The Portland daily press., 1898-12-06

/ Interis.4 sAsess : $500
of the preceding year by $24, az 96i
1t Is estimated upon the basis OF Ia ne
present revenue laws that the reos 80
of the government for the year enaii4s
June 80, 1893 will be s577, STA, 647' and It's
rexpenS resulting III q
The provisions made for strengthening
the resources of the treasury III coliiiec,
| ton with the war has gwen iiDcteeiseu
| confidence in the purpose anu powei "
the government to maintain the present
standard and has establsheu mo- t iiiiliiy
TIC nstiomal credit at home and abroad.
A m rkad evidence of this is found In the
inflow of gold to the treasury
7 renew so much of my recommended
tio,, If December, 1897, as follows: That
when any of the United States notes are
| presented for redemption In gold and are
radaenaad in gold such notes shall be
lsent and set apart and only paid out in
avchange for gold. This is an obvious
duty. If the holder of the United States
! note prefers the gold and gets 1t from
the government he should not receive
mack from the government United
States note without paying gold IN ex-
| change for it. The reason for this is
made all the more apparent when the
government issues an interest bearing
debt to provide gold for the redemption
of United States notes, non-1nterest
bearing debt Surely it should not pay
them out again except on demand ano
for gold. If they are put out IN any
followed by another bond issue to re-
deem. another interest bearing DEBT 10
, redeem nol-interest bearing debt.
In my Judgment the present condition
| Of the treasury amply just1fies the III
mediate enactment of the legislation rec
commended one year ago. under Wnicn
portion of the gold holdings snouao pe
placed in trust fund from Wnlcn sle .els
backs should be redeemed upon preseH !.
tation. but when once redeemed snoulu
not thereafter be paid out except TOT
gold Tt is not to be inferred that otner
| legislation relating to our lncy ls not
required on the contrary, there Is an
| obvious demand for 1t.
The companion proposition that our
| domestic paper currency snail DO kept
| safe and vet be so related tc the needs
| of our industries and internal conn
merce as to be adequate and responsive
| to such needs is a proposition scarcely
! less important. The subjects, in all Its
parts. is commended to the wise con-
sideration Of the congress.
| The annexation Of Hawaii and the
| changed relations of the United States
| to Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines
/
! prompt adoption Of a maritime policy
| by the United States. There should be
| established regular and frequent steam
! shin communication, encouraged by the
United States, under the American flag
| with the newly acquired islands.
| Under the act of congress approved
April 26, 1898, directed the increase OF
the regular army TO the maximum si O.
| 81 900, authorized in said act. There are
now in the regular army 81, 1852 officers
/ and men. The Importance OF Legislation
| for the permanent increase OF the army
! is manifest, and the recommendation OF
! the secretary of war for that purpose has
| my unqualified approval. There can be
| no question that at thfs@tine, and prob
| ably for some time In the future, 100000
men will be none too many to meet the
/ necessities of the situation. AT all
| events, whether that number shall be
| required permanently or not, the powes
should be given to the president to enlist
| that force il in his discretion 1t should bs
| given him to recruit for the army within
| the above limit from the inhabitants OF
| the islands with the government of which
| terwe are charged
| 1t is my purpose to muster out the en-
| tire volunteer army as soon as the con-
| gress shall provide for the increase OF
| the regular establishment. This will be
only an act OF Justice and will be much
appreciated by the brave men who left
| their homes and employments to help
| the country in its emergency.
| The war with Spain laid new and ex-
ceptional labors on the post Office de-
| partment. This necessity was met by
| the prompt detail and despatch Of ex-
| pertienced men from the established
| forces by directing all the instrument.
| talities of the railway mail and post
| office service, SO far as necessary, to this
| new need
The following recommendations Of the
secretary of the navy, relative to the in
crease in the navy, have by earnest ap-
| prevail:
Three seagoing, sheathed and cop
pered battleships of about 1880 tons
trial displacement, carrying the heav-
lest arnor and most powerful ordnance
| for vessels of their class, and to have the
| highest practicable speed and greatest
radius of action Estimated cost, ex.
| elusive of arrnor and armament, 3d.
800 900 each.
2-Three sheathed and armored cruis,
| ers of about Il, 900 tons trial displace-
| nent. carrying the heaviest armor ano
| most powerful ordnance for vessels OF
| their class, and to have the highest prac.
| ticable speed and greatest radaus o.
| action. Estimated cost, exclusive OF
armor and armament. s4,ooo,O0O each-
3-Three sheathed and coppered pro-
| tected cruisers of about 5000 tons trlal
| displacement, to have the highest pos
sibie speed and great radius OF action,
and to carry the most powerful ordnance
Suitable for vessels of their class; est,
mated cost, exclusive of armor anu
armament, So, 10000 each
six sheathed and coppered cruisers
of about $500 tons trial displacement 70
have the highest speed compatible with
good cruising qualities, great radius o.
action and to carry the most powerful
ordnance suited to vessels of their class
Estimated cost, exclusive of armament,
T s., 141, 800 each.
I Join with the secretary of the navy
in recommending that the grades OF ad-
miral and vice admiral be temporarily re-.
vyed, to be filled by officers who have
specially distinguished themselves In the
war with Spain.
l earnestly urge upon congress the Inn
portance of early legislation providing
| for the taking OF the 18th census.
This is necessary in view of the large
amount of work which must be per-
formed in the preparation Of the sched-