The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1876-12-15

expenditures. The ordinary receipts of the
H# nostoffice department for the past seven fis.
81 cal wears have increased at an average rate
# of over eight per cent. per annum, while
the increase of expenditures for the same
neriod has been about five per cent. per an
mum. and the decrease of deficiency in the
revenues has been at the rate of nearly two
per cent. per annum.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
The report of the Commissioner of Agri.
culture, accompanying this message, will be
found one Of great interest, marking. as il
does the great progress of the last century
in the variety of produce, of the sale. in.
creased knowledge and skillsin the labor OF
producing, saving and manipulating care to
prepare them for the use of man. in the
Improvements of machinery to aid the
agriculturalist in his labor and liz know.
ledge OF scientific subjects necessary to a
thorough system OF economy in agricul-
tural production, namely, chemistry,
botany, etymology, etc. A study Of
this report by those interested
in agriculture and deriving their support from
1t, Will find it Of value in pointing out their
articles, which are raised in greater quantity
than the needs of the world require, and
must sell, therefore, for loss thsn the cost OF
production, and those which command proht
over cost of production because thefe IS not
an oyer-production. | cal speclai attention TO
the need of the department for new gallery
for the reception of the exhibits returned
from the Centennial Exhibition, including the
exhibits donated by very many foreign ma
tions. and to tho recommendations OF the Com
missioner of Agriculture generally. The re-
ports OF the District Commissioners and the
Board of Health are just received, too late to
read them and to make recommendations
thereon and they are herewith submitted.
THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
The international Exhibition held in Phila-
delpha this year, III commemOratlcn of the
one hundredth anniversary OF American indie
pendence, has proven great success, and will
no doubt be OF enduring advantage to our
country It has shown great progress in the
arts, sciences and mechanical skill made in
single century and demonstrated that We are
but little behind older nations in any one
branch, while In some we scarcely have rival.
It has, too. not only served 70 bring people
and products of skill and labor from all parts of
world together, but in bringing together the
people from all sections of our own country
which must prove great benefit in the infor-
nation impaired and pride Of country engen-
dered. 1t has been suggested by scientists
interested IN and connected with the Smith
sonian institution in and communication here
with, that the Government exhibit be removed
to tie Capital, and suitable building be erect
ed or purchased fer its accommodation as
permanent exhibit, l earnestly recommend
this, and believing that Congress would Sec
ond this view l directed that Government
exhibits at the Centennial Exhibition should
remain where they are, except such might
be injured by remaining in building not in
tended as a protection against bad weather. or
such may be wanted by the Department
furnishing them. until the question of per.
manent exhibition is acted on.
Although the moneys appropriated by Con-
gross to enable the participation of the several
ri
1876 were not sufficient TO carry out the under
taking TO the full extent at first con-
templated it gives me pleasure to refer to the
very efficient and creditable manner in which
the board appointed from the several depart
ments to provide III exhibition on the part OF
The government have discharged their duties
with the funds placed at their command,
without precedent to guide them in the
preparation OF such display. The success Of
their labors was amply attested by the sus-
tanned attention which the contents of the
Government Building attracted during the
period of the exhibition from both foreign and
native people.
| am strongly impressed with the value of
the collection made by the government for the
purposes of the Exhibition illustrating "a it
does, the general resources of the country,
the statistical and practical evidences of our
growth as a nation, and the uses and appca-
lions OF applied science in the administration
OF the affairs OF government Many nations
having voluntarily contributed their exhibits
to the United States, to increase the intereet
in any permanent exhibition Congress may
provide for. For this act OF generosity they
should receive the thanks of the people, and
respectfully suggest that a resolution of Con-
gress to that effect be adopted.
OUR SYSTEM OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
The attention of Congress cannot be too
earnestly called to the necessity of throw
ing some greater safeguard over the method
of choosing and declaring the election of a
President. Under the present system, there
seems to be no provided remedy for con-
testing the election in any one state. The
remedy is partially, no doubt in the en-
hghtenment of the electors, the compul-
sorry support of the free schools, and the
Acknowledgement of all who cannot read
end write the English language after a fixed
probation. This would meet my hearty ap-
prevail. l would not make this apply,
however, to those already voters, but /
would to all becoming so after the expira-
ton of the probation fixed upon. For
eigners coming to the coun
try to become citizens who are
educated in their own language would acquire
the requisite knowledge OF ours during the
necessary residence TO obtain naturalization
II they die not take enough interest III our
Language to acquire sufficient knowledge of it
to enable them TO study the institutions and
laws OF tie country intelhgently, would not
confer upon them the right to make such laws
nor 70 select those who do.
SAN DOMINGO POST.
| append to this message for 8 convenient
reference a synopsis of administration events
and OF all recommendations to Congress-
made by me during the last seven years. Time
may show some OF these recommendations not
to have been unwisely conceived, but believe
the larger part will be no discredit
to the administration. One of these
recommendations met with the unit
ed opposition of one political party
IN the Senate, and with a strong opposi
ton from the others. viz The treaty for the
annexation OF Santo Domingo to the United
States, to which / shall specially refer, main
tanning, as 1 do, that if my views had been
concurred in the country would have been in
more prosperous condition to-day. both polit-
ically and financially. Santo Domingo is fer
tile. and upon its soil may be grown just those
tropical products OF which we use so much and
which are produced or prepared for market now
by slave labor almost exclusively, VIZ: sugar
coffee, dye woods, mohogany, tropical fruils
tobacco, etc. About rs per cent of the exports
OF cuba are consumed in the United States. A
large percentage of the exports of Brazil also
ma the same market. These are paid for
almost exclusively in coin. legislation particu-
larry 10 Cuba, being unfsvorable to q mutual
exchange OF the products Of each country
A.