Senate and the necessary legislation enacted by
Congress. Experience has shown that some treaties looking to reciprocal
trade have failed to secure a two-thirds vote in the Senate for
ratification, and others having passed that stage have for years awaited
the concurrence of the House and Senate in such modifications of our
revenue laws as were necessary to give effect to their provisions. We
now have the concurrence of both Houses in advance in a distinct and
definite offer of free entry to our ports of specific articles. The
Executive is not required to deal in conjecture as to what Congress will
accept. Indeed, this reciprocity provision is more than an offer. Our
part of the bargain is complete; delivery has been made; and when the
countries from which we receive sugar, coffee, tea, and hides have
placed on their free lists such of our products as shall be agreed
upon as an equivalent for our concession, a proclamation of that fact
completes the transaction; and in the meantime our own people have
free sugar, tea, coffee, and hides.

The indications thus far given are very hopeful of early and
favorable action by the countries from which we receive our large
imports of coffee and sugar, and it is confidently believed that if
steam communication with these countries can be promptly improved and
enlarged the next year will show a most gratifying increase in our
exports of breadstuffs provisions, as well as of some important lines
of manufactured goods.

In addition to the important bills that became laws before the
adjournment of the last session, some other bills of the highest
importance were well advanced toward a final vote and now stand upon the
calendars of the two Houses in favored positions. The present session
has a fixed limit, and if these measures are not now brought to a final
vote all the work that has been done upon them by this Congress is lost.
The proper consideration of these, of an apportionment bill, and of the
annual appropriation bills will require not only that no working day of
the session shall be lost, but that measures of minor and local interest
shall not be allowed to interrupt or retard the progress of those that
are of universal interest. In view of these conditions, I refrain from
bringing before you at this time some suggestions that would otherwise
be made, and most earnestly invoke your attention to the duty of
perfecting the important legislation now well advanced. To some of the