Grosvenor, Beriah Wilkins, Joseph D. Taylor, William McKinley, jr., Ezra B. Taylor, George W. Crouse, Martin A. Foran-21. OREGON Binger Hermann-I. PENNSYLVANIA-Edwin S. Osborne (At Large), Henry H. Bingham, Charles O'Neill, Samuel 7. Randall, William D. Kelley, Alfred C. Harmer, Smedley Darlington, Robert M. Yardley, Daniel Ermentrout, John A. Hiestand, William H. Sowden, Charles R. Buckalew, John Lynch, CHARLES N. BRUMM (Rep. Labor), Franklin Bound, Frank C. Bunnell, Henry C. McCormick, Edward Scull, Louis E. Atkinson, Levi Maish, John Patton, Welty McCullogh, John Dalzell, Thomas M. Bayne, Oscar L. Jackson, James T. Maffett, Norman Hall, William L. Scott-28. RHODE ISLAND-Henry J. Spooner, Warren O. Arnold-2.

SOUTH CAROLINA-Samuel Dibble, George D.
Tillman, James S. Cothran, William H.
Perry, John F. Hemphill, George W. Dar-
gan, William Elliott-7.
TENNESSEE-Roderick R. Butler, Leonidas C.
Houk, John R. Neal, Benton McMillin,
James D. Richardson, Joseph E. Washington,
Washington C. Whitthorne, Benjamin A. En-
loe, Presley T. Glass, James Phelan―10.
TEXAS-Charles Stewart, William H. Martin,
C. Buckley Kilgore, David B. Culberson,

Silas Hare, Jo Abbott, William H. Crain, Littleton W. Moore, Roger Q. Mills, Joseph D. Sayers, Samuel W. T. Lanham-11. VERMONT-John W. Stewart, William W. Grout-2.

VIRGINIA- T. H. Bayly Browne, George E.
Bowden, George D. Wise, William E. Gaines,
John R. Brown, SAMUEL I. HOPKINS (LABOR),
Charles T. O' Ferrall, William H. F. Lee,
Henry Bowen, Jacob Yost-10.
WEST VIRGINIA Nathan Goff, William L.
Wilson, Charles P. Snyder, Charles E.
Hogg-4.

WISCONSIN-Lucien B. Caswell, Richard Guenther, Robert M. LaFollette, HENRY SMITH (LABOR), Thomas R. Hudd, Charles B. Clark, Ormsby B. Thomas, Nils P. Haugen, Isaac Stephenson-9.

Delegates from the Territories. ARIZONA-Marcus A. Smith. DAKOTA-Oscar S. Gifford. IDAHO-Frederick T. Dubois. MONTANA-Joseph K. Toole. NEW MEXICO-Antonio Joseph. UTAH-John T. Caine (Mormon). WASHINGTON-Charles S. Voorhees. WYOMING-Joseph M. Carey.

To the Congress of the United States:

*

With the expiration of the present session of the Congress the first century of our constitutional existence as a nation will be completed. ** A just and sensible revision of our tariff laws should be made for the relief of those of our countrymen who suffer under present conditions. Such a revision should receive the support of all who love that justice and equality due to American citizenship, of all who realize that in this justice and equality our Government finds its strength and its power to protect the citizen and his property, of all who believe that the contented competence and comfort of many accord better with the spirit of our institutions than colossal

*Qualified February 15, 1889.

fortunes unfairly gathered in the hands of a few, of all who appreciate that the forbearance and fraternity among our people, which recognize the value of every American interest, are the surest guaranty of our national progress, and of all who desire to see the products of American skill and ingenuity in every market of the world with a resulting restoration of American commerce. *

The questions between Great Britain and the United States relating to the rights of American fishermen, under treaty and international comity, in the territorial waters of Canada and Newfoundland, I regret to say are not yet satisfactorily adjusted.

