A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents. Volume 8, part 2: Chester A. Arthur
Part 7
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March 21, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, dated the 6th instant, with accompanying paper, submitting draft of a bill "to authorize payment for Government transportation on certain railroads."
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March 21, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Navy, calling attention to the necessity of appropriating the sum of $12,000 under the head of "Contingent equipment and recruiting," for immediate use, to defray accruing expenses during the remainder of the current fiscal year.
The matter is commended to the favorable consideration of Congress.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
WASHINGTON, _March 22, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
In compliance with section 4119 of the Revised Statutes (act of June 22, 1860), I transmit to Congress a copy of two additional regulations issued in accordance with the fifth section of that act by the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States accredited to the Government of China, and assented to by the several United States consular officers in that country, for the service of summonses on absent defendants in causes before the consular courts of the United States of America in China. These regulations, which are accompanied by a copy of the minister's dispatch on the subject, are commended to the consideration of Congress, with a view to their approval.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March 23, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a communication from the Secretary of War, dated March 23, 1882, with accompanying reports and estimates, recommending an increase in the clerical force in his office and in the offices of the Adjutant-General and Surgeon-General of the Army, in order that prompt replies may be made to the calls for information by the Commissioner of Pensions in pension cases under a proposed plan to accomplish the settlement of all such claims within a limited number of years; also an increased appropriation for contingent expenses for each of the offices mentioned.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March 23, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith a copy of a law[8] passed at the recent session of the legislature of the Territory of New Mexico, for the action of Congress under section 1850 of the Revised Statutes.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
[Footnote 8: Providing a time for the commencement of the sessions of the legislative assembly of the Territory of New Mexico.]
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March 27, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, dated the 24th instant, and the accompanying letter of the Commissioner of Patents, submitting a supplemental estimate for an appropriation of $52,500 for the employment of twenty-five assistant principal examiners of patents, at an annual salary of $2,100 each.
The matter is commended to the consideration of Congress.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March 28, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Navy, with accompanying papers, on the subject of purchasing from the American Wood Preserving Company the machinery which was erected by that company at the navy-yard, Boston, under contract with the Navy Department, for the purpose of fully testing the company's process of preserving timber for use in the Navy.
The attention of Congress is invited to the subject.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March 28, 1882_.
_To the House of, Representatives_:
I transmit herewith, in response to the resolution of the House of Representatives of yesterday, the 27th instant, a report of the Secretary of State, with accompanying papers, touching the negotiations for the restoration of peace in South America.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
WASHINGTON, _March 28, 1882_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
I transmit to the Senate, for its consideration with a view to ratification, a convention for the protection of trade-marks, concluded between the United States and His Majesty the King of Roumania on the 7th of October, 1881.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March 29, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, dated 24th instant, in relation to the urgent necessity for action on the part of Congress for the prevention of trespasses upon Indian lands, with copy of report from Commissioner of Indian Affairs upon the subject and draft of bill for the object indicated.
The subject is commended to the consideration of Congress.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March 29, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a communication from the Secretary of War, dated March 25, 1882, with accompanying correspondence, plans, and estimates, in which he recommends an appropriation of $40,000 for the completion of the new post at Fort Lewis, Colo.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March 30, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, dated the 28th instant, and the accompanying letter of the Superintendent of the Government Hospital for the Insane, submitting an estimate for a deficiency appropriation of $20,792.51 for the support of that institution for the remaining portion of the present fiscal year.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March 30, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith a letter from the Secretary of the Interior, inclosing draft of a bill to amend section 2056 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, relating to the term of office of Indian inspectors and Indian agents.
The subject is commended to the consideration of Congress.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March 30, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, dated the 29th of March, and the accompanying letter of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, submitting an estimate for the additions of $34,200 and $20,000, respectively, to the appropriations for salaries, fees, and commissions of registers and receivers, and for contingent expenses, land offices, for the next fiscal year.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March 30, 1882_.
_To the House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State and accompanying documents, in response to a resolution of the House of Representatives of February 13, 1882, touching the protection of American citizens in Persia and the establishment of diplomatic relations with that country.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 3, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a letter from the Secretary of the Interior, in which he sets forth the necessity which will exist for an appropriation for the payment of the commissioners to be appointed under the recent act of Congress entitled "An act to amend section 5352 of the Revised Statutes of the United States in reference to bigamy, and for other purposes," and also for the payment of the election officers to be appointed by said commissioners.
In this connection I submit to Congress that, in view of the important and responsible duties devolved upon the commissioners under this act, their compensation at $3,000 per annum, as provided therein, should be increased to a sum not less than $5,000 per annum.
Such increased compensation, in my judgment, would secure a higher order of ability in the persons to be selected and tend more effectually to carry out the objects of the act.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 3, 1882_.
