The Washington bee., 1892-12-17
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
A AsUMMARY OF ITS MOST IMPORTANT
FEATURES.

Inc "Ork Oh the Executive departments
President Harrison sent his last annual
| message to Congress on Tuesday, in
which he says:
In submitting my annual message to
Congress, l have great satisfaction in
being able to say that the general condi,
tions affecting the commercial and
industrial interests of the United States
are in the highest degree favorable. A
! comparison of the existing conditions
with those of the most favored period in
the history Of the country will, believe,
show that 80 high degree of prosperity
and SO general Il diffusion of the com.
forts of life were never before enjoyed
by our people. The total wealth OF the
country in 1850 was $16, 159, ,616,0 In
! 1890 it amounted to $62 ,61O, GOO, 600. an
increase of 2S7 per cent. .
The message, after setting forth the
increase in manufactures and grow th
of foreign and coastwise trade, takes up
the tariff subject. On this the Presi.
dent says:
l believe that the protective system
which has now for something more thar
thirty years continuously prevailed in
our legislation. has been a mighty instru.
ment for the development of our national
wealth and a most powerful agency in
protecting the homes of our workingmen
| from the invasion of want. have felt
most solicitous interest to preserve tc
our working people rates of wages tina:
would not only give daily bread but
supply a comfortable margin for those
home attractions and family comforts
and enjoyments without which life is
| neither hopeful nor sweet. They are
American citizens-a part of the great
| people for whom our Constitution and
government were framed and instituted
and it can not be a perversion of that
Constitution to 80 legislate as to preserve
in their homes the comfort, independence,
| loyalty and sense of interest 10 the gov.
| eminent which are essential to good
citizenship in peace, and which will
| bring this stalwart throng, as in 1851, to
| the defense of the flag when it is as.
sailed.
1t Is not my purpose to renew here the
argument in favor of protective tariff.
The result of the recent election must be
accepted as having introduced new
policy. The contention has not
been between schedules, but between
principles, and it would be offensive to
suggest that the prevailing party will not
carry into legislation the principles advo-
Gated by it and the pledges given to the
people. The tariff bills passed by the
House of Representatives at the last ses
sion were, as l suppose-even in the
opinion of their rolnOters-inadequate
and justified only by the fact that the
Senate and House of Representatives
| were not in accord, and that general
revision could not, therefore be under
| taken. recommend that the whole
subject of tariff revision be left to the in
coming Congress.
On the subject Of capital and labor
the message says: The strained and
too often disturbed relations existing be-
tween the employees and the employers
in our great manufacturing establish
ments have not been favorable to calm
cnnsidaFatiop AN.teq gias.9 ,aoesacf re- stIsa,
tenn. The fact that his wages were the
highest paid in like callings in the world
and that maintenance of this rate of
wages, in the absence of protective du-
ties upon the product of his labor, was
impossible were obscured by the passion
evoked by these contests. He NAV now
be able to review the question in the light
ot hls personal experience under the on.
Grafton of tariff for revenue only, If
that experience shall demonstrate that
present rates of wages are thereby main
talned or increased, either absolutely or
IN their purchasing power, and that the
aggregate volume of work to be done in
tins country is increased, or even main
tanned, so that there are more or as
many days work in a year at as good or
netter wages for the American workman
as has been the case under the protective
system, every one will rejoice.
Our relations with Canada are referred
TO, and the commercial attitude of that
government to the United States is such
That the President recommends radical
revision of our trade relations with that
country, but on an intimate and Friendly
oasis. The regret is made that in many
OF the controversies, notably those as to
the fisheries on the Atlantic, the sealing
interests on the Pacific, and the canal
coils, our negotiations with Great Britain
nave continuously been thwarted or re.
tarded by unreasonable and unfriendly
objections and protests from Canada.
The report of the Secretary of the
treasury on the financial condition of the
government is dwelt upon at length: the
reorganization of the army service is
the work of the various
Departments is complimented, and the
new navy is pointed to with pride.
Concerning the Pension Bureau. the
PRESIDENT says: believe that the organ. |
zation is efficient, and that the work
has been done with fidelity. The pas.
sage of what is known as the disability
Dill has, as as foreseen, very largely in.
creased the annual disbursements to the
disabled veterans of the civil war. Ths
estimate for this fiscal year was $144..
100. .OOO, and that amount was appropri.
lted. A deficiency amounting to SiO..
'Oe,62 must be provided for at this SEES
ION. The estimate for pensions for the
iscal year ending June 80, 1894, is $f65..
'OO,OoO. The Commissioner of Pensions
believes that, if the present legislation
md methods are maintained and further
to the pension laws are no,
made, the maximum expenditure fo,
tensions will be reached June 80, 1894.
nnd ma Will be at the highest point $1S8, 600.
OO per annum.
The usefulness of the Agricultural de-
'artment is presented, and the subjects
4 quarantine and immigration. the
y Norld's Fair, protection to railroad EN-.
ioyees, civil service and election meth.
ds are considered.