Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-10
Events Of the Past Year Ex-
haustively Reviewed.
f. A Mass of Anti-Democratic Leg
islatiOn Recommended.
The Free Coinage Of Silver vigor-
Ously Opposed.
It Protests Against the Gerrymander, IN
Democratic States, and Laments
the Defeat OF tho
Force Bill.
press p,spatches.

Associated Press DISPATCHES.
WAsHINaroN, Dec. 0.-The following
is the full text of the presidents mes
sage:
To the Senate and House OF Representatives:
The reports of the heads of the several
executive departments required by law
to be submitted to me, which are here
with transmitted, and the report OF the
secretary of the treasury and attorney
general made direct to congress, furnish
comprehensive review of the admin
istrative work of the last fiscal year re-
lating to internal affairs. 1t would be
Of great advantage if these reports could
have an attentive perusal by every
member Of congress and by all who take
an interest in public affairs. Such pc
rusal could not fail to create higher
appreciation of the vast labor and con-
scientious efforts which are given to the
conduct OF our civil administration.
The reports will, believe, show that
every question has been approached,
considered and decided from the stand
point of public duty and upon consider
ations affecting the public interests
alone. Again I invite to every branch
the attention and scrutiny of congress.
WORK OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT..
The work of the state department dur
ing the last year has been characterized
by an unusually large number of impor-
tant negotiations and by diplomatic re-
suits of notably and highly beneficial
character. Among them are:
Reciprocal trade arrangements which
have been concluded, in the exercise of
the powers conferred by section 3 of the
tariff law, with the republic OF Brazil,
with Spain for its West India posses
aions and with San Domingo. Like ne
gotiations with other countries have
been much advanced, and it is hoped
that before the close of the year further
trade arrangements of great value will
be concluded.
THE FUR ZEAL CONTROVERSY.
In view of the reports which had been
received as to the diminution of the seal
herds in the Bering sea deemed it wise
to propose to her majesty's government,
in January last, that an agreement for
closed season should be made. pending
the negotiations for arbitration which
then seemed to be approaching lavor-
able conclusion. After much correspond
ence and many delays, for which the
government was not responsible, an
agreement was reached on the 18th of
June by which Great Britain undertook
from that date and until May /, 1892, to
prohibit the killing by her subjects
of seals, the United States during the
same period to enforce its existing pro-.
hibition against pelagic sealing and to
limit the catch by the fur seal company
upon the islands to $500 skins. Ii this
agreement could have been reached ear
lier in response to the strenuous endeav-
ors OF this government it would have
as did, it unquestionably resulted in
greatly diminishing the destruction OF
seals by Canadian sealers.
In my last annual message stated
that the basis of arbitration proposed by
her majesty's government for the ad-
justment of the long-pending contro-
versy over the seal fisheries was not ac-
ceptable. am glad now to be able to
announce that terms satisfactory to this
government have been agreed upon, and
that agreement as to the arbicrators is
all that is necessary to the completion
of the convention. In view of the ad-
vanced position this government has
taken on the subject of international ar
bitration, this renewed expression of
our adherence to this method for the
settlement of disputes such as have
arisen in the Bering sea will, doubt
not, meet with the concurrence of con-
gress.
BOUNDARY DISPUTES.
Provision should be made for a Joint
demarcation of the frontier line between
Canada and the United States whenever
required by the increased border settle
ments and especially for the exact loca-
tion of the water boundaries in the
straits and rivers.
I should have been glad to announce
some favorable disposition OF the bound
ary dispute between Great Britain and
Venezuela touching the western frontier
of British Guiana, but the friendly ef-
forts of the United States in that direc-
tion have thus far been unavailing.
This government will continue to ex-
press its concern at any appearance of
foreign encroachment on territories long
under the administrative control Of the
American states. The determination of
disputed boundary is easily attainable
by amicable arbitration where the rights
of the respective parties rest as here on
historic facts, readily ascertainable.
MEAT RESTRICTIONS REMOVED.
The law Of the last congress providing
system of inspection for our meats in
tended for export, and clothing the
president with the power to exclude