was ratified by the Senate at its last session, and subsequently by the Cuban Government. I deem such legislation demanded not only by our interest, but by our honor. We can not with propriety abandon the course upon which we have so wisely embarked. When the acceptance of the Platt amendment was required from Cuba by the action of the Congress of the United States, this Government thereby definitely committed itself to the policy of treating Cuba as occupying a unique position as regards this country. It was provided that when the island became a free and independent republic she should stand in such close relations with us as in certain respects to come within our system of international policy; and it necessarily followed that she must also to a certain degree become included within the lines of our economic policy. Situated as Cuba is, it would not be possible for this country to permit the strategic abuse of the island by any foreign military power. It is for this reason that certain limitations have been imposed upon her financial policy, and that naval stations have been conceded by her to the United States. The negotiations as to the details of these naval stations are on the eve of completion. They are so situated as to prevent any idea that there is the intention ever to use them against Cuba, or otherwise than for the protection of Cuba from the assaults of foreign foes, and for the better safeguarding of American interests in the waters south of us.

These interests have been largely increased by the consequences of the war with Spain, and will be still further increased by the building of the isthmian canal. They are both military and economic. The granting to us by Cuba of the naval stations above alluded to is or the utmost importance from a military standpoint, and is proof of the good faith with which Cuba is treating us. Cuba has made great progress since her independence was established. She has advanced steadily in every way. She already stands high among her sister republics of the New World. She is loyally observing her obligations to us; and she is entitled to like treatment by us.

The treaty submitted to you for approval secures to the United States economic advantages as great as those given to Cuba. Not an American interest is sacrificed. By the treaty a large Cuban market is secured to our producers. It is a market which lies at our doors, which is already large, which is capable of great expansion, and which is especially important to the development of our export trade. It would be indeed shortsighted for us to refuse to take advantage of such an opportunity, and to force Cuba into making arrangements with other countries to our disadvantage.

This reciprocity treaty stands by itself. It is demanded on considerations of broad national policy as well as by our economic interest. It will do harm to no industry. It will benefit many industries.

It is in the interest of our people as a whole, both because of its importance from the broad standpoint of international policy, and because economically it intimately concerns us to develop and secure the rich Cuban market for our farmers, artisans, merchants, and manufacturers. Finally, it is desirable as a guaranty of the good faith of our Nation towards her young sister Republic to the south, whose welfare must ever be closely bound with ours. We gave her liberty. We are knit to her by the memories of the blood and the courage of our soldiers who fought for her in war; by the memories of the wisdom and integrity of our administrators who served her in peace and who started her so well on the difficult path of self-government. We must help her onward and upward; and in helping her we shall help ourselves.

The foregoing considerations caused the negotiation of the treaty with Cuba and its ratification by the Senate. They now with equal force support the legislation by the Congress which by the terms of the treaty is necessary to render it operative. A failure to enact such legislation would come perilously near a repudiation of the pledged faith of the Nation.

I transmit herewith the treaty, as amended by the Senate and ratified by the Cuban Government.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

WHITE HOUSE, Washington, November 20, 1903.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I transmit herewith a statement showing the receipts and disbursements of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company from date of incorporation to September 30, 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, together with a report submitted by the Exposition Company, showing progress made by the various departments of the exposition.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

WHITE HOUSE, Washington, November 27, 1903.

To the House of Representatives:

In response to a resolution of the House of Representatives of November 9, 1903, requesting the President "to communicate to the House, if not, in his judgment, incompatible with the interests of the public service, all correspondence and other official documents relating to the revolution on the Isthmus of Panama," I transmit herewith copies of

additional papers on the subject, which have been received subsequent to the resolution referred to.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

WHITE HOUSE, December 4, 1903.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I transmit herewith for the information of the Congress the third annual report of the governor of Porto Rico, covering the period from July 1, 1902, to June 30, 1903, with appendices.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

EXECUTIVE ORDERS, 1903.

WHITE HOUSE, March 26, 1903.

It is deemed desirable that the regulations governing appointments and employments of mere laborers and workmen in the Departments at Washington shall be extended, as rapidly as may be found prac ticable, to offices in the executive civil service outside of Washington.

The United States Civil Service Commission is therefore directed to render such assistance as may be practicable to the heads of the Executive Departments for the establishment and maintenance of a system of registration to test the relative fitness of applicants for appointment or employment as mere laborers and workmen, to precede such appointments or employments, which test shall be competitive and open to all citizens of the United States qualified in respect to age, physical ability, character, and experience as workmen, and for that purpose to conduct inquiries upon the request of the respective heads of Departments, under such regulations as may be agreed upon by them and the Commission. These regulations shall be forthwith prepared and applied in such large cities as may be agreed upon.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

WHITE HOUSE, March 27, 1903.

