Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-12-05
..HARRISON'S MESSAGE
:, y s-S Z ~
THE PRESIDENTS SUGGESTIONS
To THE 51st CONGRESS-,
The Mckinley Bill and the FEEDER al
Election Bill Favored.
Statistics and Reviews OF Commerce
for the Past Year.

WASHINGTON, DC, Dec. 1.-The second
annual session of the Ii congress was be-
gun at noon. Immediately after the call to
order, committee was appointed TO notify
the president that congress was ready for
business. The presidents message was
sent in response, and laid before both
houses. After the introduction of new
congressman into Office, the message, OF
which the following is summary, was
read.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
The president opens his message by con-
graduating the departments on the honesty
and efficiency with which they have con-
Quoted the public business, disbursing $780,
900, 600. He refers to the South American
and international marine conferences, to
the republic of Brazil, and says he has
called Mr.. Miner, minister to San Saliva
dor, from his post for his misconduct in the
Barrundia affair." The Nicaragua canal is
progressing satisfactorily. The treaty OF
Samoa is beginning to produce salutary
effects. 1t is hoped that a reciprocity ar
rangement may be made with Spain in re-
gard to Cuban commerce. Other foreign
topics of less interest are discussed.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
Receipts from all sources for fiscal year,
ending June 30, 1890, $463, 963, 0So. So;
total expenditures, $35s, 61s, 5S4.52; sur
plus, sos, 344, 496.O3. For current fiscal
year partly estimated receipts, S406, 00O,-
600; expenditures, 1854, 600, 600; surplus,
$50, 900, 900; loss from customs last four
months, S25, 200, 600. For year ending
June, 1899, receipts, 1878. 900, 900; ex-
penditures 1857, $50, 2o9.42 surplus, s15,-
LAT, 790.5S.
SILVER LAW.
The act directing the purchase of sill
yer bullion and the issue of treasury notes
thereon" approved July Ia, 1890, has been
administered by the secretary of the treas
ury with an earnest purpose to get into
circulation at the earliest possible dates
the full monthly amounts Of treasury notes
contemplated by its provisions, and at tho
same time to give to the market for silver
bullion such support as the law contem-
plates. The recent depreciation in the
price of silver has been observed with re-
greet. The rapid rise in the price which
anticipated and followed the passage of
the act was influenced in some degree by
speculation, and the recent reaction is in
part the result OF the same cause and in
part of recent monetary disturbances.
The new ships are making satisfactory
progress. During tho winter there will
have been in all 10 new efficient vessels
added to the navy. They have improved
the spirit of the officers and men. Son
Hdence and pride in the ship among the
crew are equivalent to secondary bat
terry"
The examination and adjudication Of
pension claims have been more rapid than
ever before. 1.-THE liberal enlargement
of the law should suggest more careful
scrutiny and of bills for special relief"
1.-THE only safe thing is to so deal with
the territory of Utah that those who be-
lieve polygamy to be rightful should not
make it lawful"
THE MCKINLEY BILL.
The general tariff act has only partially
gone into operation, some OF its important
provisions being limited to take effect at
dates yet in the future. The general pro-
visions of the law have been IA fOpGe less
than 60 days. Its permanent effects upon
trade and prices still largely stand in con-
lecture. 1t is curious to note that tho
IN the prices Of articles wholly
UNAFFECTED by The taritf act was BY Many
hastily ascribed to that act Notice was
not taken Of the fact that the general ten
dency of the markets Vas upward from
influences wholly apart from the recent
tariff Legislation. The enlargement of our
bs the silver bill undoubtedly
gave arg upward tendency to trade and had
q ma<Aed effect on prices; but this natural
an Il desired effect Of the silver legislation
was by many enormously attributed to the
tgriff act.
There is neither wisdom nor justice In
the suggestion that the subject of tariff
revision shall be opened before this law
has had fair trial. 1t is quite true that
every tariff schedule is subject to ob;ec-
tons. No bill was over framed, 1 sup
pose, that in all OF its rates and classitica-
tons had the full approval even of a
party caucus Each legislation is always
and necessarily the product OF compro-
mise as to details, and the present law is
no exception. But in it's general scope
and effect think it will justly the support
of those who believe that American
lGulSiatlOn SnOulu COHScTNO anu ucicHu
American trade and the wages Of Amer
lean workmen.
The misinformation as to the terms OF
the act, which has been SO widely disseIn-
IL ated at homo and abroad, will be correct
ed by experience, and the evil augures as
to its results coniounded by the market re-
ports. the savings banks, international
trade balances and the general prosperity
CT our people. Already we begin to hear
from abroad and from our custom-houses
that the prohibitory effect upon importa-
tions imputed to tho act is not justified.
The imports at tho port of Now York for
the first three weeks of November were
nearly eight per cent greater than in the
same period in 1889. and 20 per cent great
er than in the san period of 1888. And
so far from being an act TO limit exports, l
confidently believe that under it we shall
secure larger and more profitable partici-
patton in foreign trade than we have ever
en,oyel and that we shall recover proper
ton participation ia the ocean-carrying
trade of the world.
While it has not been thought best to
renew formally the suggestion OF an in
ternational conference looking TO an agree
ment touching the fun use of silver for
coinage at q uniform ratio, care has been
taken to observe closely any change in the
situation abroad, and no favorable oppor-