Los Angeles daily herald., 1885-12-09
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
He Delivers His Views to
Congress.
A WISE AND ABLE DOCUMENT
He Does Not Advocate Silver to
Any Great Extent--SOund on
Other Matters.


Other Matters.
tspeciat 10 the Herald huthe Associated Press.
WAsHlsaroN, December S.--The fol-
lowing is the text of the Presidents
message:
TO The Congress Of The United States :
Your assembling is clouded by a sense
Of public bereavement. caused by the
recent and sudden death OF Thomas A.
Hendricks, Vice-P President OF the United
States. His distinguished public ser
vice, his complete integrity and devotion
to every duty. and his personal virtues
will find honorable record in his conn
try's history. Ample and repeated
proofs Of the esteem and confidence in
which he was held by his fellow country
men were manifested by his election to
Offices of the most important trust and
highest dignity. and at length. full OF
years and honors, he has been laid at
rest, amidst general sorrow and benedic-
tion.
The Constitution. which requires
those chosen to legislate for the people
to annually meet and discharge their
solemn trust, also requires the President
to give to Congress information OF the
state of the Union. and recommend to
their consid GRAFTON such measures as he
shall deem necessary. II is well for US
to bear in mind that our usefulness to
the peoples interest will be promp.ed by
constant appreciation of the scope and
character OF our respective duties as they
relate to the Federal Legislature. While
the Executive may recommend such
measures as he may deem expedieut,
the responsibility for legislative action
must and should rest upon those selected
by the people to make their laws.
The message refers to the continued
peace Of the United States with all
other nations and states; there are no
questions Of difficulty pending with any
foreign government.
Ii mentions the bill for the construc'
tion of the Niearaguan canal by the
United States which was introduced in
President has withdrawn il aud will
withhold it from resubmission.
Ii speaks with favor of the Tehuante-
pee railway project
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
On the Chinese question he says;
1.-THE condition of the Chinese question
IN the Western States and Territories /.
far from being satisfactory" He then
cites the recent anti Chinese movements,
and continues: There is apprehension
that bitterness OF feeling against the
Moneolian race on the Pacific slope may
find vent in similar lawless demonstra-
tion." The message asserts that the
Chinese outrages are traceable to the
lawlessuess of men not citizens Of the
Uaite1 States. In reference to the Chi
nese restriction laws he says: "If the
existing laws are inadequate to compass
the end in view, ] shall be pleased to
give earnest consideration to any further
remedial measures.
He favors the confirmation OF
the commercial treaty with Mex
leo aud international copyright leg.
islalion, and recommends the rspetf OF
the act providing for the Investment OF
trust funds in the hands OF the United
States; requests that the Legislature
permit the decentralization and general
Improvement Of the naturalization laws;
opposes the confirmation of reciprocal
treaties with the Spanish West Indies;
favors legislation to increase the facili-
ties of intercourse with contiguous ma
tions; recommends increased appropria-
tlons for diplomatic and consular service
and its general revision; favors the re-
duction OF internal taxation.
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
On the tariff question he says Justice
and fairness dictate that any modifica-
ton of our present laws. industries and
interests in which our citizens have
large Investments should not be ruth.
lessly injured or destroyed. We should
also deal with the subject in such a man.
ner as to protect the interests OF Ameri.
can labor. He recommends that tariff
reduction be made on the uecessaries OF
life.
THE SILVER QUESTION.
lie introduces the silver question in
the following words: Nothing more
important than tie present condition OF
our currency and coinage eau claim your
attention. The desire to utilize the sill
yer product Of the country should not
lend to a misuse or perversion OF the
coinage power" He enters into his
tory OF silver coinage from the time OF
the passage of the silver coinage bill in
February, 1878, and reviews the results
of compulsory coinage. OF this he says:
1.-THE condition in which our treasury
may be placed by persistence in our
present course is matter OF concern to
every patriotic citizen. We have now
on hand all the silver dollars necessary
to supply the present needs Of the
people.
He refers to the steamboat inspection
service and details how $40, 900 would
be saved in conducting it during the eur
rent year.
He speaks of the effective service of
the Marine Hospital officials in prevent.
ing the invasion OF cholera from Spain
and France and smallpox from Canada
He expresses qualification at the re.
suits of the Life-Saving Service during
the past fiscal year, and adverts to the
irregularities on the part of the officials
of the Coast and Ge1detie Survey Ser.
vice, and states that they have been
remedied by changes made in the SER
portion Of the service be transferred to
the Navy Department.
ARMY MATTERS.
On army matters IL calls attention to
the services Of the military in connection
with the Arizona Indian outbreak, the
threatened outbreak in the Indian Ter
ritory, the expulsion of the Oklahoma
boomers, the anti Chinese riots in Wyo.
ming and the threatened Chinese
tiouble in Washington Territory. In
connection with desertions and other
offenses committed by the sol.
diers and officers, he says; The
suggestion that probably more than
half OF the army have been tried for
offenses great and small in one year.
may well arrest attention, II some of
the proceedings OF the courts-martial
which / have had occasion to examine
present the idea of justice which gen
erally prevail in these tribunals, am
satisfied that they should be much re.
formed. II the honor and the honesty of
the army and navy are by their instru.
mentality to be vindicated and pro-
tected
The Board of Fortitications or other
defenaes appointed in pursuance of the
provisions of the act of Congress ap.
proved March 3, 1885, will in q short
time present their report, and ii is
hoped that their report may greatly aid
the legislation SO necessary to remedy
the present defenseless condition Of our
sea coast.
The work OF the Signal Service has
been prosecuted during the last year
with the result OF increasing the benefit
to the country. In view of the fact re.
ierred to by the Secretary of War that
the work of this service ordin arily is OF
scientific nature, and the further fact
tnat II Is assuming larger proportions
constantly and becoming mtre and
more unsuited to the fxed ruIes which
must govern the army, | am inclined TO
III f.. n