The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-12-15

The message opens with a touching tri-
butte to the memory of the late Vice
President Hobart.
The tifty-siXth congress convenes, says
the president, in its first regular session
with the country in condition of unus-
ual prosperity. of universal good will
among the people at home, and in rela-
tions of peace and friendship with every
government of the world.
Our foreign commerce has shown great
increase in volume and value. The COM
bined imports and exports for the year
are the largest ever shown by a single
year in all our history.
Referring to the government finances,
the president says that the receipts from
all sources for the fiscal year ended June
80. 1889. aggregated S61O.9S2. OO4.35. For
the fiscal year the expenditures were
SlooO9S,5G4O2, leaving deficit of $s9.1
$685.
The secretary of the treasury estimates
that the receipts for the current fiscal
year will aggregate SG4O.95t., 112. and upon
the basis of present appropriations a sur.
plus of S64O,OO0,O0O.
Tho present gratifying strength of the
treasury is shown by the fact that on
Dec 1, 1899. the available cash balance
was $27s,oo4, S37.72, of which $239.744..
9Oo.3G was in gold coin and bullion. The
conditions of confidence which prevail
throughout the country have brought gold
into more general use, and customs re-
ceipts are now almost entirely paid in
that coin.
The president directs the attention of
congress to the necessity of reforms in
the national banking act, and expresses
the hope that reasonable notifications
be made lin the act to make it's service
more responsive to the peoples needs.
He says:
Il urgently recommend that to sup
port the existing gold standard. and to
maintain the parity in value of the coins
OF the two metals gold and silver and
the equal power Of every dollar at all
times in the market, and in the payment
OF debts, the secretary of the treasury
be given additional power and charged
with the duty to sell United States bonds
and to employ such other effective means
as may be necessary to these ends"
In summing up the financial section Of
his message, the president says:
Our receipts now equal our expendi-
lures: deficit revenues no longer create
alarm. Let us remove the only remain
ing cause by comforting the full and nee
essary power on the secretary of the
treasury and impose OIL him the duty to
uphold the present gold standard and
preserve the coins Of the two metals on
parity with each other, which is the re-
peatedly declared policy of ther United
States.
In this connection I repeat my former
recommendations that a portion of the
gold holdings shall be placed in a trust
fund. from which greenhacks shall be re-
deemed upon presentation. but when
once redeemed shall not thereafter be
paid out except for gold.''
The attention of congress is called to
to the value of an American merchant
marine for the extension of our CONNER
cial trade and the strengthening of our
power upon the sea, and immediate ac-
ton is urged.
On the subject Of trusts the president
says:
Combinations of capital organized into
trusts to control the conditions of trade
among our citizens, to stile competition,
limit production and determine the prices
of products used and consumed by the
people, are justly provoking public dis
cussion, and should early claim the at
tention of the congress.
1t is universally conceded that combi.
nations which engross or control the mar.
ket of any particular kind of merchandise
or commodity necessary to the general
community, by suppressing natural and
ordinary competition. whereby prices are
unduly enhanced to the general consum-
er, are obnoxious not only to the common
law but also to the public welfare There
must be remedy for the evils involved
in such organizations.
If the present law can be extended
more certainly to control or check these
monopolies or trust. it should be done
without delay. Whatever power the con-
sress possesses over this most important
subject should be promptly ascertained
and asserted
1t is apparent that uniformity Of legis-
lation upon this subject in the several
states is much to be desired 1t is to be
hoped that such uniform W founded on a
wise and just discriminate: IN between
what is injurious and what is useful and
necessary in business operations may be
obtained. and that means may be found
for the congress within the limitations of
Its constitutional power SO to supplement
an effective code of state legislation as
to make a complete system of laws
throughout the United States adequate
salutary rules.
states is presented, with such recon-
mendations as are deemed appropriate
Or: relations with other nations are on
most friendly terms.
The president again refers to the nee
essity for the construction of the Nicara-
qua canal and urges congress to take
early action in the matter.
Of the dispute regarding the Alaskan
boundary, the president says a modus
vivendi for provisional dAmarcations in
the region about the head of the Lynn
canal has been agreed upon and express
GO tHc AOpc tHdl NEGOTIATIONS now pend
ing will end in an early and amicable
adjustment.
With regard to the British-Boer war.
the president says this government has
maintained an attitude of neutrality.
The president refers to the lynching of
foreigners in Louisiana, and SAYS the
federal courts should be given jurisdic-
ton in such cases.
The president urges the necessity of a
cable to Manila, and invites congress to
give the matter consideration.
The year has been marked, saws the
president, by constant increase in the
intimacy Of our relations with Mexico.
and the magnitude Of mutually advan-
tageous interchange. This government
has omitted no opportunity to show its
strong desire to develop and perpetuate
the ties Of cordiality now so long happily
unbroken.
Samoan affairs are briefly reviewed by
the president. He says satisfactory ar
rangement was concluded between the
governments of Germany and of Eng
land, by virtue Of which England retired
from Samoa In view of compensations in
other directions, and both parties re-
nounced in favor Of the United States all
their rights and claims over and in re-
spect to that portion Of the group EN-.
bracing the islands of Tutuila, Ofoo. OLE
senga and Mauna. The convention Is re-