, all patriotic love of country, and substitutes in its place selfish greed and grasping avarice. Devotion to American citizenship for its own sake and for 

what it should accomplish as a motive to our nation's advancement and 

the happiness of all our people, is displaced by the assumption that the 

Government, instead of being the embodiment of er1uality, is but an instrumentality through which especjal and individual advantages are to be gained. 

The arrogance of this assumption is unconcealed. It appears in the 

sordid disregard of all but personal interests, jn the refusal to abate 

for the benefit of others one iota of selfish advantage, and in combinations to perpetuate such advantages through efforts to control legislation and improperly influence the suffrages of the people. 

The grievances of those not included within the circle of these beneficiaries, when fully realized, will surely arouse irritati?n a?d di..'!Con• 

tent. Our farmers, long-suffering and pa?ent, ~tru~ling m. the race of life with the hardest and most unremitting toil, will not fail to see, 
1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE, 3 

in spite of misrepresentations and misleading fallacies, that they are obliged to accept such prices for their products as are fixed in foreign 

markets where they compete With the farmers of the world; that their 

lands are declining in value while their debts increase; and that without compensating favor they are forced by the action of the Government to pay, for the .benefit of others, such enhanced prices for the 

things they need, that the scanty returns of their labor fail to furnish 

their support or leave no margin for accumulation. 

Our workingmen, enfranchised from all delusions and no longer 

frightened by the cry that their wages are endangered by a just revision 

of our tariff laws, will reasonably demand through such revision steadier 

employment, cheaper means of living in their homes, freedom for themsalves and their children from the doom of perpetual servitude, anJ an open door to their advancement beyond the limits of a laboring class. 

Others of our citizens whose comforts and expenditures are measured 

by moderate salaries and fixed incomes, will insist upon the fairness 

and -justice of cheapening the cost of necessaries for themselves and 

their iamilies. 

When to the selfishness of the beneficiaries of unjust discrimination 

under our laws there shall be added the discontent of those who suffer 

from such discrimination, we will realize the fact that the beneficent 

purposes of our Goyernment, dependent upon the patriotism and contentment of our people, are endangered. 

Communism is a hateful thing, and a menace to-peace and organized 

government. But the communism of combined wealth and capital, the 

outgrowth of overweening cupidity and selfishness, which insidiously 

undermines the justice and integrity of free institutions, is not less dangerous than the communism of oppressell poverty and toil which, ex- . 

asperated by injustice and discontent, attacks with wild disorder the 

citadel of rule. 

He mocks the people who proposes that the Governmont shall protect the rich and that they in turn will care for the laboring poor. 

Any intermediary between the people and their Government, or the 

least delegation of the care and protection tho Government owes to the 

humblest citizen in the land, makes the boast of free institutions a glittering delusion and the pretended boon of American citizenship a shameless imposition. 

A. just and sensible revision of our·tarifflaws Ahould be made for the 

relief of those of our countrymen who suffer under present conditions. Such a revision should receive the support of all who love that justice 

and equality due to American citizenship, of all who realize that in 

this justice and equality our Government finds its strength and its 

power to protect the citizen and his property, of all who belie>e that 

the contented competence and comfort of many accord better with the 

spirit of our institutions than colossal fortunes unfairly gathered in the 

hands of a few, of all who appreciate that the forbearance and fraternity among our people, which recognize the value of every American 

interest, are the surest guarant,y of our national progress, and of all 

who desire to see the prod nets of American skill and ingenuity in every 

market of the world with a resulting restoration .of American com- merce. The necessity of the reduction of our revenue is so apparent a.s to be 

generally conceded. But the means by which this end shall be accomplished and the sum of direct benefit which shall result to our citizens 

present a controversy of the utmost importance. There should be no . scheme accepted as satisfactory by which the burdens of the people are 

only apparently removed. Extravagant appropriations of public money, 

with all their demoralizing consequences, should not be tolerated, either 

as a means of relieving the Treasury of its present surplus or as furnishing pretext for resisting a proper reduction in tariff rat~. Existing evils and injustice should be honestly recognized, boldly met, aml 

e.1Jective1y remedied. There should be no ces::;ation of the struggle until a plan is perfected, fair and conservative toward existing industries, but 

which will reduce the cost to consomersofthe necessariesoflife, while 

it provide"! for our m:muf:wturers the advantage of freer raw materials _ and permits no injury to tlte interests of AmeriC'an labor. 

The cause for which the battle is waged is comprised within lines 

clearly ancl distinctly defined. It should n-ever be compromised. It 

is the people's cause. 

It can not be denied that the selfish and private interests which are 

so persistently heard, when efforts aro made to deal in a just and com- prehensive manner with our tariff laws, are related to, if they are not 

responsible for, the sentiment largely prevailing among the people 

that tile General Government is the fountain of individual and private 

aid; that it may be expected to relieve with paternal care the distress 

of citizens and communities, and that from the fullness of its Treasury 

it should., upon the slightest possible pretext of promoting the general 

good, apply public funds to tho benefit of localities and individuate;. 

Nor can it~ denied that there is a growing assumption that, as agaim~t 

the Government and in_ favor of private claims and interests, the usual 

rules and limitations ofbnaness principles and just dealing should be 

waived. 

These ideas have been unhappily much encouraged by legislative 

acquiescence. Relief from contracts made with the Government is too 

easily accorded in favor of the citizen; the failure to support claims 

aga1nst the Government by proof is Jften supplied by no better cons1deration than the wealth of the Government and the poverty of the 

claimant; gmtuities in the form of pensions are granted upon no other 

real ground than the needy: condition of the applicant, or for reasons 

less valid; and large sums are expended for public buildings and other 

improvements upon representations scarcely claimed to be related to 

public needs and necessities. 

The extent to which the consideration of such matters subordinates 

and postpones action upon subjects of great public importance, but involving no special, private, or partisan interest; should arrest attention 

and lead to reformation. 

A few of the numerous illustrations of this condition may be stated. 

The crowded condition of the calendar of the Supreme Court, and 

the delay to suitors and denial of justice resulting therefrom, ha.ve been 

strongly urged upon the attention of the Congress, with a plan for the 

relief of the situation approved by those well able to judge of its merits. 

While this subject remains without effective consideration many laws 

ha>e been passed providing for the holding of terms of inferior courts 

at places to suit the convenience of localities or to lay the foundation 

of an application for the erection of a new public building. 

Repeat-ed recommendations ha.ve been submitted for the amendment 

and change of the laws relating to our public lands so that their spoliation and diversion to other uses than as homes for honest settlers 

might be prevented. While a measure to meet this conceded necessity 

of reform remains awaiting the action of tho Congress many claims to 

the public lands and applications for their donation in favor of States 

and individuals have been allowed. 

A plan in aid <>f Indian management, recommended by those well 

informed, as containing valuable features in furtherance of the solution of the Indian problem, has thus far failed of legislative sanction, 

while grants of doubtful expediency to railroad corporations, permitting them to pass throu~h Indian reservations, have greatly multiplied. 

The propriety aml necessity of the erection of one or more prisons 

for the confinement of United States convicts, and a post-office building in the national capital, are not disputed. But these needs yet remain unanswered, while scores of public buildinbrs have been erected 

where their neces..qjty for public purposes is not apparent. 

A revision of our pension laws could easily be made, which would 

rest upon.just principles and provide for every worthy applicant. But 

while our general pension laws remain confueed and imperfect, hundreds of private pension laws are annually passed, which are the sources 

of unjust discrimination and popular demoralization. 

Appropriation bills for the support of the Government are defaced by 

items and provisions to meet private ends, and it is freely asserted by 

responsible and experienced parties that a bill appropriating money for 

public internal improvement would fail to meet with fayor, unless it 

contained items more for local and private advantage than for public 

benefit. 

These st.'ltements can be much emphasized by an ascertainm<'nt of 

the proportion of Federal legislation, which either bears upon its face 

its private character, or which, upon examination, develops such a mo- tive power. 

