Year: 1873

! prisoners taken with arms In their hands
and finally the capture upon the high
! seas of a vessel sailing under the United
| States flag and bearing a United States


registry has eliminated in an oUtburst


of Indignation that has seemed for a


time to threaten war.


Pending the negotiations between the
| United States and the government of
| Spain on the subject of this capture I
| have authorized the secretary of the
navy to put our navy on war footing


TO the extent at least of the entire an
nual appropriation for that branch of
the service, trusting to congress and the
public opinion of the American people


to Justify my action.


CONSTITUTIONAL.


Assuming from the action of the last
congress appointing a committee on


privileges and elections to prepare and


report to this congress a constitutional


amendment to provide a better method
of electing president and ce-president


of the United States, and also from the
necessity of such an amendment, that
there will be submitted to the state
legislatures for ratification such an i'm
prOvement in our constitution, L sug


gest two Others for your consideration.


l. To authorize the executive to ap-


prove of so much of any measure pass
ing the two houses of congress, as his
judgment may dictate, without approx
ing the whole, the disapproved portion
or portions to be subjected to the same
rules as now, tO-wit: to be referred
back to the house in which the measure
or measures originated, and If passed
by two-third vote of the two houses
then to become the law without the ap-
proval of the president I would add
to this provision that there should be
no legislation by congress during the
last twenty-fOur hours of its sitting, ex-
cept upon vetOes, in order to give the
executive an opportunity to ex anime and
approve or disapprOve understandingly


2. To provide by amendment that
when an extra session of con gress is
convened by executive proclamation, the
legislation during the continuance of
such extra session shall be confined to
such subjects as the executive may bring
before it from time to time in writing.


The advantages to be gained by these
two amendments are obvious. One ses-
sion in each year is provided for by the
constitution in which there are no re-
strictions as to the subjects of legisla-
ton by congress. If more are required
it is always in the power of congressman
during their term of Office to provide
for sessions at any time. The first
amendment would protect the public
against the many wastes of public
money which creep into appropriation
bills and other important measures du-
ring the expiring hours of congress to
which otherwise consideration cannot be
given.


THE TREASURY.


The receipts of the government from
all sources for the fiscal year were $685.
73S, ,2O4, the expenditures on all accounts
1920, ,245, $50, thus showing an excess of
receipts over expenditures of S43, ,362,-
O59. But it is not probable that this
favorable exhibit viii be shown for the
present fiscal year. Indeed, it is very
doubtful whether, except with great
economy on the part of congress in
making appropriations, and the same
economy in the administration in ad-
ministering the various departments of
government, the revenues will not fall
short of meeting the annual expenses
including interest on public debt. I
commend to congress such economy,
and point out two sources where it
seems to me it might commence, to-
wit In the appropriations for public
buildings in the many cities where work
has not been commenced and in the
appropriations for river and harbOr i'm
prOvement in those localities where the
improvements are of but little benefit
to general commerce, and for fOrifca-
tions. There is a still more fruitful
source of expenditure which I will
point out later in this message. refer
to the easy method of manufacturing
claims for losses incurred in tine sup
preston of the late rebellion.


I would not be understood as in Op
position to the erection of good, sub
stantial or even ornamental buildings
by the government wherever such build
ings are needed. In fact, I approve of
the government owning its own build
ings in all sections of the country, and
hope thc day is not far distant when it
will not only possess them, but will
erect in the capital suitable residences
for all persons who now receive cOmmu-
tation for quarters or rental at govern
ment expense and for the cabinet, thus
setting an example for the states, which
may induce them TO erect buildings for
their senators. But I would have this
work conducted at times when the re-
sources of the country would abund-
antIy Justify it. The resources have
materially fallen off for the last five
months of the present fiscal year from
what they were expected to produce,
owing to


THE GENERAL PANIC
now prevailing, which commenced about
the middle of September last. The
full effect of this disaster, if it should
not prove to be a blessing IN disguise.
is yet to be demonstrated. In either
event it is your duty TO heed the lesson, !
and provide by wise and well considered
legislation, as far as it lies in your
power, against it's recurrence, and to
take advantage of all the benefits that
may have accrued. My own Judgment
Is that however much individuals NAV
have suffered, one long step has been
taken toward specie payments that we
can never have permanent prosperity
until an entire basis is reached, and
that a specie basis cannot be reached
and maintained until our exports lex
elusive of gOld) pay for our imports,
our interest due abroad, and other
specie obligations, so heavy as to leave
an appreciabie accumulation of the
precious metals in the country from the
products of our mines. The develop
ment of the mines of precious metals
during the past year, and the prOspec-
tive development of them for years TO
come, are gratifying IN their results.
Could but one-half of the gold extracted
from the mines be retained at home,
our advance toward specie payment
would be rapid. To increase our ex-
ports sufficient currency is required to
keep all the industries of the country
employed. Without this, national as
well as individual bankruptcy must en-
sue. Undue initiation, on the other
hand, while it might give temporary
relief, would only lead to an imitation
of prices, the impossibility of eompet-
ing IN our markets for the products of