Prefatory Note to Last Edition The original intention of the scope of the Work as carried out in the previous editions of the compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents, contemplated closing with the administration of President Cleveland. While the compilation was in progress the events of the Spanish-American War induced the editor to enlarge the plan by the addition of those official papers that pertained to that period alone. That idea is still further enlarged in this edition. All the papers of both the McKinley and the Roosevelt administrations to date have been supplied in order that the proper perspective for the study of the incidents which have so powerfully affected the history of the United States during that time may be afforded, and in order that completeness may, as far as possible, be secured to a work that has proved so useful and has met with such deep appreciation. It has, of course, also been necessary to revise the Index and encyclopedic portion in points of census, new events, and statistics. GEORGE RAYWOOD DEVITT WASHINGTON, D. C., March 1, 1904 NOTE. The pages of "The Messages and Papers of the Presidents" have been renumbered from page one to the end, and the division into volumes has been altered. This plan is required by the addition of new matter and the desirability of keeping the volumes as nearly uniform in size as possible. October 1, 1909. bill No. 167, entitled "An act granting an increase of pension to J. Hudson Kibbe." THEODORE ROOSEVELT. WHITE HOUSE, March 2, 1904. To the Senate: I transmit herewith a report by the Secretary of State furnishing the information concerning the Red Cross Society in foreign countries requested by the Senate resolution of January 19, 1904. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. WHITE HOUSE, March 2, 1904. To the Senate: In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 1st instant (the House of Representatives concurring), I return herewith Senate bill No. 2323, entitled "An act relating to ceded lands on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation." THEODORE ROOSEVELT. WHITE HOUSE, March 7, 1904. To the Senate and House of Representatives: I submit herewith the preliminary report of the Public Lands Commission appointed by me October 22, 1903, to report upon the condition, operation, and effect of the present land laws, and to recommend such changes as are needed to effect the largest practicable disposition of the public lands to actual settlers who will build permanent homes upon them, and to secure in permanence the fullest and most effective use of the resources of the public lands. The subject is one of such great importance and great intricacy that it is impossible for the Commission to report in full thereon at this time. It is now ready, however, to suggest certain changes in the law as set forth in the accompanying report. I commend these suggestions to the favorable consideration of the Congress. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. WHITE HOUSE, March 7, 1904. To the Senate and House of Representatives: I transmit herewith a letter from the Secretary of the Interior, with accompanying report of Charles J. Bonaparte and Clinton Rogers Woodruff, special inspectors, in the matter of alleged abuses and irregularities in the public service of the Indian Territory, and I call special attention to the condition of affairs in the Indian Territory as there set forth. In accordance with the recommendation of Messrs. Bonaparte and Woodruff, the members of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes have been informed that if they are to continue in the service they must at once cease all connection with business operations of any kind in the Territory where it is possible that their official positions could be of any effect upon their private business, even though no such effect be in fact shown. What further action, if any, is to be taken in regard to the Commission or any of its members by the Executive will be determined upon after full consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and careful consideration of all the facts in the case. It will be noticed that the Secretary of the Interior does not believe that it would be possible, in accordance with the suggestions of Messrs. Bonaparte and Woodruff, to close up the work of the Commission this year and discontinue it accordingly. If it should be found to be possible, I would regard this as desirable, and invite the attention of the Congress to the matter. I also inclose a memorandum of work of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes. To the Senate: THEODORE ROOSEVELT. WHITE HOUSE, Washington, March 12, 1904. I inclose herewith a report by the Secretary of State forwarding the correspondence and papers called for by the Senate resolution of December 8, 1903, in regard to the claims against Colombia known as the Colon "fire claims." To the House of Representatives: THEODORE ROOSEVELT. WHITE HOUSE, March 15, 1904. In compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 12th instant (the Senate concurring), I return herewith House bill No. 9791, entitled "An act granting a pension to Abram Claypool." THEODORE ROOSEVELT WHITE HOUSE, Washington, March 15, 1904. To the Senate and House of Representatives: I transmit herewith, for the information of Congress, a letter from the Secretary of State submitting a copy of the report of the commissioner appointed to carry out the resolution with respect to the Pan American Railway, adopted by the second international conference of American States, held in the City of Mexico during the winter of 1901-2. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. WHITE HOUSE, March 15, 1904. To the Senate and House of Representatives: I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State covering a statement showing the receipts and disbursements of the Louisiana. Purchase Exposition Company for the month of January, 1904, furnished by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission in pursuance of section II of the "act to provide for celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the purchase of the Louisiana territory," etc., approved March 3, 1901. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. WHITE HOUSE, March 16, 1904. To the Senate: I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State, with accompanying papers, in further response to the Senate resolution of February 18, 1904, requesting information concerning the organization of the Government of the Republic of Panama. To the Senate: THEODORE ROOSEVELT. WHITE HOUSE, March 17, 1904. In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 15th instant (the House of Representatives concurring), I return herewith Senate bill No. 2323, entitled "An act relating to ceded lands on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation." THEODORE ROOSEVELT. WHITE HOUSE, April 1, 1904. To the Senate and House of Representatives: I transmit herewith for the information of the Congress a report on the progress of the beet-sugar industry in the United States during the year 1903, together with a letter from the Secretary of Agriculture relating to the same. Your attention is invited to the recommendation of the Secretary that 10,000 copies of the report be printed for the use of the Department of Agriculture in addition to such number as may be desired for the use of the Senate and House of Representatives. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. |