The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-10

tnat country within the reciprocal benefits
of our legislation.
Concerning the tariff, the president says
that the evil prophecies of its opponents
have not been fulfilled, while in large
measure the Get has realized the hopeful
predictions of its friends. Our total
foreign commerce. imports and exports,
from October /, 1890. to September /, 1891,
exceeds the largest in any previous year,
that of 1880 by over 500. 000,00 Our i'm
ports of merchandise for the. year are
sl1 10000 over the imports of'1S90. The
value of free imports for the year exceeds
that of 1890 by $lls,092, 3s7; and there is a
decrease of SIC, SCI, sos in the value of
dutiable imports The percentage of
merchandise admitted free of duty
during the year is larger than during
any prior fiscal year in our history.
Our exports for the year ending September
80. 1891, show an increase over the exports
OF the previous year of nearly $1,000, 000
which is three times the average annual
increase of exports during any year of our
history The president believes that the
new tariff has created several great indus
tries which will within q few years give
employment TO several hundred thousand
American working men and women. The
tariff. despite the reduction of revenue by
| placing sugar on the free list and the re-
duction in the volume of dutiable imports
leaves the treasury with an ample surplus,
actual and estimated. up TO June 80, 1893
The president would not disturb the exist
ing silver act of July, 1890.
Under IL the government Is now buying
and putting out of the market what is the
equivalent of the entire product of our
silver mines. Under the present silver
act every dollar of the treasury notes is
sued rests on a full dollars worth OF slyer
bullion deposited in the treasury, and the
treasury department. is able to "yatain
the parity in the use of coines r lars and
their paper representatives rree coin
age would be disastrous, for' as the presi-
dent says, while the money lender
would protect himself by STIMULATING for
payment in gold the laborer has never
been able to do that" The president is a
bi-metallist, whc; is ready for full coin use
OF silver JUST as soon as the cooperation
Oh othef nations can be secured,
and 2: ratio fixed that will give cir
cuAation equally to gold and silver.
" lille there is no present prospect of an
!. international conference and agreement
| there is a growing sentiment in Europe in
/ favor of a larger Issue of silver. The
amount of money in circulation March l,
1889, was 81, AGA ,205, 1896, while on the lst of
| December, 1891, it had increased to 81, ST.
262,070. One-half of the Az per cent. bonds
have been extended at per cent. and the
rest were paid on presentation.
| The revenues of the postoffice depart
ment show an inc rease of $50,000,O00,
while an estimate for the year 1891 shows
surplus of receipts over expenditures.
| The president urges the completion of a
| frst-class modern navy adequate to the
protection of our citizens and our COM
merce in all seas, and to the full defense
of both our Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
| On the subject of irrigable lands the
| president points out that without prompt
legislation by congress and state legisla-
| lures private corporations will have unre-
| stricted control of one of the elements of
life, and the patentees of the arid lands
will be tenants at will of the water COM
| panies. The president holds that the
| United States should part with its owner
ship of the water sources and the sites for
reservoirs, whether to the states and terri
| tories or to individuals or corporations,
| only upon condition that will insure to
the settlers their proper water supply
upon equal and reasonable terms.
The president renews his appeal for pro-
lection to railroad employees by the enact
ment of a law requiring of every railway
| engaged in interstate commerce the equip
ment each year of a given number of its
freight cars with automatic couplers and
| airbrakes and couplers to be used.
The closing portion of the message is
devoted to the presentation of an exceed
ingly able and statesmanlike argument,
urging the elimination by constitutional
amendment of government by gerry
mander" from national politics. The ac-
ton of the Democratic legislature of
| Michigan is made the text of the presidents
argument IN favor of constitutional
I
and prevent that disgraceful partisan Jug
| glery to which such a liberty Of choice, if
it exists, offers temptation"
The president urges that we take, by
consent, one step in the direction of re-
form by eliminating the gerrymander,
! which has been denounced by all parties
as an influence in the election of electors
| a :
The president concludes this timely and
exceedingly able protest against our alarm
ing drift toward government BY gerry
/ mander" as follows:
/ All the states have been acting freely and
separately and have determined that the choice
| of electors by general ticke; is the wisest ana
| safest n.esaod, aud il would seem that there
could be no objection to n constitutional amend
! ment making that method permanent | have
/ alluded 90 gerrymander as affecting the method
/ OF selecting the electors of the president by
congressional districts, bnt ths primary intent
! ana effect OF this form OF political robbery
/ have relation % the selection OF members of
| the House of Represeu lat.ves. The power OF
congress .s ample to deal with this threatening
! aud iatolerabie abuse.
The message is long, hut could not well
have been shorter, and in arrangement
and composition is a memorably able state
| paper. Without trace Of craftsmanship il
is nevertheless powerful plea in justifi-
cation of the policy and administration of
the Republican party.
1 ----------