The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1892-02-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Full Text Of Document
as Presented.
VERY IMPORTANT MATTERS.
He is Very Strong on the Mich
igan Gerrymander.
PLAIN TALK ON GILLIAN AFFAIRS.
Reciprocity is Favorite Subject With
Hints Beauties Glow
ingly Described.
PLAIN TALK ON GILLIAN AFFAIRS.

PRESIDENT HarrlSOn's message ls ad-
dressed to the senate and house of rep
resentatives, and is as follows:
'The reports of the heads of the sew
erai executive departments required by
law to be submitted to me, which are
herewith transmitted, and the report of
the secretary of the treasury and attor-
ney general, made direct to congress,
furnish a comprehensive review Of the
administrative work of the last fiscal
year relating to internal affairs. 1t
would he 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 could not fail to excite a
higher appreciation of the vast labor
and conscientious efforts which are
given to the conduct of our civil admin
istration. The report will, 1 believe,
show that every question has been ap-
pr. ache |, considered and decided from
the standpoint of public duty, and upon
considerations affecting the public in
terests alone. Again 1 invite to every
branch the attention and scrutiny of
congress to the work of the state depart
ment. During the last year it has been
characterized by an unusually large
number of important negotiations and
by diplomatic results of a notably and
highly beneficial character. Among
these are: Reciprocal trade arrange
ments, 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 Indian possessions, and with San
Domingo. Like negotiations with other
countries have been much advanced,
and it is hoped that before the close of
the year further defnitive trade arrange
ments of great value will be concluded.
The Behring Sea Troubles.
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 gov
srnment in February last that an agree
ment for a closed season should be made,
pending the negotiations for arbitration,
which then seemed to be approaching a
favorable conclusion. After much cor
respondence and delays, for which this
government was not responsible. an
agreement was reached the 18th of June
by which Great Britain undertook, from
that date and until May l., 1892, to pro-
hibit the killing of seals by her citizens,
and the United States, during the same
period, to enforce its existing prohibition
against pelagic sealing, and to limit the
catch by the Fur Seal Company upon the
islands to 1900 skins. If this agreement
could have been reached earlier, in re.
sponse to the strenuous endeavors OF this
government, it would have been more
effective, but, coming as late as it did, it
unquestionably resulted in greatly di-
diminishing the destruction of seals by
the Canadian sealers.
In nv last annual message stated
that the basis of arbi ration proposed by
her ma ajesty's governmt mt for the adjust
ment OF the long-pendIng crontroversy
over the seal fisheries was not accepta
BILE. am glad now to be able to an
nounce that terms satisfactory to thit
government have been agreed upors anC
that the agreement as to the arbitrator
is all that is necessary to the completion
of the convention. In view of the ad
vanced position this government ha,
taken on the subject of international ar
btration, this renewed expression OF oul
adherence to this method for the settle
ment of disputes, such as have arisen il
the Behring sea, will, I doubt not, NEE
with the concurrence OF congress.
boundary Line Disputes.
Provision should be made for join
demarkation of the frontier line between
Canada and the United States, when
ever required by the increased borde
settlements, and especially for the ex
act location of the water boundaries il
the straits and rivers. l should hav'
Eeen glad to announce some favorable
disposition of the boundary dispute be
tween Great Britain and Venezuela
touching the western frontier of British
Guiana, but the friendly efforts of thu
United States in that direction have
thus far been unavailing. This govern
ment will continue to express its con
Germ at any appearance of foreign en-
croachment on territories long unde
the administrative control of the Amer
lean states. The determination Of
disputed boundary is easily attainabl
bv amcabie arbitration where the right
of the resi- ective parties rest, as here
on historic facts, readily ascertainable
The Meat Inspection Law.
The law of the last congress providing
a system of inspection of our meats in
tended for export, and clothing the pres
ident with power to exclude foreign pro
duets for our market, in case the coun
try sending them should perpetrste IN