naval contingencies. Three of our Government navy-yards--those at Mare
Island, Cal., Norfolk, Va., and Brooklyn, N. Y.--are equipped for
shipbuilding, our ordnance plant in Washington is equal to any in the
world, and at the torpedo station we are successfully making the
highest grades of smokeless powder. The first-class private shipyards
at Newport News, Philadelphia, and San Francisco are building battle
ships; eleven contractors, situated in the States of Maine, Rhode
Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and the State of
Washington, are constructing gunboats or torpedo boats; two plants are
manufacturing large quantities of first-class armor, and American
factories are producing automobile torpedoes, powder, projectiles,
rapid-fire guns, and everything else necessary for the complete outfit
of naval vessels.
There have been authorized by Congress since March, 1893, 5 battle
ships, 6 light-draft gunboats, 16 torpedo boats, and 1 submarine
torpedo boat. Contracts for the building of all of them have been let.
The Secretary expresses the opinion that we have for the present a
sufficient supply of cruisers and gunboats, and that hereafter the
construction of battle ships and torpedo boats will supply our needs.
Much attention has been given to the methods of carrying on
departmental business. Important modifications in the regulations have
been made, tending to unify the control of shipbuilding as far as may
be under the Bureau of Construction and Repair, and also to improve the
mode of purchasing supplies for the Navy by the Bureau of Supplies and
Accounts. The establishment under recent acts of Congress of a supply
fund with which to purchase these supplies in large quantities and
other modifications of methods have tended materially to their
cheapening and better quality.
The War College has developed into an institution which it is believed
will be of great value to the Navy in teaching the science of war, as
well as in stimulating professional zeal in the Navy, and it will be
especially useful in the devising of plans for the utilization in case
of necessity of all the naval resources of the United States.
The Secretary has persistently adhered to the plan he found in
operation for securing labor at navy-yards through boards of labor
employment, and has done much to make it more complete and efficient.
The naval officers who are familiar with this system and its operation
express the decided opinion that its results have been to vastly
improve the character of the work done at our yards and greatly reduce
its cost.
Discipline among the officers and men of the Navy has been maintained
to a high standard and the percentage of American citizens enlisted has
been very much increased.
The Secretary is considering and will formulate during the coming
winter a plan for laying up ships in reserve, thereby largely reducing
the cost of maintaining our vessels afloat. This plan contemplates that
battle ships, torpedo boats, and such of the cruisers as are not needed
for active service at sea shall be kept in reserve with skeleton crews
on board to keep them in condition, cruising only enough to insure the
efficiency of the ships and their crews in time of activity.
The economy to result from this system is too obvious to need comment.
The Naval Militia, which was authorized a few years ago as an
experiment, has now developed into a body of enterprising young men,
active and energetic in the discharge of their duties and promising
great usefulness. This establishment has nearly the same relation to
our Navy as the National Guard in the different States bears to our
Army, and it constitutes a source of supply for our naval forces the
importance of which is immediately apparent.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior presents a comprehensive
and interesting exhibit of the numerous and important affairs committed
to his supervision. It is impossible in this communication to do more
than briefly refer to a few of the subjects concerning which the
Secretary gives full and instructive information.
The money appropriated on account of this Department and for its
disbursement for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1896, amounted to more
than $157,000,000, or a greater sum than was appropriated for the
entire maintenance of the Government for the two fiscal years ended
June 30, 1861.
Our public lands, originally amounting to 1,840,000,000 acres, have
been so reduced that only about 600,000,000 acres still remain in
Government control, excluding Alaska. The balance, being by far the
most valuable portion, has been given away to settlers, to new States,
and to railroads or sold at a comparatively nominal sum. The patenting
of land in execution of railroad grants has progressed rapidly during
the year, and since the 4th day of March, 1893, about 25,000,000 acres
have thus been conveyed to these corporations.
I agree with the Secretary that the remainder of our public lands
should be more carefully dealt with and their alienation guarded by
better economy and greater prudence.
The commission appointed from the membership of the National Academy of
Sciences, provided for by an act of Congress, to formulate plans for a
national forestry system will, it is hoped, soon be prepared to present
the result of thorough and intelligent examination of this important
subject.
The total Indian population of the United States is 177,235, according
to a census made in 1895, exclusive of those within the State of New
York and those comprising the Five Civilized Tribes. Of this number
there are approximately 38,000 children of school age. During the year
23,393 of these were enrolled in schools. The progress which has
attended recent efforts to extend Indian-school facilities and the
anticipation of continued liberal appropriations to that end can not
fail to afford the utmost satisfaction to those who believe that the
education of Indian children is a prime factor in the accomplishment of
Indian civilization.
