CONGRESS. (TiiK PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.) 



frequent invitation* <it' foreign go\i in 

 in in conferences looking to the advanoe- 

 .i-rnatioiial reform* in iv.'ard I" science, 

 Mimcrcial laws and procedure, and other 

 alleeting tin' int.-n-iiiir.sf and | 

 communities. 



Miner u|' Jsyi an inridi-nt occurred which 

 tinir threatened t" interrupt tin- cordiality 

 our n-latioiis with tin- Government of Portugal. 

 \crnmeiit sci/ed tin- l>dagoa Hay Railway, 

 lich was conMructed undrr a collection granted to 

 American citi/eii, and at tin- same time annulli-d 

 Pter. The concessionary, who liad embarked 

 fortune in the enterprise, having exhausted other 

 . of ri -div>-, was compelled to invoke the protec- 

 fhis Government. Our representations, made 

 lently with thorio of the British Government, 

 ibjcct* were also largely interested, )ni|>|iily re- 

 lied in the recognition by Portugal of the propriety of 

 ubmitting the claim for indemnity, growing out of 

 s action, to arbitration. Tliis plan of .settlement 

 living I'ccn agreed upon, the interested powers rcad- 

 concurrcd in the proposal to Bubmit the case to 

 judgment of three eminent jurists, to he desig- 

 nated hy the President of the Swiss Republic, who 

 in the joint invitation of the- governments of the 

 nitcd States. Great Britian, and Portugal, haf 

 et.-.l ].crs.ins well qualified for the tusk before them. 

 The revision of our treaty relations with the Em- 

 of .lapuii has continued to be the subject of con- 

 leration and of correspondence. The questions in- 

 Ived arc both grave and delicate; und, while it 

 11 he my duty to see that the interests of the United 

 s are not by any changes exposed to undue dis- 

 uinution, 1 sincerely hope that such revision as 

 11 satisfy the legitimate expectations of the Japun- 

 riinient and maintain the present and long 

 xisting friendly relations between Japan and the 

 ."nitcd States v.ill he ctlected. 

 Tin friendship between our country and Mexico, 

 n of close neighborhood and strengthened by 

 ny considerations of intimate intercourse and rc- 

 procal interest, has never been more conspicuous 

 now. nor more hopeful of increased benefit to 

 nations. The intercourse of the two countries 

 mil, already great, is making constant growth. 

 ie established lines, and those recently projected, 

 d to the intimacy of truffle and open new channels 

 'access to fresh areas of demand and supply. The 

 uportaiice of the Mexican railway system" will bo 

 tlicr enhanced, to a decree almost impossible to 

 ;t'it should become a link in the projected 

 iTeontiiiental railway. I recommend that our 

 on in the city of Mexico be raised to the first 



The cordial character of our relations with Spain 

 warrant.- tlie hope that by the continuance of methods 

 of friendly negotiation much may be accomplished in 

 ' direction of an adjustment of pending questions 

 of the increase of dur trade. The extent and de- 

 opment of our trade with the island of Cuba in- 

 t the commercial relations of the United States and 

 in with a Peculiar importance. It is not doubted 

 a special arrangement in regard to commerce, 

 -d upon the reciprocity provision of the recent 

 ill act, would operate most beneficially for both 

 verniucnts. This subject is now receiving atten- 



The restoration of the remains of John Kricsson to 

 cdeii atl'ordcd a irratitying occasion to honor the 

 inory of the great inventor to whose genius our 

 country owes so much, and to bear witness to the un- 

 broken friendship which has existed between the 

 land which bore him and our own, which claimed 

 him as a citizen. 



