The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-12-09

IN an lf1tcrn0tlOnal agreement winch Will
bring about recognition of both gold and
silver as money upon such terms and with
such safeguards rs will secure the use of
both metals upon basis which shall
work no injustice to any class of our citi.
zous
Reciprocity Negotiations.
In order to execute as early as possible
| the provisions of the third and fourth sec
tions of the revenue act approved July "a,
| 1897, I appointed the Hon. John A. Kesson
| of Iowa special commissioner plenipo.
tentiary to undertake the requisite ne
gotiations with foreign countries desiring
| to avsil themselves of these provisions.
| The negotiations are now proceeding with
several governments, both European and
| American. IL is believed that by care
full exercise of the powers conferred by
| that act some grievances OF our own and
of other countries in our mutual trade
relations may be either removed or largely
alleviated, and that the volume of our
commercial exchange may be enlarged,
with advantage to both contracting par
| ties.
| Most desirable from every standpoint
| of national interest and patriotism is the
| effort to extend our foreign commerce.
To this end our merchant marine should
be improved and enlarged We should
| do our full share of the carrying trade OF
| the wOflu. we 10 uOb uO HOW. we
| should be the laggard no longer. The in-
! feriority of our merchant marine Is justly
| humiliating TO tho national pride. The
| government, by every proper cOnstitu
| tional means, should aid in making our
ships familiar visitors at every commercial
port of the, world, thus opening up new
| and valuable markets TO the surplus
product of the farm and the factory.
| International arbitration cannot be
| omitted from the list of subjects claiming
our consideration. Events have only
served to strengthen the general views on
this question expressed In my inaugural
| address. The best sentiment OF the civil
| lied world Is moving toward the settle
ment Of differences between nations with
| out resOrting to the horrors of war
| Treaties embodying these humane prin-
ciples on broad lines without in anv way
| imperiling our interests or our honor snail
have my earnest encouragement
| Condition of the Navy.
The present Immediately effective force
| of the navy consists of four battleships Of
| the frst-Class, two of the second, and IS
other vessels, ranging from armored
cruisers to torpedo boats. There are un-
der construction five battleships of the
flrst.Class, 10 torpedo boats and one sub
marine boat. No provision has yet been
made for the armor of three of the five
battleships, as 1t has been impossible TO
obtain it at the price fixed by congress. 1t
Is of great Importance that congress pro-
vide this armor, as until then the ships
are of no fighting value
The great increase of the navy, which
| has taken place in recent years, was justi-
| fed by the requirements for national de-
| fensC and has received public approba-
| ton The time has now arrived, however,
when this increase, to which the country
is committed should, for time, take the
form of increased facilities commensurate
with the increase of our naval vessels. 1t
is an unfortunate fact that there is only
one dock on the Pacific coast capable of
docking our largest ships, and only one
on the Atlantic coast, and that the latter
has for the last six or seven months been
under repair, and therefore incapable of
use.
Immediate steps should be taken to pro-
vide three or four docks of this capacity
on the Atlantic coast, at least one on the
Pacific coast and a floating dock on the
gulf. This Is the recommendation of
very competent board, appointed to in
yestigate the subject. There should also
be ample provision made for powder and
projectiles, and other munitions Of war,
and for an increased number of officers
ana enlisted men. Some additions are
also necessary to our navy yards for the
repair and care of our large number Of
vessels. AS there are now on the stocks
five battleships of the largest class, which
cannot be completed for year or two.
l concur with the recommendation of the
secretary of the navy for an appropriation
authorizing the construction of one bat
tleship for the Pacific coast, where at
present there is only one in commission
and one under construction, while on the
Atlantic coast there are three in commits
sion and four under construction; and
also that several torpedo boats be author
lied In connection with our general sys-
tenn of coast defense.
Alaska Needs Attention.
The territory of Alaska requires the
prompt and early attention of congress.
The conditions now existing demand ma
terial changes in the laws relating to the
territory. The great influx of population
during the past summer and fall and the
prospect of n still larger immigration in
the spring will not permit us to longer
neglect the extension of civil authority
within the territory or postpone the establish
ment of a more thorough government.
The startling though possibly exaggerated
reports from the Yukon river country of the
probable shortage of food for the large num-
Der of peOp who are wintering there with.
out the means of leaving the country are con-
firmed In such measure as TO Justify bringing
the matter to the attention of congress. Ac-
cess to that country in winter can be had
only by the passes from Dyea and vicinity,
which is a most d fficult and, perhaps i'm
possible task However, should these reports
of the suffering of our fellow citizens be
further verified, every effort at any cost
should be made to carry them relief.
The recent prevalence of yellow fever in a
number of cities and towns throughout the
south has resulted in much disturbance OF
commerce and demonstrated the necessity OF
of such amendments TO our quarantine laws
as will make the regulations of the national
quarantine authorities permanent The sec.
retary Of the treasury in that portion of his
report relating TO the operation OF the Ma.
rine hospital service calls attention to the d.
fects in the present quarantine laws and rec
ommends amendments thereto which will
give the treasury department the requisite au
thority TO prevent the invasion of epidemic
diseases from foreign countries, and in times
Of emergency like that of the past summer
will add TO the efficiency Of the sanitary
measures for the protection of the people and
at the same time prevent unnecessary re
striction Of commerce. concur in his REQ
| ommendation.
The Pacific Railroads
The Union Pacific railroad main Ilne. wa
sold under the decree of the United States
court for the district of Nebraska on the Is
and I'd Of November OF this year. Tn,
amount due the government consisted of tn,
| principal of the subsidy bonds, $27, ,23O, ,5l2
and the accrued interest thereon, $31, II,
| 7ll75, making the total Indebtedness s5s, 44S,
| 283.76. The bid at the sale covered the frs
| mortgage lien and the entire mortgage CLAIM
of the government, principal and interest.
The sale OF the subsidized portion OF tn,
Kansas Pacific line, upon which the govern
ment holds a second mortgage lien, has beer
| postponed at the instance of the government
| tO DeCember 49, 1897. The debt of this M vi