*

Near the close of the month of October last, occurrences of a deeply regrettable nature were brought to my knowledge, which made it my

painful but imperative duty to obtain, with as little delay as possible, a new personal channel of diplomatic intercourse in this country with the Government of Great Britain.*

Following is the correspondence alluded to, also the report of Secretary of State Bayard to the President : Mr. Charles F. Murchison to Lord Sackville.

POMONA, CAL., September 4, 1888. SIR: The gravity of the political situation here, and the duties of those voters who are of English birth, but still consider England the motherland, constitute the apology I hereby offer for intruding for information.

Mr. Cleveland's message to Congress on the fishery question justly excites our alarm and compels us to seek further knowledge before finally casting our votes for him as we had intended to do. Many English citizens have for years refrained from being naturalized, as they thought no good would accrue from the act; but Mr. Cleveland's administration has been so favorable and friendly toward England, so kind in not enforcing the retaliatory act passed by Congress, so sound on the freetrade question, and so hostile to the dynamite school of Ireland, that by the hundreds-yes, by the thousands they have become naturalized for the express purpose of helping to elect him over again. The one above all of American politicians they consider their own and their

country's best friend.

I am one of these unfortunates, with a right to vote for President in November. I am unable to understand for whom I shall cast my ballot, when but one month ago I was sure Mr. Cleveland was the man. If Cleveland was pursuing a new policy toward Canada temporarily only, and for the sake of obtaining popularity and continuation of his office four years more, but intends to cease his policy when his re-election is secured in November, and again favor England's interest, then I should have no further doubts, but go forward and vote for him.

I know of no one better able to direct me, sir, and I most respectfully ask your advice in the matter. I will further add that the two men, Mr. Cleveland and Mr. Harrison, are very evenly matched, and a few votes may elect either one. Mr. Harrison is a high-tariff man, a believer on the American side of all questions, and undoubtedly an enemy to British interests generally. This State is equally divided between the parties, and a mere handful of our naturalized countrymen can turn it either way. When it is remembered that a small State (Colorado) defeated Mr. Tilden in 1876 and elected Hayes, the Republican, the importance of California is at once apparent to all.

As you are at the fountain head of knowledge on the question, and know whether Mr. Cleveland's present policy is temporary only, and whether he will, as soon as he secures another term of four years in the Presidency, suspend it for one of friendship and free trade, I apply to you privately and confidentially for information, which shall in turn be treated as entirely secret. Such information would put me at rest myself, and if favorable to Mr. Cleveland, enable me, on my own responsibility, to assure many of our countrymen that they would do England a service by voting for Cleveland and against the Republican system of tariff, As I before observed, we know not what to do, but look for more light on a mys. terious subject, which the sooner it comes will better serve true Englishmen in casting their votes. Yours, very respectfully,

CHARLES F. MURCHISON.

To the BRITISH MINISTER, Washington, D. C.

Lord Sackville to Mr. Charles F. Murchison.

[Private.]

SIR: I am in receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, and beg to say that I fully appreciate the difficulty in which you find yourself in casting your vote. You are probably aware that any political party which openly favored the mother country at the present moment would lose popularity, and that the party in power is fully aware of this fact. That party, however, is, I believe, still desirous of maintaining friendly relations with Great Britain, and is still as desirous of settling all questions with Canada which have been unfortunately re-opened since the rejection of the treaty by the Republican majority in the Senate and by the President's message to which you allude. Allowance must, therefore, be made for the political situation as regards the Presidential election thus created. It is, however, plainly impossible to

The correspondence in relation to this incident will in due course be laid before you, and will disclose the unpardonable conduct of the official referred to, in this interference by advice and predict the course which President Cleveland may pursue in the matter of retaliation should he be elected; but there is every reason to believe that, while upholding the position he has taken, he will manifest a spirit of conciliation in dealing with the question involved in his message. I inclose an article from the New York Times, of August 22, and remain, Yours, faithfully. L. S. SACKVILLE WEST.

