The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-12-08

of the Islands, a joint resolution to
accomplish the same purpose by ac-
cepting the offered cession and incor-
porating the ceded territory into the
and approved July Z, 1898. 1 thereupon
directed the United States steamship
Philadelphia to convey Rear Admiral
Miller to Honolulu and intrusted to his
hands this important legislative act to
be delivered to the President of the
Republic of Hawaii. with whom the Ad-
miral and the United States Minister
were authorized to make appropriate
arrangements for transferring the SOW
ereignty of the Islands to the United
States.
This was simply but impressively ac-
complished on the 18th of August last
by the delivery of a certified copy of
the resolution of President Dole. who
thereupon yielded up to the representa-
tive of the Government of the United
States the sovereignty and public prop
erty of the Hawaiian Islands. Pursu-
ant to the terms of the Joint resolution
and in exercise of the authority there
by conferred Upon me- | directed that
the civil, judicial and military powers
heretofore exercised by the officers of
the Government of the Republic Of
Hawaii should continue to be exercised
by these officers until Congress shall
provide government for the incor-
porated territory, subject to my power
to remove such officers and to fill va
cancies. The President, officers and
troops of the Republic thereupon took
the oath of allegiance to the United
States, thus providing for the uninter-
rupted continuance of all the admins
trative and municipal functions of the
annexed territory, until Congress shall
otherwise enact.
The proposal of the Car for a gem
eral reduction of the vast military es-
adjustments that weigh so heavily
upon many peoples in time of peace was
communicated to this Government, with
an earnest invitation to be represented
in the conference when 1t is contem-
plated to assemble, with a view to dis
cussng the means of accomplishing 20
desirable result 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 of the United States to
take part in the conference.
We desire, in common with most civil
lized nations, to reduce to the lowest
possible point the damage sustained in
time of war by peaceable trade and
commerce. 1t is true we may suffer in
such cases less than other communi-
ties, but all nations are damaged more
or less by the state of uneasiness and
al
hostilities throws the entire commercial
world. 1t should be our object, there
fore, to minimize so far as practica BILE
this inevitable loss and disturbance.
This purpose can probably best be ac-
complished by an international agree
ment to regard all private property at
sea as exempt from capture or destruc-
tion by the forces of belligerent powers.
The United States Government has for
many years advocated this humane and
beneficent principle, and is now in po-
sition to recommend 1t to other powers
without the imputation of selfish mo-
tives. l therefore suggest for your con-
sideration that the Executive be au-
thorized to correspond with the govern
ments of the principal maritime powers
with view of Incorporating into the
permanent law of civilized nations the
principle of the exemption of all private
property at sea, not contraband of war,
from capture or destruction by belliger-
ent powers.
The Secretary of the Treasury re-
ports that the receipts of the Govern
ment from all sources during the fiscal
year ended June 80, 1898. including
$64, ,751 ,223 received from sale of Pacific
railroads, amounted to S405, 322, 1886, and
its expenditures to s443,36S, 5S2. There
was collected from customs $149, SIS, ,06S
and from internal revenue $170,900, Gal.
1t is estimated upon the basis of pres
ent revenue laws that the receipts of
the Government for the year ending
June 80, 1899, will be $577,S74, ,647, and it's
expenditures S6s9, ,S74647. resulting in a
deficiency of SIP, ,000,0 On the 1st of
December, 1898, there was held in the
Treasury gold coin amounting to $685.
41,547, gold bullion amounting to $685.
502545, silver bullion amounting to $685.
250, and other forms of money
a n IN ha can
date the amount of money of all kinds
in circulation or not included in Treas
ury holdings was s1,SS6S79, 504, an in
crease for the year of $685. 79i. .9G6. IIs-
timating our population at 10, $4,000 at
the time mentioned the per capita cir
culation was $25.09. On the same date
there was in the Treasury gold bullion
amounting to $l3S, 500, 545.
In my judgment, the present condition
of the Treasury amply justifes the i'm
mediate enactment of the legislation
recommended one year ago, under which
a portion of the gold holdings should he
placed in a trust fund, from which
greenbacts should be redeemed upon
presentation, but when once redeemed
should not thereafter be paid 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
importance OF adequate provision
which will insure to our future money
standard, related as our money standard
now is to that of our commercial rivals,
is generally recognized. The compan-
ion proposition, that our domestic paper
currency shall be kept safe, and yet be
so related to the needs of our industries
and internal commerce as to be ade-
quate and responsible to such needs. is
proposition scarcely less important
The subject in all its parts is commend
ed to the wise consideration of the
Congress.
The annexation of Hawaii and the
changed relations of the United States
In Cuba Porto Rico and the Philippines
resulting from the war compel the
prompt adoption of a maritime policy
by the United States.
There should be established regular
and frequent steamship communication
encouraged by the United States, under
the American flag, with the newly ac-
quired islands, Spain furnished to it's
colonies. at an annual cost of about
$2.000,000, steamship lines communicat-
ing with a portion of the worlds mar
kets as well as with trade centers of
the home Government. The United
States will not undertake to do less. In
my last annual message l recommended