The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-12-04
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
A WIDE RANGE or TOPICS
DKSCUSSE+D.
President Harrison not 80 Far OF
From the Democrats aS Onc"
he Was OH the subject of Tariff
Reform and the Surplus.

President Harrison not 80 Far OF
From the Democrats as Ono"
he Was on the subject of Tariff
Reform and the Surplus.
WASHINGTON, d. c., December q
After the usual fluctuations over the
existence of domestic tranquility, and Of
friendly relations with foreign powers,
he President refers to the
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS
The recommendation of the interua-
tional conference Of enlightened states
men will doubtless have the corsiderate
attention of congress and its co-opcra-
tiOn in the removal OF unnecessary bar
rierS to beurhcaI intercourse hctwcen
the nations Gt America But while the
commercial results, which it is hoped will
follow this conference, are worthy OF
pursuit and of the great interest they
have excited, it is believed that the
Crnwning benefit will be found i'll the bet
ter securities which may he devised for
the maintenance of peace among all
American nations and the settlement OF
all contentious by methods that a chris
tian civilizationican approve. While view
ing with interest our national resources
and products, the delegates will Lam sure,
tind Il higher satisfaction III the evidences
of uusehsh friendships, which every
attend their intercourse with our people.
THE MARITIME CONFERENCE.
Another international conference hav-
ing great possibilities for good, has
lately assembled and is now in session in
this capital. An invitation was ex-
tended by the movement under the act
of congress of July 9, 1888, to all mari
time nations to send delegates to confer
touching the revision and amendment of
the rules and regulations governing YES
sells at sea, and to adopt a uniform Sys-
TEN of marine signals. The response to
this invitation has been very general and
very COZ dial. Delegates from twenty six
nations are present in the conference,
and they have entered upon their useful
duties.
DIPLOMATIC RANK.
OF the American system our diplomatic
agents III those countries should he of
the uniform rank of envoy extraOrdi-
nary and minister plcnipotentiary. Ger
tain missions were SO elevated by the
last congress with happy effect, and |
recommend the completion of the
reform thus begun, with the
inclusion also of the Hawaii and Hayti,
and in view Of their relations to the
American system Of States ! also recon-
mend that timely provision be made for
extending to Hawaii an invitation to be
represented in the International confer
ence now sitting at this capital.
RELATIONS WITH CHINA.
Our relations with China have the at
tentive consideration which their mag.
ntude and interest demand. The failure
of the treaty negotiated under the ad-
ministraton of my predecessor for The
further and more complete restriction OF
Chinese labor immigration, and with it
the legislation of the last session Of con
gress dependent thereon, leaves some
questions open which congress should
now approach i'll that wise and just
spirit which should characterize the rela-
tiuns of two great and friendly powers.
while our supreme interests demand the
exclusion, of labOring element which ex-
perience has shown to be incompatible
with our social life.
THE FISHERIES QUESTION.
On the part of the government of the
dominion of Canada an effort has been
apparent during the season just ended to
administer the laws and regulations
applicable to the fisheries with as little
occasion for friction as was possible, and
the temperate representations OF the
government in respect of cases of undue
hardShips, or of harsh Interpretation
have been in most cases met with meas
ureS Of tranSitOry relief.
CURA AND THE ISLANDS.
The Importance of the commerce Of
Cuba and Porto Rico with the United
States, their nearest and principal market,
justihes the expectation that the existing
relations may be benehcally expanded
The impedlmentS resulting from varying
dues on navigation and from the vcxa-
tiOuS treatment OF our vessels on merely
technical grounds of complaint i'll West
India ports should be removed. The
progress toward an adjustment at
lending claims between the United States
and Spain is not as rapid us could be
desired.
NICARAGUA CANAL.
In pursuance of the charter granted by
congress, and under the terina OF It's con
tract, with the government II Mic 'ragu"
tuc inter-Oceanic Canal Company has
begun their constr uction OF the important
water way between the two oceans
which its organization cuntemplatcS
Grave complications for time seemed
imminent in vew Of Il supposed conflict
ul jurisdiction between Nicaragua and
Costa, Rica. III regard to the accessory
privileges to be conceded by the latteT
republic toward the construction %
works on the San Juan river, of whlcl
the right bank is Costa Rican territory
am happy to learn that a friendly ar
rafgement has been effected between the
two nations.
FISCAL MATTERS.
The aggregate receipts from all sources
for the year were 1887 ,O05, ,0SS.S4 de
rived as follows: From customs, 1923,
S32, TAI 90; from internal revenue
S13O,SS1 1882; from miscellaneous
sources, 80, 2,335, ,S0323.
The ordinary expenditures for the samt
period were $2Sl ,996, GLE $50, and the
total expenditures, including the sinking
fund, were $329, ,579, ,929.25 The excess
of the receipts over the expenditures
was after, provididing for the sinking
fund $57, 40, ,129.59.
For the current fiscal year, the tota
revenues, actual and estimated are
S3S5, 100000 and the ordinary ex
pe!r:Itures actual and estimated are
$293,OOO, 900; making, with the sinking
fund, total expenditures, $345 1921. 4.
1869; leaving az estimated surplus o
$43 67S, ,SS3.O1.
DISPOSAL OF THE SURPLUS.
The existence of so large and actua
and anticipated surplus should have thC
immediate attention of congress, with {
view to reducing the receipts of the
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