Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-12-16
at the highest point. slss.oo,cCo per an


The report OF the Secretary Of Agrf-
| culture contains, not only most inter-
esting statement OF the progressive ana
valuable work done under the admins
| tration OF Secretary Rusk, but many
| suggestions for the enlarged usefulness OF
| TINS important department. In the sue
| tons to the free Introduction OF our
| meat products In the countries or Eu-
rope. the Secretary has been untiring
| from the first. stimulating and aiding all
| other government officers, at home ana
| abroad, whose official duties ena bied them
TO participate IN the work, The total
trade in hog products with Europe In
| May. 1892, amounted to 1000 coo pounds.
| against 46,9OO,0OO in the same month OF
| 100000 pounds, against 4G,500oJD pounds
| In the same month OF the previous year:
| In July there Was an increase OF al per
cent, and In august OF 80 per cent over
the corresponding months OF 1871, over
fOO0O,OOO pounjs OF inspected pork have
been exported lice the law was put into
| operation.
The department of Agriculture has Ia
pored with great energy and faithfulness
TO e&tirpate This disease and on the 18th
day or Se9.e!nber last public announce
ment was tl;ade by the secretary that the
disease no longer existed anywhere within
the United States. He IL entirely satisfied,
after the most searching inquiry. that
| this statement was justified. and that by
| a continuance OF the inspection and quar-
anime now required OF cattle brought into
this country tire disease can be prevented
from again getting any foothold. The
value to the cattle industry OF the United
states or this achievement can hardly DO
| estimated.
Agricultural products constituted 7s.l
| per cent OF our unprecedented exports
for the fiscal year, which closed June 80.
| 1882, the total exports being g. $50 Isl $50.
and the value OF the agricultural prod
ucts, $19S, III 616, which exceeds by moro
than Sl5O,00O,000 the shipments OF agricul-
tural products In any previous year.
An interesting and "a promising work for
the benefit OF the American farmer has
been begun through agents OF the Agri-
cultural department. In Europe, and con-
sists in efforts. to Introduce the various
products OF Indian corn as articles of hui
man food. The high price OF rye offered
! favorable opportunity for the expert
ment In Germany in combining corn meal
with rye to produce cheap bread. A
fair degree OF success has been attained,
and some mills for grinding corn for food
have been introduced. The secretary Is
OF the opinion that this new use OF tho
products of corn has already Stimui" ted
expectations, and that If diligently prose
cuted, large aha important markets can
presently be opened for this great Amer
lean product.
CHOLERA AND QUARANTINE
The subject Of quarantine regulations.
denly TO my attention by the arrival at
our ports in August last of vessels in
fected with cholera. Quarantine reguia-
lions should be uniform at all our ports.
/ Under the Constitution they are plainly
within the exclusive federal jurisdiction
when and so far az Congress shall legis-
late. In my opihI~p the whole subject
should be taken into national control. and
adequate power given TO the executive to
protect people against plague invasioHs-
| on the LIST of September last I approved
regulations establishing twenty day
quarantine for all vessels bringing imnii-
grants from foreign ports. This order
will be continued In force. Some loss and
suffering have resulted To passengers, but
a due care for the homes OF our people
justiiies in such cases the utmost precau-
ton. There is dagger that with the COM
ing. of spring cholera will again appear.
and liberal appropriation should be made
at this session TO enable our quarantine
and port officers to exclude the deadly
plague But the most careful and strin-
gent quarantine regulations may not be
sufficient absolutely TO exclude the dis
ease.
We are peculiarly subject IN our great
ports 10 the spread OF infectious diseases
by reason of the fact that unrestricted Inn
migration brings to us out OF European
cities, in the overcrowded steerages OF
great steamships, "A large number of per-
sons whose surroundings make them the
easy victims OF the plague. This consid-
Grafton. as well as those affecting the
political, moral and industrial interests OF
our country, lead me to renew the sug-
gestion that admission to our country ard
10 the high privileges of it's citizenship
should be more restricted and more care
full. We have, l think. right, and owe O.
duty TO our own people, and especially TO
our working people, not only TO keep out
the vicious. the ignorant, the civil dis
turber. the pauper and the contract labor
er. but to check the too great flow OF inn
tons.
PROTECTION OF RAILROAD EN-
PLOYES.
In renewing the recommendation which
have made in three preceding annual
messages that Congress should legislate
for the protection of railroad employees
against the dangers incident to the old
and inadequate methods OF braking and
coupling, wb>Sh still in use upon
freight business, L do so with hope that
this Congress may take action on the
hi Staf iCfff rfch ltryf ha In
ter-State Commerce Commission show
that during the year ending June 30, 1877,
there were forty-seven different styles OF
car couplers reported TO be in use ana
that du.>ng the same period there We're
2,660 employees killed, and 26,1f0 injured.
Nearly l6 per cent OF the deaths occurred
and over 80 per cent of the injuries had
the same origin.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The Civil Service Commission ask for
an increased appropriation for needed
clerical assistance, which / think should
be given. extended the classified SER
vice March |, 1892, to include physicians,
superintendent assistant superintend-
ents, school teachers and matrons In the
Indian service. and have had under con-
sideration the subject OF some further
extensions, but have not as yet fully de-
termined the lines upon which extensions
can most properly and usefully be made
ELECTION METHODS.
/ have, in each Of the three annual
submit TO Congress, called attention TO
the evils and dangers connected with our
election methods and practices as they
are related to the choice of officers OF the
national government. In my last annual
message endeavored to invoke serious
attention to the evils of unfair appor-
tionments for Congress. l cannot close
this message without again calling at
tention TO these grave and threatening
evils. l had hoped that il was possible
10 secure a non-partisan inquiry by means
or commission into evils. the existence
or which is known to ALL and that out OF
THIS might grow legislation from which
all thought of partisan advantage should
be eliminated and only the higher thought
appear of maintaining the freedom and
purity of the ballot. and the equality OF
the elector. without the guaranty OF
which the government could never have
been formed, and without the continu-
ance OF which IT cannot continue TO ex-
list In peace and prosperity. 1t is time
that mutual charges OF unfairness and
fraud between the great parties should
cease and that the sincerity of those who
profess desire for pure and honest
elections should be brought to the test OF