The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-12-10
The Presidents Message.

IN accordance with the custom Of
years, Congress began its tifty-fifth ses-
sion by listening TO Presidents mes
sage This is always one of the first
proceedings and has been so from the
time of Washington. And il is the
proper thing for the chief executive Of
nation like ours to transmit to the
lawmakers of the county in Congress
assembled his ideas and recommended
tons at the outset OF the session, in or
der ;hal they can be- care ully weighed
and considered before the enactment
OF measures 10 which they directly or
indirectly refer, And in this respect
Congress ia, been relieved OF much re-
spousioility in putting the Pre- iient's
ideas into statute form. Nlth the eX-
ception OF advising the ann nation I'd
Hawaii and the ualutaiuau,e II thu
present attitude of the government
towards Cubs, the President has few
ideas or Suggestions 10 make Ii i -
remarkable message Ia this particular.
JUDGED il uay be called = negative
message one that can be sd over aud
over without, finding = really good rea-
son for il having been written. There
is no plan outlined Tor tinsnelal lesis-
la,iou, although the President iuiers
that some such action i Necessary. He
totslly ignores tie suggestions Of his
Secretary for fiscal reform aud al
though he goes II length inta the con-
diuous which make financial leg i>la-
tinn a thing 10 * desired, Ae .ea, :
the mere details anu embodiment Of
form 70 the diverg opinions OF the
members NJ Congress. The people
know alrea " w vaIieut this >su-
;imeut Is aut .i,o remember the greSt
fight that was uade n Tie f,l. o. l>s-6
on this very question. Iiit i such al
important matter why dee, not Pres
dent Mckinley tell u his ideas auout
q remedy for the present unsAi. >sa.,nrN
conditions hich lie admits exist. He
dos recommend, when The JIue shall
STRIVE that the receipts of the govern
ueut are sufficient 10 pAy expenses,
that the treasury notes that have been
redeemed in gold shall. not be reis>usd,
except in exchange tor gold. He slso
suggests that national banks be allow
ell to issue notes To the face value of
their bonds deposited TO secure cIrcula-
ton and that tAeir Uo'eS be restricted
to denominations If ten dollars aud
upwards. All this : mere verb aye
and nota straightforward recommends.
ti0u for relief from a situation which
all prominent men declare needs .
thorough reconstruction aud change
President Mckinley was elected on s.
Plato m which advocated certain
tlng> In reierence0o iEauce and be
received the votes Of thousands ~ DEM
ocra.s who believed he would carry
out the many pretty promises be msde
before election. VITA the aiministra-
ton psssive in this regard il caanot be
expected Shsi Congress will take any
AcliSe tart in framing s new financial
law. The balauce o. the message Is Of
ordiuary interest, except that il n eet>
with strong opposition IN il references
u the annexation OF Hawaii. even
among the members OF The President :
own psrty. When that question comes
up ior actiou there vii Ue = royal tug
o. war. Ii i doubtful fit can be car
ried. The President. after touching
upan the civil service 'aW, arbitration,
reeipr city, batileship>. Ala>ka aud
Indian affairs and other minor mat
ters, closes his message with warning
to Congress 10, 10 enIbarrass the Treas
ury by reckless and indiscrimiuste sp-
propositions This Is aoout the wisest
and most commeniable part Of The en-
tire paper. The message appears on
our eighth page and all should read it
carefully.