The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1889-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
President Harrison's First Com
munication to Congress
A Review Of Foreign and Domestic Affairs
as They Relate to the Welfare OF
the Government and Hap
plness of the People.

llOuoO anu oCllGbt OhO NOhi-
mittees appointed to wait on the Presi-
dent reported that they had performed
that duty and had been informed by the
President that he would communicate
with the two houses by message in
writing. Thereupon a message from
the President was announced and its
reading proceeded, the following being
synopsis:
"There are few transactions in the admins
tration Cf the Government" SAYS the Presi-
dent. that are even temporarily held In the
confidence of those charged with the con-
duct of the public business. Every step
taken is under the observation of an intclli-
gent and watchful people. The state OF the
Union is known from day to day, ana sug-
gestiOns as to needed legislation find an
earlier voice than that which speaks in these
annual communications OF the President 10
Congress.
Proceeding the President says that good
will and cOrdialty have characterized our
relations and correspondence with other
governments, and the year just closed leaves
few international questions OF Importance
liCved to exist that can long postpone tne
consideration and adjustment of the still,
pending questions upon satisfactory ana
honorable terms.
ALL AMERICANS.
1t is matter of high significance, and no
less of cOngratulatiOn. that the nrSt year
of the second century of our constitutional
existence finds, as hOnOred guests within
our borders. the representatives of all the IN
dependent States of North and South Amer
lea, met together in earnest conference
touching the best methods of pcrpetuating
and expanding the relations of mutual in
terCSt and friCndlincss.
EQUAL DIPLOHATIC REPRESENTATION.
1t is recommended that we send ministers
plcnipOtCntiury to all South American cOun-
tries sustaining diplomatic relations with
the United states. All other countries send
ministers of this grade to us. In Paraguay,
Uruguay and BOliV ia We are represented only
by resident ministers. This is not consid-
cred judicious in view of our relations with
these countries. Hawaii ana liaytl, ihe
President thinks, should receive similar
treatment, and be invited to participate IN
the present International congress.
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
The Chinese question is handled guardedly,
but with due regard to the rights of those or
the race already here, and the maintenance
of friendly feeling between this country ana
China. The Samoan treaty is to be submitted
to the Senate. The President hopes the can.
adian difficulties can be adjusted without
trouble. The President wants boundary
lines in narrow channels of the waters JON
ing the great lakes so marked rs to be visible
to the naked eye and thinks that the extra
dtion treaty between us and Great Britain
should be made more sweeping IN scope
Such a treaty will soon be submitted.
We want more friendly relations with
Cuba and Porto Rico. We are not settling
Spanish claims very fast. American railway
builders i'll Peru ana PORTUGAL, WHOSE pIOp-
erty has been seized by those governments,
must be protected. The Nicaragua canal is
all right, thanks to the amicabie adjustment
between Nicaragua and Costa klca'
ABOLISHISG THE SLAVE TRADE.
America is to take part in the Information:
al Congress which convened in the city OF
Brussels, Belgium November 10. to aool-
lsh the slave trade in Africa. We are on
plate with satisfaction Japan's progress, but
judicial rights in COrca must be established.
We are on friendly terms with Persia, but
in Turkey things need adjusting. In france,
italy Russia and Turkey, naturallzed Amer
lean citizens find things trifie mixed. This
will have to be adjusted: our relations win
the new government of Brazil are cordial.
OUR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.
The aggregate receipts from all sources for
the wear were S3S7 $50, ,O5s.S4, divided as fol-
lows: From customs, S223, So, 74l.6S; from In
ternal revenue, $l30SSl ,5l32; from miscella-
neous sources, $50 335, ,SO323.
The ordinary expenditures for the same
period were S2Sl $50 6,6l5GO, ana the total ex-
including the sinking fund, were
S329579. .g29.25. The excess of receipts over
expenditures was, after providing for the
sinking fund, $57i7O, ,l2959
For the current fiscal year the total rcve-
nues, actual and estimated, are 1886 900,
and the ordinary expenditures, actual and
estimated, are S293, 100000, making with the
sinking fund, total expenditure of S3il,s2l,-
1869, leaving an estimated surplus OF S43,-
SIS, ,SS3.0l.
THE SURPLUS.
"The existence of so large an actual and
anticipated surplus should nave the lmlhe
diate attention of Congress, with view TO
reducing the receipts OF the treasury TO the
needs of the Government as closely AS may
be-" says the President: 1T has called mo
use cxpedcnts Cor putting 1t into circulation
of very questionable propriety. we snoulu
not collect revenue for the purpose OF an
tcipating our bonds beyond the require.
ment of the sinking fund. The loaning OF
public funds to the banks without lnterest
upon the security of GoVcrnment bonds,
regard as an unauthorized ana dangerous
expedient 1t results IN temporary anu
unnatural increase of the banking capital
of favored localities, and compels cautious
and gradual recall of the dcposlts 10 aNolt
injury to the commercial interests. 1t is not
to be expected that the banks having these
deposits will sell their bonds to the treasury
so long as the present highly benenciai ar
rangement is continued. 1hey now prac,
tically get interest both upon the bonds ana
their proceeds -, ,,, -
The deposits now outstanding should De
gradually Withdrawn ana applleu W the
purchase of bonds.
TARIFF REVISION RECOMMENDED.
"I recommend revision of our tariff law,
both in its administrative features ana IN the
schedules. Some disturbance OF business
NAV perhaps result from conslueratloh oI
this subiectby Congress, but this temporary
i'll effect will be reduced to the minimum Dy
prompt action and the assurance wnlcn
the country enjoys that any necessary
changes will be so made as not TO
impair the just and reasonable protection oi
our home industries. Ine inequalities VI
the law should be adjusted, but the protect
i've principle should be maintained ana Ialr-
ly applied to the products or our FARMS US
well as our shops. These duties necessarily
have relation to 0ther thlnGS peS.boH .boi ,o af
public revenues. We can not limit thelr eI-
fects by fixing our eyes on the puDilc treas
ury alone They have direct relatloh 70
home production, to work, TO wages anu 10
the commercial independence or our couh-
try. and the wise and patriotic legislator
should enlarge the field of his vision 10 IN
elude all of these. .,o.
"The free list can very safely be EXTENDED
NV nIacing thereon articles that do not oHer
Injurious competiOn to such domestic prod
ucts as our home labor can supply, the
President says. 1.-The removal OF the inter-
nal tax on tobacco would relieve an iInpor-
tant agricultural product from q Durdeh
which was imposed only because our rev .
enue from customs duties was lhsulhclehs
against fraud can be devised the removal OF
the tax upon spirits used in the arts ana IN
manufactures would also offer an unoDJec-
tionable method OF reducing Ine sur Pius'
AIDING BANK CIRCULATION.
"The amount of National bank notes In
circulation has decreased since the year 1878
Sll% IO9 729, of which $57, ,z29 Is chaISeaole
to the last year. 1t is probable the adoptlon
of the suggestions made by the CosnpiirOiep sn
deposit of bonds for the establishment OF
banks be reduced, and that an issue OF notes
to the par value of the bonds be allowed,
would help to maintain the bank circulation
bnt while this withdrawal of bank notes mas
heen going on there has been large IN IN
crease in the amount OF gold ana sIVS. CON CON
| in circulation and in the issue OF gold ana
silver certificates.
THE SILVER QUESTION.
ssNeither the present secretary nor any o.
his predecessors has deemed lt saIe 70 eAcr. M
else the discretion given by law 70 incIS @ oo
| W6an the law was enacted, February y, lsts
tbe nrice of silver in the market was SLY ~