In accordance with the provisions of Sections two thousand two hundred and fifty-one and two thousand two hundred and fifty-three of the Revised Statutes of the United States, and by virtue of the authority thereby given, it is hereby ordered that the land office now situated at St. Cloud, Minnesota, be removed to Cass Lake, in said State, and that the following changes be made in the boundaries of the land districts:

First. To be attached to and made a part of the Marshall land district all that part of the St. Cloud land district lying south of the following line:

Beginning at a point where the line between townships 136 and 137 north, range 48 west of the 5th principal meridian intersects the western boundary of the State; thence east on said line to the southeast corner of township 137 north, range 36 west; thence north on the line between ranges 35 and 36 to the northwest corner of township 140 north, range 35 west; thence east between townships 140 and 141 to the northeast corner of township 140 north, range 25 west of the 5th principal meridian; thence north to the southwest corner of township 53 north, range 27 west of the 4th principal meridian; thence east on the line between townships 52 and 53 to the northwest corner of township 52 north, range 23 west; thence south on the line between ranges 23 and 24 to the southwest corner of township 46 north, range 23 west; thence east on the line between townships 45 and 46 to the eastern boundary of the State.

Second. To be detached from the Crookston district and made a part of the St. Cloud land district:

Beginning at the northwest corner of township 145 north, range 35 west; thence east along the line between townships 145 and 146, to its intersection with the Mississippi River; thence westerly following the course of said river to a point where it crosses the line between ranges 29 and 30 west of the 5th principal meridian; thence north along the line between the counties of Beltrami and Itasca to the northeast corner of township 156 north, range 30 west; thence west along the line between townships 156 and 157 to the northwest corner of township 156 north, range 35 west; thence south along the line between ranges 35 and 36 to the place of beginning.

Third. To be detached from the Duluth district and made a part of the St. Cloud land district:

Beginning at a point where the line between ranges 23 and 24 west of the 4th principal meridian, intersects the northern boundary of the State; thence south along said range line to the southeast corner of township 53 north, range 24 west; thence westerly following the course of the Mississippi River to a point where it intersects the line between ranges 29 and 30 west of the 5th principal meridian; thence north along the line between the counties of Itasca and Beltrami to the northern boundary of the State; thence east along said northern boundary to the place of beginning.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

WHITE HOUSE, March 28, 1903.

Under authority contained in section twenty-two hundred and fiftyone of the Revised Statutes of the United States, it is hereby ordered that the office now located at Marshall, Minnesota, be removed to St. Cloud, in said State.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

WHITE HOUSE, May 29, 1903.

In accordance with the provisions of section 2253 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, and by the authority therein given, it is hereby ordered that the land included within the following boundaries and being a portion of the district established by Executive Order of March 27, 1903, with the office at Cass Lake, in the State of Minnesota, be transferred to and made a part of the Duluth land district in said State:

Beginning at a point where the line between ranges 23 and 24 west of the 4th principal meridian, intersects the northern boundary of the State; thence south along said line to the southeast corner of township 65 north, range 24 west; thence west on the line between townships 64 and 65, to a point where the same intersects the east line of township 153 north, range 25 west of the 5th principal meridian; thence south to the southeast corner of said township 153; thence west between townships 152 and 153 to the southeast corner of township 153 north, range 30 west; thence north on the range line between ranges 29 and 30 (being the boundary between the counties of Itasca and Beltrami), to the northern boundary of the State; thence easterly along said northern boundary to the place of beginning.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

WHITE HOUSE, July 3, 1903.

On September 25, 1901, Charles B. Terry, a clerk on the temporary roll of the Post-Office Department, was transferred to the position of laborer in the Washington city post-office, apparently in order to provide a place on the temporary roll for a favorite of one of his superior officers. His name was, therefore, not included in the list of employees on the temporary roll which were classified by the act of April 28, 1902. When the facts were brought to the attention of the PostmasterGeneral he sought, on July 1, 1902, to reinstate Terry to the position he had formerly occupied. Such action, however, required a special exception to the rules. The Commission made an investigation of the circumstances attending his transfer from the temporary roll and became convinced that an injustice had been done him. The investigation, however, disclosed the fact that he had been convicted of a crime