It may be said in general terms that in every particular the
improvement of the Indians under Government care has been most marked
and encouraging.
The Secretary, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and the agents
having charge of Indians to whom allotments have been made strongly
urge the passage of a law prohibiting the sale of liquor to allottees
who have taken their lands in severalty. I earnestly join in this
recommendation and venture to express the hope that the Indian may be
speedily protected against this greatest of all obstacles to his
well-being and advancement.
The condition of affairs among the Five Civilized Tribes, who occupy
large tracts of land in the Indian Territory and who have governments
of their own, has assumed such an aspect as to render it almost
indispensable that there should be an entire change in the relations of
these Indians to the General Government. This seems to be necessary in
furtherance of their own interests, as well as for the protection of
non-Indian residents in their territory. A commission organized and
empowered under several recent laws is now negotiating with these
Indians for the relinquishment of their courts and the division of
their common lands in severalty and are aiding in the settlement of the
troublesome question of tribal membership. The reception of their first
proffers of negotiation was not encouraging, but through patience and
such conduct on their part as demonstrated that their intentions were
friendly and in the interest of the tribes the prospect of success has
become more promising. The effort should be to save these Indians from
the consequences of their own mistakes and improvidence and to secure
to the real Indian his rights as against intruders and professed
friends who profit by his retrogression. A change is also needed to
protect life and property through the operation of courts conducted
according to strict justice and strong enough to enforce their mandates.
As a sincere friend of the Indian, I am exceedingly anxious that these
reforms should be accomplished with the consent and aid of the tribes
and that no necessity may be presented for radical or drastic
legislation I hope, therefore, that the commission now conducting
negotiations will soon be able to report that progress has been made
toward a friendly adjustment of existing difficulties.
It appears that a very valuable deposit of gilsonite or asphaltum has
been found on the reservation in Utah occupied by the Uncompahgre Ute
Indians. Every consideration of care for the public interest and every
sensible business reason dictate such management or disposal of this
important source of public revenue as will except it from the general
rules and incidents attending the ordinary disposition of public lands
and secure to the Government a fair share at least of its advantages in
place of its transfer for a nominal sum to interested individuals.
I indorse the recommendation made by the present Secretary of the
Interior, as well as his predecessor, that a permanent commission,
consisting of three members, one of whom shall be an army officer, be
created to perform the duties now devolving upon the Commissioner and
Assistant Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The management of the Bureau
involves such numerous and diverse details and the advantages of an
uninterrupted policy are so apparent that I hope the change suggested
will meet the approval of the Congress.
The diminution of our enormous pension roll and the decrease of pension
expenditure, which have been so often confidently for told, still fail
in material realization. The number of pensioners on the polls at the
close of the fiscal year ended June 30, 1896, was 970,678. This is the
largest number ever reported. The amount paid exclusively for pensions
during the year was $138,214,761.94, a slight decrease from that of the
preceding year, while the total expenditures on account of pensions,
including the cost of maintaining the Department and expenses attending
pension distribution, amounted to $142,206,550.59, or within every
small fraction of one-third of the entire expense of supporting the
Government during the same year. The number of new pension certificates
issued was 90,640. Of these, 40,374 represent original allowances of
claims and 15,878 increases of existing pensions.
The number of persons receiving pensions from the United States, but
residing in foreign countries, at the close of the last fiscal year was
3,781, and the amount paid to them during the year was $582,735.38.
The sum appropriated for the payment of pensions for the current fiscal
year, ending June 30, 1897, is $140,000,000, and for the succeeding
year it is estimated that the same amount will be necessary.
The Commissioner of Pensions reports that during the last fiscal year
339 indictments were found against violators of the pension laws. Upon
these indictments 167 convictions resulted.
In my opinion, based upon such statements as these and much other
information and observation, the abuses which have been allowed to
creep into our pension system have done incalculable harm in
demoralizing our people and undermining good citizenship. I have
endeavored within my sphere of official duty to protect our pension
roll and make it what it should be, a roll of honor, containing the
names of those disabled in their country's service and worthy of their
country's affectionate remembrance. When I have seen those who pose as
the soldiers' friends active and alert in urging greater laxity and
more reckless pension expenditure, while nursing selfish schemes, I
have deprecated the approach of a situation when necessary retrenchment
and enforced economy may lead to an attack upon pension abuses so
determined as to overlook the discrimination due to those who, worthy
of a nation's care, ought to live and die under the protection of a
nation's gratitude.
The Secretary calls attention to the public interests involved in an
adjustment of the obligations of the Pacific railroads to the
Government. I deem it to be an important duty to especially present
this subject to the consideration of the Congress.
