Year: 1876

IMAM tH0 D0oO0 Oh tu0 WOEIU require oAV
must be sold for less than the cost of pro-
duction, an those which command profit
over cost of production because there 10
not an over-pr0duction. call special at
tention to the need of the department for
new gallery for the reception Of the ex-
hibits returned from the Centennial Exhi-
bition, including the exhibits donated by
very many foreign nations, and to the re-
commendations of the commissioner OF
agriculture generally.


The report Of the


DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS
And the Board of Health are just received,
too late to read them and to make recon-
mendations thereon, and are herewith sub
mitted.


The


INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
Held in Philadelphia this year in COM
memoration of the one hundredth anniver-
sary of American independence, has proven
a great success, and will no doubt be of en-
during advantage to the country. 1t has
shown the great progress In the arts,
sciences and mechanical skill made in q CEN
tury, and demonstrated that we are but
little behind older nations in any one
branch, while in some we scarcely have
rival. 1t has served, too, not only to bring
peoples and products of skill and labor



bringing together people from all sections
of our own country, which must prove
great benefit in the information impaired
and PRIDE of country engendered.


1t has been suggested by scientists inter.
ested in and connected with the Smiths0ni-
an Institute, in q communication herewith,
that the government exhibit be removed to
the capital and suitable building be erect
ed or purchased for its accommodation as q


I
mend this, and believing that Congress
would second this view, directed that all
government exhibits at the Centennial Ex-
hibition should remain where they are. ex-
cept such az might be injured by remaining
in q building not intended % Q protection
in inclement weather, or such as may be
wanted by the department furnishing
them, until the question of permanent ex-
hibitlon is acted on.


Although the moneys appropriated Dy
Congress to enable the participation of the
several executive departments in the Inter
national Exhibition of 1876 were not suf-
ticient to carry out the undertaking to the
full extent at first contemplated, it gives
me pleasure to refer to the very efficient and
creditable manner in which the board ap-
pointed from these several depal tnents, to
provide an exhibition on the part OF the
government, have discharged their duties
WlG0 CQ0 lUuOo PlOCOO Nv SAAOAA VOAAAAAAOAOs
Without precedent to guide them In the
preparation of such display, the success
of their labors was amply attested by the
sustained attention which the contents of
the Government Building attracted during
the period of the exhibit from both for
eign and native visitors.


I am strongly impressed with the value of
the collection made by the government for
the purposes of the exhibition, illustrating


0f he
country,


THE STATISTICAL AND PRACTICAL EVIDENCES
Of our growth rs nation, and the uses OF
the mechanical arts and the applications OF
applied science in the administration OF the
affairs of government. Many nations have
voluntarily contributed their exhibits to
the United States to increase the interest in
any permanent exhibition Congress may
provide for. For this act of generosity they
should receive the thanks of the people, and
respectfully suggest that q resolution OF
Congress to that effect be adopted.


The attention Of Congress can not be too
earnestly called to the necessity OF throw
ing some greater safeguard over the method
OF choosing and declaring


THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT.


Under the present system there seems to
be no provided remedy for cOntesting the
election in any one State. The remedy is
partially in the enlightenment of electors.


The compulsory support of


FREE SCHOOLS,


and tho Acknowledgement Of all who can
not read and write the English language,
after q fixed probation, would meet my
hearty approval. I would not make this
apply to those already voters, but would
to ali becoming SO after the expiration of
the probation fixed on. Foreigners coming
to the country to become.citizens, who are
educated in their own language, should &C.
auire the requisite knowledge Of ours dur
Inc the necessary time of residence to OBJ
tain naturalization. If they did not take
interest enough in our language to acquire
sufficient knowledge Of it to enable them to
study the institutions and laws of the cOun-
try intelligently, would not confer upon
them the right to make such laws nor to &C.
lect those who do.


Iappend to this message, for convenient
reference, . synopsis OF administrative
events, and Of all recommendations to Con-
gress made BY me during tho last seven
years.


Time may show some Of these recon-
mendations not to have been wisely con-
ceived, but believe the large part will do
no discredit to the administr alton. One Of
these recommendations met with the united
opposition of one political party in the Sen
ate, and with 9 strong opposition from tho
other, namely,


THE TREATY FOR THE ANNEXATION OF SAN


DOMINGO


to the United States, to rhich I will special.
ly refer, maintaining, as do, that if my
views have been concurred in the country
would DO in more prosperous condition
to-day, both politically and financially.
San Domingo is fertile, and upon its soil
may be grown just those tropical products
of which the United States use so much,
and which are produced or prepared for
market now by slave labor almost exclu-
sively, namely: Sugar. coffee, dye woods,
mahogany, tropical fraits, tobacco, etc.
About seventy-five per cent of the exports
OF Cuba are consumed in the United States.
A large percentage of the exports of Brazil
also find the same market. These are paid
for almost exclusively in coin.


Legislation, particularly in Cuba, being
unfavOrable to mutual exchange of the
products of each country, -four shipped
from the Mississippi river to Havana can
pass by the very entrance to the city on it's
way to port in Spain, then pays duty
fixed upon articles to be re-exported, trans.
back almost to the point of starting, paying
Q second duty, and still leaving profit over
what would be received by direct shipment.
All that is produced in Cuba could be pro-
daced in San Domingo. Being part of
the United States, commerce between the
island and mainland would be free. There
would be no export duties on shipments nor
import duties on those coming here. There
would be no import duties upon the sup
plies, machinery, etc.. going from the States


The effect that would have been pro-
duced upon Cuban commerce, with these
advantages to q rival, is observable at
glance. The Cuban question would have
been settled long ago in favor of tree Cuba.
Hundreds of American vessels would now