_To the House of Representatives_:
I forward herewith, in compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 6th of February ultimo, calling for information in reference to the arrest and imprisonment in Mexico of certain American citizens, a further report from the Secretary of State and its accompanying paper, concerning the cases of Thomas Shields and Charles Weber, to which that resolution refers.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 4, 1882_.
_To the House of Representatives_:
In partial response to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 31st of January last, on the subject of American citizens imprisoned in Ireland, I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 4, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a letter from the Secretary of War, dated March 31, 1882, and accompanying report from the Chief of Engineers, with its inclosures, relative to the construction of a bridge across the Potomac River at or near Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, under the provisions of the act approved February 23, 1881, in which he requests that an additional appropriation of $80,000 be made to give practical effect to the act referred to in accordance with the recommendations of the Chief of Engineers.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 5, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, setting forth the necessity for an increased number of law clerks in the office of the Assistant Attorney-General in the Department of the Interior, because of the growing amount of business in that office.
The matter is commended to the attention and favorable action of Congress.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 5, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior of this date, with draft of bill for the relief of Pierre Garrieaux and correspondence in relation thereto.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 5, 1882_.
_To the House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith, in reply to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 31st of January last, a report from the Secretary of State, with accompanying papers.[9]
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
WASHINGTON, _April 5, 1882_.
_To the Senate_:
I transmit herewith, in reply to the resolution of the Senate of the 29th of March last, the report of the Secretary of State, with accompanying papers.[9]
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
[Footnote 9: Correspondence, etc., relative to American citizens imprisoned in Ireland.]
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 6, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a letter from the Secretary of War, dated the 4th instant, inclosing plans and estimates for the completion of the post of Fort McKinney, Wyoming Territory, and recommending an appropriation of $50,000 for the purpose in accordance with the estimates.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 6, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a communication from the Secretary of War, dated the 4th instant, inclosing estimates for deficiency in the appropriation for the transportation of the Army and its supplies for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882, and recommending an appropriation in accordance therewith.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 11, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a letter from the Secretary of War, dated the 6th instant, in which he recommends a reappropriation of the unexpended balances of two appropriations of $50,000 each, made in 1880 and 1881, "for continuing the improvement of the water-power pool" at the Rock Island Arsenal, and that the additional sum of $30,000 be granted for the same purpose; also the additional sum of $70,000 "for deepening the canal and for opening six waterways in connection with the water power."
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 12, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, with the accompanying report from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, dated 29th ultimo, recommending an increase of item for "transportation of Indian supplies for the fiscal year 1882" (deficiency), as designated in Senate Executive Document 57, Forty-seventh Congress, first session.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 12, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, inclosing draft of bill prepared in the Office of Indian Affairs, submitted with Commissioner's report of 27th ultimo, confirming to the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians the lands in the Indian Territory set apart for their occupancy by an Executive order dated August 10, 1869, which lands are in lieu of those set apart for their use and occupancy by the second article of the treaty with said Indians concluded October 28, 1867.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 12, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a letter from the Secretary of War, dated the 6th instant, inclosing one from the acting chief clerk of the War Department on the subject, recommending an additional appropriation of $2,000 for contingent expenses of the War Department for 1882; also that appropriation provided for the purpose for the next fiscal year be increased $10,000.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
_Washington, April 14, 1882_.
_To the Senate of the United States:_
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, the inclosed letter and accompanying statement from the Secretary of the Navy, in relation to the necessity of building a new boiler shop at the navy-yard, New York, and repairing the caisson gate of the dry dock at that station, in which it is requested that an appropriation of $147,243.04 be made for these objects.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
[The same message was sent to the House of Representatives.]
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 14, 1882_.
_To the House of Representatives:_
I transmit herewith, with commendation to the attention of Congress, a report of the Secretary of State and its accompanying papers, concerning the proposed establishment of an international bureau of exchanges.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 14, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, with correspondence, relative to right of way of the Republican Valley Railroad across the Otoe and Missouria Reservation in the State of Nebraska, and draft of an amendment to S. No. 930, "A bill to amend an act entitled 'An act to provide for the sale of the remainder of the reservation of the confederated Otoe and Missouria tribes of Indians in the States of Nebraska and Kansas, and for other purposes,' approved March 3, 1881."
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 17, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_
I transmit herewith a letter, dated the 29th ultimo, from the Secretary of War, inclosing copy of a communication from the Mississippi River Commission, in which the commission recommends that an appropriation may be made of $1,010,000 for "closing existing gaps in levees," in addition to the like sum for which an estimate has already been submitted.