And yet the people wait and expect from their cho. en representatives 

such patriotic action as will ad vance the welfare of the en tire country; 

and thi& expectation can only be answered by the performance of public duty with unselfish purpose. Our mission among the nations of the 

earth, and our success in ac~omplishinJ? the work God bas given the 

American people to do, require of those mtrusted with the making and 

execution of our laws perfect de>otion, al>o>e all other things, to the 

public good. 

This de>otion will lead us to strongly resist all impatience of constitutionallimit:l.tions of Federal power, and to persistently check the in· 

creasing tendency to extend the scope of Federal legislation into the domain of State and local juri~diction, upon the plea of subserving the 

puhlic welfare. The preservation of the partitions between proper 

suQjects of Federal and local care and regulation is of such importa.nce 

under the Constitution, which is the law of our very existence, that no consideration of expediency or sentiment should_ tempt us to enter upon 

doubtful ground. We bavo undertaken to discover and proclaim the 

richest blessings of a free Government, with the Constitution as our guide. 

Let us follow the way it points out. It will not mislead us. And surely 

no one who has taken upon himself the solemn obligation to support 

and preserve the Constitution can find justillca.tion or solace for disloyalty in the excuse that he wandered and disobeyed in search of a bet· 

ter way to reach the public welfare than the Constitution offers. 

What has been taill is deem_ed not inappropriate at a time when, from a century's height, we view the way already trod by the American peo~ 

ple, and attempt to discover their future path. 

The seventh President of the United States-the soldier and states· 

man, and at all times the :firm and brave friend of the people-in vin· 

dication of his course as the protector of popular rights and the cham~ 

pion of true American citizenship, declared: 

Tlte ambition ·which leads me on is an anxious desire and a. fixed determine.• 

lion to restore to the people. unimpaired, the sacred trust they have confided to .JDY charge; to heal the wounds of the Constitut-ion and to preserve it from t'lll>-

ther vi?lation; to persuade my countrymen, so far as I may, that it fB n,?t in a. sple~d1d government SUPJ?Orted by powerful monopolies and aristocratlcal e.s- tablishments that they will find happiness, or their liberties protection, but lD 
4 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. DECEMBER 3, 

a plain system, void of pomp-protecting all and granting favors to none-dispensing its blessings like the dews of heaven, unseen and unfelt save in the 

freslmess and beauty they contribute to produce. It is such a ~overnment that the genius of our people requires-such an one only under which our States may remain, for ages to come, united, prosperous, and free. 

In pursuance of a constitutional provision requiring the President, 

from time to time, to give to the Congress information of the state of 

the Union, I have the satisfaction to announce that the close of the 

year finds the United States in the enjoyment of domestic tranquillity 

and at pea.ce with all the nations. 

Since my last annual message our foreign relations have been strength· 

ened and improved by performance of international good offices and by new and renewed treaties of amity, commerce, and reciprocal extradition of criminals. 

Those international questions which still await settlement are all 

reasonably within the domain of amicable negotiation, and there is no existing subject of dispute between the United States and any foreign 

power that is not susceptible of satisfactory adjustment by frank diplomatic treatment. 

The questions between Great Britain and the United States relating 

to the rights of American fishermen, under treaty and international 

comity, in the territorial waliers of Canada and Newfoundland, I regret 

to say are not yet satisfactorily adjusted. 

These matters were fLilly treated in ·my message to the Senate of 

February 20, 1888, together with which a convention, concluded under 

my authority with Her 1\Iajesty's Government on the 15th of February 

last, for the removal of all causes of misunderstanding, was submitted 

by me for the appro>al of the Senate. 

This treaty having been rejected by the Senate, I transmitted ames- sage to the Congress, on the 23d of August last, reviewing the transactions n.nd submitting for consideration certain recommendations for 

legislation concerning the important questions invol>ed. 

Afterwards, on the 12th of St,ptember, in response to a resolution of 

the Senate, I again communicated fully all the information in my possession as to the action of the Government of Canada affecting tho 

commercial relations between the Dominion and the United States, 

including the treatment of American :fishing vessels in the ports and 

waters of British North America. 

These commnnications have all been published, and therefore opened 

to the knowledge of both Houses of Congress, although two were alldressed to the Senate alone. 

Comment upon or repetition of their contents would be superfluous, 

and I am not aware that anything bas since occurred which should be 

added to the facts therein stated. Therefore, I merely repeat, M ap · plicable to the present time, the statement which will be found in my 

message to the Senate of September 12th last: ' 

That since 1\la.rch 3, 1887, no case bas been reported to the Department. of 

Stu.le wherein complaint has been made of unfriendly or unlawfuL treatment of American fishing vessels on the part of the Canadian authorities. in which 

reparation was not promptly and satisfactorily obto.lned by the United f:!to.tcs 

consul-general at Ho.lifax. 

Ha\'ing essayed, in the discharge of my duty, to procure by negotiation the settlement of a long-standing cause of dispute, and to remove 

a constant menace to the good relations of the two countries, and con- tinuing to be of opin.ion that the treaty of February last·, which failed 

to receive the approval of the Senate, did supply ''a satisfactory, practical, and final adjustment upon a basis honorable and just to both 

parties of the difficult and vexed question to which it related," and 

having subsequently and una>ailingly recommended other legislation 

to Congress which I hoped would suffice to meet the exigency created 

by the rejection of the treaty, I now again invoke the earnest and immediate attention of the Congress to th~ condition of this important 

question, as it now stands before them and the country, and for the 

settlement of which 1 am deeply solicitous. 

Near the close of the month of October last, occurrences of a deeply 

regrettable nature were brought to my knowledge, which made it my 

painful but imperative duty to obtain, with as little delay as possible, 

a new personal channel of diplomatic intercourse in this country with 

the Government of Great Britain. 

The correspondence in relation to this incident will in due course be 

laid before you, and will disclose the unpardonable conduct of the official :refP-rred to in his interference lly advil!e and counsel with the suffrages of American citizens in the very crisis of the Presidential election 

then near at band, and also in his subsequent public declarations to 

justify his act.ion, superadding impugnment of the Executive and Senate ot' the United States, in connection with important questions now pending in controversy between the two Go>ernments. 

The offense thus committed was most grave, involving disastrous 

possibilities to the good relations of the United States and Great Britain, constituting a gross breach of diplomatic privilege and au in>asion 

of the purely domestic a:ffa.irs and essential sovere,ignty of the Government to which the envoy was accredited. 

Having first ..fulfilled the just demands of international comity by 

affording full opportunity for Her Majesty's Government to act in relief of the situation, I considered prolongation of discussion to be uuwarranteu and thereupon declined to further recognize the diplomatic 

character of the person, whose continuance in such function would 

destroy that mutual confidence which is essential to the good understanding of the two Governments, and was inconsistent with the welfare and self-respect of the Government of the United States. 

The usual interchange of communication bas since continued through 

Her 1\.f~jesty'~ legation in this city. 

Uy endeavors to establish by international co-operation measures for 

the prevention of the extermination of fur-seals in Bering Sea have not 

been relaxed, and I have hopes of being enabled shortly to submit an effective and satisfactory conventional projet with the maritime powers 

for the approval of the Senate. 

The coastal boundary between our Alaskan possessions and British 

Columbia, I regret to say, bas not received the att~ntion demanded by 

its importance, and which on several occasions heretofore I have had 

the honor to recommend to the Congress. 

The admitted impracticability, if not impossibility, of making an accurate and precise survey and demarkation of the boundary line, as it is recited in the treaty with Russia under which Alaska was ceded 

to the United States, renders it absolutely requisite, for the preven· 

tion of international jurisdictional complications, that adequate appro· 

priation for a reconnaissance and survey to obtain proper knowledge of 

the locality aud the geographical features of the boundary should be 

authorized by Congr~s with as little delay as possible. 

Knowledge to be only thus obtained is an essential prerequisite for 

negotiation for ascertaining a common boundary, or as preliminary to 

any other mode of settlement. 

It is much to be desired that some agreement should be reached with 

Her Majesty's Government by which the damages to li1e and property on the Great Lakes may be alleviated by removing or humanely regulating the obstacles to reciprocal assistance to wrecked or stranded ves- sels. 