Beverly, Mass., September 13, 1888.

[Inclosure-Extract from the New York Times of August 22, 1888.]

There is this further consideration in favor of supporting the administration on this issue. It will leave the question still open for friendly means of settlement of some kind, while a support of the Senate's position would close all avenues of future negotiations and bring upon the country the disastrous consequences of retaliation, It would put an end to all hostility, and possible war. prospect of improving the commercial relations of the which the people should keep in mind in casting their United States and Canada. This is one of the questions

votes next November.

Report by the Secretary of State to the President.
To the PRESIDENT:

The undersigned has the honor to submit for your consideration the following statement, with a view to receive your direction thereon:

On the 4th of September last a letter purporting to be written by one Charles F. Murchison, dated at Pomona, Cal,, was sent from that place to the British minister at this capital, in which the writer solicited an expression of his views in regard to certain unsettled diplomatic questions between the United States and Great Britain, stating at the same time that such an expression was sought by him for the purpose of determining his vote at the approaching Presidential election. He stated that he was a naturalized citizen of the United States, of English birth, but that he still considered England the motherland, and that this fact led him to seek advice from the British representative in this country, He further stated but to enable him to give certain assurances to many that the information he sought was not for himself alone, other persons in the same situation as himself, for the purpose of influencing and determining their political action as citizens of the United States, of English birth, but who still regarded their original obligation of alliegiance as paramount. The letter also contained gross reflections upon the conduct of this government in respect to questions now in controversy and unsettled between the United States and Great Britain, and both directly and indirectly impute insincerity in such conduct.

To this letter the British minister at once replied from Beverly, Mass., under date of the 13th of September last. In his reply he stated that "any political party which openlly favored the mother country at the present moment would lose popularity, and that the party in power is fully aware of that fact;" and that in respect to the "questions with Canada which have been unfortunately re-opened since the rejection of the (fisheries) treaty by the Republican majority in the Senate and by the President's message, to which you alude, all allowances must therefore be made for the political situation as regards the Presidential election.' The minister thus gave his assent and sanction to the aspersions and imputations above referred to.

Thus under his correspondent's assurance of secrecy, in which the minister concurred by marking his answer private" he undertook to advise a citizen of the United States how to exercise the franchise of suffrage in an election close at hand for the Presidency and Vice Presdency of the United States, and through him, as the letter suggested, to influence the votes of many others.

Upon this correspondence being made public, the minister received the representatives of the public press, and in frequent interviews with them, intended for publication, added to the impugnments which he had already made of the good faith of this Government in its public action and international dealings, Although ample time and opportunity have been offered him for the disavowal modification, or correction of his statements, to some of which his attention was called personally by the under

The offense thus committed was most grave, involving disastrous possibilities to the good relations of the United States and Great Britain, constituting a gross breach of diplomatic privilege and an invasion of the purely domestic affairs and essential sovereignty of the Government to which the envoy was accredited.

Having first fulfilled the just demands of international comity by affording full opportunity for Her Majesty's Government to act in relief of the situation, I considered prolongation of discussion to be unwarranted, and thereupon declined to further recognize the diplomatic character of the person, whose continuance in such function would destroy that mutual confidence which is essential to the good understanding of the two Governments, and was inconsistent with the welfare and self-respect of the Government of the United States.

The usual interchange of communication has since continued through Her Majesty's legation in this city.

My endeavors to establish by international cooperation measures for the prevention of the extermination of fur-seals in Behring Sea have not been relaxed, and I have hopes of being enabled shortly to submit an effective and satisfactory conventional projet with the maritime powers for the approval of the Senate.

*

*

*

In a message accompanying my approval, on the Ist day of October last, of a bill for the exclusion of Chinese laborers, I laid before Congress full information and all correspondence touching the negotiation of the treaty with China, concluded at this capital on the 12th day of March, 1888, and which, having been con

signed, yet no such disavowal or modification has been made by him through the channels in which his statements first found publicity.

