The times., 1898-12-06

since August. but good results have al
ready been secured in many sections The
| reports received indicate that the system
OF patrol has not only prevented destruc-
| tive fires from gaining headway. but has
| diminished the number of fires.
The special attention of the Congress
| is called to that part OF the report of the
Secretary of the Interior In relation to the
Five Civilized Tribes. 1t is noteworthy
that the general condition Of the Indians
shows marked progress. But one out
break of a serious character occurred dur
ing the year, and that among the Chip
pewa Indians of Minnesota, which happily
has been suppressed.
| While 1t has not yet been practicable to
| enforce all the provisions of the act or
| June 2s, 1898, for the protection of the
people of the Indian Territory. and for
other purposes" 1t is having salutary
| effect upon the nations composing the Five
Tribes. The Dawes Commission reports
/ that the most gratifying results and great
! er advance toward the attainment of the
objects of the Government have been Sc
cured in the past year than in any previou 5
| year i can not too strongly indofse the
i recommendation of the Commission and OF
| the Secretary of the Interior for the ne
/ cessity OF providing for the education of
| the 10000 white children resident In the
Indian Territory.
AGRICULTURE.
| The Department of Agriculture has been
active in the past year. Explorers have
been sent to many of the countries of the
Eastern and Western Hemispheres for
/ seeds and plants that may be useful to
the United States and with the further
I view of opening up markets for our sur
! plus products. The Forestry Division of
| the Department is giving SPECIAL attention
| to the treeless regions of our country and
! is introducing species specially adapted
| to semiarid regions. Forest fires which
seriously interfere with production, es-
pecially in irrigated regions. are being
| studied that losses from this cause may
/ be avoided. The Department Is inquirin5
into the use and abuse of water In many
! States of the West and collating informa-
i ton regarding the laws of the States. the
| decisions of the courts, and the customs
| of the people In this regard, so that uni
| formity may be secured. Experiment sta
| tions are becoming more effective every
year The annual appropriation of Ss2o.-
/, coo by Congress is supplemented by $4U.-
I coo from the States. Nationwide expert
| ments have been conducted to ascertain
! the suitableness as to soil and climate and
! States for growing sugar beets. The num-
| ber of sugar factories has been doubled
| in the past two years and the ability OF
| the United States 10 produce its own sugar
! from this source has been clearly demon
| strated.
The Weather Bureau forecast and OBJ
! seryation stations have been extended
| around the Caribbean Sea, to give early
! warning of the approach OF hurricanes
: from the south seas to our fleets and mer-
| chant marine.
CENTENNIAL OF THE CAPITAL.
| In the year 1900 will occur the centen-
nial anniversary of the founding of the
city of Washington for the permanent
( Capital of the Government of the United
! States by authority of an act of Congress
approved July 10, 1890. In May. 1900, the
; archives and general offices of the Fed
/ eral Government were removed to this
] place On the 18th of November, 1900. the
| National Congress met here for the first
time, and assumed exclusive control OF
the Federal District and City. This inter-
| esting event assumes all the more signiil-
lance when we recall the circumstances
| attending the choosing of the site, the
| naming of the Capital in honor of the
| Father of his Country, and the interest
| taken by him in the adoption of plans for
| its future development on magnificent
] scale
/ These original plans have been wrought
out with a constant progress and signal
/ success even beyond anything their franz
| ers could have foreseen. The people of
! the country are justly proud of the dis
! tinctive beauty and government of the
! Capital, and of the rare instruments OF
/ science and education which here find
/ their natural home.
A movement lately inaugurated by the
! citizens to have the anniversary celebrat-
ed with fitting ceremonies. including per-
haps the establishment of a handsome
permanent memorial to mark so histori-
cal an occasion, and TO give it more than
/ local recognition, has met with general
| favor on the part of the public.
APPROPRIATION ASKED FOR.
1 recommend to the Congress the grant
ing of an appropriation for this purpose
and the appointment of a committee from
| its respective bodies 1t might also be ad-
| visable to authorize the President TO ap-
| point a committee from the country at
large, which, acting with the Congress-
| ional and District of Columbia commit
| tees, can complete the plans for an appro-
| pirate national celebration.
The alien contract law is shown by ex-
perience to need some amendment; a
measure providing better protection for
seamen is proposed; the rightful applica-
| ton of the eight-hour law for the bene-
| fit of labor and of the principle of arbI-
| tration are suggested for consideration:
| and commend these subjects to the care
| full attention of the Congress.
| The several departmental reports will
| be laid before you. They give in great de-
tail the conduct of the affairs of the Gov
| ernment during the past year and dis
| cuss many questions upon which the
| Congress may feel called upon to act.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, December 8. 1898.