On January 1, 1897, with the amount already matured, more than
$13,000,000 of the principal of the subsidy bonds issued by the United
States in aid of the construction of the Union Pacific Railway,
including its Kansas line, and more than $6,000,000 of like bonds
issued in aid of the Central Pacific Railroad, including those issued
to the Western Pacific Railroad Company, will have fallen due and been
paid or must on that day be paid by the Government. Without any
reference to the application of the sinking fund now in the Treasury,
this will create such a default on the part of these companies to the
Government as will give it the right to at once institute proceedings
to foreclose its mortgage lien. In addition to this indebtedness, which
will be due January 1, 1897, there will mature between that date and
January 1, 1899, the remaining principal of such subsidy bonds, which
must also be met by the Government. These amount to more than
$20,000,000 on account of the Union Pacific lines and exceed
$21,000,000 on account of the Central Pacific lines.
The situation of these roads and the condition of their indebtedness to
the Government have been fully set forth in the reports of various
committees to the present and prior Congresses, and as early as 1887
they were thoroughly examined by a special commission appointed
pursuant to an act of Congress. The considerations requiring an
adjustment of the Government's relations to the companies have been
clearly presented and the conclusion reached with practical uniformity
that if these relations are not terminated they should be revised upon
a basis securing their safe continuance.
Under section 4 of the act of Congress passed March 3, 1887, the
President is charged with the duty, in the event that any mortgage or
other incumbrance paramount to the interest of the United States in the
property of the Pacific railroads should exist and be lawfully liable
to be enforced, to direct the action of the Departments of Treasury and
of justice in the protection of the interest of the United States by
redemption or through judicial proceedings, including foreclosures of
the Government liens.
In view of the fact that the Congress has for a number of years almost
constantly had under consideration various plans for dealing with the
conditions existing between these roads and the Government, I have thus
far felt justified in withholding action under the statute above
mentioned.
In the case of the Union Pacific Company, however, the situation has
become especially and immediately urgent. Proceedings have been
instituted to foreclose a first mortgage upon those aided parts of the
main lines upon which the Government holds a second and subordinate
mortgage lien. In consequence of those proceedings and increasing
complications, added to the default occurring on the 1st day of
January, 1897, a condition will be presented at that date, so far as
this company is concerned, that must emphasize the mandate of the act
of 1887 and give to Executive duty under its provisions a more
imperative aspect. Therefore, unless Congress shall otherwise direct or
shall have previously determined upon a different solution of the
problem, there will hardly appear to exist any reason for delaying
beyond the date of the default above mentioned such Executive action as
will promise to subserve the public interests and save the Government
from the loss threatened by further inaction.
The Department of Agriculture is so intimately related to the welfare
of our people and the prosperity of our nation that it should
constantly receive the care and encouragement of the Government. From
small beginnings it has grown to be the center of agricultural
intelligence and the source of aid and encouragement to agricultural
efforts. Large sums of money are annually appropriated for the
maintenance of this Department, and it must be confessed that the
legislation relating to it has not always been directly in the interest
of practical farming or properly guarded against waste and
extravagance. So far, however, as public money has been appropriated
fairly and sensibly to help those who actually till the soil, no
expenditure has been more profitably made or more generally approved by
the people.
Under the present management of the Department its usefulness has been
enhanced in every direction, and at the same time strict economy has
been enforced to the utmost extent permitted by Congressional action.
From the report of the Secretary it appears that through careful and
prudent financial management he has annually saved a large sum from his
appropriations, aggregating during his incumbency and up to the close
of the present fiscal year nearly one-fifth of the entire amount
appropriated. These results have been accomplished by a conscientious
study of the real needs of the farmer and such a regard for economy as
the genuine farmer ought to appreciate, supplemented by a rigid
adherence to civil-service methods in a Department which should be
conducted in the interest of agriculture instead of partisan politics.
The Secretary reports that the value of our exports of farm products
during the last fiscal year amounted to $570,000,000, an increase of
$17,000,000 over those of the year immediately preceding. This
statement is not the less welcome because of the fact that,
notwithstanding such increase, the proportion of exported agricultural
products to our total exports of all descriptions fell off during the
year. The benefits of an increase in agricultural exports being
assured, the decrease in its proportion to our total exports is the
more gratifying when we consider that it is owing to the fact that such
total exports for the year increased more than $75,000,000.
