The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-12-17

' COHLI COlltCtiOn.
| Our relations with other nations are now un-
disturbed by any serious controversy The com
plicated and threatening differences with Ger
many ane England relating to Samoan af-
fairs, with England in relation to the seal
| fisheries in the Behring sea and with Chilli
growing out OF the Baltimore AFFAIR, have been
adjusted There have been negotiated and con.
cluded, under Section OF the tarrin law, COM
mercial agreements relating to reciprocal trade
| with the following countries: Brazil, Domin-
lean Republic, Spain for Cuba and Puerto Rico,
| Guatemala, Salvador, the German empire,
| Great Britain for certain West Indian colonies
| and British Guiana, Nicaragua, Honduras and
| Austro- Hungary. The total increase In the
value Of exports TO all countries with which
we have reciprocity agreements has been
| 62i. This increase is chiefly in
wheat flour, meat and dairy products and
in manufacture Of iron and steel and lumber.
| In regard to the Behrng sea matter he recon-
mends that power be given TO the president, by
proclamation, to prohibit the taking OF seals in
the North Pacific by American vessels In case
either the result OF the findings OF the tribun.
| al of arbitration or otherwise the restraints can
be applied to the vessels Of all countries. The
case OF the United States for the tribunal of ar
| bitration has been prepared with great care
and industry by Hon. John w. Foster and the
| counsel who represent this government express
confidence that result substantially establish
| ing our claim and preserving this great indus
try for the benefit OF all nations will be at
| tanned
| The president does not think an acceptable
| reciprocity treaty with Canada can now be
| attained, and suggests retaliation for COM
mercial discrimination on the part Of the Do
| minion
| A history of the Chilian controversy is given.
| the president draws the lesson that while we
should deal in a liberal spirit with neighboring
| republics, we must insist upon o just RESPONSE
blity for any injuries inflicted upon our ofiicial
! representatives or upon our citizens. This In
| sistence, kindly and justly but firmly, made,
| WILL believe, promote peace and mutual re-
| spect. The settlement of the italian imbroglio,
| in manner honorable to the United States, is
noted with satisfaction, and our foreign rela-
| tions in general treated at length.
With reference TO the Nicaragua enterprise
| the president says:
81 repsat with great earneStness the recon-
mendaton that1 have made mention in previous
| messages to the inadequate support given the
| American company engaged in the construction
of the Nicaragua ship canal. 1t Is impossible
| TO overState the value from every standpoint of
this great enterprise and hope there may be
time even in this congress, to give to IL an i'm
petus that will insure the early completion Of
the canal and secure to the United States its
proper relations to it when completed
With the financial operations Of the govern
ment the message deals elaborately. The more
| important facts are here presented
1.-THE report of the secretary of the treasury
will attract special interest in view Of the many
misleading statements that have been made as
to the state of the public revenues Three pre-
liminary facts should not only be stated but
emphasized, before looking into details First,
that the public debt has been reduced since
March 4, 1899, 1853 or, 200 and the annual inter-
est charge Sll, ,6SI, 400; second, that there have
been paid out for pensions during this admins
traton up to November 1892, 1892 564, ,17S 7O an
excess of STA, 466, 1886. 09 over the expended
during the period from March |, 1885, to March
1859; and, third, that under the existing
tariff up to December about S93,000000 of rev.
enue which would have been collected upon i'm
ported sugars il the duty had been maintained,
has gone into the pockets Of the people and not
into the public treasury as before, The rev.
enues for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892,
from all sources were S25, 1853 26O. ~, and the
penditures for all purposes S4l5 953, 800 80,
leaving a balance of 10, 553.66. There were
paid during the year upon the public debt S4O,-
51O,46T9S The surplus in the treasury and the
bank redemption fund, passed by the act of
July IA, 1890, to the general fund.- furnished in
large part the cash available and used for
the payments made upon the public debt.
Compared with the year 1884, our receipts from
customs duties fell of 81, ,069, 21t0S, while our
receipts from internal revenue increased S3 254-
1913 l3, leaving the net loss of from these
principal sources SS3, 7S6417.95. The net loss OF
revenue from all sources was S32, 675, 2Sl. The
revenues, estimated and actual, for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1893, are placed by the sec
retary at S63, 1886 $50 A, and the expenditures
S46l 1856 $50 A. showing surplus OF receipts over
expenditures Of S2, 100000. The cash balance in
the treasury at the end of the fiscal year 1t is
estimated will be SEC, ,992 3T7.03. The estimated
receipts for the fiscal year ending June 80 1894,
are $780, l2l, $685. and the estimated appropria-
tions, :45726l, $685. leaving an estimated
surplus of receipts over expenditures of
NOT n1t,1o
ment to the sinking fund In the recommended.
ton OF the secretary that the sinking fund law
be repealed, l concur The redemption of bonds
since the passage of the law to June 80, 1892,
has already exceeded the requirements by the
sum of 99O5 ,6s1 49, The retirement of bonds
in the future before maturity should be mat
ter Of convenience, not of compusion. We
should not collect revenue for that purpose, but
ouly use any casual surplus. To the balance Of
49,, So 03O,05 of receipts over expenditures for
the year 1891 should be added the estimated sur
plus at the beginning Of the year, $50 90?, ,377O O3
and from this aggregate there must be deducted,
as stated by the secretary, about If,C0O,CO0 Of
estimated uneSpended appropriations
The silver question is briefly discussed, but
the president withholds any recommendation
in view of the fact that the Monetary confer.
ence is now sitting and no conclusion has been
reached.
A continuance of the policy of granting
subsidies TO steamship lines in the form
OF increased pay for carrying the mails is
urged. mo subject, 1 think, more nearly
touches the pride, the power and the pros
perity of our country than this OF the
development of our merchant marine upon the
sea. If we could enter into conference with
other competitors and all would agree to with
hold government aid, we would perhaps take
our chances with the rest; but our great COM
petitors have established, and maintained their
lines by government subsidies until now they
have practically excluded us from partici-
patton. In my opinion &c choice is left us
but to pursue, moderately at least, the same
lines"
AS 10 the United States navy there is this
interesting paragraph:
Contracts have been let during this admins
tration, under the appropriations for the in
crease of the navy including new vessels and
their appurtenances, 10 the amount Of s35 OOOn)O,
and there has been expended during the same
period for labor at navy yards upon similar
work SsOOO,OOO without the smallest scandal or
charge of fraud or partiality. The enthusiasm
and interest of our naval officers, both of the
stan and line have been greatly lindled. They
have responded magnihcently TO the confidence
OF congress and have demonstrated to the world
an unexcelled capacity in construction, in ord
nance and in everything involved in the build
ing, cquipping and sailing Of great warshps."
Commenting on the report of the commits
sioner Of PENSIONS the president said;
"The report of the commissioner of pensions,
to which extended notice is given by the secre.
tary of the interior in his report, win attract
great attention. Judged by the aggregate
amount of work done, the last year has been
the greatest in the history of the office. 1 be-
lieve that the organization of the office is efii
cent and that the work has been done with
fidelity The passage of what is known as the
disability bill has, as was forGsecn, very large