Morning journal and courier., 1888-08-31
Fiftieth Congress--First Session.

oA0-AN0AOHB aug
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
SENATE.-The Presidents message was the
first measure of general interest before the
with the speech he had begun yesterday. He
reviewed the ground of his argument of yes
terday.
MoTIVEs OF THE PRRsIDEHT.
Mr.. Cullom addressed the Senate on the
same subject. In his opening remarks he
spoke of the United States being destined to
dominate the American continent and ex-
pressed the opinion that in the not far dis
tant future the Canadian provinces would
be part of the United States. The reiec-
ton of the fisheries treaty by the Senate had
met, he said. the approval of very large
majority of the people of the country. The
retaliation message might be fairly taken as
evidence that even, the President had become
satisfied that the treaty was mistake. To
retrieve what he had lost by that mistake
the President had launched into broader
sea and would find himself in deeper water
than ever before and greater dangers threat
ened to overtake him.
AS to the discrimination against American
vessels on Canadian canals, that difficulty, if
it existed, might have been removed by q
remonstrance addressed to the British gov
eminent. It would be time enough when
such remonstrance proved unavailing for the
President to apply to Congress for additional
legislation. The message might be regarded
as Mr.. Cleveland's long delayed letter of &C.
ceptance of the Democratic nomination for
the presidency, because it betrayed clearly
his anxiety for another term of Office and his
fear that he would not be elected. His COM
plete change in front o the fisheries question
showed that Mr.. Cleveland and his party were
in desperate straits; that they saw defeat
staring them in the face and they were
seeking to divert attention from the one is
sue on which they had deliberately stsked
all their chances of success at the approach
ing election. The whole movement was
merely political movement. At the close
of Mr.. Cullom's speech the subject was laid
aside without action.
THE FoRTIFIcATIoN BILL.
The senate then proceeded to the consider
alton of the fertilization bill with the amend
ments recommended by the committee on
appropriations The first amendment was
the insertion of new section providing for
supervisory board. After some discussion
it was modified and agreed to. Other
amendments were agreed to as follows: In
creasing from $500, ZOO to $500, 900 the item
for torpedos for harbor defence, and reduc-
ing the appropriation for the erection of,
and purchase of a gun factory and ma
chinery at Watervlet arsenal, West Troy, N.
Y, from $3.50, 900 to $500, 900.
Mr.. Dolph declared it to be impracticable
to defend the coast of the United States with
q navy; that the three large armored vessels
already ordered were three too many, and
that what was wanted was guns for fortifca-
tions, not armored ships, and Mr.. Hale said
that if the coasts and greatest cities were to
be defended there must be ships, guns and
Notifications. It was stated incidentally that
the cost of a sixteen-inch gun in Europe is
$175, 600. Without disposing of all the
amendments and after long discussion the
Notifications bill went over till tomorrow
Mr.. Cullom offered a resolution, which was
laid over, directing the Secretary of the Treas
ury to inform the Senate whether the transit
in bond over or across the territory of the
goods, wares and merchandise coming from
Canadian points, has been permitted since
July 1, 1885, when article 90 of the treaty of
Washington and section of the act of March
1, 1878, are said to have ceased to be in force;
if so, to what extent and by what authority
of lava
The Senate then adjourned.