Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-02

our revenue was such that we could dis
pense with any import duties upon
coffee, tea, hides and the lower grades
of sugar and molasses, that the
large advantage resulting to
the countries producing and
exporting these articles, by placing
them on the free list, entitled lis to ex-
pect fair return. In any way the Gus
toms concessions upon articles exported
by us to them was SO obvious that to
have gratuitousiy abandoned this oppor-
tunity to enlarge our trade would have
been an objectionable error. There were
but two methods of maintaining control
of this question open to congress- To
place all of these articles upon the du-
table list, subject to such treaty agree
ments as could be secured, or place
them all presently upon the free
list, but subject to the reimpositon
of specified duties if the countries from
which we received them should refuse
to give us suitable reciprocal benefits.
This latter method possesses great ad-
vantages. 1t expresses in advance the
consent OF congress to a reciprocity ar
rangement affecting these products,
which must otherwise have been de-
layed and unascertained until each
treaty was ratified by the senate and the
necessary legislation enacted by con-
gress. Experience has shown that some
treaties looking to reciprocal trade have
failed to secure a two-thirds vote in the
senate for their ratification, and others
| having passed that stage have for years
awaited the concurrence of the house
and senate in such modification of our
revenue law as were necessary to give
| lroat% 90 hnt, ,,,< L..
the concurrence Of both houses in ad-
vance in a distinct and definite offer of
| free entry to our ports OF specific ar
! tices. The executive is not required to
deal in conjecture as to what congress
will accept, and indeed this reciprocity
provision is more than an offer. Our
part of the bargain is complete; delivery
has been made, and when the countries
from which we receive sugar, coffee, tea
and hides have placed on their free
lists such of our products as
shall be agreed upon as an equivalent
for our concessions, proclamation of
that fact completes the transaction, and
in the meantime our people have free
coffee, tea and hides. The indications
thus far given are very hopeful of early
and favorable action by the countries
from which we receive our large imports
OF coffee and sugar, and it is confidently
believed that if the steam communica-
| ton with these countries can be
promptly improved and enlarged, next
year will show most gratifying in
crease in our exports of breadstuffs and
provisions, as well as OF some important
! lines Of manufactured goods.
Unfinished Legislation.
In addition to the bills that became 81
law before the adjournment of the last
session, some other bills of the highest
| Importance were we'll advanced toward q
final vote, and now stand upon the cal
endar 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 con-
sideration of these acts, of an apportion-
ment bill and OF the annual
appropriation bills, will require
that no working day of the
session shall be allowed to inter-
cept or retard the progress of those 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 your
duty of perfecting the important legisIa-
ton now well advanced.
To some of those measures which
seem to me most important, l now
briefly call your attention.
Subsidized Steamships.
/ desire to request with added urgency
the recommendation contained in my
last annual message in relation to the
development of American steamship
lines. The reciprocity clause of the tariff
bill will be largely limited and it's ben
eGts retarded and diminished if the pro-
vision is not contemporaneouslym made to
encourage the establishment of first
class steam communication between our
ports and the ports of such nations as
may meet our overtures for enlarged
commercial exchanges. The steam
ship carrying the mails steadily
and frequently and offering to
passengers comfortable, safe and
speedy transit, is the first condition of
| foreign trade. 1t carries the order of
the buyer, but not all that is ordered or
bought. 1t gives to the sailing vessels
such cargoes as are not urgent or per-
ishable, and indirectly it promotes that
important adjunct Of commerce. here
is now both in this country and in the
nations of Central and South America
an expectation and confidence as to in
creased trade, that will give double
value to your prompt action upon this
| question.
The present situation OF our mail COM
munication with Australia illustrates
the Importance of early action by con-
gress. The Oceanic Steamship company
maintains line of steamers between
San Francisco, Sydney and Auck-
| land, consisting OF three vessels, two
of which are OF United States registry
and one of foreign registry. For the
service done by this linesin carrying the
mails we pay annually the sum of
$46, 900, being estimated the full sea and
United States inland postage, which is
the limit fixed by law. The colonies of
New South Wales and New Zealand
have been paying annually to these
lines &37 900 for carrying the mails from
Sydney and Auckland to San Francisco.
The contract under which this payment
has been made is now about to expire,
and these colonies have refused to re-
new the contract unless the United States
shall pay more equitable proportion
of the sum necessary to hold the SER
vice. l am advised by the postmaster
general that the United States received
| l. Il