The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-11
GREAT ADVANTAGES ID
 BE DERIVED THEREFROM
Cuba Is Situated In Great Strategic Position and This Must Not Be
 orgotten-Cannon Ap-
 points Committees.

W ANbNtAlDSl lAS AiDhHS was in session less than half an hour today, an early adjournment being taken out of respect to the memory of two deceased members. The Presidents mes sage was read and referred to the com mittees on ways and means, the mem- bership of which is yet to be announced. The message was also ordered printed.
 The speaker announced the committees on rules and mileage. Aside from mak- ing provision for the payment of mileage of members no further business was transacted
 Speaker Cannon called the house to order promptly at 12 o'clock, the hour fixed for the beginning of the daily ses- sions.
 Following the reading of the Journal. Charles w. Thompson of Alabama was sworn in as a member of the house.
 President Notified.
 MT. Tawney of Minnesota, for the com- mittee appointed by the speaker to wait upon the President to inform him of the presence of quorum of the two houses were ready to receive any com munication he was ready to make waited upon the President, and the President said he would at once transmit the mes- sage in writing.
 A joint resolution offered by MT. Hem ingway of Indiana, making immediate available appropriations for mileage oi senators and members of the house oi representatives, was passed
 Provision was made authorizing the speaker to designate some one from among those appointed by him to sign in his name, under his direction, all certifi- cates for salary and accounts for trav- cling expenses, thus saving the speaker vast amount of labor.
 MT. Barnes, assistant secretary to the President, bearing a message from the President. was announced. The Presi- dents message was then read and was received with applause from the repub- lican side.
 Committees Announced.
 Following it's reading the speaker an- nounced the following committees:
 Rues-The speaker, Dalzell Gepubli- can), Pennsylvania; Grosvenor (republi- can), Ohio; Williams (democraD, Missis- slppi DeArmond (democraD, Missouri.
 Mileage-Reeder, Kansas; Jackson, Maryland; Flack, New York; Lewis. Georgia; Butler Missouri.
 The first three are republicans and the last two democrats.
 Resolutions of respect to the memory of MT. Forderer of Pennsylvania and MT. Boreing of Kentucky were adopted, and. as further mark of respect, the house at 12:27 adjourned
 The Presidents message is as follows:
 The Presidents Message. To the Senate and House of Representa-
 tives:
 I have convened the congress that it may consider the legislation necessary to put into operation the commercial treaty with Cuba, which was ratified b ythe senate at it's last session and subsequently, by the Cuban government. l deem such legis- lation demanded not only by our interest but by our honor. We cannot with pro- priety abandon the course upon which we have so wisely embarked. When the acceptance of the Platt amendment was required from Cuba, by the action of con- gress of the United States, this govern ment thereby definitely committed itself to the policy of treating Cuba as occupy ing an unique position as regards this country. It was provided that when the island became a free and independent re- public she should stand in such close rela- tions with LIS as in certain respects to come within our system of International policy i; and it necessarily followed that She must also to certain degree become included within the lines of our economic policy. Situated as Cuba is 1t would not be possi- ble for this country to permit the strategic abuse of the plan by any foreign military. If is for this reason that certain llmita- tions have been imposed upon her financial policy and that naval stations have been conceded by her to the United States. The negotiations as to the details of these naval stations are on the eve of comple- ton. They are so situated as to prevent any idea that there is the intention ever to use them against Cuba or otherwise than for the protection of Cuba from the assaults of foreign foes and for the better safeguarding of American interests in the waters south of us.
 Interests Largely Increased.
 These interests have been largely ln- creased by the consequences of war with Spain. and will be still further increased by the building of the Isthmian canal. They are both military and economic. The granting to us by Cuba of the naval sta tions above alluded to is of the utmost importance from military standpoint. and IS proof of the good faith with which Cuba Is treating us. Cuba has made great progress since her independence was established She has advanced steadily in every way She already stands high among her sister republics of the new world. She is Loyalty observing her obli- gations to us and she is entitled to like treatment by us.
 The treaty submitted to you for approv- al secures to the United States economic advantages as great as those given to Cuba. Not an American interest Is sac rificed By the treaty large Cuban mar ket is secured to our producers. It Is a market which lies at our doors, which is already large. which is capable of great expansion and which 1t is especially im- portant to the development of our export ha ind -i~ 4