Fergus County argus., 1890-12-11
MEA>UEES KECOMMENDE
The President Thinks Ti,osc Already tie
gun should he Finished.

The President thinks Those Already tse-
gun should he Finished.
In addition to the bills that became laws
some other bills of the highest importance
were well advanced toward a final vote and
now stand upon the calendar of the two
houses in favored positions. The present
session has a fixed limit and If these
measures are not now brought to final
vote all the work that has been done upon
them by this congress Is lost. The proper
consideration of these. of an apportion-
ment bill. and of the annual appropriation
bills. will require that the loss of no working
day of the session shall be allowed to
interrupt or retard the progress OF these
that are of universal interest. In view OF
these conditions ! refrain from bringing
before you at this time some suggestions
that would otherwise be made, and most
earnestly invoke your attention to the duty
of perfecting the important legislation
now well advanced. To some of these
measures which seem to me most impor-
tant now briefly call your attent on.
desire to repeat with added urgency
the recommendation contained in my
last annual message in relation to the de
velopment of the American steamship lines.
The reciprocity clause of the tariff bill will
be largely limited. and its benefits retarded
and diminished if provision IL not con
temporaneoasly made to encourage the es'
tablishment of first t-class steam communi-
cation between our ports and the ports OF
such nations as may meet our oyertures for
enlarged commercial exchanges. In.
steamship, carrying the mails steadily and
frequently and offering to passensers n
comfortable, safe and spc dy transit. IL
the first condition of foreign trade. II
carries the order by the buver. but not all
that il ordered or bought. II gives To the
sailing vessels such cargoes as are not ur-
gent or perishable. and indirectly, mt least.
promotes that important adjunct OF com
merce. There is now both in this country
and in the nations Of Central and south
America "a state OF expectation and conil-
dence as to increased trade that Will give
double value to your prompt action upon
this question. The p. eSent situation of oar
mail communication with AUstialia Illus
trates the Importance Of early action by
congress- The Oceanic Steamship COM
pany maintains a line of steamers between
san Francisco. Sydney and Auckland. con-
sistinQ of three vessels, of which two are Of
United States registry and one OF foreign
registry. For the service done by this line IN
carrying the mails We pay annually the
sum of $4,000, that being estimated to be
the full sea and United States inland post
age, which is the limit fixed by law. The
colonies of New South Wales and New
Zealand have been paying annually To
these lines t:I7.O0O for carrying the mails
from Sydney and Auckland 10 San Fran
cisco. The contract under which this pay
ment has been made is now about
to expire ami those colonies
have refused to renew the
contract unless the United States shall pay
more equitable proportion of the sum nee
essary to mold the service. am advised by
the acknowledgement that the United
States receives for carrying the Australian
mails brought to San Francisco in these
steamers by rail tV Vancouver, an estimated
annual income of S15, 900. while, as l have
stated, we are paying out for the support Of
the steamship line that brings this mail to