The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-12-06

trative entity, protect all rights guaran-
teed to friendly powers by treaty and in
ternatonal law and safeguard for the
world the principle of equal and impair
tial trade with all parts of the Chinese
empire
Faithful to those professions which,
as 1t proved, reflected the views and pur-
poses of the other cooperating govern
ments. all our efforts have been directed
toward ending the anomalous situation in
China by negotiations for settlement at
the earliest possible moment. AS soon as
the sacred duty of relieving our legation
and its dependents was accomplished we
withdrew from active hostilities. leaving
our legation under an adequate guard in
Peking as n channel of negotiation and
settlement. course adopted by Others
of the interested powers"
The president then speaks of the prom
inent part taken by the United States
at the Paris exposition and of our amica-
bic relations with France, Germany and
Great Britain and refers to the Samoan
settlement as follows:
"fhe settlement of the Samoan prob
lem, to which | advcrted in my last mes
sage. has accomplished good results.
Peace and contentment prevail in the is
al
convenient administration that has won
the confidence and esteem OF the kindly
disposed natives has been organized un-
der the direction of the commander of
the United States naval station at Pan
go-Pango."
The Alaskan boundary question Is next
referred to. The growth of Japan is
commented upon. as is also our thriving
commercial intercourse with Mexico.
After speaking of the international arbi-
tration movement the president turns to
the subject of an intcroceanic canal. He
says:
THE all important matter of an inter
oceanic canal has assumed a new phase.
Adherng to its refusal TO reopen the
question of the forfeiture of the contract
of the Maritime Canal company, which
was terminated for alleged noneXecuton
in October, 1899, the government of Nj
cnragua has since supplemented that ac-
tion 10y declaring the so styled Eyre
Cragin option void for nonpaymcnt of the
stipulated advance. Protests in relation
to these acts have been filed in the state
department and are under consideration.
Deeming itself rclievelefrom existing en-
gagements. the Nica&gua government
shows n disposition n deal freely with
the canal question either in the way of
negotiations with the United States or
by taking measures to promote the wa
terway.
"Overtures for convention to effect
the building of a canal under the auspices
of the United States are under consider
alton. In the meantime the views of the
congress upon the general subject, in
the light of the report of the commission
appointed to examine the comparative
merits of the various transisthmian ship
canal projects. may be awaited.
II commend to the early attention of
the senate the convention with Great
Britain to facilitate the construction of
such a canal and to remove any objec-
tion which might arise out of the con-
vention commonly called the Clayton
Bulwer treaty"
Our relations with Spain and Turkey
are next treated. and then follows Il
statement of the gratifying financial CON
diton of the country. with comment up
on our increasing foreign trade, the
growth of manufactures and agricultural
production. Regarding the internal reve-
nue. the president says:
Il recommend that the congress at its
present session reduce the internal reve-
nue. taxes imposed to meet the expenses
of the war with Spain in the sum of $50
| 600, 600. This reduction should be secured
| by the remission of those taxes which cx-
| pericnce has shown to be the most bur
! densome TO the industries of the people.
81 specially urge that there be included
| i'll whatever reduction Is made the legacy
| tax bequests for public uses Of n literary,
| educational or charitable character.
american vessels during the past three
years have carried about per cent of our
| exports and imports. Foreign ships should
| carry the least, not the greatest, part of
| American trade. The remarkable growth
| of our steel industries, the progress of
| shipbuiding for the domestic trade and
our steadily maintained expenditures for
the navy have created an opportunity to
| place the United States in the first rank
of commercial maritime powers.
Besides realizing proper national as
| piration. this will mean the establishment
and healthy growth along all our coasts
| of distinctive national industry, expand
| ing the field for the profitable employment
of labor and capital 1t viii increase the
| transportation facilities aud reduce
freight charges on the vast volume OF
| products brought from the interior TO the
seaboard for export and will Strengthen
| an arm ol lllt .llulloHul utleuSt upon
which the founders of the government
and their successors have relied. In again
urging immediate action by the congress
on measures to promote American ship
ping and foreign trade | direct attention
! to the recommendation on the subject il
| previous messages.
THE TRUST EVIL.
In my last annual message to the con
| gress | called attention to the necessity
for early action to remedy such evils n
might be found to exist in connection will
combinations of capital organized int
trusts and again invite attention to IN.
discussion of the subject mt that time
which concluded with these words:
"'lt is apparent that uniformity of leg
islation upon this subject in the severa
states is much to he desired. 1t is to b.
hoped that such uniformity. founded in
wise and just discrimination betweel
what is injurious and what is useful AM
necessary in business operations, may b
| obtained and that means may be foun'
for the congress, within the limitations o
its constitutional powers, so TO supple
ment an effective code of state Legislation