The subject is one of such importance that I deem it proper to recommend early and favorable consideration of the recommendations of the commission. Having possession of and jurisdiction over the river, Congress, with a view of improving its navigation and protecting the people of the valley from floods, has for years caused surveys of the river to be made for the purpose of acquiring knowledge of the laws that control it and of its phenomena. By act approved June 28, 1879, the Mississippi River Commission was created, composed of able engineers. Section 4 of the act provides that--
It shall be the duty of said commission to take into consideration and mature such plan or plans and estimates as will correct, permanently locate, and deepen the channel and protect the banks of the Mississippi River; improve and give safety and ease to the navigation thereof; prevent destructive floods; promote and facilitate commerce, trade, and the postal service.
The constitutionality of a law making appropriations in aid of these objects can not be questioned. While the report of the commission submitted and the plans proposed for the river's improvement seem justified as well on scientific principles as by experience and the approval of the people most interested, I desire to leave it to the judgment of Congress to decide upon the best plan for the permanent and complete improvement of the navigation of the river and for the protection of the valley.
The immense losses and widespread suffering of the people dwelling near the river induce me to urge upon Congress the propriety of not only making an appropriation to close the gaps in the levees occasioned by the recent floods, as recommended by the commission, but that Congress should inaugurate measures for the permanent improvement of the navigation of the river and security of the valley. It may be that such a system of improvement would as it progressed require the appropriation of twenty or thirty millions of dollars. Even such an expenditure, extending, as it must, over several years, can not be regarded as extravagant in view of the immense interest involved. The safe and convenient navigation of the Mississippi is a matter of concern to all sections of the country, but to the Northwest, with its immense harvests, needing cheap transportation to the sea, and to the inhabitants of the river valley, whose lives and property depend upon the proper construction of the safeguards which protect them from the floods, it is of vital importance that a well-matured and comprehensive plan for improvement should be put into operation with as little delay as possible. The cotton product of the region subject to the devastating floods is a source of wealth to the nation and of great importance to keeping the balances of trade in our favor.
It may not be inopportune to mention that this Government has imposed and collected some $70,000,000 by a tax on cotton, in the production of which the population of the Lower Mississippi is largely engaged, and it does not seem inequitable to return a portion of this tax to those who contributed it, particularly as such an action will also result in an important gain to the country at large, and especially so to the great and rich States of the Northwest and the Mississippi Valley.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 17, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith a communication, dated the 14th instant, from the Secretary of the Interior, with draft of bill, and accompanying papers, for the establishment of an Indian training school on the site of the old Fort Ripley Military Reservation, in the State of Minnesota.
The subject is commended to the consideration of Congress.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 17, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior of the 12th instant, with accompanying papers, in relation to coal lands upon the San Carlos Reservation, in the Territory of Arizona.
The subject is presented for the consideration of Congress.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 17, 1882_.
_To the Senate_:
I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State and its accompanying papers, concerning the international regulations for preventing collisions at sea, and I earnestly commend this important subject to the early and favorable consideration of Congress.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
[The same message was sent to the House of Representatives.]
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 18, 1882_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I send herewith a copy of the circular invitation extended to all the independent countries of North and South America to participate in a general congress to be held in the city of Washington on the 22d of November next for the purpose of considering and discussing the methods of preventing war between the nations of America.
In giving this invitation I was not unaware that there existed differences between several of the Republics of South America which would militate against the happy results which might otherwise be expected from such an assemblage. The differences indicated are such as exist between Chile and Peru, between Mexico and Guatemala, and between the States of Central America.
It was hoped that these differences would disappear before the time fixed for the meeting of the congress. This hope has not been realized.
Having observed that the authority of the President to convene such a congress has been questioned, I beg leave to state that the Constitution confers upon the President the power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, and that this provision confers the power to take all requisite measures to initiate them, and to this end the President may freely confer with one or several commissioners or delegates from other nations.. The congress contemplated by the invitation could only effect any valuable results by its conclusions eventually taking the form of a treaty of peace between the States represented; and, besides, the invitation to the States of North and South America is merely a preliminary act, of which constitutionality or the want of it can hardly be affirmed.
It has been suggested that while the international congress would have no power to affect the rights of nationalities there represented, still Congress might be unwilling to subject the existing treaty rights of the United States on the Isthmus and elsewhere on the continent to be clouded and rendered uncertain by the expression of the opinions of a congress composed largely of interested parties.
I am glad to have it in my power to refer to the Congress of the United States, as I now do, the propriety of convening the suggested international congress, that I may thus be informed of its views, which it will be my pleasure to carry out.
Inquiry having been made by some of the Republics invited whether it is intended that this international congress shall convene, it is important that Congress should at as early a day as is convenient inform me by resolution or otherwise of its opinion in the premises. My action will be in harmony with such expression.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, _Washington, November 29, 1881_.