Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-12-02

the revenues was such that we could
dispense with any import duties upon
coffee, tea, hides, and the lower grades
of sugar and molasses That the large
advantage resulting to the countries pro-
ducing and exporting these -articles by
placing them on the free list entitled III
to expect fair return In the way of Gus
toms concessions upon articles exported
by us to them was so obvious that to have
gratuitously abandoned this opportunity
to enlarge our trade would have been an
objectionable error.
There were but two methods of main
tanning control of this question open to
Congress: to place all of these articles
upon the dutiable list subject to such
treaty agreements as could be secured,
or to place them all presently upon the
free list, but subject to the reimposition
of specified duties if the countries from
which we received them should refuse
to give us suitable reciprocal benefits.
This latter method, think, possesses
great advantages. 1t expresses in ad-
vance the consent of Congress to reci-
procity arrangements affecting these pro-
ducts, 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-t thirds votes in the
Senate for ratification, and others having
passed that stage have for years
awaited the concurrence of the House
and Senate in such notifications of our
revenue laws as were necessary to give
effect to their provisions. We now have
the concurrence of both Houses in ad-
vance in a distinct and definite offer of
free entry to our ports of specific arti-
cles.
Recommend ations.
In addition to the important bills that
became laws before the adjournment of
the last session, some other bills of the
highest Importance were we'll advanced
toward final vote and now stand upon
the calendars of the two Houses in IA
vored positions. The present session has
fixed limit, and if these measures are
not now brought to a final vote all the
| work that has been done upon them by
this Congress is lost. To some of these
measures which seem to me most impor-
tant now briefly call your attention.
desire to repeat with added urgency
the recommendations contained in my
last annual message in relation to the
development of American steamship
lines. The present situation of our mail
communication with Australia illustrates
| the Importance of early action by Con-
gress.
had occasion in May last to transmit
to Congress report adopted by the In
ternational American Conference upon
| the subject of the incorporation of an
International American bank. 1 renew
| the recommendation that a careful and
| well-guarded charter be granted.
[ earnestly renew my recommendation
| that the salaries of the judges of the
| United States district courts be SO re-
| adjusted that none of them shall receive
! less than $4,000 per annum.
The enactment of National bankrupt
! law I still regard as very desirable.
The use of the telegraph by the Post
\ office Department as a means for the
| rapid transmission of written communi-
cations is, I believe, upon proper terms
quite desirable. I recommend that such
| legislation be enacted as will enable the
Postoffice Department fairly to test by
experiment the advantages of such use
| of the telegraph.
| Election Laws.
If any intelligent and loyal company of
American citizens were required to cata-
| logue the essential human conditions of
National life, do not doubt that with
absolute unanimity they would begin
with ''free and honest elections" And
it is gratifying to know that generally
there is a growing and non-artisan de-
mand for better election laws. But
against this sign of hope and progress
must be set the depressing and undenia-
BILE fact that election laws and methods
are sometimes cunningly contrived to Sc
cure minority control, while violence
completes the shortcomings of fraud.
In my last annual message I suggested
that the development of the existing law
providing Federal supervision of Con-
| gressional elections offered an effective
l I. L - Il. VI.
need of such a law has manifested itself
in many parts of the country, and it's
wholesome restraints and penalties will
be useful in all. The constitutionality
of such legislation has been affirmed by
the Supreme Court. Its probable effect
iveness is evidenced by the character of
the opposition that is made to it. It has
been denounced as if it were a new ex-
ercise of Federal power and an invasion
of the rights of the States. Nothing
could be further from the truth.
1t is not, therefore, a question
whether we shall have a Federal cleo
ton law, for we now have one, and have
had for nearly twenty years, but whether
we shall have an effective law. The
present law stops just short of effective
ness, for it surrenders to the local au-
thorities all control over the certifica-
tion which establishes the prima facie
right to a seat in the House of Repre-
sentatives. This defect should be cured.
Equality of representation and the par
ity of the electors must be maintained
or everything that is valuable in oul
system of government is lost.
One can not be justly charged with un
friendliness to any section or class who
seeks only to restrain violations Of Law
and of personal right. No community
will find lawlessness profitable.
No choice is left to me but to enforct
with vigor all laws intended to secure tt
the citizen his constitutional rights, anG
to recommend that the inadequacies OF
such laws be promptly remedied. If tt
promote with zeal and ready interest
every project for the development of it,
material interests, its rivers, harbors
mines and factories, and the intelligence
peace and security under the law of its
communities and it's homes, is not &C
cepted as sufficient evidence of friendli
ness to any State or section, I cannot
add connivance at election practices tn a
not only disturb local results, but 70
the electors of other States and sec
I ~ Ia ro,nso SNo