Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-08

10 IN the hands oil lne umpire, ItaNiDS fo~ ~
be disposed Of and of 99S claims filed against the
United States 726 had been disposed finally, and
one was 6eforethe umpireiand 2. lTemalned to be
disposed of. Since the date of such nc port other
claims have been disposed of, reducing somewha at
the number still pending, and Others nave been
passed upon by the arbitrator. II has become ap-
parent in viewof these figures and Of the fact that
| the work devolving the umpire is particularly
! laborious, that the commission would be unable
to dispose Of the entire number of claims pending
prior TO the first day of February, 1915, the date
fixed for its expiration. Negotiations are pendlnS
looking to the securing of the results OF the de-
csions, which have been reached and to iurthef
extension Of the commission for nmlted tihe
which ii is confidently hoped will snthce 70 prihg
all the business now before il TO final concinsion'
-'a~ THE ARGENTINE CONFEDERATION.
Tue strife in the Argentine Confederation Is to
be deplored 9Th on account OF the parties there
TO and from the probable effect on the interest Of
| those engaged. So far as | am aware there has
been no violation Of our neutrality rights whrctf ns
well rs our duties in this respect, 1t shall be my
| endcavcr to mention and observe
VENEZUELA.
IT. with regret announce that no fur, her pay
inert has been received from the government OF
Veuozua on account of awards in favor OF ctti-
zens of the United States Hopes have been Gu
tertained that the republic would escape both
foreign and civil war for few years. Its great
natural resources would enable 1t TO homer lis oo-
legations, though IL Is now understood 10 pt al
peace with other countries though a serious in
surrecton is reported TO be in progress in an I'M
portant region of that republic. This NAV be tax
en- advantage Of as another reason to delay the
payment of the dues of our citizens.
CUBAN AFFAIRS.
The dc, lorabe strife in Cuba continues without
any marked change in the relative advantage OF
the contending forces. The Instruction contln-
ues, but Spain has gained no superiority. Six
wears Of instruction gives the insurrecton sig
rifcance which cannot be denied. Its devotion
and the tenacity OF its adherents, together with
the absence of manifested power Of suppression
on the part of Spain, cannot be controlled, anu
NAV make some positive steps on the part OF other
powers matter of sef-necesslty. had CONT
IDENTIFY hoped at this time to be abe TO announce
the arrangement of some Of the important ques-
tons between this government and that OF SPAN;
but the negotiations have been protracted.
The unhappy intestine discussions OF SPAN
command our profound sympathy and must be ac-
cepted as perhaps as a cause of some delay. An
early settlement in part at least, of the questions
between the governments is hoped. In the mean
time awaiting the results of Immediately pending
negotiations, ! defer to further and fuller com
muncations on the subject of the relations Of this
country and Spain.
EXPATRIATIoN LAWS.
have again to call the attention of Congress to
the unsatisfactory condition of existing laws with
reference to expatriation and the election OF ma
tionality. Formerly, amid conflicting opinions
and decisions it was difficult to exactly determine
how far the doctrine of perpetual allegiance was ap-
plicable to citizens of the nited States Congress,
by the act of the 9th of July, 1865, asserted the
| abstract right Of expatriation as a fundamental
principle of this government. notwithstanding
such assertion, and the necessity OF frequent ap-
plicaton of the principle, legislation has been had
| defining when acts or formalitcs shall work ex-
patriation, or when citizen has been deemed to
have renowned or to have lost his citizenship The
| importance of such definition IS obyious: The
| repre- sentatives of the United States in foreign
countries are continually called upon to lend the
aid and protection of the United States to persons
concerning the good faith or reality OF whose cti-
zemship there is at least great question In some
cases the provisions of treaties furnish some guide;
in Others it is left to benefit persons claiming ctl-
zenship while living in foreign country, con-
tributing in no manner 10 the performance OF
duties of citizens Of the United States, and with
| out intending at any time to rethrn and under
take those duties, using the claim OF cItzenship
| of the United States simply as shield from the
| performance Of the obligations of citizen else
where The status of children born of American
parents residing in a foreign country, OF Ameri-
can women who have married aliens, of American
citizens residing abroad, where such question is
not regulated by treaty, are all the sources OF
| frequent difficulty and discussion. Legislation
these and similar questions, and particularly de
fning when and under what circumstances cxpa-
triation be accomplished. it is to be sumed
| is especially needed
| NATURALIZATION.
In this connection earnestly call the attention
| of Congress to the difficulties arising from fraud
ulent naturalization. The United States wisely,
freely and literally offers its citizenship to all who
may come in good faith to reside within its limits,
| on their complying with certain prescribed, rca-
| sonable and simple formahtes and conditions.
Among the highest duties of the government is
that to afford firm efficient and equal protection
to all its citizens, whether native born or natural
lied. Care should be taken that right carrying
with it such support from the government, should
not be fraudulently obtained, and should be be-
slowed only upon full proof OF compliance with
the law and yet frequent instances of illegal and
fraudulent naturalization and of the unauthorized
Use of certificates are thus improperly obtained.
In some cases the fraudulent character of the nat
uralization has appeared on the face OF the ceri-
ficate ITSELF in others, examination discloses that
the holder had not complied with the Jaw, and in
others certificates have been obtained where the
persons holding them were not only not entitled
to be naturalized but had not been within the
United States at the time of the pretended natura-
cation. Instances of each Of these ella ses Of fraud
are discovered at our legations, where the certf-
Gates of naturalization are presented, either for
the purpose of obtaining passports or in demand
| ing the protection Of the legation. When the
fraud is apparent on the faces of such certificates,
they are taken up by the representatives of the
government and forwarded to the department of
State but even then the record of the court in
which the fraudulent naturalization occurred re
mains, and dupl cate certificates are readily OBJ
tainabe. Upon the presentation of these for the
issue Of passports or demanding protection of the
government, the fraud sometimes escapes notice,
and such certificates are not unfrequently used in
the transaction of business to the deception and
injury Of innocent parties. Without placing any
additional obstacles in the way Of obtaining Cit
zenship by the worthy and well intentioned
foreigner, who comes in good faith to cast
his lot with ours, | earnestly recommend further
legislation to punish fraudulent naturalization, and
to secure the ready cancellation of the record of
every naturalization made in fraud.
RATIFICATION OF TREATIES
Since my last annual message the exchange has
been made Of the ratification Of the treaties Of
tradition with Belgium, Ecuador, Peru and San
Salvador; also Of treaty of commerce and navi-
CATION with Peru, and commerce and consular
privileges with Salvador, all of which have been
duly proclaimed as has also defamation with
Russia with reference to trade marks.
The FINANCES.
The report Of the Secretary of the Iea,urv,
which by law is made directly TO Congress- aud
forms no pant Of this message, will show the re-
ceipts AID expenditures Of the government for the
last fiscal year, the amount received from each
source Of revenue, and the amount paid out for
each Of the departments, twill be observed from
this report, that the amount of receipts over ex-