Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-12-08

shortly be able to report finally. He
says that expediency and International
policy requires the maintenance of the
status quo as to the building of the
canal until the commission reports
and congress acts; but in view of our
newly acquired interests in the Pacific,
he considers the construction of this
maritime highway more than ever in
dispensable.
Considering the extraordinary events
,transpiring in the Chinese empire the
president says orr position among ma
tions gives equitable claim to consid-
Grafton and friendly treatment in this
regard, and that it will be>his aim to
subserye our large interests in the
orient by all means appropriate to the
constant policy of our government,
The president recommends an in
crease of the appropriation of a mil
lion dollars for the United States ex-
hibit at the Paris exposition.
Our relation with Great Britain, he
says, continued on the most friendly
footing, and it would give him special
satisfaction ii he should be authorized
to communicate to congress favor
able conclusion of the pending nego-
'tiations with Great Britain in respect
to the dominion of Canada. He re-
ports that the Hawaiian commission
has fulfilled its mission and that its
report will be laid before congress at
an early day, and he expresses the
hope that congress will give such
shape to the relationship of these mid.
benefit both in the highest degree
Referring to the proposal of the car
of Russia for a general reduction of
the great military establishments, the
president says: His majesty was at
once informed of the cordial sympathy
of this government with the principle
involved in his exalted proposal and of
the readiness to take part in the con-
ference"
The message says that the new en-
voy to Turkey was instructed to take
measures to dispoe of the matters ia
controversy with the ottoman empire
for a number of years.
As to finances the president says:
The secretary Of the treasury reports
that the receipts of the government
from all sources during the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1898, including S64,
Isl, 223 from the sale of the Pacific
railroads, amounted to $405, 321 ,335 and
the expenditures to SAB, 1868, 1872. 1t is
estimated, on the basis of the present
revenue laws, that the receipts of the
government for the year ending June
80, 1899, will be $577,S74,647 the ex-
penditure $6S9,S74,647, resulting in a
deficiency of SIP, 100000. In my judg-
ment the present condition of the
treasury amply justifies the immediate
enactment Of the legislation recon-
mended year ago, under which a por-
ton Of the gold holdings should be
placed in a trust fund from which the
greenbacks should be redeemed upon
presentation, and when once redeemed
should not thereafter pe put out except
for gold 1t is not to be inferred that
other legislation relating to our cur
rency is not required on the contrary
there is an obvious demand for it.
The president says that in view of
the recent acquisition of territory by
the United States, there should be es-
tablished regular and frequent
steamship communication under the
American flag with the newly &C
CURED islands. Provisions for a COM
mission of sanitary experts to investi-
gate the yellow fever problem is recon-
mended. The recommendation of the
secretary of war for the increase in
the regular military establishment
has the presidents unqualified ap-
prevail. He says it is his purpose to
muster out the entire volunteer army
as soon as congress shall provide for
an increase of the regular army. He
recommends the erection of building
for the department of justice and sug-
gests also the advisability of making
proper provision for the supreme
court. He earnestly approves the
recommendations OF Secretary Long as
to the increase of the navy and
recommends that the grades OF ad-
miral and vice-admiral be tempora rily
revived to be filled by officers Who
have especially distinguished them
selves in the war with Spain. He
also urges legislation for taking the
twelfth census and for the education
of the 10000 white children in the
Indian territory, with which his mes
sage closes.