The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1897-12-10

the provisions of the third and fourth
sections of the revenue act approved
July "a, 1897, / appointed the Hon. John
A. Kasson. OF Iowa, a special commits
sioner plenipotentlery TO undertake the
requisite negotiations with foreign coun-
tries desiring to avail themselves of these
proVlsiors. The negotiations are now
proceeding with several governments,
Doth European and American. 1t Is be-
lleVed that by a careful exercise of the
powers conferred by that act some griev-
ances or our own and of other coun-
tries in our mutual trade relations NAV
be either removed. or largely allevated.
ana that the volume of our commercial
exchanges may be enlarged with adj
vantage 10 both contracting parties
International arbitration cannot be
omitted from the list of subjects claim
ing our consideration. Events have only
served to strengthen the general views
of this question expressed in my inaug-
ural address. The best sentiment of the
civilized world is moving toward the
settlement of differences between nations
without resortng TO the horrors OF war.
Treaties as embodying these humane
principles on broad lines without in any
way imperiling our interest or our hon
or shall have my constant encourage
ment.
Foreign Commerce.
Most desirable from any standpoint OF
national interest and patriotism is the ef-
fort to extend our foreign commerce. To
this end our. merchant marine should be
improved and enlarged. We should
trade OF the world. We do not
do IL now. We should be the
laggard no longer. The inferiority of our
merchant marine is Justly humillating to
the national pride. The government by
every proper constitutional means should
aid in making our ships familiar visitors
az every commercial port OF the world,
thus opening up new and valuable mar
nrO0nCtq
and the factory.
Sealing in BerIng Sea.
The efforts which have been made dur
ing the two previous years by my prede-
cessor to secure better protection to the
seals in the north Pacific ocean and Ber-
ing sea were renewed at an early date by
this administration and have been pur-
sued with earnestness. The result of the
recent conferences at Washington was to
place beyond controversy the duty of the
governments concerned to adopt meas
ures without delay for the preservation Of
the herds. Negotiations to this end are
now in progress.
Nicaragua Canal.
A subject of large Importance to our
country and increasing appreciation on
the part Of the people, is the completion
of the great highway of trade between
the Atlantic and Pacific known as the
to American commerce Is universally adj
mitted. The commission appointed under
date of July "a last ito continue the sur
VeyS and examinations authorized by the
act approved March 2, 1885, in regard to
"the proper route, feasibility and cost OF
construction Cf the Nicaragua canal, with
a view Of making complete plans for the
entire work of construction of such
canal" is now employed in the undertake
ing.
The Civil Service.
The important branch of our govern
ment known as the civil service, the prac-
teal Improvement Of which has long
been a subject of earnest discussion, has
of late years received increased legisla-
tive and executive approval During the
past few months the service has been
placed upon a still firmer basis of bust
ness methods and personal merit. While
the right of our veteran soldiers to rein
statement in deserving cases has been as
serted. dismissals for merely political
reasons have been carefully guarded
against the examinations for admittance
TO the service enlarged and at the same
time rendered less technical and more
practical and a distinct advance has
been made by giving hearing before dis
missal upon ali cases where incompetency
Is charged or demand made for the re-
moval of officials in any of the depart
ments. This order mas been made to
give to the accused his right to be heard,
but without in any way impairing the
power of removal, which sno1lu always
be exercised in cases of efficiency and
incompetency. and which is one of the
vital safeguards of the civil service re-
form system, preventing stagnation and
deadwood and keeping every employee
keenly alive to the fact that the secur-
ity Of his tenure depends not on favor
hut on his own tested and carefully
watched record of service.
The Navy's Needs.
Under the head of the navy, the presi-
dent points to the necessity for speedy
legislation to procure the armor for the
three battleships now building which
would be otherwise useless. He speaks
in terms of praise of the quality of our
ships and thinks that the time has now
arrived when the increase to which the
country is committed should for a time
take the form of increased facilities COM
mensurate with the increase of our naval
vessels. He refers to the lack of docks.
and urges that three or four Of the larg-
est docks be provided on the Atlantic.
at least one on the Pacific coast, and a
floating dock in the gulf. There should
also be ample provision for munitions Of
war and an increase of officers and en-
listed men. Additions are also necessary
the stocks five large battleships il is
recommended that an appropriation be
made but for one more battleship on the
Pacific coast. Several torpedo boats are
also necessary.
Wise MSve.
speaking OF the pending sale OF the
Kansas Pacific property, he says if no
better bid is received than the upset price
fixed by the court. the government would
receive onlv $2.500,0O0 on its claim of
nearly $4,000, 600. He believes the govern
ment has the authority to bid on the
road. and has directed the secretary of
the treasury to make the deposit of $780,
900 required to qualify as bidder and to
bid at the sale a sum at least equal to
the principal of the debt to the govern
ment. He suggests however, that in a
matter so important as the government
being a possible owner of the railroad,
congress should enact some legislation to
define its views. 1t is clear to him. how
ever. that the government should not
permit the property to be sold al price
less than one-half the principal of its
debt and less than one-fifth OF its entire
debt, principal and interest.
The Indians.
The president says that for a number of
years past the conditions under which
the five civilized tribes were established
in the Indian territory under treaty pro-
visions with the United States, with the
right of self-government and the eXclu-
sion of all white persons from within
their borders have undergone so COM
plete a change that the continuance of
the system thus inaugurated IS rendered
THEORETICALLY imDOgSiblp