The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-12-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
rE REC0 C0MMENDs SWEEPING LEGIsLA-
TIVE CHANGES.
lgig Views on Free Silver and. Tariff Re-
form Fully Expressed, as Well as
ca Matters of Like Import
ant Nature.

several Executive departments re-
qOirai ny 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 Congress, furnish q
comprehensive view of the admins
trati,9 work of the last fiscal year re-
ial'aE 10 internal affairs. 1t would bt
OF great advantage if these report;
could have an attentive perusal by
every uember of congress, and by all
VINO take an interest in public affairs
such a pecusal could not fail to excite
o higher appreciation of the vast la
bor aod conscientious efforts which
are Given to the conduct of our civil
administration The reports will
show That every question which has
been approached has been considered
and decided from the standpoint of
public duly and upon consideration
affecting ghe public interests alone.
Again, invite to every branch of the
service the attention and scrutiny Of
congress.
The work Of the
rATE DEPARTMENT
during tho last year has been charac-
IeriZed By an unusual number of inn
pOrtunt uegotiations and by diplo-
ma5iC results of a notable and highly
beneficial character. Among these
are the reciprocal trade arrangements
which have been concluded in the eX-
ercise Of the powers conferred by
section ) If the tariff law, with the
Republic f Brazil; with Spain for its
possessions and with San Domingo.
Like concessions made with other
countries pave been much advanced
ana it's h)ped that before the close
Of the yeu further decisive trade ar
engagements of great value will be
concluded
"a vieW Of the reports which have
been Tecei ed as to the diminution Of
seals IN tho Behring Sea, | deemed it
wise TO propose to Her Majesty's gov
ernmcut n February last, that
H.
season should be made, pending the
negotiations for arbitration which
then seemed approaching favorable
conclusion, and after much CORES
pondcnce ald delays, for which this
Q, ernmant was not responsible, an
ugrpaMenr was reached and signed on
tie 10Th # June by which Great
Britain unlertook from that date and
until May 1892, to prohibit the kill
ING by uar subjects Of seals in the
Behrlun "a and the government of
the United States during the same
gerjGd lu enforce its existing prohibit
Ion agaius sealing and to limit the
catch by he Fursal company upon
the islands TO 1900 skins. If this
agreement could have been reached
earlier, in r9sponse to the strenuous
eudeavors Of this government, it
would have been more effective, but
coming a. ate as it did it unquestiOn-
ably resulted in greatly diminishing
the destru ton of the seals by the
Canadian people.
In my last annual message | stated
that the basis of arbitration proposed
by her maiosty's government for the
adiustment of the long pending con-
,TOversy as to the seal fisheries was
not acceptable. [ am glad now to be
able TO announce that terms salts
factory 10 this government have been
agreed upon, and that an agreement
as bD the arbitrators is all that is nee
cssury to the completion of the con-
vantion. In view of the advanced
position which this government has
taken upon the subject Of interna-
lional arbitration, this renewed eX-
PRESTON of our adherence to this
method for 6he settlement Of disputes,
uch as have arisen in the Behring
Sea, will, doubt not, meet with the
concurrence of congress. Provisions
should he made for joint demarca-
on of the t"ontier line between Can
ada and the United States wherever
rcquired by the increasing border
settlements
lNsI gCTION OF MEATS.
The law II the last congress provid-
ing n system Of inspection for our
meats intel led for export, and cloth
ing the president with the power to
exclude any foreign products from our
market in case the country sending
}honl should perpetuate unjust dis,
eriminations against any product of
the United states, placed this govern
ment in position to effectively urge
the removal of such determinations
against our meats. 1t is gratifying TO
ne able to state that Germany, Den
mark, italy, Austria and France, IN
tae order FAMED, have opened their
ports TO Inspected American pork
products.
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
10 the complete removal of the dan
gers, real or fancied, which had beer
previously Ii ,ged on the state depart
inent. Our ministers abroad and the
secretary OF agriculture have cooper,
ated with unflagging and intelligent
zeal for tha accomplishment OF this
great result. The outlines OF an agree
ment hayt been reached WIN
Germany, looking to equltaDle
trade conces ssions in consideration
Of the continued free importation OF
her sugar, bit the time has not yeI