To the House of Representatives: WHITE HOUSE, February 9, 1904. I transmit herewith the response of the Secretary of State to the resolution adopted by the House of Representatives on January 25, 1904, calling for information in regard to carriages, horses, etc., maintained at Government expense by the Department of State. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. WHITE HOUSE, February 11, 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 December, 1903, 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. To the Senate: WHITE HOUSE, February 24, 1904. In response to the resolution of the Senate of February 18, 1904, as follows: "Resolved, That the President is requested, if not incompatible with the public interests, to send to the Senate such information as is in possession of the Government of the United States as to the present state of organization of the Government of the Republic of Panama. "And a copy of the constitution of said Republic, or such information as to the provisions thereof as may have been received by him. "And that he will inform the Senate as to any ordinance, or other proceeding of the constitutional convention recently in session at Panama, relating to the Hay-Varilla treaty now pending in the Senate." I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State on the subject. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. To the Senate: WHITE HOUSE, February 29, 1904. In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 26th instant (the House of Representatives concurring), I return herewith Senate 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, 190.f. 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. WHITE HOUSE, April 5, 1904. To the Senate and House of Representatives: In further compliance with a provision of the act of Congress approved June 30, 1902, entitled "An act making appropriation for the support of the Army," I transmit herewith a supplementary statement showing additional expenditures for building materials in the United States to March 15, 1904, and for rents, repairs, and construction in the Philippine Islands to February 29, 1904. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. WHITE HOUSE, April 7, 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 February, 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, April 14, 1904. To the Senate and House of Representatives: I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State, with accompanying papers, relating to the claim of William Radcliffe, a British subject, for compensation for the destruction of his fish hatchery and other property at the hands of a mob in Delta County, Colo., in the summer of 1901. I recommend that, as an act of equity and comity, provision be made by the Congress for the payment of the sum of $25,000 to Mr. Radcliffe in full settlement of this claim. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. WHITE HOUSE, April 22, 1904. To the Senate and House of Representatives: I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, accompanying the Commercial Relations of the United States for the year 1903, being the annual and other reports of consular and diplomatic officers upon the industries and commerce of foreign countries. In view of the importance of these reports to our business interests, I approve the recommendation of the Secretary of Commerce and |