The legislation which I have suggested, it is sincerely believed, will promote the peace and honor of our country and the prosperity and security of the people.  I invoke the diligent and serious attention of Congress to the consideration of these and such other measures as may be presented having the same great end in view.

BENJ.  HARRISON.

[Footnote 2:  See pp. 14-15.]

[Footnote 3:  See pp. 15-18.]

[Footnote 4:  See pp. 20-24.]

[Footnote 5:  See pp. 24-25.]

[Footnote 6:  See pp. 25-26.]

[Footnote 7:  See Vol.  VIII, pp. 847-851.]

[Footnote 8:  See p. 27.]

SPECIAL MESSAGES.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 17, 1889.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

The act of Congress approved July 9, 1888, “for an international marine conference to secure greater safety for life and property at sea,” and in virtue of which the present conference is now holding its sessions at Washington, provides by the third section that the labors of the conference shall terminate on the 1st day of January, 1890, or sooner, by direction of the President.

I transmit herewith a report from the Acting Secretary of State, accompanied with a letter from Rear-Admiral S.R.  Franklin, United States Navy, president of the conference, stating that in all probability the labors of the conference can not be brought to a close by the time fixed by the present law.

In consideration of the many important questions now under discussion by the conference, which should if possible be satisfactorily determined before the final adjournment, I earnestly recommend that a further act be passed to enable the conference to continue its sessions for a period of two months from January 1, 1890.

BENJ.  HARRISON.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 18, 1889.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

I transmit herewith a communication of 16th instant from the Secretary of the Interior, submitting the report, with accompanying papers, of the commission appointed under the provisions of the act of March 2, 1889 (25 U.S.  Statutes at Large, p. 1002), to conduct negotiations with the Coeur d’Alene tribe of Indians for the purchase and release by said tribe of such portions of its reservation not agricultural and valuable chiefly for minerals and timber as such tribe shall consent to sell, etc., together with the agreement entered into by said commission September 9, 1889, with said Indians.

BENJ.  HARRISON.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 20, 1889.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

I transmit herewith a communication of the 16th instant from the Secretary of the Interior, submitting a draft of a bill “to provide for the reduction of the Round Valley Indian Reservation, in the State of California, and for other purposes.”  I invite your attention to the papers herein referred to, showing the necessity for the proposed legislation, and ask that the bill herewith receive careful and early consideration.