Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-12-11
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY'S
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
Treats Upon All Of the Subjects OF
Interest Now Before the
Nation.
ADVISES CURRENCY LEGISLATION
Considerable Attention PAID TO III
dian and Alaska Affairs 80
Cuts Out Much Work
for Congress.


Washington, Dec. 6.-The first regu-
lar session or the Fifty-fifth congress
assembled at noon, Speaker Reed IN
the house and Vice President Hobart
in the senate dropping the gaveis at
the same time. The preliminarles were
Of the usual routine character. Inc
weather is fine and bracing' Long oe-
fore the call to order the pubic galler-
les were packed to witness the open
ing scenes OF the session whlch may
become not only historic, but noIaoIe'
Many desks in both houses bore
floral tributes from admirers LOT inns
or that member, some OF them quite
elaborate. In the senate, Dllnd Inap-
lain Milburn, and in the house Rev.
Cbas. A. Berry of Weaverhampton,
England, delivered the invocations'
The roll call showed a quorum ana
10 spare in both houses--T senator's
BOZ representatives. In the senate res
were passed notifying the
house that it was in session ready LOT
business; appointing Allison n Q
man to meet the committee OF the
house and wait on the president; hN-
ing the time Of daily meetings at noon
Then a recess was taken until p. m
In the house five vacancies by death
or resignation during the recess were
filed by swearing in +. NJ. Grlfhth,
democrat, Indiana; II. ). Boutelle, re-
publican, Illinois; James Norton
democrat, South Carolina; q. i. Law
renee, republican, Massachusetts; d.
\. Griggs. democrat, New York.
When the senate r~econyened, The
committee to call on the president re-
ported the latter would at once COM
municate 4 congress in writing. Inc
presidents secretary then presented
his message and it was read.
The clerk was directed 10 notify the
senate the house was in session. Ding
lev, Maine; Grosvenor, Ohio; Bal
lev, Texas; were selected n commit
tee 10 wait on the president Noon
was fixed as the daily hour OF meet
ing. Recess was taken till l:2O p. m
When the house reconvenad after an
other few minutes recess. the commit
tee 10 wait on the president Iepor'cd
the latter would at once communicate
in writing. The secretary presented
the message and it was read.
The Message.
TO the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives:
1t gives me pleasure to extend greet
ing to the Fifty-ffth congress assem-
bled at the seat Of government with
many of whom, senators and represen-
t~atives, l have been associated in the
legislative service. Their meeting oc-
ours under felicitous circumstances,
iustifying sincere congratulatlon ana
calling for our grateful acknowledge
ment TO a beneficent providence which
has SO signally blessed and ~prospered
us as "A nation. Peace and good will
with all the nations of the earth con-
tinue unbroken.
A Matter OF Satisfaction.
a matter Of genuine satisfaction is
the growing feeling Of fraternal regard
and unifcation of all sections of our
COUNTRY thA~ SpaslVO xr papIIo.Ism rs UNI
yersal and is ever increasing in fervor
The public questions which now mos
engross us are lifted far above either
craftsmanship, prejudice or former sec.
final differences. They affect every
part OF our common country alike and
permit of no division on ancient lines
Questions Of foreign policy, of revenue
the %soundnesS of the currency, the in.
volatility of national obligatins, the
improvement of the public service, ap.
peal to the individual conscience of ey.
cry earnest citizen to whatever party
he belongs or IN whatever section OF
the country he may reside.
The extra session of this congress
which closed during July last enacted
important legislation, and while its
full effect has not yet been realized
what it has already accomplished as.
sures us of its timeliness and wisdom
To test its permanent value further
time will be required, and the people
satisfied with its operation and results
thus far, are in no mind to withhold
from it a fair trial.
The tariff legislation having beer
settled by the extra session of con,
gress, the questions pressing for con,
sideration is that of the currency.
Ought Not TO Hesitate.
With the great resources of the gov,
eminent and with the honorable exam,
pie Of the past before us, we ought moi
to hesitate to enter upon a currency
revision which will make our demand
Obligations less onerous to the govern
ment and relieve our financial! laws
from ambiguity and doubt.
The brief review of what was ac.
complished from the close of the wal
to 1922 makes unreasonable and
groundless any distrust either of ouI
financial ability or soundness; while
the situation from 1893 to 1897 must
admonish congress of the immediate
necessity of so legislating rs to make
the return of the conditions then pre-
vailing impossible.
Currency Question Pressing.
The work of putting our finances up
on a sound basis, difficult as it may
seem. will appear easier when we re-
call the financial operations of the gov
eminent since 1866. On the 3Oth day
OF June of that year we had outstand-
ing demand liabilities in the sum of
S72S, see, 447.41. On the LIST Of January,
1879, these liabilities had been reduced
to $43, as OF our interest bear
ing obligations the figures are even
more striking. On July /, 1866, the
principal of the interest bearing debt
was $2.332, :331 EOS. On the 1st day of
July, 1893, this sum had been reduced
OF $685., 037, 100, or an aggregate reduc-
ton of $1,747, 294, 10S. The interest
bearing debt of the United States on
the LIST day of December, 1897, was
$s~47,365,620. The government money
now outstanding December ~ con
sists of $346, 6s1 ,016 of United States
notes, $107, 793, $50 of treasury notes is
by authority of the law of 1890,
1884, o63, SOB Of silver certificates and
SCI, ESQ, 761 of standard silver dollars.
Many Plans Proposed.
There are many plans proposed as n
remedy for the evil. 1t is not that our
currency of every kind is not good;
good because the government is
pledged to keep it SO, and that pledge
not be broken. However, the
guaranty of our purpose to keep the
will be best shown by adyanc.
Ing toward its fulfillment. The evil of
the present system is found in the
great cost to the government of main
rnrnD fhA N--.