Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-06

employers in our great manufacturing estab
iishments have not been favorable to n calm
consideration by the wage-earner of the effect
upon wages of the protective system. The
facts that his wages were the highest paid ii
like callings in the world and that n mainte
nance OF this rate of wages, in the absence Of
protective duties upon the productof 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 of his per
sonal experience under the operation OF
tariff for revenue only. II that ex-
perience shall demonstrate that present
/ rates OF wages are thereby maintained
! or increased, either absolutely or in their pur-
/ chasing power. and that the aggregate volume
of work to be done in this country Is increased
or even main tained that there are more or
as many days work in year at as good or bet
ter wages for the American workman as has
been the case under the protective system,
everyone viii rejoice. general process o!
wage reduction can not be contemplated by any
I patriotic citizen without the gravest apprehen-
sion II may be, indeed believe is, possible
for the American manufacturer to compete sue
cessfuliy with his foreign rival in many branches
Of production without the defense of protective
/ duties, If the paw rolls are equalized: but the
conflict that stands between the producer and
that result and the distress of our working
/ people when it is attained are not pleasant TO
contemplate. The Society of the Unemployed
/ now holding Its frequent and threatening pa
|
4 be allowed to acquire an American domicile.
| The reports of the heads OF the several Ex-
/ ecutve Depar tments which are herewith sub
mitted have very naturally included a resume
| of the whole work of the administration with
the transactions of the last fiscal year. The at
tention not only of Congress but of the country
| is again invited TO the methods of administra-
/ ton which have been pursued and TO the re-
suits which have been attained. Public rev.
enues amounting S1,4l4.019.2 1872 % have been
collected and disbursed without loss from mis-
Appropriation. without a single defalcation OF
such importance to attract the public atten-
ton, and at a diminished per cent Of cost for
collection The public business has been
transacted not only with fidelity. but pro-
gressively, and with view to giving to the
people in the fullest possible degree the ben
efits OF service established and maintained
for their protection and comfort.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS
Our relations with other nations are now I'M
disturbed by any serious controversy. The
complicated and threatening differences with
Germany and England relating to Samoan
affairs. with England in relation to the seal
fisheries In the Bering Sea. and with Chile
growing out of the Baltimore affair have been
adjusted.
There have been negotiated and concluded
under section > OF the tariff law. commercial
agreements relating to reciprocal trade with
the following countries: Brazil Dominican Re
pubic. Spain for Cuba and Puerto Rico
Guatemala, Salvador. the German Empire
Great Britain for certain West Indian Colonies
and British Guiana, Nicaragua, Honduras, and
AUSTRIA Hungary.
OF these those with Guatemala, Salvador.
the German Empire. Great Britain. Nicaragua,
Honduras and Austria Hungary have been con-
Guided since my last annual message. Under
these trade arrangements a free or favored adj
mission has been secured in every case for
important list OF American products. Especial
care mas been taken to secure markets for farm
products in order to relieve that great under
wing industry OF the depression which the lack
of an adequate foreign market for our surplus
often brings. An opening has also been made
for manufactured products that will undoubt-
eiiy. II this policy is maintained.
greatly augment our export trade. The
full benefits of these arrangem ents can not
be realized instantly. New lines of trade are
10 be opened. The commercial traveller must
survey the field. The manufacturer must adapt
his goods to the new markets and facilities for ex
change must be established. This work has been
well begun. our merchants and manufacturers
having entered the new fields with courage and
enterprise In the case of food products. and
especially with Cuba. the trade did not need to
wait and the immediate results have been
most gratifying. Ii this policy and these trade
arrangements can be continued in force and
aided b. the establishment. of American steam
ship lines. | do not doubt that Ahall. within
a short period. secure fully one-third of the
total trade of the countries of Central and
Sonth America, which now amounts to about
$500. 900. 900 annually. In 1885 We had only
per cent of this trade.
TRADE AND RECIPROCITY.
The following statistics show the increase in
our trade with the countries with which we
have reciprocal trade agreements from the date
when such agreements went into eff ect up to
"a hi,
almost wholly and in others in an important de-
gree the result of these agreements.
The domestic exports TO Germany and
Austria Hungary have increased in value from
S47. 673 756 to So. 1884, 64. an increase of slO
3l9305. or 81 .63 per cent. With American
countries the value OF our exports has increased
from SHl60.2S5 to S54,6l3.5 95. an increase OF
80. i533i3. o. 23.6I per cent. The total in
crease IN the value of exports to all the coun-
tries with which have reciprocity agree
ments has been $50, 772. 62l. This Increase il
chiefly IN wheat, flour. meat. and dairy pro-
ducts, and In manufactures OF iron and steel
and lumber. There has been q large increase
in the value of imports from all the5c countries
since the commercial agreements wen. into
effect. amounting to S74. 29i, 525. but it has
been entirely in imports from the American
countries. consisting mostly of sugar coffee
india rubber. and crude drugs. The alarmed
attention of our European competitors for the
SouIh American market has been attracted to
this new American policy and to our acquisition
and their loss of South American trade.
THE BERING SEA DISPUTE.
A treaty providing for the arbitration of the
dispute between Great Britain and the United
States to the killing OF seals in the Boring
Sea concluded on the 29th of February last
This treaty was accompanied by an agreement
prohibiting pelaSic sealing pending the arbitra-
ton. ard vigorous effort was made during
this season to drive out all poaching sealers
from the Boring Sea. Six naval vessels. three
revenue cutters and one vessel from the Fish
Commission. all under the command of Com
mander Evans of the NAVY were sent INTO the
sea. which was systematically pstrolled. Some
seizures were made, and il is believed that the
catch In the Boring Sea by poachers amounted
TO less than 500 seals. 1t is true. however, that
in the North Pacific. while the seal herds were
on their way to the passes between the Aleutian
Islands, IA very large number, probably 50, go.
were taken The existing statutes OF the
United States do not restrain citizens from
taking seals in tine Ncific Ocean. and perhaps
should not, unless the prohibition can be ex-
tended TO the citizens of other nations. I
recommend that power be given to the Presi-
dent. by proclamation. to prohibit the taking
Of seals in the North Pacific by American
vessels in either the result of the find
ings Of the tribunal of arbitration. or other
wise. the restraints can be applied to the vessels
o: all countries. The case of the United States
for the tribunal of arbitration has been pre-
pared with great care and industry by the Hon.
John W. Foster, and the counsel who represent