, 1897-12-07

shall have my constant encourarcmgu'.
Kasson rs n Special Commissioner.
In order to execute rs carly "a possible
the provisions of the third and fourth snc
tiOns of the revenue act approved July -.
1897, l appointed the Hon John A. Has.
son of Iowa a special commissioner plcnip.
otentiary to undertake the requisite nrro.
tiations with foreign countries desiring IA
avail themselves of these provisions. The
negotiations are now proceeding with soy.
eral governments, both European and
American. 1t is believed that by u care.
full exercise of h 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 exchanges may be ENLARGED,
with advantages to both contracting par
ties
Most desirable from every standpoint of
national interests and patriotism is the
effort to extend our foreign
To this end our merchant marine should
be improved and enlarged. We should dc
our full share of the carrying trade of the
world. We do not do it now. We should
be the laggard no longer. The infcriority
of our merchant marine is justly humili
ating to the national pride. The govern
ment by every proper constitutional
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 products
of the farm and the factory.
A liberal appropriation Is bcspcltrn in
order that the United States may make Il
creditablc exhibit at the approaching Pari.
exposition. in which the people have
shown an unprecedented interest.
Needs of the Navy.
The present Immediate effective force OF
the navy consists of four battlcShipS of
the first class. two of the second. and A.
other vessels, ranging from armorcd
cruisers to torpedo boats. There are
vnder construction five battlcshipS of the
first class. IS torpedo boats and one sub
marine boat. No provision has YET been
made for the armor of three, of the five
battleShips, AS it has been impossible to
obtain it ut the price fixed by congress
1t is of great importance that congress:
provide this arnlor, AS until then the shin.
are of no lighting value. The present
naval force, especially in view of its in
crease by ships now ..i.dcr CunStruc ion
while not as large rs that of a few Other
powers, is u formidable force, its vessel.
are the very best of each type; and with
the increase that should be made to II
from inc to time in the future, and care
full attention to keeping it in Il high state
of efficiency and repair. it is well adapted
to the necessities of the country.
The great increase of the navy which
mas IIktn pace Ill recent wears WAS llStIs
fled by the requirements for national dc,
Tense and has received publicapprobation.
The time has now arrived, however. whcr
this increase. to which the country is com
mittcd, should for II time take the form
of increased facilities commensurate with
the increase. of our naval vessels. 1t is
an unfortunate fact that there is only n
dock;on the Pacific coa>t capable of docking
our largest ships and only one on the Al.
lantic coast, and that the latter has for
the last six or seven months been under
repair and therefore incapable of use. I'm.
mediate steps should be taken to provide
three or four docks of this capacity on the
Atlantic coast. at least one on the Pacific
coast and n floating dock on the gulf.
This is the recommendation of II very
competent board appointed to investigate
the subject. There should also he annie
provision made for powder and proicctiir-
other munitions of war and for an
increased number of officers and enlisted
men some additions are also necessary
o navy yards for the repair and care
of our larger number of vessels. As there
are now on the stocks five battlcships of
the largest class, which cannot he com.
pleted for u year or two. l concur with the
recommendation of the secretary of the
navy + n an appropriation authorizing the
construction of one battlc-hip for the
Pacific coast. where ut present there j..
only one in commission and one under
construction, while on the Atlantic coast
three in commission and four under con
struction; and also that several torpedo
boats be authorized in connection with
our general system of coast defense.
Indian ATairs DISCUSSED.
The message deals ut some length with
the unsatisfactory condition of affairs in
the indian territory. The large white Gle.
ment is said to be without protection. unG
without schools or other rights of citizen
shin. I,uiiny Inlinn- bn,-, =. ,,-,,I.,1 ..n,,,
tracts of lands and crcuGcd an ariStocrncy,
and the friends of the Indians believe
that the best interests of the five ciniliZcd
tribes will be found in American citizen |
ship. Reference is made to the failure SC
far of the Dawes commission to secure the
consent of the tribes to an cXtinguish.
mcnt of the tribal titles and Il division OF
the lands. 1t is said that should the
tribes still fail to ratify the agreement
that some legislation should be had by
congress.
Territory of Alaska.
The territory of Alaska requires the
prompt and early attention of congress-.
1 he conditions now existing dcmand ma
t"rial changes in the laws relating to III.
territory. The great influx of population
during the past sunlmc and fall AMI the
prospect Of II still larger immigration in
the spring will not permit us to longer
neglect the extension of civi, authority
W ~ nv VI k'"Al YIN NllC III |
lishment of II more thorough government.
A general system of public surveys has
not yet been extended to Alaska and all
ei tries thus far maze i'll that district are
upon special surveys. III act of congress
extending to Alaska the mining laws of
the United States contained the rcScrva.
ton that it should not be construed to put |
in force the general lund laws of the coun
try. BY act approved March 3, 1891. au.
thority was given for entry of lands for
TOWNSHIP purposes and also for the pur.
chase of not exceeding one hundred and
sixty acres then or thereafter occupied for
purposes of trade and manufacture The
purpose Of ngrcS AS thus far expressed
has been that only such rights should ap
ply to the territory as shall he specifically
named.
1t will be seen how much remains to be
for that vast and remote and yet
promising portion # our country. Spe-
cial authority was given to the president
by the act of congres approved July "a,
1897, to divide that territory into two land
and to designate the boundaries
thereof and to appoint registers and re
ceivers of said land offices and the prcsi
dent was also authorized to appoint "a sur.
veyor genera for the entire district. pur-
suant to this authority, IA surveyor general
and receiver have been appointed, with
offices at Sitka. If in the ensuing year
the conditions justify it the additional
district authorized by law will be es.
tablished, with an Office at some point in
the Yukon valley. No appropriation.
however, was made for this purpose, and
is now necessary to be done for the
two land districts into which the territory
is to be divided.
l concur with the secretary of war in
his suggestions US to the necessity for u
military fore In the territory Of Alnska
for the protection of persons and property.
Already a small force consisting of %
men with two officers under command OF
Lieutenant Colonel Randall of the Eighth