The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-12-05
THE DEMOCRATIC PREiS.
Congress and the Presidents Message.

Congress and the Presidents Message.
Congress convened Monday. Democrat
and Republican representatives were nearly
all present and after the usual experiences
OF opening day" the legislative branch of
the grandest government and greatest nation
on earth was ready for business. Interest of
course centered in the Presidents Message,
which is long and able document. The
communication is exhaustive and thorough
and contains many sound suggestions that
should be needed by the two Houses The
PRESIDENT reviews our foreign relations,
pointing to the advantages of "frm but
Just foreign policy, free from envious or am
bilious national schemes and characterized
by entire honesty and sincerity. The restric-
tions placed upon the importation of certain
of our food products by the government of
Belgium; the attitude of this country during
the civil war in Brazil; the friendly offices of
our representatives to Brazil and Portugal
for the protection of the subjects of either
while in the territory of the othes, pending
strained relations between the two countries;
the new commercial relations with Brazil
under the Wilson tariff; the participation of
American exhibitors at the Antwerp Indus
trial Exposition, were briefly touched upon
The war iu the East, he says, deserves our
gravest consideration, by reason of its dis
turbance of our growing commercial inter-
ests in the two countries.
Referring to the prohibition by the German
government against importation of live stock
and fresh meats from this country, because
OF the reported discovery of Texas fever in
cargo of American cattle, he says it is
hoped that Germany will soon be convinced
that the inhibition is as needness as it is
harmful to our mutual interests. He rec
ommends the repeal of so much of the Fed
eral statute that imposes a discriminating
duty on sugar coming from countries paying
an export bounty thereon. Germany claims
such duty is in contravention of the treaty
of 1928 with Prussia.
The decision of the Paris tribunal of ar
bitration was characterized as equitable and
advantageous. Queen Lii. is disposed of in
sentence and the present Hawaiian gov
ernmentis spoken of as " in effective opera
tion." Of Japan he says; The Japanese
Empire of today is no longer the Japan of
the past, and our relations with this progress
i've nation should not be less broad and lib
eral than those with other powers" Good
will marks our relations with our nearest
southern neighbors. There ought, he says,
to be new treaty of commerce and naviga-
ton with Mexico, to take the place of the
one that expired 13 years ago. The storage
and use of the Rio Grande waters for irriga-
ton should, he says receive the joint atten-
ton of both countries. Nicaragua's .sover
eighty over the Mosquito Indian territory
cannot, he says, be challenged by this gov
ernment. He expresses sympathy for the
financial straits of Peru, which he says invite
our forbearance in pressing long pending
claims. He calls attention to the modus vi
vendi concluded between Russia and this
country restrictive of poaching on Russian
rookeries and of sealing in certain waters
not comprehended in the Paris award.
Congress is invited to express an opinion
on the U. s. policy in regard to Samoa.
The receipts of the government from all
sources, for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1894, were $S72, 1902, ,49S.29, and its expendi-
lures $442, sos, 1881, leaving deficit of $69,-
500, ,260.58. There was decrease in the or
dinary expenses of the government of $751;
2,674.66 compared with 1898. 1t is estimat-
ed that there will be deficit of over $40, ,O0O,-
000nexty year. Nov. 1, 1894, the total amount
of money in the country was $2.240. .773, 1888,
or $24.27 per capita on an estimated popula-
ton of over 6S, 100000.
He urges that the army be increased from
its present effective strength of 20, 900 men to
$4,000, its maximum strength. He says the
Union Pacific R. R. should be reorganized as
quickly as possible.
Reforms in the post office.d .departmentw were
recommended, which it is believed can be
made with advantage to the service.
An increase in the number of battle ships
and torpedo boats is urged. The President
recommends that the Coast Survey be trans
ferred from the Treasury to the Navy de-
partment. Protection for our forest reserves
is earnestly nrged.
The President still adheres to Civil Ser
vice Reform. He also recommends a Ma
tional Boaad of Health to protect our country
from the invasion of pestilence.
He thinks the present tariff law needs i'm
portant amendments, among them being the
placing of coal and iron ore on the free list
and the abolition of the sugar differential.
He commends the action of Secretary Car
Isle in issuing bonds to provide for the gold
reserve, regrets the inadequate protection
existing for this reserve, and says he shall
endeavor to save the country from default
ing in its pecuniary obligations or reducing
them to silver basis. The President en-
dorses the plan of the Secretary of the Treas
ury to modify present banking laws.
The message is one of the best ever receiy-
ed by q. S. Congress.