The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-12-11
M'NNlEY'S
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
Upon All Of the Subjects Of
Interest Now Before the
Nation.
ADVISES CURRENCY LEGISLATION
Considerable Attention Paid TO In.
dian aud Alaska Affairs -
Cuts Out Much Work
for Congress.

..r - Va 4uSh III
for Congress.
Washington, Dec. 6.-The first regu-
lar session or the Fitty-tifth congress
assembled at noon, Speaker Reed in
the house and Vice President Hobart
in the senate dropping the gayels at
The same time. The preliminaries were
Of the usual routine character. The
weather is fine and bracing. Long be-
fore the call to order the public CALLER
les were packed to witness the open
ing e nj of the session which may
become not only historic, but notable.
Many desks in both houses bore
floral tributes from admirers for this
or that member, soIuc of them quite
elaborate. In the senate, blind Chap
lain Milburn, and in the house Rev.
Chas. A. Berry of Weaverhampton,
England, delivered the invocations.
The roll call showed a quorum and
to spare in both houses-77 senator's,
BOZ representatives. In the senate res
olutions were passed notifying the
house that it was in session ready for
business; appointing Allison and Cor
man to meet the committee OF the
house and wait on the president; fix
Ing the time of daily meetings at noon.
Then a recess was taken until l p. IN.
In the house five vacancies by death
or resignation during the recess were
filled by swearing in F. NJ. Griffith,
democrat, Indiana; II. S. Boutelle, re-
publican, Illinois; James Norton,
democrat, South Carolina; G. P. Law
renee, republican, Massachusetts; j..
N. Griggs. democrat, New York.
When the senate reconvened, the
committee to call on the president re-
ported the latter would at nee com
municate to congress in writing. The
presidents secretary then presented
his message and it was read.
The clerk was directed to notify the
senate the house was in session. Ding
ley, Maine; Grosvenor, Ohio; Bni-
ley, Texas; We're selected a commit
tee to wait on the president. Noon
was fixed as the daily hour of meet
ing. Recess was taken till 1870 p. m.
When the house reconvened after an
other few minutes recess, the commit
tee TO wait on the president reported
the latter would at once communicate
in writing. The secretary presented
the message and it was read.
The Message. 0.
TO the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
1t gives me pleasure to extend greet
ing to the Fifty-tifth congress assem-
bled at the seat of government with
many of whom, senators and represent
t~atives, I have been associated in the
legislative service. Their meeting oc-
ours under felicitous circumstances,
justifying sincere congratulation and
calling for u grateful acknowledge
ment to a beneficent providence which
has SO signally blessed and %prospered
us as a nation. Peace and good will
with all the nations of the earth con
tinue unbroken.
A Matter of Satisfaction.
A matter of genuine satisfaction is
the growing feeling Of fraternal regard
and unitication of all sections of our
country, the Incompetence of which
has too long been delayed in the real
ization of the highest blessings of the
union. The spirit of patriotism is uni
versal and is ever increasing in fervor.
The public questions which now most
engross us are lifted far above either
partisanship, prejudice OF former Sec
final differences. They affect every
part of our common country alike and
permit of no division on ancient lines.
Questions of foreign policy, of revenue,
the soundness of the currency, the in
volatility of national obligatins, the
improvement of the public service, mp
peal to the individual conscience OF ev-
cry earnest citizen to whatever party
he belongs or in whatever section Of
the country he may reside.
The extra session of this congress
which closed during July last enacted
important legislation, and while it's
full effect has not yet been realized,
what it has already accomplished as
sures us of its Thickness and wisdom.
To test its permanent value further
time will be required, and the people,
satisfied with its operation and results
thus far, are in no mind to withhold
from it a fair trial.
The tariff legislation having been
settled by the extra session of con
gress, the questions pressing for con-
sideration is that of the currency.
Ought Not to Hesitate.
With the great of the gov
81 iAICllC dul Will VIC uOICIdDlC eNuIl-
pie of the past before us, we ought not
to hesitate to enter upon a currency
revision which will make our demand
obligations less onerous to the govern
ment and relieve Il financial laws
from ambiguity and doubt.
The brief review of what was ac-
complished from the close of the war
to 1893 makes unreasonable and
g%roundless any distrust either Of our
financial ability or soundness; while
the situation from 1898 to 1897 must
ndmonish congress of the immediate
necessity of SO legislating us to make
the return of the conditions then pre-
vailing impossible.
Currency Question Pressing.
The work of putting our finances up
on a sound basis, difficult as it may
seem, will appear easier when we re-
call the financial operations of the gov
eminent since 1866. On the 3Oth day
OF June of that year we had outstand-
ing demand liabilities in the sum of
$72s, S6S,447.41. On the list of January,
1879, these liabilities had been reduced
to $43, 9,495.Ss OF our interest bear
ing obligations the figures are even
more striking. On July i, 1866, the
principal of the interest bearing debt
was S 2.332, 3a1 .2Os. On the list day OF
July, 1893, this sun had been reduced
OF $5S5, 037. 100, or an aggregate reduc-
ton Of $1,747,2o4,10s. The interest
bearing debt of the United States on
the list day of December, 1897, was
$s47,a65,62o. The government money
now outstanding December y con
sists of $780, s1, 016 of United States
notes, $107, 793. $50 of treasury notes is
sued by authority of the law of 1890.
1884, 963, SOB Of silver certificates and
SCI, 2s0,761 of standard silver dollars.
Many Plans Proposed.
There are many plans proposed as a
remedy for the evil. 1t is not that our
currency of every kind is not good;
good because the government is
pledged to keep it so, and that pledge
will not be broken. However, the
guaranty of our purpose to keep the
pledge will be best shown by advanc-
ing toward its fulfllment. The evil of
the present system is found in the
great cost to the government of main
tanning the parity of our different
forms OF money. thai, is. i~eeninp MI