The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-12-08
M'KINLEY'S
MESSAGE
The President Outlines his Policy
to Congress.

Recommendation as to the Philip
pines, Cuba and Porto Rico
Nicaragua Canal, Manila Gable.
etc.
President McKinleys annual message
to congress op,ns with a eulogy of the
late Vice President Hobart
The president then plunges into a re-
view Of the prosperous conditions which
have prevailed throughout the country
since his last message was delivered. The
exports of agricultural products were
1874, ZIG, 142 and of manufactured prod
nets $339, ,592, 146 larger than any previ-
Ous year. Government receipts from al
sources for the fiscal year ended June 30,
1899, aggregated nearly $611 100000
i Customs receipts were over $206, 600, 900
and those from internal revenue about
S274, ,O00, 900. For the same period the
expenditures were 500, 1854, leaving
deficit of a little over $S9,000,000. The
secretary of the treasury estimates that
the receipts for the current fiscal year
will aggregate nearly $641 100000 and
the expenditures about $601 100000.
Condition of the Treasury.
Mr.. McKiRley then turns his attention
to the condition of the treasury, which.
he says, is most gratifying. The availa-
BILE cash balance on Dec /, 1899, was
$27S,000000, of which over 1929, 900, ,000
was in gold coin and bullion, and he re-
marks that the conditions of confidence
which prevail throughout the country
have brought gold into more general use,
and customs receipts are now almost en-
tirely paid in that coin. The recent ac-
tion of the secretary of the treasury in
offering to purchase $25 100000 of bonds,
Mr.. Mckinley says, is strong evidence Of
! the nations financial strength. The
amount offered and purchased CARING No
vember was $1S,408,600. The net saving
in interest on the amount purchased was
over $2,000,000.
The president urgently recommends
that the existing gold standard be pre-
served and that to support this standard
the secretary Of the treasury be given adj
ditional power and be charged with the
duty to sell United States bonds and to
J employ such other effective means as
, lmay be necessary.
After an urgent appeal to congress TO
pass some legislation which shall lift the
I American merchant marine from its pres
a ent state of decadence President McKin-
ley turns his attention to the subject OF
trusts and devotes a great deal Of atten-
4 tion to it. He says that it is universally
j conceded that combinations which en-
j. gross or control the market of any par
= ticular kind of merchandise or commodity
necessary to the general community, by
5 suppressing natural and ordinary compe-
d tition, whereby prices are unduly en-
r hanced to the general consumer, are OBJ
noxious to the public welfare. There.
must be remedy for the evils involved
!. in such organization. Whatever power
n congress possesses over this most impor-
+ tant subject should be promptly aaaar%
! tanned and asserted.
Foreign Relations.
Following the trust question the presi-
dent takes up foreign relations He finds
t that the isthmian canal commission in
{ making good progress in carrying on ex-
aminations in Nicaragua and Darien
with view to establishing a canal be-
Q tween the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
and he asks congress to help in the work.
Referring to China. Mr.. Mckinley saws
that the interests of our citizens in that
vast empire have not been neglected. and
{ adequate protection has been secured for
n American missionaries there Our trade
o with China has continued to grow, and
our commercial rights under existing
treaties have been and will be maintain
S ed.
n Next the Paris exposition is touched
on, and concerning Germany the presi-
dent finds that our relations continue te
be most cordial.
j The president hopes that the disputed
q question concerning the Alaskan Cana
dian boundary will soon be satisfactorily
: settled
. Touching on the war between Great
n Britain and the Boers the president
says that this government has maintain
ed and will maintain an attitude of neu-
: trality. Had circumstances suggested
a that the parties to the quarrel would have
: welcomed any kindly expression of the
hope of the American people that war
might be averted good offices would have
V been gladly rendered.
n The American consul at Pretoria has
p been instructed to see that all neutral
American interests are protected. To the
American consul has been intrusted also
the care of neutral British interests in
the absence of the British consul.
Taking up the subject of the Iynching
of certain Italians in Louisiana, Mr. Nc
Kinley follows President Harrison in
I urging that congress extend the powers
9 of the federal courts so that they may
have jurisdiction over offenses against the
treaty rights of foreigners domiciled in
the United States.
The president after complimentary
reference to the friendly feeling the gov
: ernment of Japan has for the United
I States hopes that that country will soon
d be brought into telegraphic relation with
! this country and also calls attention to
his special message concerning the neces-
sity of cable to Manila. recommending
( that congress authorize the postmaster
general to invite competitive bids for the
establishment of such cable.
Samoan Troubles.
President Mckinley reviews at some
length the Samoan troubles and says that
{ he will soon submit to the senate a con
vention entered into between the United
States, Germany and England for its ac-
ton.
The president reviews at length the
treaty with Spain and its consequences.
He reasserts the intention of the govern
ment TO give Cuba her independence and
says he believes substantial progress in
that direction has been made.
All the administrative measures adopt
ed in Cuba have aimed to fit ii for re-
generated existence by enforcing the SUI
premacy of law and justice, by placing
wherever practicable the machinery of
admins Stration in the hands of the inhah-