The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1897-12-18

rected the secretary OF the treasury to
make the deposit Of 5000. 900 req uired to
| qualify rs bidder aud to bid at the
,ale sum at least equal to the princi.
| pal OF the debt to the government He
| suggests, however, that In q matter 80
important as the govern mont becoming
n possible owner Of the railroad, con.
gress should enact some legislation to
define its views. IL is clear to him,
however, that the govern ment should
not permit the property to be sold ut q
price less than one. half the principal of
It's debt aud less than one. flfth OF lie ell.
tire debt, principal aud interest.
| civil service.
The president devotes considerable
| space to the civil service. the practical
Improvement of which, he says, has
long been a subject Of earnest discus.
sion, and which has OF late years re.
| ceived increased legislative and execu.
| tive approval. During the past few
| months the service has been placed upon
| q still frmer basis of business metho DDS
aud personal merit While the right Of
| deserving veteran soldiers to reinstat
ment has been asserted. dismissals for
merely political reasons have been care.
fully guarded against; the examinations
improved and made practical Ad.
vance has been made by giving q hear.
Ing before dismissal upon all cases
wherein incompetenoy 10 charged or de.
mand made for the removal OF officials.
This last has been done without impair.
ing the power Of removal.
The Indian Troubles.
The message deals at some length
with the unsatisfactory condition Of
affairs in the Indian Territory. The
large white element Is said to be with.
out protection aud without schools or
other rights Of citizens; leading Indians
have absorbed great tracts OF lands and
created an aristooracy, and the friends
Of the Indians believe that the best In.
terests Of the i've civilized tribes would
be found In American citizenship. Ref
erence is made to the failure SO far of
the Dawes commission to secure the
consent OF the tribes to an extinguish.
ment Of the tribal titles and division
Of the lands. 1t is said that should the
tribes still fail to ratify the agreement
then some legislation should be had by
congress-
Reciprocity Arrangements.
Mr.. kasson OF Iowa 10 said to be now
conducting negotiations with several
governments for reciprocity arrange.
ments under the tariff act, and it 10 Be.
lieved that by q careful exercise of the
powers conferred by the aot, some
grievances Of our own aud other coun.
tries in our mutual trade relations may
be removed or slleviated aud the volume
OF our commercial exchanges enlarged.
Case Of MiuIstsr Merry
Reference 10 made to the failure OF
Nicaragua on account Of the obligation
of that country to the diet OF the
Greater Republic OF Central America.
As there is no legal authority at pres.
emit to accredit him to the diet Mr..
Baker, the present minister at No
nagua, has been directed to present his
letters of recall. w. Godfrey Hunter
is said TO be likewise accredited to Hon.
duras. q member Of the Greater Re-
public, and his case Is awaiting action.
Affairs In Farawsy Alaska
Attention is called to the need OF
prompt legislation as to Alaska and ~
to the extension of civil courts within
that territory. There Is need for sur.
veys and for the establishment Of an.
other land office at some point In the
Yukon valley, for which an appropris.
ton is asked. Military force 10 also
necessary and the establishment OF some
sort Of flexible government. II the
startling reports as to the probable
shortage of food for the miners be fully
verified. every effort should be made Of
any cost to carry them relief.
The Seal Conferences.
Reference is made to the recent con.
ferenoes ct Washington on the subject
of the protection Of seal life. the result
of which place beyond controversy, IL 10
said, the duty Of the governments con.
cerned to adopt measures without delay
for the preservation Of the herds Ne
gotiations to this end are now In pre-
gresa
International, Arbitration.
international arbitration IL declared
by the president to represent the best
sentiment Of the civilized world and
treaties embodying these humane prin.
ciples on broad lines without In any
way 'imperiling our interests or honor
will have his constant encouragement
The Paris Exposition.
A liberal appropriation 10 bespoksn in
0rQer tnat tne Onieod states may maze
a creditable exhibit at the approaching
Paris exhibition, In which the people
have shown an unprecedented interest
The Niearssuan Canal
The Nicaraguan canal 10 spoken Of -
Of large importance to our country and
the promise 10 made Of further reference
to the subject whom the report Of the
commission now at work 10 sent 10 con.
gress
Our Merchant Marine.
The president earnestly urges the I'm
provement Of our merchant marine. the
inferiority Of which, he says. 10 humil.
iating to the national pride
Keep Down Apprepriatioaa
In conclusion. the presidsnt admon.
ishes congress not to encourage inorsaSe
of the estimates for the maintenance q
the government. They would snmit a
decrease In many branches, and 10 u .
commanding duty TO keep the sppropds
atoms within the receipts of the guv.
eminent and thus avoid Q deficit
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