Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1897-12-10
me PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
mcKlnIey's first Annual Address
to Congress,
CONCENTRATES THE COUNTRY
vsvon the Currency Plan Submitted By
Secretary Gage - Cuban War Gets
Considerable Attention - Recognition
Not Advised-Blmetallic Commission
Not Yet Discharged - Hawaii and
Other Countries.

Following, is the full text OF President
McKinley's message to Congress, which
met Monday:
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives: 1t gives me pleasure to extend
greeting to the LVth congress assembled
at the seat Of government, with many OF
whose senators and representatives !
have been associated in the legislative
service. o5
Tho extra session OF this congress,
which closed July last, enacted important
legislation. and while its full effect has
not yet been realized, what 1t has already
accomplished assures us of its timeliness
and wisdom. To test its permanent value
further time will be required and the peo-
pie. satisfied with its operation and re-
suits thus far, are In no mind to With
hold from 1t fair trial.
Finance Question Next.
Tariff legislation having been settled by
the extra session Of congress. the ques-
ton next pressing for consideration Is
that OF the currency. The work OF put
ting our finance upon a sound basis, diff
ficult as 1t may seem, will appear easily
when we recall the financial operations
Of the government since 1866. On the 3oth
day of June Of that year we had out
standing demand liabilities in the sum OF
$7S. s6s.47.I. On the LIST Of January, 1873.
these liabilities had been reduced to SAB, :
SS9, 1858. OF our Understanding obl1ga-
tons the figures are even NOR. striking.
On July 1, 1866. the principal OK the inter-
est-bearing debt Of the government was
$685.. 50. 20S On the LIST day Of July, 1%'3,
this sum had been reduced to $3.50 ,lG9.
or an aggregate reduction OF ST. ~, Jus.
The Understanding debt Of the United
States on the LIST day OF December, 1887,
was $s47.3e5.62o. The government money
now outstanding December y consists Of
SAG, 6s1 DIG. of United States notes, 1901, 49,
$50 Of treasury notes. issued by authority
tifcates and 81, 2sO.76l OF standard silver
dollars.
i: With the great resources Of the govern
ment and with the honorable example Of
the past before US. we ought not to hes
3tate to enter upon currency revision
which will make our demand obligations
less onerous to the government and re-
lieve our financial laws from ambiguity
and doubt. The brief review Of what was
accomplished from the close Of the war
to 1888 makes unreasonable and ground
less any distrust either Of our financial
ability or soundness: while the situation
from 1888 to 1897 must admonish congress
Of the immediate necessity of SO legis-
1ating as to make the return OF the con-
dltions then prevailing impossible.
Many Plans Are Proposed.
There are many plans proposed as
remedy for the evil. Before We can find
the true remedy We must appreciate the
real evil 1t is not that our currency Of
every kind is not good, for every dollar
Of it is good; good because the govern
ment's pledge is out to keep 1t SO. and
that pledge will not be broken. How
ever, the guaranty Of our purpose to
keep the pledge will be best shown by
advancing toward its fulfillment. The evil
# the present system is found in the
great cost to the government OF MAIN
tanning the parity OF our different forms
OF money-that Is. keeping all Of them at
par with gold. We surely cannot be
longer needless Of the burden this inn