Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-06

asked 10 buy OUT prOuucts-ned's' 'sP'
| ciaiIy. The President suggests that there
should be a joint commission or experts
and practical businessmen TO bring
| about a better understanding between tho
| United States and the States OF the GER
man empire.
The Paris Exposition comes In TOT a
good notice and warm commentator
| from the President
The attitude OF this country with re-
! ference to the British-Boer war whlch
is well known to the public. is recited ior
| .he information OF Congress.
The Presidents former recommends
ton looking TO the construction OF
cable TO Manila is reiterated.
II appears that our government Is trou-
bled about the lynching OF certain tai
ians at Tallulah, La. The Italian Gov
eminent wishes satisfaction. AS for con-
yction of the slayers. that can't be had
In the State courts. 1t is by no means
certain that a conviction would be OBJ
tainable In the Federal courts. However
that may be. the President now urges
that Congress shall confer upon the Fed
eral courts authority for the trial Of all
causes where aliens are sufferers.
1--WE must keep faith with Cuba" says
the President. But he adds that THE
dostinies Of Cuba are. in some rightful
form. linked with ours" Exactly how
'rightful"' II may be. we must leave
pOsterity to judge. but Cuba is in Amer
lean leading strings. and is there to stay
until II is formally and unreservedly an
nexed. The President favors action look
ing to a civil government I'm Cuba as
soon as the census Of the island shall
have been completed and the Spanish in
habitants have elected whether they will
become citizens of Cuba or not. This
they have till April l4th to do.
The President makes several recon-
mendations with reference to admitting
Cuban products TO our country upon ia
vOrabe terms. His idea seems to be to
put Cuba upon an equal footing with
other West Indian islands with which
we have, or may have, tariff reciprocity.
Special medals of honor are recon-
mended TO be bestowed upon all regulars,
volunteers, sailors, seamen, and marines
who voluntarily continued in service
in the Philippines after their terms of
service had expired.
In the matter of armor for our ships
of war the President recommends that
there should be legislation which will
enable the Navy Department to make
contracts for efficient supplies early in
the coming year Also. that the pro-
visions Of the act Of March Sd be re-
pealed. That act limits the price TO be
paid at $500 per ton-now vastly below
the market price.
The President concurs with the Secre-
tary of the Navy with respect to an in
crease Of the navy.
The need of a Federal court for Hawaii
Is duly set forth and proper action urged.
The President recommends that a tenn
porary government be provided for Porto
Rico. His idea is. that the executive
and legislative officers should be appoint
ed by the President, by and with the
consent OF the Senate. He would have
all the legislation proposed by the legis-
lative council of the island approved by
the President or Congress before it goes
into effect. AS to city and county gov
ernments, he would have their officers
chosen by the people OF the several local
tiles in question. Thus he hopes the
people of the island would gradually De
ushered into the responsibilities Of COM
pleto self-govefnment.
ON the subject of lynchings, the Presi-
dent inveighs as before.
lie undertakes to explain and justify
his famous civil service order. but with
little success-if We are competent to
judge. How he can conscientously pose
as a friend of civil service reform after
giving that blow to the system amazes
US, and many other Americans, as well.
The message closes with an appropriate
reference to Washington. the hundredth
anniversary Of whose death is TO be com
memorated on the 18th instant.