Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-12-05

------------------------'-----
mediate deliverance of the vessel
and for the surrender of the surviv
ors of tho passengers and crew, ant
for salute to the flag, and for pro
ceedings looking to the punishment
of those who may be proven to have
been guilty OF illegal acts of vic
lence towards citizens of the United
States, and also towards indemnify
, ing those who may be shonw to b,
entitled to indemnity. A copy of .
protocol of conference between tn.
Secretary Of State and the Spanish
minister, in which the terms of this
arrangement were agreed to, i.
transmitted herewith. The CORES
pondence on this subject with the le
CATION Of the United States, is in
cipher and by cable, and needs the
verification of the actual text of the
correspondence. 1t has seemed
to me to be due to the importance
of the case not to submit this cor
respondence until an accurate state.
ment can be received by mail. II
is expected shortly, and will be sub.
mitted when received.
In taking leave of this subject for
the present, wish to renew the ex.
preston of my conviction that the
existence of African slavery in Cuba
is the principle cause of the Ia
mentable condition of the island.
do not doubt that Congress shares
with me the hope that it will soon
be made to disappear and that
peace and prosperity may follow its
abolition. The embargoing of
American estates in Cuba and cru
city to American citizens detected
in no act of hostility to the Spanish
government, the numbering Of pris-
oners taken with arms in their
hands, and finally the capture upon
the high seas of a vessel sailing UNI
der the United States flag, and
bearing United States registry;
has eliminated in an outburst of in.
dignation that has seemed for a time
like war. Pending negotiations be-
tween the United States and the
government of Spain Oh the sub
ject Of this capture, ! have author.
lied the Secretary Of the Navy to
put our navy on war footing, to
the extent at least of the entire an
nual appropriation for that branch
of the service, trusting to Congress
and the public opinion of the Amer
lean people to justify my action.
BETTER METHOD OF ELECTlNG PRES
IDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT.
Assuming from the action of the
last Congress III appointing tho
committee on privileges and elections
to prepare and report to this Con-
grsss a constitutional amendment
to provide better method of elect
ing the President and Vice-Presi-
dent of the United States and also
from the necessity of such an amend
ment, that there will be submit
ted to the State Legislatures for rat
ification, such an improvement in
our constitution suggest two 9TH
ers: First-To authorize the exec
utive to approve of SO much of any
measure passing the two houses of
Congress as his judgment may die
tate without approving the whole
the disapproved portion or portions
to be subject to the same rules as
now, to-wit: 70 be referred back to
the house in which the measure or
measures originated, and If passed
by a two-thirds vote of the two
houses then to become y law with
ont the approval Of the President.
l would add to this q provision that
there should be no Legislation by
Congress daring the last twenty
four hours ofits sitting, except up
on tho veto in order to give the ex,
ecatiye AN opportunity to examine
and approve or disapproyc UNDER
standingly. Second, to provide by
amendment that whenan extra SEES
sion Of Congress is convened by ex.
ecutive proclamation, the legisla-
ton during the continuance of such
extra session shall be confined to
such subjects as the executive shall
bring before it fromtimc to time
in writing. The advantages to be
gained by these two amendments
are obvious. One session in each
year is provided for by the consti-
tuition, in which there is no restric-
ton as to the subjects oflcgislat,on
by Congress. If more are required
it's always in the powerof Con.
gress during1their terms of Office to
provide for sessions at any time.
The first Of these amendments
would protect the government
against many abuses and waste Of
public monies which creep into APP
preparation bills and otherimport-
ant measures passed during the ex-
piring hours Of Congress, to which
otherwise due consideration cannot
be given.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT..
The government receipts from all
sources for the last fiscal year were
$3.50, 1888, 2O4, and the expenditures
on all accounts $500, 34O,245, thus
showing an excess of receipts over
expenditures of $43,aO2,959. But
it is not probable that this favor
able exhibit will be shown for
the present fiscal year. Indeed, it
is very doubtful whether except
with great economy on the part of
Congress in making appropriations,
and the same economy in the
administration of the various
departments Of the government
revenues will not fall short of
meeting the annual expenses, inclu-
ding interest on the public debt. l
commend to Congress such econ
omv and point out two sources where
it seems to me it might commences,
to.wit: In the appropriations for
public buildings in the many tiles
where work has not been COM
menced; in the appropriations for
the river and harbor improvements
in their localities where the i'm
provements are of but little