CONGRESS. (THE APPORTIONMENT.) 



150 



operating more fully with the States arid Terri- 

 tories in researeh along useful lines; making 

 progress in meteorological work relating to lines 

 of wireless telegraphy and forecasts for ocean- 

 going vessels; continuing inquiry as to animal dis- 

 ease ; looking into the extent and character of food 

 adulteration; outlining plans for the care, preser- 

 vation, and intelligent harvesting of our wood- 

 lands; studying soils that producers may cultivate 

 with better knowledge of conditions, and helping 

 to clothe desert places with grasses suitable to our 

 arid regions. Our island possessions are being con- 

 sidered that their peoples may be helped to pro- 

 duce the tropical products now so extensively 

 brought into the United States. Inquiry into 

 methods of improving our roads has been active 

 during the year; help has been given to many 

 localities, and scientific investigation of material 

 in the States and Territories has been inaugu- 

 rated. Irrigation problems in our semiarid regions 

 are receiving careful and increased consideration. 



An extensive exhibit at Paris of the products 

 of agriculture has made the peoples of many coun- 

 tries more familiar with the varied products of 

 our fields and their comparative excellence. 



The collection of statistics regarding our crops 

 is being improved, and sources of information are 

 being enlarged, to the end that producers may 

 have the earliest advices regarding crop condi- 

 tions. There has never been a time when those 

 for whom it was established have shown more 

 appreciation of the services of the department. 



In my annual message of Dec. 5, 1898, I called 

 attention to the necessity for some amendment of 

 the alien-contract law. There still remain impor- 

 tant features of the rightful application of the 

 eight-hour law for the benefit of labor and of the 

 principle of arbitration, and I again commend 

 these subjects to the careful attention of the Con- 

 gress. 



That there may be secured the best service pos- 

 sible in the Philippine Islands, I have issued, un- 

 der date of Nov. 30, 1900, the following order: 



" The United States Civil Service Commission 

 is directed to render such assistance as may be 

 practicable to the Civil Service Board, created un- 

 der the act of the United States Philippine Com- 

 mission, for the establishment and maintenance 

 of an honest and efficient civil service in the 

 Philippine Islands, and for that purpose to con- 

 duct Examinations for the civil service of the 

 Philippine Islands upon the request of the Civil 

 Service Board of said islands, under such regula- 

 tions as may be agreed upon by the said board 

 and the said United States Civil Service Commis- 

 sion." 



The Civil Service Commission is greatly em- 

 barrassed in its work for want of an adequate 

 permanent force for clerical and other assistance. 

 Its needs are fully set forth in its report. I invite 

 attention to the report, and especially urge upon 

 the Congress that this important bureau of the 

 public service, which passes upon the qualifica- 

 tions and character of so large a number of the 

 officers and employees of the Government, should 

 be supported by all needed appropriations to se- 

 cure promptness and efficiency. 



I am very much impressed with the statement 

 made by the heads of all the departments of the 

 urgent necessity of a hall of public records. In 

 every departmental building in Washington, so 

 far as I am informed, the space .for official records 

 is not only exhausted, but the walls of rooms are 

 lined with shelves, the middle floor space of many 

 rooms is filled with file cases, and garrets and 

 basements, which were never intended and are un- 

 fitted for their accommodation, are crowded with 



them. Aside from the incon-, < tiicncf, there is 

 great danger, not only from fire, l.m from the 

 weight of these records upon timlx-rs not in- 

 tended for their support. Then- - l.ouhl !,< ;| , *opa- 

 rate building especially designed lor the purpose 

 of receiving and preserving the anniMllv .i'<-uimi- 

 lating archives of the several execufur d.-p;nl- 

 ments. Such a hall need not he a eo.-,l I y -I rud un- 

 but should be so arranged as to admit i onlarjj 

 ment from time to time. I urgently reeommei 

 that the Congress take early action in this m;ui< 



I transmit to the Congress a resolution adopt < 

 at a recent meeting of the American liar As.sori; 

 tion concerning the proposed celebration of .John 

 Marshall Day, Feb. 4, 1901. Fitting exercises have 

 been arranged, and it is earnestly desired by the 

 committee that the Congress may participate in 

 this movement to honor the memory of the great 

 jurist. 



The transfer of the Government to this city 

 is a fact of great historical interest. Among the 

 people there is a feeling of genuine pride in the 

 capital of the republic. 



It is a matter of interest in this connection that 

 in 1800 the population of the District of Columbia 

 was 14,093; to-day it is 278,718. The population 

 of the city of Washington was then 3,210; to-day 

 it is 218,196. 



The Congress having provided for " an appro- 

 priate national celebration of the Centennial An- 

 niversary of the Establishment of the Seat of Gov- 

 ernment in the District of Columbia," the com- 

 mittees authorized by it have prepared a program 

 for the 12th of December, 1900, which date has 

 been selected as the anniversary day. Deep inter- 

 est has been shown in the arrangements for the 

 celebration by the members of the committees of 

 the Senate and House of Representatives, the com- 

 mittee of governors appointed by the President, 

 and the committees appointed by the citizens and 

 inhabitants of the District of Columbia generally. 

 The program, in addition to a reception and other 

 exercises at the executive mansion, provides com- 

 memorative exercises to be held jointly by the 

 Senate and House of Representatives in the hall 

 of the House of Representatives, and a reception 

 in the evening at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 

 honor of the governors of the States and Terri- 

 tories. 



In our great prosperity we must guard against 

 the danger it invites of extravagance in Govern- 

 ment expenditures and appropriations; and the 

 chosen representatives of the people will, I doubt 

 not, furnish an example in their legislation of that 

 wise economy which in a season of plenty hus- 

 bands for the future. In this era of great business 

 activity and opportunity caution is not untimely. 

 It will not abate, but strengthen, confidence. It 

 will not retard, but promote, legitimate industrial 

 and commercial expansion. Our growing power 

 brings with it temptations and perils requiring 

 constant vigilance to avoid. It must not be used 

 to invite conflicts, nor for oppression, but for the 

 more effective maintenance of those principles 

 of equality and justice upon which our institu- 

 tions and happiness depend. Let us keep always 

 in mind that the foundation of our Government is 

 liberty; its superstructure peace. 



WILLIAM MCKINLEY. 

 EXECUTIVE MANSION, Dec. 3, 1900. 



The Apportionment. Dec. 20, 1900, Mr. Hop- 

 kins, of Illinois, reported from the Committee on 

 the Census a bill for the apportionment of Repre- 

 sentatives in Congress among the several States, 

 under the twelfth census. It was as follows : 



" Be it enacted, etc., That after the 3d of March, 