<>n the -_'d of September last the commission ap- 

 inted to revise the proceedings of the commission 



ler the claims convention between the United 



tcs and Venezuela of 1866 brought its labors to u 

 i- within the period fixed for that purpose. The 

 :eedings of the late commission were characterized 



1>\ a spirit of impartiality and a high Hcime of justice, 

 and an incident which wax for many yean* the nub 

 ieet of di.-c-i, , n the two go\ crtimcntM hu* 



been <li-po.,,-,| of in u manner alike honorable nnd 

 satistactorv to both parties. For th<- M-ttlement of the 

 claim of the Vc'je/iielu Steam Tratisjioruition Com 

 pan\. which was the subject of u joint resolution 

 adopted at the last M-.ssion of ( 'on^n-.-. in ^otiatioiiH 

 are still in progress, and their eurl\ eoncluion is an- 

 tieijiatcd. 



'I he leirislatioti of the past few years hax evinc-i-d 

 on the ]>art of < 'on^ress a frow 'ing 'realization of UK- 

 Unportanoe of the consular service in fostering our 

 commerciul relations abroad and in protecting the 

 ilomestic revenues. As the SCOIM- of iiperati-.i. 

 pands increa.sed ])rovision must be ma<le to keep up 



ntial stamlard of etlieiency. The ne< 

 of some adequate measure of supervision arid ":i 

 tion has been so oflen presented that 1 need only 

 commend the subject to your attention. 



The revenues of the G'overnment from all sources 

 for the fiscal year ending June 30, Iwn, were $468,- 

 9<53j080.55, and the total expenditures for the same 

 period were 1358,618,584.5-2. The postal receipts have 

 not heretofore been included in the statement of these 

 aggregates, and for the purpose of comparison the 

 sum of $60,882,097.92 should be deducted from both 

 sides of the account The surplus for the year, in- 

 cluding the amount applied to the sinking fund, was 

 $105,344,496.03. The receipts for 1890 were $16,080,- 

 '.'i':;.7'.i and the expenditures $15,739,871 in excess of 

 those of 1889. The customs receipts increased $5,- 

 835,842.88, and the receipts from internal re venue $11,- 

 7^">.HU.89; while on the side of expenditures, that 

 for pensions was $19,312,075.96 in excess of the pre- 

 ceding year. 



The Treasury statement for the current fiscal year, 

 partly actual and partly estimated, is as follows: Re- 

 ceipts from all sources, $406,000,000; total expendi- 

 tures, $:jf>4,<X)0,000, leaving a surplus of $52,000,000 

 not taking the postal receipts into the account on 

 either .side. Tile loss of revenue fn.m customs for the 

 last quarter is estimated at $25,000,000, but from this 

 is deducted a gain of about $16,000,000, realized dur- 

 ing the first four months of the year. 



For the year 1892 the total estimated receipts are 

 $373,000,000 and the estimated expenditures ? :::.7,>.Vj.- 



sum available for the redemption of outstanding 

 bonds or other uses. The estimates of receipts and 

 expenditure* tor the Post-Office Department, being 

 equal, are not included in this statement on either 

 side. 



The act -directing the purchase of silver bullion 

 and the issue of Treasury notes thereon." approved 

 Julv 14, ls',to, hits been administered by the Secretary 

 of the Treasury with an earnest purpose to get into 

 circulation at the earliest possible dates the full 

 monthly amounts of Treasury notes contemplated by 

 its provisions, and at the same time to give to the 

 market tbr silver bullion such support its the law- 

 contemplates. The recent depreciation in the price 

 of silver has been observed with regret. The rapid 

 rise in price which anticipated and followed the 

 passage of the Ml was influenced ill some decree by 

 speculation, and th- recent reaction is in part the rc"- 

 sult of the same cause and in part of the recent mone- 

 tary disturbances. Sonic months of further trial will 

 he neccssarv to determine the permanent etl'ect of the 

 recent legislation UJKJI silver values, but it issrratifv- 

 ing to know that the increased circulation secured by 

 the act has exerted and will continue to exert a most 

 beneficial influence upon business and upon general 

 values. 



While it has not been thought best t> renew for- 

 mally the suggestion of an international conference 

 looking to an agrccim-nt touching the full use of silver 

 for coinage at a uniform ratio, care ha.s been taken U> 

 observe closely uny change in the situation abroad, 