The question is thus presented whether it is compatible with the dignity, security, and independent sovereignty of the United States to permit the representative of a foreign Government in this country not only to receive and answer without disapproval, and confirm by his repetition aspersions upon its political action, but also to interfere in its domestic affairs by advising persons formerly his countrymen as to their political course as citizens of the United States.

As between this country and Great Britain there can be no controversy as to the complete severance of the ties of original allegiance by naturalization. Disputes on this point were finally put at rest by the treaty of naturalization concluded between the two countries on the 13th of May, 1870. Therefore it will not be contended, nor was such a contention ever admitted by us, that citizens of the United States of British origin are subject to any claim of the country of their original allegiance.

The undersigned also has the honor to call attention to the provisions of section 5335 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, by which severe penalties are visited upon the citizen of the United States who, without the authority or permission of this Government," commences or carries on any verbal or written correspondence or intercourse with any foreign Government, or any officer or agent thereof," either with an intent to influence the action of such Government or its agents, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or with an intent to "defeat the measures of the Govern

was rejected by the Chinese Government. This message contained a recommendation that a sum of money be appropriated as compensation to Chinese subjects who had suffered injuries at the hands of lawless men within our jurisdiction. Such appropriations having been duly made, the fund awaits reception by the Chinese Government.

*

It is sincerely hoped that by the cessation of the influx of this class of Chinese subjects, in accordance with the expressed wish of both Governments, a cause of unkind feeling has been permanently removed. *

As authorized by the Congress, preliminary steps have been taken for the assemblage at this capital, during the coming year, of the representatives of South and Central American States, together with those of Mexico, Hayti. and San Domingo, to discuss sundry important monetary and commercial topics.

Excepting in those cases where, from reasons of contiguity of territory and the existence of a common border line incapable of being guarded, reciprocal commercial treaties may be found expedient, it is believed that commercial policies inducing freer mutual exchange of products can be most advantageously arranged by independent but co-operative legislation.

In the mode last mentioned the control of our taxation for revenue will be always retained in our own hands, unrestricted by conventional agreements with other governments. *

*

With the rapid increase of immigration to our shores and the facilities of modern travel, abuses of the generous privileges afforded by our naturalization laws call for their careful revision.

The easy and unguarded manner in which certificates of American citizenship can now be obtained has induced a class, unfortunately large, to avail themselves of the opportunity to become absolved from allegiance to their native land, and yet by a foreign residence to escape any just duty and contribution of service to the country of ment of the United States." Those penalties are made equally applicable to every citizen of the United States, not duly authorized, who "counsels, advises, or assists in any such correspondence" with similar unlawful intent.

The undersigned respectfully advises that the attention of the Attorney-General of the United States be directed to these enactments, in order that an investigation may be made with a view to ascertain whether they have not been violated in the present case by the correspondent of the British minister.

By your direction, the attention of the British Governmen has in a spirit of comity been called to the conduct of its minister, as above described, without result. It, therefore, becomes necessary for this Government to consider whether, as the guardian of its own self-respect and of the integrity of its institutions, it will permit further intercourse to be held through the present British minister at this capital. It is to be observed that precedents are not wanting as to the question under consideration. It is a settled rule, essential to the maintenance of international intercourse, that a diplomatic representative must be persona grata to the Government to which he is accredited. If by his conduct he renders himself persona non grata, an announcement of the fact may be made to his Government.

In the present case all the requirements of comity have been fulfilled, the facts having been duly communicated to Her Majesty's Government with an expression of the opinion of this Government in regard thereto. Respectfully submitted. T. F. BAYARD. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 29, 1888.

The total ordinary revenues of the Government for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1888, amounted to $379,266,074.76, of which $219,091,173.63 was received from customs duties and $124,276,871.98 from internal-revenue taxes. The total receipts from all sources exceeded those for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1887, by $7,862,797.10.