The act of June 19, 1878, which offers to Canadian vessels free access to our inland waters in aid of wrecked or disabled vessels, bas not yet 

become eftcctive through concurrent action by Canada. 

The due protection of our citizens of French origin or descent, from 

claim of military service in the event of their returning to or visiting 

France, has called forth correspondence which wns laid before you at 

the last session. • In the ausence of con>en tional agreement as to naturalization, which 

is greatly to be desired, this Government sees no occasion to recede 

from the sound position it bas maintained not only with regard to 

France but as to all countries with which the United States haYe not 

concluded special treaties. 

Twice within the last ye..'l.r has the imperial household of Germany 

been visited by death; and I have hastened to express the sorrow of 

this people, and their appreciation of the lofty character of the late 

aged Emperor William, and their sympathy with the heroism under 

suffering of his son, the late Emperor Frederick. 

I renew my recommendation of two years ago for the passage of ll 

bill for tbe refunding to certain German steam-ship lines of the interest 

upon tounage dues illegally exacted. 

On the 12th of April last I laid before the Honse of Representatives 

full information re~pecting our interests in Samoa; and iu the subsequent correspondence on the same subject, which will be laid beforo 

you in due course, the history of events in those islands will be found. 

In a message accompanying my approval, on the 1st day of October 

last, of a bill for the exclusion of Chinese laborers, I laid before Congress full information and all correspondence touching the negotiation 

of the treaty with China, concluded at this capital on the 12th dny of 

March, 188'3, and which, having been confirmed by the Senate with 

certain amendments, was rejected by the Chinese Government. This 

mes:;age contained a recommendation that a sum of money be appropriated as compenl)ation to Chinese subjects who bad suffered injuries 

at the hands oflawless men within our jurisdiction. Such appropriation having hc~n dnly made, the fuml awaits reception by the Chinese 

Government. 

It is sincerely hoped thab by the cessation of the influx of this cl:l.ss of 

Chinese subjects, in accordance with the expressed wish of both Gov ... 

ernments, a canse of unkind feeling bas been permanently removed. 

On the 9th of August, 1 7, notification was given hy the Japanese 

minister at thi::~ capital of the adjournment of the conference for the 

revi ion of the treaties of Japan with foreign powers, owing to the objection of his Go\·ernment to the provision in the draft jurisdictional 

con'l"ention which required the submission of the criminal code of the 

Empire to the powers in advance of its becoming operative. This notification was, however, accompanied with an assurance of Japan's intention to continue the work of revision. 

Notv;ithstanding this temporary interruption of negotiations it is 

hoped that improvements may soon be secured in the j11risdictional 

t~ystem as respects foreigners in Japan, and relief afforded to that country from the present undue and oppre sive foreign control in matters 

of commerce. 

I earnestly recommend that relief be provided for the injuries accidentally en used to Japanese suhjectsin the Island lkisima by the target 

practice of one of our YEl."Sel:-;. · A diplomatic mission from Corea 1.1as been received, and the form:U 

inkrcourse between the two countnes contemplated by the treaty of 

188:~ is now established. 

) 
1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 5 

Legislative provision is hereby,recommended to organize and equip 

consular courts in Corea. 

Persia has established diplomatic representation at this capital and 

has evinced very great interest in the enterprise and achievements of our citizens. I am, therefore, hopeful that beneficial commercial relations between the two countries ma.y be brought about. 

I announce with sincere regret that Hayti has again become the theater of insurrection, disorder, 'and bloodshed. The titular government 

of President Saloman has been forcibly overthrown and he driven out 

of the country to France, where he- has since died. 

The tenure of power has been so unstable amid the war of factions 

that bas ensued since the expulsion of President Saloman that no government constituted by the will of the Haytian people has been recognized as administering responsibly the affairs of that country. Our 

repre3entati ve has been instructed to abstain from interference between 

the warring factions, and a vessel of our Navy has been sent to Haytian waters to sustain our minister and for the protection of the per- sons and property of American citizens. 

Due precautions have been taken to enforce our n~t;trn.lity la"!'s and 

prevent our territory from becoming the base of military supphes for 

either of the warring factious. 

Under color of a blockade, of which no reasonable notice had been 

given, and which docs not appear to have been efficiently maintained, a seizure of vessels under the American flag has been reported, and, · in consequence, measures to prevent and redress any molestation of our innocent merchantmen have been adopted. 

Proclamation was duly made on the 9th day of November, 1887, 

of the conventional extensions of the treaty of June 3, 1875, with 

Hawaii, under which relations of such special and beneficent inter- course have been created. 

In the vast field of Oriental commerce now unfolded from our Pacific borders, no feature presents stronger recommendations for 

Congressional action than the establishment of communication by submn.rine telegraph with Honolulu. 

The geographical position of the Hawaiian group, in relation to our J;>aci.fic States, creates a natural interdependency and mutuality of 

interest which our present treaties were intended to foster, and which 

make close communication a logical and commercial necessity. 

The wisdom of concluding a treaty of commercial reciprocity with 

Mexico has been heretofore stated in mymessages to Congress, and the 

lapse of time and growth of commerce with that close neighbor and 

sister republic confirm the judgment so expressed. 

The precise relocation of our boundary line is needful, and adequate 

appropriation is now recommended. 

It is with sincere satisfaction that I am enabled to advert to the 

spirit of good neighborhood and friendly co-operation and conciliation 

that has marked the correspondence and action of the Mexican authorities in their share of the task of maintaining law and order about the 

line of our commonlboundary. 

The long-pending boundary dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua was referred to my arbitration; nnd by nn award made on the 

22d of March last, the question has been finally settled to the expressed 

satisfaction of both of the parties in interest. 

The Empire of Brazil, in abolishing the laat vestige of slavery among 

Christian nations, called forth the earnest congratulations of this Government in expression of the cordial sympathies of our people. · The claims of nearly all other countries against Chili, growing out 

of her late war with Bolivia and Peru, have been disposed of either by 

arbitration or by a lump settlement. Similar claims of our citizens 

will con~lnue to be p.rged upon the Chilian Government, and it is 

hoped w1llnot be subject to further delays. 

A comprehensive treaty of amity and commerce with Peru was proc!aimed on November 7th, last; and it is expected that under its operation mutual prosperity and good understanding will be promoted. 

In pursuance of the policy of arbitration, a treaty to settle the claim 

of Santo..~, an American citizen, against Ecuador has been concluded 

under my authority, and will be duly submitted for the approval of 

the Senate. 

Like disposition of the claim of Carlos Butterfield against Denmark, 

ami of Van Bokelen against Hayti, will probably be made, and I trust 

the principle of such settlements may be extended in practice under 

the approval of the Senate. 

Through unforeseen causes, foreign to the will of both Governments, 

the ratification of the convention of December 5, 1885, with Venezuela, 

for tho rehearing of claims of citizens of the United States under the 

treaty of 1866, failed of exchange within the term provided, and a supplementary convention further extending the time for exchange of 

mtiflcaLions and expla~atory of an ambiguous provision of the prior 

convention, now awaits the advice and consent of the Senate. 

Although this matter, in the stage referred to, concerns only the co~­

current treaty-making power of one branch of Congress, I advert to .1t 

in view of the interest repeatedly and conspicuously shown by you, m your legislative capacity, in favor of a speedy and equitable adjustment 

of the questions growing out of the discredited judgments of the previous mixed commission of Camcas. With every desire to do justice 

to the representations of Venezuela in this regard, the time seems to 

have come to end this matter, and I trust the prompt confirmation by 

both parties of the supplementary action referred to, will avert the 

need of legislative or other action to prevent the longer withholding ot 

such rights of actual claimants as may be shown to exist. 

As authorized by the Congress, preliminary steps have been taken 

for the assemblage at this capital, during the coming year, of the representatives of South and Central American stat.es, together with those 

of Mexico, Hayti, and San Domingo, to discuss sundry important mon- etary and commercial topics. 

Excepting in those cases where, from reasons of contiguity of territory and the existence of a common border lin~ incapable of being 

guarded, reciprocal commercial treaties may be found expedient, it is 

believed that commercial policies inducing freer mutual exchange of 

products can be most advantageously arranged by independent buteooperative legislation. 

