The leader., 1898-12-14

| the preparation and instailment be on u
nerfect A scale as 20 rank among the first
In that unparalleled competition Of arts
tic and inventive production and thus
counterbalance the disadvantages with
| which we start rs compared with other
countries whose appropriations are on q
more generous scale and whose prepare
tions are In n state Of much greater for
wardness than our own.
Annexation OF Hawaii.
Pending consideration by the senate Of
the treaty signed June 10, 1897. by the
plenipotentiaries of the United States and
OF the republic of Hawaii providing for
the annexation of the islands, Joint rsso-
luton to accomplish the same purpose BY
accepting the offered cessiop and ipeQfpo-
rating the coded territory Into the Union
was adopted by the congress and approved
July Z. 1898. l thereupon directed the
United States steamer Philadelphia to
convey Rear Admiral Miller to Honolulu
and entrusted to his hands this important
legislative act to be delivered to the presi-
dent of the republic Of Hawaii, with whom
the admiral and the United States minis
ter were authorized to make appropriate
arrangements for transferring the islands
| to the United States. This was simply
but impressively accomplished on Aug.
| 10 by the delivery Of certified copy Of
the resolution to President Dole. who
thereupon yielded up to the representa-.
tives of the government OF the United
States the sovereignty and the public
property Of the Hawaiian Islands.
Pursuant the terms Of the Joint reso.
luton and in exercise Of the authority
thereby conferred upon me. l directed
that the civil. judicial and military pow
ers heretofore exercised by the officers OF
the government of the republic OF Hawaii
should CONT ne to be exercised by those
officers until congress shall provide gov
eminent for the Incorporated territory,
subject to my power to remove such OH
GERS and to fill vacancies. The president,
officers and troops Of the republic there.
upon took the oath OF allegiance to the
United States, thus providing for the un-
interrupted continuances Of all the admin
istrative and municipal functions of the
annexed territory until congress shall
otherwise enact,
Following the further provision Of the
joint resolution l appointed the Hons.
Shelby NJ. Cullom of Illinois. John T.
Morgan of Alabama, Robert r. Hit OF
Illinois. Sanford B. Dole Of Hawaii and
Waiter +. Frear of Hawaii as commission
ers to confer and recommend to congress
such legislation concerning the Hawaiian
islands as they should deem necessary or
proper,
The commissioners having, fulfilled the
mission conflded to them Their work will
be laid before you at an early day. 1t Is
believed that their recommendations will
have the earnest consideration due to the
magnitude of the responsibility resting
upon you to give such shape to the rela-
tionship of those midpacific lands to our
home Union as will benefit both in the
highest degree, realizing the aspirations
OF the community that has cast Its lot
| with us and elected to share our political
heritage while at the same time justify
ing the foresight of those who for three
quarters Of a century have looked to the
assimilation of Hawaii as a natural and
inevitable contamination in harmony
with our needs and in fulfillment of our
cherished traditions.
Under the provisions of the joint resolu
lions 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 to
fulfill their commercial agencies, while
the United States consulate at Honolulu
is maintained for all proper services per
tanning to trade and revenue. 1t would
be desirable that all foreign consuls In the
Hawaiian Islands should receive new ex.
equaters from this government.
Cars Disarmament Plan.
The proposal of the Russian car for
general reduction of the vast military %.
Establishments that weigh so heavily upon
many peoples in time of peace was re-
Gently communicated to this government
with an earnest invitation to be repre-
sented in the conference which it is con-
templated to assemble with a view to dis
cussing the means of accomplishing so de-
sirable 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.
The active military force of the United
States as measured by our population,
territorial area and taxable wealth, is and
lions must continue to be in time of peace
so conspicuously less than that of the
armed powers to whom the cars appeal
is especially addressed that the question
can have for us no practical Importance
save as marking an suspicious step to-
ward the betterment of the condition Of
the modern peoples and the cultivation OF
peace and good will among them, but in
this yiaU hob 60
lend countenance and aid to the benef-
cent project.
The Currency Question.
The secretary of the treasury reports
that the receipts Of the government from
all sources during the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1898, including $s4, Isl ,223 re-
ceiyed from sale of Pacific railroads,
amounted to *405 32l 1886 and it's expendi-
lures TO s443, 1868 $50. There was collected
from customs sl49, 515, O62 and from in
ternal revenue SIC, 300, 64l. Our dutiable
imports amounted to 1924, 1885, 79, de-
crease of SIS, l56, 600 over the preceding
year, and importations free Of duty
amounted to 1901, Ala, lis, a decrease from
the preceding year of 500 524 ,06S
Internal revenue receipts exceeded those
of the preceding year by $24, 2l2, O6S
The total tax collected ON distilled
spirits was 500. SAG, 900, on manufactured
tobacco $50, 23O,522 and on fermented
liquors s39,5l5, 49l. We exported mer-
chandise during the year amounting to
1881 .4S2 $3.50, an increase of $3.50, 4SS, TIA
from the preceding year.
1t Is estimated upon the basis of present
revenue laws that the receipts from the
government for the year ending June 30,
1899, will be S577 ,S74, COZ and its expendi-
lures $3.50 S14, 6i7, resulting in deficiency
of sll2, Ooo. On Dec. l, 1898, there was
held in the treasury gold coin amounting
to sl3S, AL ,541. gold bullion amounting to
$3.50, 2,545, silver bullion amounting to
800. $50 and other forms of money
amounting to S45l ,963,9Sl
On the same date the amount of money
of all kinds in circulation or not included
in treasury holdings was 81. S66, $40, 500, IN