Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-12-10
MEETIHG OF CONGRESS.

IN both houses S PzssidfaaaS anu ta 4sisass was Iesa
that was ione during the day. Close at
tention was paid 10 what the President
had to say regarding Cuba, which in part
4was as follows.
EXTRACTS FROM THE MESSAGE.
s.The insurrection in Cuba still continues
with all its perpiexities. 1t Is difhcuit 10
perceive that aEy progress mas tnus iar
been made toward the pscifcatlon OF the
island. or that the situation oil analrs as
depicted in nv last annual messags has IN
the least improved II Spain still holds
Havana. and the sesports and all the con-
siderable towns, the insurgents still roam
at will over at least two thirds OF the IN
land conntry. If the determination OF
Spain TO put down the insurrection seems
bnt 70 strengthen with the lapse OF time,
and il eyinced by her unhesitating devo
tion of largely increased military and naval
forces to the task, there is much reason 10
believe that the insurgents nave galneu III
point of numbers, and character anu ie
sorces, ard are none the less inheAioie ~
their resolve not to succumD Without prac'
tically securing the great objects tor which
thew took up arms. If Spain has not yet
re- established her authority neither nave
the insurgents yet made good their title
To he regarded as an independent State,
Indeed. as the contest has gone on, the
pretense that civil government exists on
the island, except SO for as Spain is aDle
to maintain it, has been practically aoan-
doned,
Then he refers to American interests IN
Cuba. thinks intervention not now possible
and concludes the subject as follows:
~ Arnt n
cesstull, with the insurrectlon has become
manifest and it is demonstrated that her
sovereignty is extinct in Cuba, for all pur-
noses Of its rightful existance, when hop
less struggle for its re-establishment has
degenerated into a strife which means
nothing more than the useless sacrince oi
human life, and the utter Destruction oil
the very subject-matter OF the CONNECT,
situation will be presented In which our
Adaptations to the sovereignty OF Spain
will, be superseded by higher Obligations,
which we can hardly hesitate to recognize
and discharge.
Defining ihe CHI ice OF way andmethods
until the time foT action arrives, we snouid
make them depend upon the precise con
ditions hen existing; and they should not
be determined upon without giving Care
ful heed to every consideration involving
our honor aad interest, or the IL International
dutg we owe to Spain. Until we face the
contingencies suggested. Or the situation
is by other incioents imperatlvely changed
we saould continue in the line oil conduct
heretofore pursued, thus IN all circumstance
exhibiting our obedience to the require
ments of public law, and our regard Tor
the duty enjoined upon US by the position
we occupy IN the family OF nations
A contemplation of emergencies that
,.lairlv laad avoid
their creation, either through careless
disregard of present duty or even an un-
due stimulation and ill-timed expression OF
feeling.
But / have deemed it not amiss to re-
mind the Congress that a time may ar
rive when a correct policy and care Tor the
interests of other nations and their cIti-
zens. and desire to see rich and Ter
tile country, intimately related to us saved
from complete devastation will constraln
our government to such action, al Will pre-
serve the interests thus involved anu al
the same time promise to Cuba and It's IN
habitants an opportunity to enjoy the bles-
sings of peace.
OTHER MATTERS
The Venezuela trouble is referred to as
being settled by arbitration, hope for
the intervention OF Christendom in Turkey
ia expressed; the increase In our coast de-
feLses and in our Navy is stated; the con-
dition of and some abuses ii the z D. de-
psrtment are remarked; some changes are
recommended in the Indian Bureau; the
usefulness OF the Dept OF Agriculture l.
set forth; and the progress in Civil Ser
vice Reform Is given as a cause Tor con.
graduation.
He defends the present tariff law as fol-
lows:
DEFENDING THE TARIFF LAW.
81 desire to recur to the statements
elsewhere made concerning the govern
ment's receipts and expenditures fOr the
purpose Of venturing upon soml l1gges
tons touching upon our present tariff law
and its operations.
This statute took effect on the 28th day
of Augus,. 1894. Whatever may be its
shortcomings as completed measure OF
tariff reform, it must be conceded that il
has opened the way to tree and greater
exchange of commodities between us and
ether countries, and thus furnished a
wider market for oar products and manu-
tactures. The only entire fiscal year dur
ing which this law has been in force
ended on the Both OF June, 1896. In that
year our imports increased over those of
the previous year more than $6,500.00
while the value of the domestic products
we exported and which found markets
abroad was nearly $40, 600, 900 more than
during the preceding year.
Those who insist that the cost 10 our
people of articles coming to them from
abroad for their needful use should only
be increased through tariff charges to al
extent necessary to meet the expenses OF
the government, as well as those WIN
claim that tariff charges may be laid npon
such articles beyond the necessities OF
government revenue, and with the addi
tional purpose OF so increasing their price
in our markets as to give American manu-
fdcturers and producers better and more
profitable opportunities, must agree thai
our tariff laws are only primarily justified
as sources of revenue TO enable the gov
erument to meet the necessary expenses
of its maintenance. Considered as to its
sufficiency in this respect, the present. law
can by no means fall under just condem-
nation. During the only complete fiscal
of its operation it has yielded nearly $8,
600, 900 more revenue than was received
from tariff duties in the preceding year.
There was nevertheless, deficit between
our receipts and expenditures of q little
less than $25, 900, 900. This, however, was
not unexpected.
The situation was such in December
last, seven months before the close of the
fiscal year, that the secretary OF the treas
ury foretold deficiency OF $l7 900, 900.
The great and increasing apprehension
and timidity in business circles, and the
depression in all activities intervening
since that time, resulting from causes per
fectly well understood, and entirely dis
connected with our tariff law or its opera
ton, seriously checked tie imports we
would have otherwise received, and readi-
ly account for the difference between this
estimate of the secretary and the actual
deficiency, as well as for continued de
fcit."
Regarding the Pension List the message
reads as follows:
No DECREASE IN PENSIONS
"The diminution OF our enormous pen
sion roll and the decrease of pension ex-
penditure which have been so often conf.
IDENTIFY foretold, still fail in material reali-
zation. The number of pensioners on the
rolls at the close OF the fiscal yea- ended
June 80, 1896, was 970,678 This is the
largest number ever reported. The
amount paid exclusively foi pensions dur
ing the year was $l3S, 2l4, 76l "a, slight
decrease from that of the preceding year,
while the total expenditures on account of
pensions, including the cost of maintain
ing the department and expenses attend
ing pension distribution, amounted to
Eln xxtfhf II