In the mode last mentioned the control of our taxation for revenue will be always retained in our own hands unrestricted by conventional 

agreements with other governments. 

In conformity also with Congressional authority the maritime powers 

have been invited to confer, in Washington, in April next, upon the 

practicability of devising uniform rules and measures for the greater 

security of life and property at sea. A disposition to accept on the part 

of a number of the powers has already been manifested, and if the co- operation of the nations chiefly interested sha.ll be secu;-ed important 

results may be confidently anticipated. 

The act of June 26, 1884, and the acts amendatory thereof, in relation to tonnage duties, have given rise to extended correspondence 

with foreign nations with whom we have existing treaties of navigation and commerce, and have caused wide and regrettable divergence 

of opinion in relation to the imposition of the duties referred to. These 

questions are important, and I shall make them the subject of a special and more detailed communication at the present session. · With the rapid increase of immigration to our shores and the facilities of modern travel, abuses of the generous privileges afforded by our naturalization laws call for their careful revision . . The easy and unguarded manner in which, certificates of American 

citizenship can now be obtained has induced a class, unfortunately 

large, to avail themselves of the opportunity to become absolved from 

allegiance to their native land and yet by a foreign residence to escape 

any just duty and contribution of service to the country of their proposed adoption. Thus while evading the duties of citizenship to the 

United States they may make prompt claim for its national protection 

aml demand its intervention in their behalf. International complications of a serious nature arise, and the ci>rrespondence of the State Department discloses the great number and complexity of the questions 

which have been raised. 

Our laws regulating the issue of passports should be carefully re- vised, and the institution of a central bureau of registration at the capital is again strongly recommended. By this means full partielllars 

of each case of naturalization in the United St.'\tes would be s~wnLed 

and properly indexed and recorded, and thus mru1y cases of spurious 

citizenship would be detected and unjust responsibilities would be 

avoided. 

The reorgmization of the consular service is a matter of serious importance to om:; national interests. The number of existing principal 

consular offices is believed to be greater than is at all necessary for the 

conduct of the public business. It need not be our policy to maintain more than a moderate number of principal offices, each supported by a salary sufficient to enable the incumbent to live in comfort, and so distributed as to secure the convenient supervision, through subordinate agencies, of affairs over a considerable district. • I repeat the recommendations heretofore made by me that the appropriations for the maintenance of our diplomatic and consular service 

should b~ recast; that the so-called notarial or unofficial fees which our representatives abroad are now permitted t~ treat as personal perquisites should be forbidden; that a system of consular inspection should 

be instituted, and that a limited number of secretaries of legation at 

large should be authorized. 

Preparations for the centennial celebration, on April30, 1889, of the 

inauguration of George Washington as President of the United States, 

at the city of New York, have been made by a voluntary orgaillzation 

of the citizens of that locality, and believing that an oppor~unity should 

be afforded for the expression of the interest felt throughout the coun- try in this event, I respectfully recommend fitting and co-o.J?erative 

action by Congress on behalf of the people of the United States'\... 

The report of the Secretary of the Treasury exhibits in detau the 

condition of onr national finances and the operations of the several 

branches of the Government related to his Department. 

The total ordinary revenues of tbe Government for the :fiscal year 

endedJune30, 1888,amounted to $379,266,074.76, ofwhich5219,091,· 

173.63 was received from customs duties and $124,296,871.98 from in· 

ternal-revenue taxes. -

The total receipts from all sources exceeded those for the fisc.al year 

ended June 30, 1887, by $7,862,797.10. 
J 

6 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. DECEMBER 3, 

The ordinary expenditt.rres of the Government for the :fiscal year 

ending June 30,1888, were $259,653,958.67, leaving aSlll'plus of$119,-

612,116.09. 

The decrease in these expenditures as compared with the fiscal year 

ended June 30, 1887, was $8,278,221. 30, notwithstanding the payment 

of more than $5,000,000 for pensions in excess of what was paid for 

that purpose in the latter-mentioned year. 

The revenues of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1889, 

ascertained for the quarter ended September 30, 1888, and estimated 

for the remainder of the time, amount to $377,000,000; and the actual 

and estimated ordinary expenditures for tho same year are $273,000,-

000, leaving an estimated surplus of $10,1,000,000. . The estimated receipts for the year ending June 30, 1890, are $377,-

000,000, and the estimated ordinary expenditures for the same time are $275,767,488.34, showing a surplus of $101,232,511.66. - The foregoing statements of surplus do not take into account the sum necessary to be expended to meet the requirements of the sinking-fund 

act, amounting to more than 547,000,000 annually. 

The cost of collecting the customs revenues for the last fiscal year was 2.44 per cent.; for the year 1885 it was 3. 77 per cent. 

The excess of internal-revenue taxes collected during the last fiscal 

year over those collected for the year ended June 30, 1887, was-$5,489,-

17 4. 26, and the cost of collecting this revenue decreased from 3. 4 per 

cent. in 1887 te less than 3.2 per cent. for the last year. The tax collected on oleomargarine was $723,948.04 for the year ending June 30, 

1887, and $864,139.88 for the following year. 

The requirements of the sinking-fund act have been met for the year 

ended June ;{0, 1888, and for the current year also, by the purchase of 

bonds. After complying with this law as positively required, and 

bonds sufficien.t for that purpose had been bought at a premium, it was not deemed prudent to further expend the surplus in such pur· 

chases until the authority t.o do so should be more explicit. A resolution, however, having been passed by both Houses of Congress remov- ing all doubt as to Executive authority, daily purchases of bonds were commenced on the 23d day of April, 1888, and have continued until the 

present time. By this plan bonds of the Government not yet due have 

been purchased up to and including the 30th day of November, 1888, 

amounting to $94,700,400, the premium paid thereon amounting to 

$17,508,613.0& 

The premium added to the principal of these bonds represents an investment yielding about 2 per cent. interest for the time they still had 

to rnn; and the saving to the Government represented by the differ- ence between the amount of interest at 2 per cent. upon the sum paid 

for principal and premium and what it would have paid for interest at 

the rate specified in the bonds if 'they had run to their maturity, is 

about $27,165,000. 

At first sight this would seem to be a profi.tableandsensibletra.nsaction on the part of the Government. But, as suggested by the Secretary of the Treasury, the surplus thus expended for the purchase of 

boeos was money drawn from the people in excess of any actual need 

rf tj"~ Government, and was so expended rather than allow it to re-

)..:J..:lin i.dle in the Treasury. If this surplus under the operation of just 

an~ £Jquitable laws had been left in the hands of the people, it would 

have been worth in their business at least 6 per cent. per annum. Deducting from the amount of interest upon the principal and, premium 

of these bonds fur the time they had to run at the rate of 6 per cent. 

the saving of 2 per cent. made for the people by the purchase of such 

bonds, the loss will appear to be $55,760,000. 

This calculation would seem to demonstrate that if excessive and un- necessary taxation is continued and the Government is forced to pur- sue this policy ot purchasing its own bonds at the premiums which it 

will be necessary to pay, the loss~ to the people will be hundreds of millions of dollars. _ Since the purchase of bonds was undertaken n.s mentioned, nearly all 

that have been offered were at last accepted. It has been made quite 

apparent that the Government was in danger of being subjected to com- binations to raise their price, as appears by the instance cited by the 

Secretary of the offering of bonds of the pa.r value of only $326,000 so 

often that the aggregate of the sums demanded for their purch'l.Se 

amounted to more than $19,700,000. Notwithstandin~ the large sums pa.id out in the purchase of bonds 

the surplus in the Treasury on the 30th day of November, 1888, was 

$52,234-,610.01, after deducting about $20,000,000 just drawn out for 

the payment of pensions. 

At the dose of the fiscal year ended June 30, 1887, there had been 

coined under the compulsory silver-coinage act $266,988,280 in silver 

dollars, $55,504,310 of.which were in the hands of the people. 

On the 30th day of June, 1888, there had been coined $209,708,790; 

and of this $55,829,303 was in circulation in coin, and $200,387,376 in 

Biller certificates, for tho redemption of which 13ilver dollars to that 

amount were held by the Government. 

