The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-12-08
The President Reviews National
Events and Makes Recon-
mendations.
Present an Opportune Time for
Definite Adoption Of the
Gold Standard.
Philippine Government One of the
Great Questions Congress Has
to Deal With.
TO the Senate and House of Representa-.

To the Senate and House of Representa-.
tives:
At the threshold of your deliberations
you are called to mourn with your coun-
trymen the death of Vice President Ho-
bart, who passed from this life on the
morning of Nov. 2lst last. His great soul
now rests in eternal peace. His private
life was pure and elevated, while his pub
lie career was ever distinguished by large
capacity, stainless integrity and exalted
motives. He has been removed from the
high office which he honored and digni-
fed, but his lofty character, his devotion
TO duty, his honesty Of purpose and noble
virtues remain with us as a priceless leg.
acy and example.
Condition Of Unusual Prosperity.
The Fifty-Sixth congress convenes in
is first regular session with the country
in a condition of unusual prosperity, Of
universal good will among the people at
home, and in relations Of peace and
friendship with every government of the
world. Our foreign commerce has shown
great increase in volume and value. The
combined imports and exports for the
year are the largest ever shown by q sin.
gle year in all our history. Our exports
for 1899 alone exceeded by more than a
billion dollars our imports and exports
combined In 1870. The imports per capita
are 20 per cen, less than in 1870, while the
exports per capita are 80 per cent more
than in 1870, showing the enlarged ca
pacity Of the United States to satisfy the
wants Of Its own increasing population,
o. we'll as to contribute to those of the
peoples Of other nations.
Man ufaotured Exports Exceed Imports.
Exports of agricultural products were
e7s4, 776, l4s, OF manufactured products
we exported in value $3.50 500, 146, being
noteworthy fact that the only years in all
our history when the products Of our
manufactures sold abroad exceeded those
bought abroad were 1soS and 1899.
Government receipts from all sources
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1893, in
GLIDING $11, 796, 314. IL, part payment Of the
Central Pacific railroad indebtedness,
aggregated 1910, 9S2, OO4. 85. Customs re-
ceipts were $2O6, 128, 4S1. 70, and those from
revenue S378, 487, 161. 81.
For the fiscal year the expenditures
were s70O, 09S, 564.0 2, leaving q deficit Of
go, Ill, 559,67.
The secretary of the treasury estimates
that the receipts tor the current fiscal
year will aggregate $64O, 1858 ,1l2, and upon
the basis Of present appropriations the
expenditures will aggregate $60O, 95S, 112,
leaving a surplus Of $40,0o0,00O
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 1899,
the internal revenue receipts were in
creased about 500, 000,O 900.
strength Of the Treasury.
The present gratifying strength of the
treasury Is shown by the fact that on Dec.
], 1899, the available cash balance was
ea7s, OO4, s87. n, Of which 1888, IA, 9O5. s6 was
in gold coin and bullion. The conditions
of confidence which prevail throughout
the country have brought gold into more
general use and customs receipts are now
almost entirely paid in that coin.
The strong condition of the treasury
with respect to cash on hand and the
favorable showing made by the revenues
have made 1t possible for the secretary Of
the treasury to take action under the
provisions Of section 1896, Revised Stat
utes, relating to the sinking fund.