The experiments conducted during the year to test the relative resisting power of armor plates have been so valuable as to attract great attention in Europe.  The only part of the work upon the new ships that is threatened by unusual delay is the armor plating, and every effort is being made to reduce that to the minimum.  It is a source of congratulation that the anticipated influence of these modern vessels upon the esprit de corps of the officers and seamen has been fully realized.  Confidence and pride in the ship among the crew are equivalent to a secondary battery.  Your favorable consideration is invited to the recommendations of the Secretary.

The report of the Secretary of the Interior exhibits with great fullness and clearness the vast work of that Department and the satisfactory results attained.  The suggestions made by him are earnestly commended to the consideration of Congress, though they can not all be given particular mention here.

The several acts of Congress looking to the reduction of the larger Indian reservations, to the more rapid settlement of the Indians upon individual allotments, and the restoration to the public domain of lands in excess of their needs have been largely carried into effect so far as the work was confided to the Executive.  Agreements have been concluded since March 4, 1889, involving the cession to the United States of about 14,726,000 acres of land.  These contracts have, as required by law, been submitted to Congress for ratification and for the appropriations necessary to carry them into effect.  Those with the Sisseton and Wahpeton, Sac and Fox, Iowa, Pottawatomies and Absentee Shawnees, and Coeur d’Alene tribes have not yet received the sanction of Congress.  Attention is also called to the fact that the appropriations made in the case of the Sioux Indians have not covered all the stipulated payments.  This should be promptly corrected.  If an agreement is confirmed, all of its terms should be complied with without delay and full appropriations should be made.

The policy outlined in my last annual message in relation to the patenting of lands to settlers upon the public domain has been carried out in the administration of the Land Office.  No general suspicion or imputation of fraud has been allowed to delay the hearing and adjudication of individual cases upon their merits.  The purpose has been to perfect the title of honest settlers with such promptness that the value of the entry might not be swallowed up by the expense and extortions to which delay subjected the claimant.  The average monthly issue of agricultural patents has been increased about 6,000.