On the 30th day of November, 1888, $312,570,990 bad been coined, 

$60, 970,090 of the silver dollars were actually in circulation, and $237,-

418,346 in certificates. 

The Secretary recommends the suspension of the further coinn~te of 

silver, and in such recommendation I earnestly concur. 

For further valu.able information and timely recommendations I ask 

the careful att.ention of the Congress to the Secretary's report. 

The Secretary of War reports that the Army at tb~ date of the last 

consolidated returns consisted of 2,189 officers and 24,549 enlisted men. The actual expenditures of the War Department for the fiscal year 

ended June 30, 1888, amounted to $41,165,107.07, of which sum $9,158,516.63 was expended for public works, including river and harbor improvements. · 

'' The Board of Onlnance and Fortifications,'' provided for under the 

act approved September 22 last, was convened October 30, 1888, and 

·plans and specifications for procuring forgings for 8, 10, and 12 inch 

guns, under provisions of section 4, and also for procuring 12-inch 

breech-loading mortars, cast-iron, hooped with steel, under the provisions of section 5 of the said act, were submitted to the Secretary of 

War for reference to the board, by the Ordnance Department on the same date. 

These plans and specifications having been promptly approved by the 

board and the Secretary of War, the necessary authority to publish 

advertisements, inviting proposals, in the newspapers throughout the 

country, was granted by theSecretaryonNovember12, andonNovember 13 the advertisements were sent out to the different newspapers 

designated. The bids for the steel forgings are to be opened on December 20, 1888, and for the mortars on December 15, 1888. 

A board of ordnance officers was convened at the Watervliet arsenal on October 4, 188~, to prepare the necessary plans and specifications 

for the establishment of an army gun factory at that point. The preliminary report of this bo::t.rd, with estimates for shop buildings and 

officers' quarters, was approved by tba Board of Ordnance and Fortifications, November 6 and 8. The specifications and form of advertisement and instructions to bidders have been prepared, and advertisements inviting proposals for the excavations for the shop building and 

for erecting the two sets of officers' quarters have been published. The 

cietailed drawings and specifications for the gun-factory building are well in hand, and will be finished within three or four months, when 

bids will be invited for the erection of the building. The list of machines, etc., is made out, and it is expected that the plans for the large 

lathes, etc., will be completed within about four months, and after approval by the Board of Ordnance and Fortifications, bids for furnishing 

the same will be invited. The machines and other fixtures will be completed as soon as the shop is in readiness to receive them, probably about 

July, 1890. . 

Under the provisions of the Army bill, for the procnrement of pneumatic dynamite gnus, the necessary specifications are now being prepared and advertisements for proposals will issue early in December. 

The guns will probably be of 15 inches caliber and fire a projectile that 

will carry a charge, each, of about 500 pounds of explosive gelatine 

with full-caliber projectiles. The guns will probably be delivered in · from six to ten months from the date of the contract, so that all the 

guns of this class that can be procured under the provisions of the law 

will be purchased during the year 1889. 

I earnestly request that the recommendations contained in the Secretary's report, all of which are, in my opinion, calculated to increase 

the usefulness and discipline of the Army, may receive tho consideration of the Congress. Among these the proposal that there should be 

provided a plan for the examination of officers to test their fitness for 

promotion is of the utmost importance. This reform has been before 

recommended in the reports of the Secretary, and its expediency is so fully demonstrated by the argument be presents in its favor that-its 

adoption should no longer be neglected. 

The death of General Sheridan in August last was a national afiliction. The .AJ.;my then lost the grandest-of its chiefs. The country lost a brave and experienced soldier, a wise and discreet counselor, and. a modest and sensible man. Those who in any manner came within the 

range of his personal association will never fail to pay deserved and 

willing homage to his greatness and the glory of his career; but tbey 

will cherish with more tender sensibility the loving memory of his 

simple, generous, and considerate nature. 

The Apache Indians, whose removal from their reservation in Ari- zona followed the capture of those of their number who engaged in a bloody and murderous raid during a part of the years 1885 and 1886, ·are now held as prisoners of war at Mount Vernon barracks, in the 

State of Alabama. They numbered, on the 31st day of October, the 

date of the last report, 83 men, 170 women, 70 boys, and 59 girls, in all 

382 persons. The commanding officer states that they are in good 

health and contented, and that they are kept employed as fully as is 

possible in the circumstances. The children as they arrive at a suitabie age are sent to the Indian schools at Carlisle and Hampton. Last summer some charitable and kind people asked permission to send two 

teachers to these Indians for the purpose of instructing the adults as well as such children as should be found there. Such permission was reaoily gra~ted, accommodations were provided for the teachers, and some portions of the buildings at the bar:rncks were made available for 

school purposes. The good work contemplated has been commenced, an.d _the teachers engaged are paid by the ladies with whom the plan 

ongmated. 

1 am not at all in sympathy with those benevolent but injudicious 
1888 . . CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. '7 

people who are constantly insisting that these Indians should be re- turned· to their reServation. Their removal was an absolute necessity 

if the lives and property of citizens upon the frontie1 are to be at all 

regarded by the Government. Their continued restraint at a distance 

from the scene of theh repeated and cruel murders and outrages is still 

necessary. lt is a mistaken philanthropy, every way injurious, which 

prompts the desire to see these savages returned to their old haunts. 

They aro in their present location as the result of the best judgment of 

those having official responsibility in the matter, and who are by no means lacking in kind consideration for the Indians. A number of 

these prisoners have forfeited their lives to outraged law and humanity. 

Experience has proved that they are dangerous and can not be trust-ed. 

This is true not only of those who on the war-path have heretofore actually been guilty of atrocious murder, but of their kindred and friends, 

who, while they remained upon their reservation, furnished aid and 

comfort to those absent with bloody intent. 

These prisoners should be treated kindly and kept in restraint far 

from the locality of their former reservation; they should be subjected 

to efforts calculated to lead to their improvement and the softening of 

their savaao and cruel instincts, but their return to their old home 

should be persistently resisted. 

The Secretary in his report gives a graphic history of these Indians, 

and recites with painful vividness their bloody deeds and the unhappy 

failure of the Government to manage them by peaceful means. It will 

be amazing if a perusal of this history will allow the survival of a desire for the return of these prisoners to their t·eservation upon sentimental or any other grounds. 

The report of the. Secretary of the Nn.vy demonstrates very intelligent 

management in thn.t important Department, and discloses the most satisfactory progress in the work of reconstructing theN avy made during 

the past year. Of the ships in course of construction; five, namely, the 

Charleston, Baltimore, Y_9rlrtown, Vesuvius, and the Petrel, have in that 

time been launched and are rapidly n.pproaching completion; and inadditiou to the abo•e, the Philn.delphia, the San Francisco, the New~rk, 

the Bennington, tho Concord, and the Herreshoff torpedo-boat are all 

under contract for delivery to the Department during the next year. 

Tho progress already made and being made gives good ground for the 

expectation tha,t these eleven vessels will be incorporated as part of the 

American Navy within the next twelvemonths. 

The report shows that notwithstanding the large expenditures for new construction, and the additional labor they involve, the total or- dinary or current expenditures of the Department for the three years 

ending June 30, 1888, are less lly more than 20 per cent. than such 

expenditures for the three years ending June 30, 1884. 

The various stepo which have been taken to improve the business 

methods of the Department are reviewed by the Secretn.ry. The purchasing of supplies has been consolidated and placed under a responsible 

bureau head. This has resulted in the curtailment of open purchases, 

which in the years 1894 and 1885 amounted to over 50 per cent. of all 

the purchases of the Department, to less tha.n 11 per cent.; so that at 

the prc."cnt time about 90 per cent. of the total depa.rtmental purchases are made by contract and after competition. As the expenditures on this account exceed an n.verage of $2,000,000 annually, it is evident 

that an important improvement in the system has been inaugurated 

and substantial economies iutroduced. 

The report of the Postmaster--General shows a marked increase of 

blli3iness in every brn.nch of the postal service. 

