The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-12-11
President Harrison Submits His
: Third Annual Batch of
Recommendation
The CHILEAN Affair Treated at
Considerable Length-Rep-
aration Demanded.
The Tariff Law Not Proving Burden
to the People-The Silver Cues
ton Discussed.

The reports of the heads of the sever
al executive departments, required by
law to be submitted to me, which are
herewith transmitted, and the reports
of the secretary of the treasury and the
attorney general made directly to con-
gress. furnish comprehensive view of
the administrative work of the last ifs
cal year relating to internal affairs. 1t
\would be of great advantage if these re-
ports could have an attentive perusal by
every member of congress and by all
who take an interest in public affairs.
Such perusal would not fail to excite
higher appreciation of the vast labor
and conscientious effort which are given
to the conduct of our civil administra-
ton.
The reports will, | believe, show that
every question has been approached
considered aud decided from the stand
point of public duty and upon consider
tions affecting the public interests alone.
Again [ invite to every branch of the
service the attention and scrutiny of
congress.
The Work OF the State Department
during the last year has been character
lied by an unusual number of impor-
tant negotiations and by diplomatic re-
suits of notable and highly beneficial
character. Among these reciprocal
trade arrangements which have been
concluded, in the exercise of the powers
conferred by section of the tariff law,
with the Republic of Brazil, with Spain
for its West India possessions and with
San Domingo. Like negotiations with
other countries have been much ad-
vanced, and it is hoped that before the
close Of the year further definite trade
arrangements of great value will be
concluded.
The Seal Question.
In view OF the reports which have
been received as to the diminution of
the seal herds in the Behring Sea, /
deemed it wise to propose to Her
Majesty's government in February last
that an agreement for a closed season
should be made, pending the negotia-
lions for arbitration which then seemed
to be approaching a favorable con-
clusioIl. After mUcirz correspondence
and delays for which this government
was not responsible, an agreement was
reached and signed on the 10Th of June
by which Great Britain undertook, from
that date and until May 1, 1899, to pro-
hibit the killing by her subjects Of seals
in the Behring Sea, and the government
of the United States, during the same
period, to enforce its existing prohibi-
ton against pelagic sealing and to limit
the catch by the fur seal company upon
the islands to $500 skins. If this agree
ment could have been reached earlier,
in response to the strenuous endeavors OF
this government, it would have been
more effective: but, coming even as late
as it did, it unquestionably resulted in
greatly diminishing the destruction of
the seals by the leading sealers.
La my last annual message | stated
that the basis of arbitration proposed by
Her Maiesty's government for the adj
juStment of the long-pending contro-
yersy as TO 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 an agreement as to the arbitrators
is all that is necessary to the completion
of the convention,
Disputed Boundaries.
Provision should be made for a Joint
demarcation of the frontier line between
Canada and the United States wherever
required by the increasing border set
Elements and especially for the exact
location of the water boundary in the
straits and rivers. l should have been
glad to announce some favorable dispo-
sition of the boundary dispute between
Great Britain and Venezuela, touching
the western frontier of British Guiana,
bat the friendly efforts of the United
States in that direction have thus far
,Seen unayailing. This government will
co 1tinue to express its concern at any
ann, ,arance of foreign encroachment on
territ, ,ries long under the administra-
tive control of American states
Meat Inspection.
The law of the last congress provided
n system OF inspection for our meats
INTENDED for export and clothing the
president with power to exclude for
eion PRODUCTS from our market in case
the country sending them should per-
netnate unjust determinations against
anv product of the United States, placed
this Government in a position to effect
iyely urge the removal OF such dlscrlm-
nations against our meats lt is graft
fyinc to be able to state that Germany,
Denmark, Italy, Austria and France, IN
the order named, have opened their
ports to inspected American pork pro
ducts.
The removal of these restrictions, in
every instance, was asked for and given
solely upon the ground that we had now
provided meat inspection that should
be accepted as adequate to the complete
removal of the dangers. real and ian
cied, which had been previously urged.
The state department, our ministers
abroad and the secretary of agriculture
have co-operated with unfagging and
intelligent zeal for the accomplishment
of this great result. The outlines OF an
agreement have been reached with Ger
many, lookins to equitable trade con-
cessions in consideration of the contin-
ued free importations of sugars, but the
time has not yet arrived when this cor
respondence can be submitted to con
SresS.
Advice to BraziIians.
The recent political disturbances in
the republic of Brazil have excited re-
greet and solicitude. The information
L.,