WILLIAM McKINLEY.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, February 21, 1899.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State, accompanying the commercial relations of the United States for the year 1898, being the annual reports of the consular officers upon the industries and commerce of foreign countries.  In view of the value of these reports to the manufacturing and exporting interests of the country, I indorse the recommendation of the Secretary of State that Congress authorize the printing of the usual editions of 10,000 copies of the general summary, entitled “Review of the World’s Commerce” and of 5,000 copies of “Commercial Relations” (including this summary), to enable the Department of State to meet the demand for such information.

WILLIAM McKINLEY.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 1, 1899.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

I transmit herewith, for the information of Congress, a communication from the Secretary of Agriculture, covering a report on the progress of the beet-sugar industry in the United States during the year 1898.  It embraces the results of numerous chemical analyses and the observations made by a special agent in various parts of the United States.

WILLIAM McKINLEY.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, March 3, 1899.

To the Senate: 

In response to the resolution of the Senate of February 28 last directed to the Secretary of State, I transmit a report from that officer submitting a list of claims against Spain, growing out of the insurrection in Cuba, filed in the Department of State, not embraced in Senate Document No. 79, Fifty-fourth Congress, second session.

WILLIAM McKINLEY.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 5, 1899.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

At the threshold of your deliberations you are called to mourn with your countrymen the death of Vice-President Hobart, who passed from this life on the morning of November 21 last.  His great soul now rests in eternal peace.  His private life was pure and elevated, while his public career was ever distinguished by large capacity, stainless integrity, and exalted motives.  He has been removed from the high office which he honored and dignified, but his lofty character, his devotion to duty, his honesty of purpose, and noble virtues remain with us as a priceless legacy and example.

The Fifty-sixth Congress convenes in its first regular session with the country in a condition of unusual prosperity, of universal good will among the people at home, and in relations of peace and friendship with every government of the world.  Our foreign commerce has shown great increase in volume and value.  The combined imports and exports for the year are the largest ever shown by a single year in all our