The number of post-offices on July 1, 1888, was 57,376, an increase 

of G, 124 in three yen.rs and of 2, 219 for the last fiscal year. The lattermentioned increase is classified as follows: 

~J'd~n8~~-~.~~~.·::.::::::::::::·:.:::::::·.:::::::·.:::::::.::·.::::::::::::::::::::::·::.::::::::::::::: 18~ Southern States and Indian Territory (4.1) .................................................. 1,406 

The States o.nd Territories of the Pacific coast............................................ 100 

The ten States and Territories of the 'Vest and Northwest......................... 435 District of Columbia..................................................................................... 2 

Totnl. ................................................................................................... 2, 219 

Free-delivery offices have increased from 189 in the fiscal year ended 

June 30, 1887, to 358 in the ye¥ e:Qded June 30, 1888. 

In the railway mail service there has been an increase in one year 

of 168 routes, apd in the number of miles traveled per annum an in- crease of 15,795;917.48. The estimn.ted increase of railroad service for 

the year was 6,000 miles, but the amount of new railroad service actually put on was 12,764.50 miles. 

The volume of business in the money-order division, including transactions in postal-notes, -reached the sum of upwards of $143,000,000 

for the year. 

During the past year parcel post conventions have been concluded 

with Barbadoes, the Bahamas, British Honduras, and Mexico, and are now under negotiation with all the Central and South American states. 

The increase of correspondence w.hh foreign countries during the past 

three years is gratifying, and is especially notable and exceptional with 

the Central and South American states and with :Mexico. As the greater 

part of mail matter exchanged with these countries is commercial in c~acter, this increase is evidence of the improved business relations 

With them. The practical operation of the parcel post conventions, so far as negotiated, has served to fulfi.ll the most favorable predictions as 

to their benefits. In January last a general postal con•ention was ne- gotiated with the Dominion of Canada, which went into operation on l't1arch 1, an~ which practically makes one postal territory of the United 

States and Canadn.. Under it merchandise parcels mn.y now be transmitted through the ~ils at fourth-class rates of postage. 

It is not possible here to touch even the leading heads of the great 

postal establishment, to illustrate the enormous and rapid growth of 

its business and the needs for legislati>e readjustment of much of its 

machinery that it has outgrown. For these and valuable recommen- dations of the Postmaster-General, n.ttention is earnestly in vi ted to his 

report. 

A Department whose revenues have increased from $19,772,000 in 

1870 to $52,700,000 in 1888, despite reductions of postage which have 

enormously reduced rn.tes of revenue while greatly increasing itkl business, demands the careful considemt.ion of the Congress as to all matters suggested by those familiar with its operations, and which are calculated to incren.se its efficiency and usefulness. 

.A bill, proposed by tho Postmaster-General, was introduced at the 

last sessionofthe Congress, bywhichauniform standn.rd in the amount 

of gross receipts would fix the right of a community to n. public building to be erecten by the Government for post-office purposes. It was demon trated that, aside from the public convenience and the promotion of harmony among citizens-invariably djsturbed 1zy change of 

leasings and of site-it was a measure of the highest economy and of 

sound business judgment. It was found that the Government was paying in rents at the rate of from 7 to 10 percent. per annum on what 

the cost of such public buildings would be. A very great advantage 

resulting from snch a law would be the prevention of a large number 

of bills, constantly· introduced for the erection of public buildings at 

places, and involving expenditures, not justified by public necessity. 

I trust that this measure will become a law at the present session of 

Congress. 

Of the total number of postmasters, 54,874 n.re of the fourth class. 

These, of course, receive no allowances whatever for expenses in the 

service, and their compensation is fixed by percentages on receipts at 

their respective offices. This rate of compensation may have been, and 

probably was at some time, jnst, but the standard has remained un- changed· through the several reductions in the rates of postage. Such 

reductions have necessarily cut down the compensation of these officials, 

while it undoubtedly increased the business performed by them. Simple justice requires attention to this subject to the end that fourth-class 

postmasters ma.y receive at least an equivalent to that which the law 

itself, fixing the rate, intended for them. 

Another class of postal employes whose condition seems t{) demand 

legislation is that of clerks in post-offices; and I call especial n.ttention 

to the repeated recommendations of the Postmaster-General for their 

classification. :Proper legislation of this character for the relief of car- riers in the free-delivery service has been frequent. Provision. is made 

for their promotion; for substitutes for them on vacation; for substitutes for holidays, and limiting their hours of labor. Seven million 

dollars has been appropri.n.ted for the current year to provide for them, 

though tho total number of offices where they are employed is but 358 

for the past fiscal year, with an esti.mat~d increase for the current year 

of but 40, while the total appropriation for all clerks in offices through· 

out the United States is $5,950,000. 

The legislation affecting the relations of the Government with railroads is in need of revision. While, for the most part, the ra-ilroad 

companies throughout the country have cordially co-operated with the 

Post-Office Department in rendering excellent service, yet under the 

law as it stands, while the compensation to them for ~rrying the mail 

is limited and regulated, and altho~gh railroads a.re made post-roads 

by law, there is no authority reposed anywhere to compel"the owner of a railroad to take and carry the United States m.ailB. The only alternative provided by act of Congress in case of refusal is for the Postmaster-Genern.l to send mail forward by pony expre..."S. This is but an illustration of ill-fitting legislation, reasonable and proper at the 

time of its enactment, but long since outgrown and requiring readjust- · ment. 

It is gratifying to.note from the carefully prepared statistics accompanying the Postmaster-General's report that, notwithstanding the 

great expansion of the sernce, the rate of expenditure has been lessened, and efficiency has been improved in every br~ch; that fraud 

and crime have decreased; that losses from the mails have been re- duced, and that the number of compl::tints of the service made to postIrulBters and to the Department are far less than ever before. 

The transactions of the Department of Justice for the fiscal year 

ended June 30, 1888, are contained in the report of the Attorney-General, as well as n. number of valuable recommendations, the most of ~ 

which are repetitions of those previously made, and ought to receive 

consideration. 

It is stated in this report that though judgments in civil suits 

amounting to $552,021.08 were recovered in favor of the Government 

during the year, only the sum of $132,934 was collected thereon; ~d 

that though fines, penalties, and forfeitures were imposed amonntmg 

to $541,808.43, only $109,648.42 of that sum was paid on ac~ount 

thereof. These facts may furnish an illustrn.tion of the sentrment 
8 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. DECEl\IBER 3, 

which extensively prevails, that a debt due the Government should cause no inconvenience to the citizen. 

It also appears from t,his report that though prior to March, 1885, 

there had been but six convictions in the Territories of Utah and Idaho 

under the laws of' 1862 and 18~2, punishing polygamy and unlawful 

cohabitation as crimes, there have been since that date nearly six hundred convictions under these laws and the statutes of 1887; and the 

opinion is expressed that under such a firm and vigilant execution of 

these laws, and the advance of ideas opposed to the forbidden practices, 

polygamy witbin the United States is virtually at an end. 

Suits instituted by the Government under the provisions of the act 

of U:uch 3, 1887, for the termination of the corporations known as the 

Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company and the Church of Jesus Christ 

of Latter-Day Saints have resulted in a decree favorable to the Government, declaring the charters of these corporations forfeited and escheating their property. Such property, amounting in value to more than 

$800,000, is in the hands of a receiver pending further proceedings, an 

appeal having been taken to the Supreme Court of the United States. 

In the report of the Secretary of the Interior, which will be laid before you, the condition of the various branches of our domestic affairs 

connected with that Department and its operations during the past 

year: are fully exhibited. But a brief reference to some of the subjeets 

discussed in this able and interesting report can here be made; but I 

commend the entire report to the attention of the Congress, and trust 

that the sensible and valuable recommendations it contains will secure carefnl consideration. 

