The evening times., 1896-12-05
.CLEVELAND's LAST SAY So
His Regular Annual Message to
Congress Has Been Completed.
WHAT HE WILL TALK ABOUT
Cuban Question Is One of the Chief
Subjects to Be Discussed-Vene-
zuelan Affair to Be Touched On.
He VIII Again Urge the Retire.
ment of Greeubacks.

The Presidents annual message to Con-
gress is completed
Itisintype. and tonight copies of it will
be sent out to responsible federal officers
in the large cities for distribution TO the
press These copies always go under seal,
with tile Injunction thatthey are not to be
broken until permission Is wired from lhis
city. The two houses being organized and
prepared to CONNIE nee business without de-
lay, the message Will be read in the Senate
and House on Monday Immediately ioiiow-
ing the report OF the joint committee ui-
rected to wait upon the President and In
form him that Congress is duly organized
nd ready To receive any communication he
may desire to make.
The message was discussed at the Cabi-
net meeting yesterday. As 1t is the last
regular message which President Cieve-
Ia nd will send to Congress, greater interest
than usual is taken in its contents. Apart
from this events which have transpired at
home and abroad within the present calen-
dar year, and which will undoubtedly be
fully treated, will give the document addi-
tional Importance and interest.
THE CUBAN QUESTION.
The main topic discussed at the Cabinet
meeting was the Cuban situation Secre-
tary Olney had drafted a review or events
in Cuba during the last year. and the fresl-
dent has commented upon it, II is asserted
that the President and his Cabinet are sub
stantially unanimous in the opinion that
until there is something more decisive in
tie situation in Cuba no action can prop
eriy be taken by the United States.
The message will state in effect that the
United States government has steadfasuy
and earnestly endeavorcd to discharge It's
duties to a nation with which 1t is at
peace, and to avoid the slightest appear
ance of Willingness to take advantage OF
its trouble with rebeliious colony. We
have enforced the laws of neutrality at
great trouble and expense AT the same
time it will be stated that the people OF
the United States syupathiZe deeply with
the Cuban insurgents, and that unless Spain
soon restores peace on the island the situa-
ton may become such as to make action by
this country imperative.
In addition to announcing a happy solu-
ton of the Venezuelan controversy, the
President will say: 1t is understood that
negotiatio for a general arbitration
treaty between the United States and
Great Britain, for the settlement Of all
disputes which do not involve questions
of national honor, are progressing sails
factoriIy aud the opinion will be expressed
that the treaty will be Concluded before
the close of the present administration.
The President will not tie able TO state
ttdt he mas kilDWfeuSt Ol
escenCe OF Venezuela in the agreement
reached between the United States and
Great Britain for the settlement of the
boundary dispute, but ne can show that
the matter is closed, so far as the United
States are concerned. and that the out
look for YeneZuela's approval is favorable
There IS no doubt in the mind of Mr.. Cleve-
land that President Crespo will recon-
mend To the Venezuelan congress the ratin-
,1tinu of the DrDDgSpd treaty.
THE MONEY QUESTION.
The keystone OF President Cleveland's
recommendations for the reform OF the
monetary system of the government will be
the retirementof the greenbacks- Heis EN-
phaticaIly opposed to the plan, SO strongly
urged by many Republicans. that the reye-
nue. of the government should be increased
TO such an extent that the ETeenhacks and
Sherman notes could all be collected and
boarded in the Treasury. Mr.. Cleveland
believes the government ought not to he in
the note-isSuing business at all, but that the
banks ought to perform this function lie
Will recomne nd such a system as VIII enable
the banks to issue notes to replace the re-
deemed and destroyed greenbacks-
Mr.. Cleveland remains an earnest adyo-
cate of tariff reform, and of Cuufinins, the
use of the taxing power to its legitimate
object Of procuring revenue for the support
of the government. and whatever recon-
meudation he may make as tOlesislatiOn TO
procure additional revenue VIII be con
sistent with his former record.