150 



CONGRESS. (PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.) 



ambassador in London and the special envoys of 

 tlu- I'nited States, with whom our ambassador at 

 Ijondnii actively co-operated in the presentation of 

 this subject to' ho r Majesty's Government, This 

 will be laid before Congress. 



Our special envoys have not made their final 

 report, a> further negotiations between the repre- 

 -entatives i.f this Government and the governments 

 ..f i.tln-r countries are pending and in contempla- 

 tion. They In'lieve that doubts which have been 

 raisi-d in certain quarters respecting the position of 

 maintaining the stability of the parity between the 

 metals and kindred questions may yet be solved by 

 further negotiations. 



.Mi-anwhile it gives me satisfaction to state that 

 the s|H--ial envoys have already demonstrated their 

 ability and fitness to deal with the subject, and it is 

 I.. IN-" earnestly hoped that their labors may result 

 in an international agreement which will bring 

 about recognition of both gold and silver as money 

 upon such terms and with such safeguards as will 

 secure the use of both metals upon a basis which 

 shall work no injustice to any class of our citizens. 



In order to execute as early as possible the pro- 

 visions of the third and fourth sections of the rev- 

 enue act approved July 24, 1897, I appointed the 

 !ln. John A. Kasson, of Iowa, a special commis- 

 sioner plenipotentiary to undertake the requisite 

 negotiations with foreign countries desiring to avail 

 themselves of these provisions. The negotiations 

 are now proceeding with several governments, both 

 Knropean and American. It is believed that by a 

 careful exercise of the powers conferred by that act 

 some grievances of our own and of other countries 

 in our mutual trade relations may be either removed 

 or largely alleviated, and that the volume of our 

 commercial exchanges may be enlarged with advan- 

 tage to both contracting parties. 



Mod desirable from every standpoint of national 

 interest and patriotism is the effort to extend our 

 foreign commerce. To this end our merchant ma- 

 rine should be improved and enlarged. We should 

 do our full share of the carrying trade of the world. 

 We do not do it now. We should be the laggard 

 no longer. The inferiority of our merchant marine 

 is justly humiliating to the national pride. The 

 Government by every proper constitutional means 

 should aid in making our ships familiar visitors at 

 every commercial port of the world, thus opening 

 up new and valuable markets to the surplus prod- 

 nets of the farm and the factory. 



The efforts which had been made during the two 

 previous years by my predecessor to secure better 

 protection to the fur seals in the north Pacific 

 Ocean and IWing Sea were renewed at an early 

 date by this Administration and have been pursued 

 with earnestness. I'pon my invitation the govern- 

 ments of Japan and Russia sent delegates to Wash- 

 ington and an international conference was held 

 during the months of October, and November last, 

 wherein it was unanimously agreed that under the 

 existing regulations this species of useful animals 

 was threatened with extinction and that an inter- 

 national agreement of all the interested powers was 

 ne<ressarv for their adequate protection. 



The Government of Great Britain did not see 

 proper to be represented at this conference, but 

 MMequently sent to Washington, as delegates, the 

 expert commissioners of Great Britain and Canada 

 "ho had during the past two years visited the 

 PnbQof Islands, and who met in conference similar 

 c..iim.i-Moner8 on the part of the United States. 

 ilt of this conference was an agreement on 

 important facts connected with the condition of the 

 S.'H! herd, heretofore in dispute, which should place 

 U-yoTid control, -r-y the duty of the governments 

 concerned to adopt measures* without delay for the 



preservation and restoration of the herd. Negotia- 

 tions to this end are now in progress, the result of 

 which I hope to be able to report to Congress at an 

 early day. 



International arbitration can not be omitted from 

 the list of subjects claiming our consideration. 

 Events have only served to strengthen the general 

 views on this question expressed in my inaugural 

 address. The best sentiment of the civilized world 

 is moving toward the settlement of differences be- 

 tween nations without resorting to the horrors of 

 war. Treaties embodying these humane principles 

 on broad lines without in any way imperiling our 

 interests or our honor shall have my constant en- 

 couragement. 



The acceptance by this Government of the invita- 

 tion of the republic of France to participate in the 

 Universal Exposition of 1900 at Paris was immedi- 

 ately followed by the appointment of a special com- 

 missioner to represent the United States in the 

 proposed exposition, with special reference to the 

 securing of space for an adequate exhibit on behalf 

 of the United States. 



The special commissioner delayed his departure 

 for Paris long enough to ascertain the probable 

 demand for space by American exhibitors. His 

 inquiries developed an almost unprecedented in- 

 terest in the proposed exposition, and the informa- 

 tion thus acquired enabled him to justify an appli- 

 cation for a much larger allotment of space for tin 

 American section than had been reserved by tlu 

 exposition authorities. The result was particularly 

 gratifying, in view of the fact that the United 

 States was one of the last countries to accept the 

 invitation of France. 



The reception accorded our special commissioner 

 was most cordial, and he was given every reasonable 

 assurance that the United States would receive a 

 consideration commensurate with the proportions 

 of our exhibit. The report of the special commis- 

 sioner as to the magnitude and importance of the 

 coming exposition and the great demand for space 

 by American exhibitors supplies new arguments for 

 a liberal and judicious appropriation by Congress 

 to the end that an exhibit fairly representative of 

 the industries and resources of our country may be 

 made in an exposition which will illustrate the 

 world's progress during the nineteenth century. 

 That exposition is intended to be the most impor- 

 tant and comprehensive of the long series of inter- 

 national exhibitions, of which our own at Chicago 

 was a brilliant example, and it is desirable that the 

 United States should make a worthy exhibit of 

 American genius and skill and their unrivaled 

 achievements in every branch of industry. 



The present immediately effective force of tho 

 navy consists of 4 battle ships of the first class. \i 

 of the second, and 48 other vessel*, ranging from 

 armored cruisers to torpedo boats. There are unde 

 construction 5 battle ships of the first class, 16 tor- 

 pedo boats, and 1 submarine boat. No provision 

 lias yet been made for the armor of 3 of the 5 battle 

 ships, as it has been impossible to obtain it nt the 

 price fixed by Congress. It is of great importance 

 that Congress provide this armor, as until then tnti 

 ships are of no fighting value. 



The present naval force, especially in view of its 

 increase by the ships now under construction, while; 

 not as large as that of a few other powers, is a for- 

 midable force; its vessels are the very best of each 

 type; and with the increase that should be made to 

 it from time to time in the future, and careful at- 

 tention to keeping it in a high state of efficiency 

 and repair, it is well adapted to the necessities ot* 

 the country. 



The great increase of the navy which has taken 

 place in recent years was justified by the require- 