The ordinary expenditures of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, were $259,653,958.67, leaving a surplus of $119,612,116.09.

The decrease in these expenditures as compared with the fiscal year ended June 30, 1887, was $8,278,221.30, notwithstanding the payment of more than $5,000,000 for pensions in excess of what was paid for that purpose in the lattermentioned year.

*

The foregoing statements of surplus do not take into account the sum necessary to be expended to meet the requirements of the sinkingfund act, amounting to more than $47,000,000 annually.

The cost of collecting the customs revenues for the last fiscal year was 2.44 per cent.; for the year 1885 it was 3.77 per cent.

The excess of internal-revenue taxes collected during the last fiscal year over those collected for the year ended June 30, 1887, was $5,489,174.26, and the cost of collecting this revenue decreased from 3.4 per cent. in 1887 to less than 3.2 per cent. for the last year. The tax collected on oleomargarine was $723,948.04 for the year ending June 30, 1887, and $864,139.88 for the following year.

The requirements of the sinking-fund act have been met for the year ended June 30, 1888, and for the current year also, by the purchase of bonds. After complying with this law as positively required, and bonds sufficient for that purpose had been bought at a premium, it was not deemed prudent to further expend the surplus in such purchases until the authority to do so should be more explicit. A resolution, however, having been passed by both Houses of Congress, removing all doubt as to Executive authority, daily purchases of bonds were com menced on the 23d day of April, 1888, and have continued until the present time. By this plan bonds of the Government not yet due have been purchased up to and including the 30th day of November, 1888, amounting to $94,700,400, the premium paid thereon amounting to $17,508,613.08.

*

*

Notwithstanding the large sums paid out in the purchase of bonds, the surplus in the Treasury on the 30th day of November, 1888, was $52,234,610.01, after deducting about $20,000,ooo just drawn out for the payment of pensions. At the close of the fiscal year ended June 30,

On the 30th day of June, 1888, there had been coined $299,708,790; and of this $55,819,303 was in circulation in coin, and $200,386,376 in silver certificates, for the redemption of which silver dollars to that amount were held by the Government.

On the 30th day of November, 1888, $312,570,990 had been coined, $60,970,990 of the silver dollars were actually in circulation, and $237,418,346 in certificates.

The Secretary recommends the suspension of the further coinage of silver, and in such recommendation I earnestly concur.

*

*

*

Of the ships in course of construction, five, namely, the Charleston, Baltimore, Yorktown, Vesuvius, and the Petrel, have in that time been launched and are rapidly approaching completion; and in addition to the above, the Philadelphia, the San Francisco, the Newark, the Bennington, the Concord, and the Herreshoff torpedo-boat, are all under contract for delivery to the Department during the next year. The progress already made and being made gives good ground for the expectation that these eleven vessels will be incorporated as part of the American Navy within the next twelve months.

The report shows that, notwithstanding the large expenditures for new construction, and the additional labor they involve, the total ordinary or current expenditures of the Department for the three years ending June 30, 1888, are less, by more than 20 per cent., than such expenditures for the three years ending June 30, 1884.

Though prior to March, 1885, there had been but six convictions in the Territories of Utah and Idaho, under the laws of 1862 and 1882, punishing polygamy and unlawful cohabitation as crimes, there have been since that date nearly six hundred convictions under these laws and the statutes of 1887; and the opinion is expressed that under such a firm and vigilant execution of these laws, and the advance of ideas opposed to the forbidden practices, polygamy within the United States is virtually at an end.

Suits instituted by the Government under the provisions of the act of March 3, 1887, for the termination of the corporations known as the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have resulted in a decree favorable to the Government, declaring the charters of these corporations forfeited and escheating their property. Such property, amounting in value to more than $800,000, is in the hands of a receiver pending further proceedings, an appeal having been taken to the Supreme Court of the United States.

*