The large and increasing exportation of our agricultural products
suggests the great usefulness of the organization lately established in
the Department for the purpose of giving to those engaged in farming
pursuits reliable information concerning the condition, needs, and
advantages of different foreign markets. Inasmuch as the success of the
farmer depends upon the advantageous sale of his products, and inasmuch
as foreign markets must largely be the destination of such products, it
is quite apparent that a knowledge of the conditions and wants that
affect those markets ought to result in sowing more intelligently and
reaping with a better promise of profit. Such information points out
the way to a prudent foresight in the selection and cultivation of
crops and to a release from the bondage of unreasoning monotony of
production, a glutted and depressed market, and constantly recurring
unprofitable toil.
In my opinion the gratuitous distribution of seeds by the Department as
at present conducted ought to be discontinued. No one can read the
statement of the Secretary on this subject and doubt the extravagance
and questionable results of this practice. The professed friends of the
farmer, and certainly the farmers themselves, are naturally expected to
be willing to rid a Department devoted to the promotion of farming
interests of a feature which tends so much to its discredit.
The Weather Bureau, now attached to the Department of Agriculture, has
continued to extend its sphere of usefulness, and by an uninterrupted
improvement in the accuracy of its forecasts has greatly increased its
efficiency as an aid and protection to all whose occupations are
related to weather conditions.
Omitting further reference to the operations of the Department, I
commend the Secretary's report and the suggestions it contains to the
careful consideration of the Congress.
The progress made in civil-service reform furnishes a cause for the
utmost congratulation. It has survived the doubts of its friends as
well as the rancor of its enemies and has gained a permanent place
among the agencies destined to cleanse our politics and to improve,
economize, and elevate the public service.
There are now in the competitive classified service upward of 84,000
places, more than half of these having been included from time to time
since March 4, 1893. A most radical and sweeping extension was made by
Executive order dated the 6th day of May, 1896, and if fourth-class
postmasterships are not included in the statement it may be said that
practically all positions contemplated by the civil-service law are now
classified. Abundant reasons exist for including these
postmaster-ships, based upon economy, improved service, and the peace
and quiet of neighborhoods. If, however, obstacles prevent such action
at present, I earnestly hope that Congress will, without increasing
post-office appropriations, so adjust them as to permit in proper eases
a consolidation of these post-offices, to the end that through this
process the result desired may to a limited extent be accomplished.
The civil-service rules as amended during the last year provide for a
sensible and uniform method of promotion, basing eligibility to better
positions upon demonstrated efficiency and faithfulness. The absence of
fixed rules on this subject has been an infirmity in the system more
and more apparent as its other benefits have been better appreciated.
The advantages of civil-service methods in their business aspects are
too well understood to require argument. Their application has become a
necessity to the executive work of the Government. But those who gain
positions through the operation of these methods should be made to
understand that the nonpartisan scheme through which they receive their
appointments demands from them by way of reciprocity nonpartisan and
faithful performance of duty under every Administration and cheerful
fidelity to every chief. While they should be encouraged to decently
exercise their rights of citizenship and to support through their
suffrages the political beliefs they honestly profess, the noisy,
pestilent, and partisan employee, who loves political turmoil and
contention or who renders lax and grudging service to an Administration
not representing his political views, should be promptly and fearlessly
dealt with in such a way as to furnish a warning to others who may be
likewise disposed.
The annual report of the Commissioners will be duly transmitted, and I
commend the important matter they have in charge to the careful
consideration of the Congress.
The Interstate Commerce Commission has during the last year supplied
abundant evidence of its usefulness and the importance of the work
committed to its charge.
Public transportation is a universal necessity, and the question of
just and reasonable charges therefor has become of vital importance not
only to shippers and carriers, but also to the vast multitude of
producers and consumers. The justice and equity of the principles
embodied in the existing law passed for the purpose of regulating these
charges are everywhere conceded, and there appears to be no question
that the policy thus entered upon has a permanent place in our
legislation.
As the present statute when enacted was in the nature of the case more
or less tentative and experimental, it was hardly expected to supply a
complete and adequate system. While its wholesome effects are manifest
and have amply justified its enactment, it is evident that all desired
reforms in transportation methods have not been fully accomplished. In
view of the judicial interpretation which some provisions of this
statute have received and the defects disclosed by the efforts made for
its enforcement, its revision and amendment appear to be essential, to
the end that it may more effectually reach the evils designed to be
corrected. I hope the recommendations of the Commission upon this
subject will be promptly and favorably considered by the Congress.
I desire to recur to the statements elsewhere made concerning the
Government's receipts and expenditures for the purpose of venturing
upon some suggestions touching our present tariff law and its operation.
This statute took effect on the 28th day of August, 1894. Whatever may
be its shortcomings as a complete measure of tariff reform, it must be
conceded that it has opened the way to a freer and greater exchange of
commodities between us and other countries, and thus furnished a wider
market for our products and manufactures.