I can not too strenuously insist upon the importance of proper me.asures to insure a right disposition of our public lands, not only as a 

matter of present justice, but in forecast ofthe consequences to future 

generations. The broad, rich acres of our agricultural plains have 

been long preserved by nature to become her untrammele<l gift to a 

people civilized and free, upon which should rest, in well-distributed 

ownership, the numerous homes of enlightened, equal, and fraternal 

citizens. They came to national possession with the warning example 

in our eyes of the entail of iniquities in landed proprietorship which 

other countries ha-ve permitted and still suffer. We have no excuse 

for the violation of principles, cogently taught by reason and example, nor for the allowance of pretexts which have sometimes exposed our 

lands to colossal greed. Laws which open a door to fraudulent acquisition, or administration which permits favor to rapacious seizure b-y a favored few of expanded areas that many should enjoy, are accessory 

to offenses agaim:;t our national welfare and humanity, not to be too 

severely condemned or punished. 

It is gratifying to know that something has been done at last toredress the injuries to our people and check the perilous tendency of the 

reckless waste of the national domain. That over 80,000,000 acres 

have been arrested from illegal usurpation, improvident grants, and 

fraudulent entries and claims, to be taken for the homesteads of honest industry-although less than the greater areas thus unjustly lostmust afford a profound gratification to right-feeling citizens as it is a 

recompense for the labors and struggles of the recovery. Our dear experience ought sufficiently to urge the speedy enactment of measures of legislation which will confine the future disposition of our remaining 

agricultural lands to the uses of actual husbandry and genuine homes. 

Nor should our vast tracts ofso-ca1led desert lands be yielded up to 

the monopoly of corporations or grasping individuals, as appears to be 

much the tendency under the existing statute. These lands require 

but the supply of water to becomefertileandproductivc. !tis a problem of great moment how most wisely for the public good that factor 

shall be furnished. I can not but think it perilous to su:ITer either these 

lands or the sources of their irrigation to fall into the hands of monopolies, which by such means may exercise lordship overtbeareas dependent on their treatment for productiveness. Already steps have been 

taken to secure accurate and scientific information of the conditions, 

which is the prime basis of intelligent action. Until this shall be 

gained, the course of wisdom appears clearly to lie in a suspension of 

further disposal, which only promises to create rights antagonistic to 

the common interest. No hru·m can follow this cautionary conduct. 

The land will remain, and the public good presents no demand for 

hasty dispossession of national ownership and control. 

I commend also the recommendations that appropriate measures be 

taken to complete the adjustment of the various grants made to the 

States for internal improvements and of swamp and overflowed lands, 

as well as to lidjudicate and finally determine t.he va1idity and extent of 

the numerous private land claims. All these are elements of great injustice and peril to the settlers upon the localities affected; and now that their existence can not be avoided, no duty is more pressing than 

to fix as soon as po~sible their bounds and terminate the threats of 

trouble which arise from uncertainty. 

The condition of our Indian population continues to improve and the 

proofs multiply that the transforming change, so much to be desired, 

which shall substitute for barbarism enlightenment and civilizing education, is in favorable progress. Our relations with these people during 

the year have been disturbed by no serious disorders,,but rather marked 

by a better realization of their true interests, and increasing confidence 

and good-will. These conditions testify to the value of the higher tone 

of consideration and humanity which has governed the later methods of 

dealing with them, and commend its continued observance · 

Allotments in severalty have been made on some reservations until 

all those. entitled to land thereon have had their shares assigned, and 

the work is still continued. In directing the execution of this duty I 

have not aimed so much at rapid dispatch as to secure just and fair 

arrangements which shall best conduce to the objects of the law, by 

producing satisfaction with the results of the allotments made. No measure of general effect has ever been entered on from which more 

may be fairly hoped, if it shall be discreetly administered. It proffers 

opportunity and inducement to that independence of spirit and life 

which the Indian peculiarly needs, while at the same time the inalienability of title affords security against the risks his inexperience of affairs or weakness of character may expose him to in dealing with others. 

·whenever begun upon any reservation it should l>e made complete, so that all are brought to the same condition, and, as soon as possible, 

community in lands should cease by opening such as remain unallotted 

to settlement. Contact with the ways of industrious and successful 

farmf:lrs will perhaps add a healthy emulation which will both instruct 

and stimulate. 

But no agency for the amelioration of this people appears to me so promising as the extension, urged by the Secretary, of such complete 

facilities of education as shall, at the earliest possible day, embrace all 

teachable Indian youth, of both sexes, and retain them with a kindly 

and beneficent hold until their characters are formed and their faculties 

and dispositions trained to the sure pursuit of some form of useful industry. Capacity of the Indian no longer needs demonstration. It is 

established. It remains to make the most of it, and when that shall 

be done the curse will be lifted, the Indian race saved, and the sin of 

their oppression redeemed. The time of its accomplishment depends 

upon the spirit and justice with which it shall be prosecuted. It can not be too soon for the Indian, nor for the interests and good name of 

the nation. 

The average attendance of Indian pupils on the schools increased by 

over 900 during the year, and the total enrollment reached 15,212. The 

cost of maintenance was not materially raised. The number of tillchable Indian youth is now estimated at 40,000, or nearly three times the 

enrollment of the schools. It is believed the obstacles in the way of 

instructing are all surmountable, and that the necessary expendituro 

would be a measure of economy. 

The Sioux tribes on the great reservation of Dakota refused to assent 

to the act passed by the Congress at its last session for opening a portion of their lands to settlement, notwithstanding modification of the 

terms was suggested which met most of their objections. Their demand is for immediate payment of the full price of $1.25 per acre for 

the entire body of land the occupancy of which they are asked to reliniuish. 

The manner of submission insured their fair understanding of the 

law, and their action was undoubtedly as thoroughly intelligent as their capacity admitted. It is at least gratifying that no reproach of 

overreaching can in any manner lie against the Government, however 

advisable the favorable completion of the negotiation may have been 

esteemed. 

I concur in the suggestions of the Secretary regarding the Turtle 

·Mountain Indians, the two reservations in California, and the Crees. 

They should in my opinion receive immediate attention. 

The number of pensioners added to the rolls during the fiscal year 

ended June 30, 1888, is 60,252; and increase of pensions was granted 

in 45,716 cases. Tile names of 15,730 pensioners were dropped from 

the rolls during the year for various causes, and at the close of the year 

the number of persons of all classes receiving pensions was 452,557. 

Of these there were 806 survivors of the war of 1812, 10,787 widows 

of those who served in that war, 16,060 soldiers of the M:exican war, 

and 5,104 widows of said soldiers. 

One hundred and two different rates of pensions are paid to these 

beneficiaries, ranging from $2 to $416.66 per month. 

The amount paid for pensions during the fiscal year was $78,775,-

861.92, being an increase over the preceding year. of $5,308,280.~2. 

The expenses attending the maintenance and operatwn of the Penswn 

Bureau during that period were $3,262,524.67, making the entire expenditures of the bureau $82,038,386.59, being 21! per cent. of the 

gross income and nearly 31 per cent. of the total expenditures of the 

Government during the year. 

I am thoroughly convinced that our general pension laws should be 

revised and adjusted to meet, as far as possible in the light of our experience, all meritorious cases. Tho fact that one hundred and two 

different rates of pensions are paid can not, in my opinion, be made 

consistent with justice to the pensioners or to the Government; and 

the numerous private pension bills that are passed, predicated upon ~he 

imperfection of general laws, while they increase in many cases existing illequality and injustice, lend additional force to the recommendation for a revision of the general laws on this subject. · The laxity of ideas prevailing among a large number of our people re- garding pensions is becoming every day more marked. The principles 

upon which they should be granted are in danger of being altog~ther ignored, and already pensions are often cla..'med because the applicants artt 

' 
1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 9 

as much entitled as other successful applicants rather than upon any disability rt!asonably attributable to military service. If the establishment of vicious precedents be continued, if the granting of pensions be 

not divorced from partisan and other unworthy and irrelevant considerations, and if the honorable name of veteran unfairly becomes by these 

means but another term for one who constantly clamors for the aid of 

the Government, there is danger that injury will be done to the fame 

and patriotism of many whom our citizens all delight to honor! and 

that a prejudice will be aroused unjust to meritorious applicants for 

pensions. 

