154 



CONGRESS. (THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.) 



able, and enable it to become, not merely a center 

 of research, but the chief factor in great coop- 

 erative efforts for the diffusion of knowledge and 

 the advancement of learning. 



For the sake of good administration, sound 

 economy, and the advancement of science, the 

 Census Office as now constituted should be made 

 a permanent Government bureau. This would 

 insure better, cheaper, and more satisfactory 

 work, in the interest not only of our business but 

 of statistic, economic, and social science. 



The remarkable growth of the postal service is 

 shown in the fact that its revenues have doubled 

 and its expenditures have nearly doubled within 

 twelve years. Its progressive development com- 

 pels constantly increasing outlay, but in this 

 period of business energy and prosperity its re- 

 ceipts grow so much faster than its expenses that 

 the annual deficit has been steadily reduced from 

 H 1,411,779 in 1897 to $3,923,727 in 1901. Among 

 recent postal advances the success of rural free 

 delivery wherever established has been so 

 marked, and actual experience has made its bene- 

 fits so plain, that the demand for its extension is 

 general and urgent 



It is just that the great agricultural popula- 

 tion should share in the improvement of the serv- 

 ice. The number of rural routes now in opera- 

 tion is 6,009, practically all established within 

 three years, and there are* 6,000 applications await- 

 ing action. It is expected that the number in 

 operation at the close of the current fiscal year 

 will reach 8.600. The mail will then be daily car- 

 ried to the doors of 5,700,000 of our people who 

 have heretofore been dependent upon distant 

 offices, and one-third of all that portion of the 

 country which is adapted to it will be covered by 

 this kind of service. . 



The full measure of postal progress which 

 might be realized has long been hampered and 

 obstructed by the heavy burden imposed on the 

 Government through the entrenched and well-un- 

 derstood abuses which have grown up in con- 

 nection with second-class mail-matter. The ex- 

 tent of this burden appears when it is stated that 

 while the second-class matter makes nearly three- 

 fifths of the weight of all the mail, it paid for the 

 last fiscal year only $4,294,445 of the aggregate 

 postal revenue of $111,631,193. If the pound-rate 

 of postage, which produces the large loss thus 

 ntailed, and which was fixed by the Congress 

 with the purpose of encouraging the dissemina- 

 tion of public information, were limited to the 

 legitimate newspapers and periodicals actually 

 contemplated by the law, no just exception could 

 be taken. That expense would be the recognized 

 And accepted cost of a liberal public policy delib- 

 erately adopted for a justifiable end. But much 

 of the matter which enjoys the privileged rate is 

 wholly outside of the intent of the law, and has 

 secured admission only through an evasion of its 

 requirements or through lax construction. The 

 proportion of such wrongly included matter is 

 estimated by postal experts to be one-half of the 

 whole volume of second-class mail. If it be only 

 one-third or one-quarter, the magnitude of the 

 burden is apparent. The Post-Office Department 

 has now undertaken to remove the abuses so far 

 as is possible by a stricter application of the law; 

 and it should be sustained in its effort. 



Owing to the rapid growth of our power and 

 our interests on the Pacific, whatever happens in 

 China must be of the keenest national concern 

 to us. 



The general terms of the settlement of the ques- 

 tions growing out of the antiforeign uprisings in 

 China of 1900, having been formulated in a joint 



note addressed to China by the representatives 

 of the injured powers in December last, were 

 promptly accepted by the Chinese Government. 

 Alter protracted conferences the plenipoten- 

 tiaries of the several powers were able to sign a 

 final protocol with the Chinese plenipotentiaries 

 on the 7th of last September, setting forth the 

 measures taken by China in compliance with the 

 demands of the joint note, and expressing their 

 satisfaction therewith. It will be laid before the 

 Congress with a report of the plenipotentiary on 

 behalf of the United States, Mr. \Yilliam \\ood- 

 ville Rockhill, to whom high praise is due for the 

 tact, good judgment, and energy he has displayed 

 in performing an exceptionally difficult and deli- 

 cate task. 



The agreement reached disposes in a manner 

 satisfactory to the powers of the various grounds 

 of complaint, and will contribute materially to 

 better future relations between China and the 

 powers. Reparation has been made by China for 

 the murder of foreigners during the uprising, 

 and punishment has been inflicted on the officials, 

 however high in rank, recognized as responsible 

 for or having participated in the outbreak. Offi- 

 cial examinations have been forbidden for a pe- 

 riod of five years in all cities in which foreign- 

 ers have been murdered or cruelly treated, and 

 edicts have been issued making all officials di- 

 rectly responsible for the future safety of for- 

 eigners and for the suppression of violence 

 against them. 



Provisions have been made for insuring the 

 future safety of the foreign representatives in 

 Pekin by setting aside for their exclusive use a 

 quarter of the city which the powers can make 

 defensible and in which they can if necessary 

 maintain permanent military guards; by dis- 

 mantling the military works between the capital 

 and the sea; and by allowing the temporary 

 maintenance of foreign military posts along this 

 line. An edict has been issued by the Emperor 

 of China prohibiting for two years the importa- 

 tion of arms and ammunition into China. China 

 has agreed to pay adequate indemnities to the 

 states, societies, and individuals for the losses 

 sustained by them and for the expenses of the 

 military expeditions sent by the various powers 

 to protect life and restore order. 



Under the provisions of the joint note of De- 

 cember, 1900, China has agreed to revise the 

 treaties of commerce and navigation and to take 

 such others steps for the purpose of facilitating 

 foreign trade as the foreign powers may decide to 

 be needed. 



The Chinese Government has agreed to partici- 

 pate financially in the work of bettering the 

 water approaches to Shanghai 'and to Tieiit-in. 

 the centers of foreign trade in central and north- 

 ern China, and an international conservancy 

 board, in which the Chinese Government is large- 

 ly represented, has been provided for the im- 

 provement of the Shanghai river and the control 

 of its navigation. In the same line of commer- 

 cial advantages a revision of the present tar ill' 

 on imports has been assented to for the pur- 

 pose of substituting specific for ad valorem du- 

 ties, and an expert has been sent abroad on the 

 part of the United States to assist in this work. 

 A list of articles to remain free of duty, includ- 

 ing flour, cereals, and rice, gold and silver coin 

 and bullion, has also been agreed upon in the 

 settlement. 



During these troubles our Government has un- 

 swervingly advocated moderation, and has mate- 

 rially aided in bringing about an adjustment 

 which tends to enhance the welfare of China 



