Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-12-10


a portion of our export trade from seri-
Gus embarrassment. Further negotiations
are now pending under section of the
same act. with view to The increase of
trade between the two countries to their
mutual advantage. Negotiations with
other governments. I'm part interrupted by
the war with Spain. are in progress I'M
der both sections of the tarin act. 1
hope to be able TO announce some of the
results of these negotiations during the
present session OF congress.
Negotiations with Germany.
Negotiations to the same end with Ger
many have been set on foot. Meanwhile
no effort has been relaxed TO convince
the imperial government of the thorough
ness of our inspection Of pork products
for expectation and IL Is trusted that the
efficient administration of this measure
by the department OF agriculture will be
recognized as a guarantee of the health
fulness of the food staples we send abroad
to countries where their use is large and
necessary.
Reference is then made to Germany's
| prohibition of the importation of fresh
| fruits from this country, the alleged rea-
| son being the fear OF disseminating the
| San Jose scale insect, a prohibition that
was subsequently extended TO dried fruits.
| The president says: AS was to be
pected. the alarm reached to other coun-
| tries. and Switzerland has adopted sim
| har inhibition. Efforts are in progress
1 TO lnOuCe the German ana SWISS govern
/ ments TO relax the prohibition in favor
| of dried fruits shown to have been cured
| under circums tances rendering the exist
ence of animal life impossible
| Our relations with Great Britain have
| continued on the most friendly footing
| Asserting to our request. the protection
| of Americans and their interests in Span
| ish jurisdiction was assumed by the dip
| lomatic and consular representatives of
| Great Britain, who fulfilled their delicate
/ nd o-f1nr frfrC Will nd no1
| eliciung high commentator. I may be
| allowed to make fitting allusion to the
| instance OF Mr.. Ramsden, her majesty
| consul at Santiago de Cuba, whose IN
timely death after distinguished service
and untiring effort during the siege of
chat city was sincerely lamented.
The Canada Negotiations.
IT will give me especial satisfaction IL
1 shall be authorized 10 communicate to
you favorable conclusion of the pending
negotiations with Great Britain in re-
spect to the Dominion. OF Canada. 1t is
the earnest wish of this government TO
remove all sources of discord and irri-
tation in our relations with the neigbor-
ing dominion. The trade between the
two countries is constantly increasing,
and ii is important to both countries that
| all reasonable facilities should be granted
for it's development.
The president goes into a history of the
events leading to the annexation of the
Hawaiian Islands. calls attention to the
| fact that our consular offices have ceased
| to exist in Hawaii, and says:
Under the provisions of the joint reso-
luton. the existing customs relations OF
| the Hawaiian Islands with the United
| States and with other countries remain
unchanged until legislation shall other
|; | wise provide. The consuls OF Hawaii
here and in foreign countries. continue e
fulhli their commercial agencies, while
| the United States consulate at Honolulu
.4,fr. .sfrf.
| pertaining TO trade and revenue. 1t would
be desirable that all foreign consuls fl
the Hawaiian Islands should receive new
exequatu from this govefnment-
After reference to the raising OF tn
Russian mission here and onr mission II
st. Petersburg to anbassadorships tn
message has this to say OF the tsaT's dis
armament proposition:
? The proposal Of the tsar foI genera
reduction OF the vast military establish
ments that weigh so heavily upon man,
peoples in time OF peace wasi communi
Gated TO this government with Gan earnes
) invitation TO be represented i4i the con
{ ference which IL is contemplated to as
: semble with view to discui ssing tn
means of accomplishing so desirable
result His majesty was at oncA informe
S OF the cordial sympathy of thi\ govern
: ment with the principle involved\ in hi
exalted proposal and of the readi7css Q
$ the United States to take part In tlhe con
ference.
: Burdens and Waste OF War.
The experiences of the last yeah brin
} forcibly home TO us n sense Of the bur
dens and the waste OF war. We desire. Z
| common with most civilized nations, I
= reduce to the lowest possible point tn
I | damage sustained in time OF war b.
peaceful trade and commerce. This pur
/ | pose can probably best be occcmplishc
4 | by International agreement to regar
= all private property at sea as eXemp
=,
I | OF beliigerent powers. ]. therefore. sug
r gest for your consideration that the ex
: ecutive be authorized to correspond wit
Z the governments o. the principal mari
Y time powers with view OF Incorporating
/ | into the permanent law of civilized ma
: tions the principle OF the exemption o
\ | all private property at sea, not contra
: band OF war, from capture or destruction
e by bellIgerent powers.
$ | In my judgment. the present condition
| of the treasury amply justihes the i'm
@ | mediate enactment of the legislation rec
: commended one year ago. under which
: | portion of the gold holding should b
d | placed in a trust fund from which green
= | backs should be redeemed upon preSenta
g | tion but when once redeemed should no
Q thereafter be paid out except for gold.
r The president strongly endorses the rec
y concentration OF the secretary of war 10
5 the increase of the regular army 10 leo
I | 900 men and declares il his purpose I
: muster out the entire volunteer army a
soon as congress shall provide for tn
Increase of the regular establishment
This" says the president, will be onI
= an act of justice and win be much eppre
y ciated by the brave men who left thei
:. homes and employments to help the coun
: try in its emergency
: A chapter on the extension OF our posta
7 | system to our new possessions follows
: and then the president takes up the repoT
II of the secretary of the navy. earnestl
5 endorsing the secretary's recommends
J. lions fer the increase OF the navy and 10
It the revival of the grades OF admiral an
e vice admiral.
II In the year 1900 VIII occur the centennia
5, anniversary of the founding of the cit
l. OF washington for the permanent capita
e OF the government of the United States
e A movement lately inaugurated by tn
! / citizens to have the anniversary cele
y brated with hitting ceremonies. includin
4 perhaps the establishment OF n handsom
e | permanent memorial to mark so histories
n | erfxr l.