The Department of Agriculture has continued, with a good measure of success, its efforts to develop the processes, enlarge the results, and 

augment the profits of American husbandry. It has collected and distributed practical information, introduced and tested new plants, 

checked the spread of contagious disease of farm animals, resisted the 

advance of noxious insects and destructive fungus growths, and sought 

to secure to agricultural labor the highest reward of effort and the fullest immunity from loss. Its records of the year show that the season 

of 1888 h3S been one of mediurfi production. .A generous supply of 

the demands of cons~ption has been assured, and a surplus for ex- portation, moderate in certain products and bountiful in others, will 

prove a benefaction alike to buyer and grower. 

Four years ago it was found that the great cattle industry of the 

country was endangered, and those engaged in it were alarmed at the 

rapid extension of the European lung plague of pleuro-pneumonia. 

Serious outbreaks existed in Illinois, :Missouri, and Kentucky, and in 

Tennessee animals affected were held in quarantine. Five counties in · 

New York and from one to four counties in each of the States of New 

Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland were almost equally 

affected. 

With this great danger upon us, and with the contagion already in 

the channels of commerce, with the enormous direct and indirect losses 

already being caused by it, and when only prompt and e.nergetic action 

could be -successful, there were in none of these States any laws anthor- 'izing this Department to eradicate tbe malady or giving the Stateofficials power to co-operate with it for this purpose. The Department 

even lacked both the requisite appropriation and authority. 

By securing State co-operation in connection with authority from 

Congress, the work of eradication has been pressed successfully, and 

this dre.1.dcd disease has been extirpated from the Western States and 

also from the Eastern States, with the exception of a few restricted 

areas, which are still under supervision. The danger has thus been 

removed, and trade and commerce have been freed from the vexatious 

State restrictions which were deemed necessary for a time. 

During the past four years the process of diffusion, as applied ~o the 

manufacture of sugar from sorghum and sugar-cane, has been mtroduced into this country and fully perfected by the experiments carried 

on by the Department of Agriculture. Thisprocessisnowuniversally 

considered to be the most economical one, and it is through it that 

the sorghum-sugar industry bas been established upon a :firm basis 

and the road to its future success opened. The adoption of this difTnsion process is also extending to Louisiana and other sugar-producing 

parts of the country, and will doubtless soon be the only method 

employed for the extraction of sugar from the cane. 

An exhaustive study has also, within the same period, been undertaken of the subject of food adulteration nnd the best analytical 

methods for detecting it. A part of the results of this work has already been published by the Department, which, with the matter in course of preparation, will make the most complete treatise on that 

subject that h:lS ever been published in any country. 

The D cpartment seeks a progressive development. It would com- bine the discoveries of science with the economics and amelioration of 

rural practice. A. supervision of the endowed experimental-station syst~m recently provided for is a proper function of the Department, 

and 1s now in operation. This supervision is very important, and should 

be wjsely and vi~ilantly diiected, to the end that the pecuniary aid of 

the Government m favor of intelligent agriculture should be so applied 

3S to result in the general good and to the benefit of all our people, 

thus justifying the appropriations made from the public Treasury. 

The adjustment of the relations between the Government and the 

railroad companies which have received land grants and the guaranty 

of the public credit in aid of the construction of their roads should 

receive early attention. The report of a majorityofthecommissioners 

appointed to examine the affairs and indebtedness of these roads, in 

which they favor an extension of the time for the payment of such 

indebtedness in at least one case where the corporation appears to be 

able to comply with well-guarded and exact terms of such extension, 

and the reinforcement of their opinion by gentlemen of undoubted 

business judgment and experience, appointed to protect the interests 

of the Government as directors of said corporation, may well lead to 

the belief that such an extension would be to the advantage of the 

Government. 

The subject should be treated as a business proposition with n view 

to a final realization of its indebtedness by the Government, rather than as a question to be decided upon prejudice or by way of punishment 

for prorious wrong-doing. 

The report of the commissioners of the District of Columbia, with 

its accompanying documents, gives in detail the operations of the sev- eral departments of the District government, and furnishes evidence 

that the financial affairs of the District are at preseot in such s::..tisfactory condition as to justify the commissioners in submitting to the Congress estimates for desirable and needed impro->ements. 

The commissioners recommend certain legislation which in their 

opinion is necessary to ad vance the interests of the District. 

I invite your special attention to their request for such legislation as 

will enable the commissioners, without delay, to collect, digest, and 

properly arrange the laws by which the District is go>erned, and which 

are now embraced in several collections, making them available only· with great difficulty and labor. The suggestions they make touching 

desirable amendments to the laws relating to licenses granted for car- rying on the retail traffic in spirituous liquors, to ~e observance of Sunday, to the proper assessment and collection of taxes, to the speedy 

punishment of rilinor offenders, and to the management and control of 

the reformatory and charitable institutions supported by Congressional 

appropriations, are commended to careful consideration. 

I again call attention to the present inconvenienee and the danger to 

life and property attending the operation of steam-railroads through 

and across the public streets and roads of the District. The propriety 

of such legislation as will properly guard the use of theso rail{oads and 

better secure the convenience and safety of citizens is manifest. 

The consciousnesS that I have presented but an imperfect statement 

of the condition of our country and its wants, occasions no fear that 

anything omitted is not known and appreciated by the Congress, upon 

whom rests the responsibility of intelligent legislation in behalf of a 

great nation and a confiding people. 

As public servants we shall do our duty well if we constantly guard 

the rectitude of our intentions, maintain unsullied our love of coun- try, and with unselfish purpose strive for the public good. 

" GROVER CLEVELAND. 

WASHINGTON, Decemher 3, 1888. 

Mr. HO.A.R. Mr. President, I move that the message of the President of t.he United States lie upon the table and be printed. 

The motion was agreed to. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS. 

Mr. HOAR. I was about to move an adjournment, but I think it 

would be convenient to the Senate to learn from gentlemen having va- rious measures in charge what is likely to be the order of business for 

to-morrow. 

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The unfinished business is House 

bill 9051, the title of which will be stated by the Secretary. 

The CHIEF CLERK. A bill (H. R. 9051) to reduce taxation and simplify the laws in relation to the collection of the revenue. 

Mr. HOAR. At what hour to-morrow will that be in order? 

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. At 2 o'clock. 

M:r. FRYE. I desire to give notice that I shall call up for consideration, with the consent of the Senate, the bill reported bi' the Select 

Committee on the President's Message transmitting the report of the 

Pacific Railway Commission, providing for a settlement with the Union 

Pacific Railroad Company,.to-morrow morning immediately after the 

routine business of the morning hour is completed. That bill was made a special order for to-morrow. 

The PllliSIDENT pro tempore. .At 2 o'clock. 

:Mr. FRYE. At 2 o'clock. Then, as the tariff bill, I understand, is 

to be called up to-morrow, I shall move immediately after the routine 

business that this bill be taken up for consideration. 

Mr. CHANDLER. I desire to give notice that I shall, as soon a.cr 

practicable, ask the Senate to take up and dispose of the resolution for 

the investigation of the election in Louisiana in April last. I am not 

informed by the senior Senator from Louisiana [Mr. GIBSON] whether 

or not there will be any objection to the passage of that resolution. He was not present in the Senate when the resolution was taken up on the 

last occasion, but I expect that there will be no objection to the passage of the resolution, and that, therefore, it will not take up the time 

of the Senate. 

Mr. GIBSON. :M:r. President, I wish to say, in reply to the suggestion of the Senator from New Hampshire, that the senior Senator from 

Louisiana has strenuously objected to the passage of that resolution, 

and will continue to do so. Mr. CHfi"'TILER. This is the :first time that the Senator has so informed the Senate. 

Mr. ALLISON. I desire to say at this time, in connection with the 

unfinished business, that to-morrow at 2 o'clock I expect to ask the 

Senate to go on with that order. In view of the' notice given by the 

Senator from :Maine [l't1r. FRYE], I think I ought to say that if the 

business which he suggests is prolonged beyond a day or two I shall 

ask the Senate later on to begin regularly the consideration of the tariff 

bill during the morning hour. 

Mr. HOAR. I move that the Senate do now adjourn. 

The motion was agreed to; and (at 2 o'clock and 54 minutes P· m.) 

the Senate adjourned until to-morrow, Tuesday, December 4, 1888, at 

12 o'clock m.