The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-12-15
THIS THE MESSAGE
Presidents Annual Communi-
cation Duly Delivered
81 81 to Congress.
Gold Standard Should Be For-
+ mally Adopted at This
Session.
Philippine Question One of
the Large Ones Congress
Must Deal With.
To the Senate and House of Representa-

To the Senate and House of Representa-
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. 21st 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 priceless leg
acy and example. .f- taattE sti ...
Condition of Unusual Prosperity.
The Fifty-Sixth congress conven es in
its 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 sim
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 cent less than in 1870, while the
exports per capita are % per cent more
than in 1870 showing the enlarged ca
pacity of the United States to satisfy the
wants of its own increasing population,
as we'll as to contribute to those Of the
peoples of other nations. e. ..=a+n--
Man ufactured Exports Exceed Imports.
Exports of agricultural products were
1874, 776, 142, OF manufactured products
we exported in value 1888, 592, 146, being
larger than any previous year. 1t is a
noteworthy fact that the only years in all
our history when the products of our
manufactures sold abroad exceeded those
bought abroad were 1898 and 1899.
Government receipts from all sources
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1899, in
Guiding 81, 79S, 314. II, part payment Of the
Central Pacific railroad indebtedness,
aggregated 500, 9S2, OO4 49, Customs re-
ceipts were $206, 128, 481. 70, and those from
revenue $273, 437, 161 81.
For the fiscal year the expenditures
were $7O0 ,093, 564. OF, leaving a deficit Of
$50, Ill, 559,67.
The secretary of the treasury estimates
that the receipts for the current fiscal
, year will aggregate 500, 95S, 1l2, and upon
the basis of present appropriations the
expenditures will aggregate $500, 95S, 112,
leaving a surplus of $40,OO0,000
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 1899,
the internal revenue receipts were in
creased about $1OO,0O0,OO0. az. - asa
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
S278 OO4. s37 70, of which $239, 744, 9O5.3 6 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 it possible for the secretary of
the treasury to take action under the
provisions of section 1906, Revised Stat
utes, relating to the sinking fund.