and after a two days' session the convention
recommended to Congress the appointment of a monetary commission.

I recommend this report to the consideration of Congress. The authors of
the report recommend a commission "to make a thorough investigation of
the monetary affairs and needs of this country in all relations and
aspects, and to make proper suggestions as to any evils found to exist
and the remedies therefor."

This subject should receive the attention of Congress at its special
session. It ought not to be postponed until the regular session.

I therefore urgently recommend that a special commission be created,
non-partisan in its character, to be composed of well-informed citizens
of different parties who will command the confidence of Congress and the
country because of their special fitness for the work, whose duty it
shall be to make recommendations of whatever changes in our present
banking and currency laws may be found necessary and expedient, and to
report their conclusions on or before the 1st day of November next, in
order that the same may be transmitted by me to Congress for its
consideration at its first regular session.

It is to be hoped that the report thus made will be so comprehensive and
sound as to receive the support of all parties and the favorable action
of Congress. At all events, such a report cannot fail to be of value to
the executive branch of the Government, as well as to those charged with
public legislation, and to greatly assist in the establishment of an
improved system of finance.

WILLIAM McKINLEY.

FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _December 6, 1897_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

It gives me pleasure to extend greeting to the Fifty-fifth Congress,
assembled in regular session at the seat of Government, with many
of whose Senators and Representatives I have been associated in the
legislative service. Their meeting occurs under felicitous conditions,
justifying sincere congratulation and calling for our grateful
acknowledgment to a beneficent Providence which has so signally blessed
and prospered us as a nation. Peace and good will with all the nations
of the earth continue unbroken.

A matter of genuine satisfaction is the growing feeling of fraternal
regard and unification of all sections of our country, the
incompleteness of which has too long delayed realization of the highest
blessings of the Union. The spirit of patriotism i