River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-12-18

the vigilance Of the civil and military authori-
ties ia that quart r. The difficulty Of checking
such trespasses along thc course Of a river Of
such length ar the Rio Grande and which i- Of
ten fordable, il obvious. Il is hoped that the
effort Of the government will be seconded by
those ~ Mexico 70 the effectual suppression 81
acta II wrong
TUE MKXlcAN CLAIMS COMMISSION.
From arepott upon the condition Of tie
business before the American and Mexican
Joint Claims Commission. made by tile agent
on the part Of the United States, and dated
October 28th, 1875, IL appears that Of the l,0l7
claims filed on the part Of citizens Of the
United States, 4S3 had been finally decided
and 7j We're Ia the hands Of tie Umpire. leay-
ing 462 to be disposed Of and Of tile 99s
claims tiled against the United States. 72G had
teen finally decided OH one was before the
Umpire and ri remained to be dis
posed Of SinCe the date Of snch report
othes claims have hsen disposed Of re-
dueing somewhat the number still
pending and others have been passed upon by
the arhitrators. II has become apparent IN
view OF these figures, AMI of the fact that the
work deyolving on the Umpire s particularly
laborIous, that the commissioners would be
unable to dispose Of the entire number Of
claims pending prior to the Ist DAY Of February.
1915, the date fixed for i s expiration NegO-
tiations are pending, looking to the securing
OF results Of deci sions which have been reach
u
mifsion for limited time, which il il confident
" hoped will suffice TO bring all the business
nov before it tea final close.
rHE REyoLUTIoN IN FHE ARaENrISE REPUBLIC.
Ifhe strife in the Argentine Republic il to be
ddplored, both on account Of the parties there
ID. and from the probable effect on the inter-
e5ts of those engaged in the trade 10 that
Harter, of whom the United States are among
tte principal. A. vet 20 far ar | am aware
there hppn tn qf ffYT real ~
rights, which. a. we'll as our duties in that re-
she3t 1t shall be my endeavor TO maintain and
deeerye,
THE VENEZUELA AWARDS
1t is with regret that / announce that no fur
Their payment has been received from the gov
eminent of Venezuela on account of awards in
favor of citizens of the United States. Hopes
have been entertained that if the republic
could escape both foreign and civil war for a
few years its great natural resources would
enabl, it to honor its obligations. Though it
is now understood to be at peace with other
countries, a serious Instruction is understood
! to be in progress IN an important region of
| that republic. This may be taken advantage
of as another reason for the non-payment of
the dues of our citizens.
THE REyoLUTIIS IN CUBA
The deplorable strife in Cuba c)atiu ues
without any marked change in the relative adj
vantages of the coutending forces. The in
sqrrection continues, but Spain has suffered.
six years of strife give the instruction sig
nificance which cannot be denied. Its dura-
lion, and the tenaeity of its adherants with an
| absence of manifested power of suppression
on the part of Spain, cannot he controverted.
and may induce some positive steps on the part
of other powers as matter of self-necessity.
THE UNITED STATES AND SPAIN.
I had confidently expected at this time to be
able to announce the arrangement of some of
the important questions between this govern
ment and that of Spain, but the negotiations
have been protraeted The unhappy intestine
disturbance of Spain commands our profound
sympathy, and must he accepted as
perhaps a cause of some delay. treaty set
Element, in part, at least of questions between
these governments is hoped In the mean
time awaiting the results of Immediately
pending negotiations. defer further and fuller
communication on the subject of the relations
of this country and Spain.
THE EXTRACTION LAWS.
have again to call the attention Of Con
gress to the unsatisfactory condition Of the
existing laws with reference to eXtradition,
and the election OF nationality. Formerly
amid conflicting opinions and decisions it was
difficult to exactly determine how far the doc
trine of perpetual allegiance was applicable
to the citizens of the United States. Con-
gress. by the act of the 9th of July. 1868, as
serted the abstract right of expatration a
| fundamental principle of this government.
Notwithstanding such assertion. and the ne
cessity of frequent application of the principle,
| legislation has been had defining what acts OF
/ formalties should work expatriaton or when
ciszen shall be deemed to have been recog-
nizedto his citizenship. The Importance OF such
definition is obvious. The representatives OF
| the United States i'll foreign countries are con-
tinually called upon to lend their aid and the
protection of the United States to persons
4I,a Of
citizenship, there il at least great question. in
some cases the provisions of the treaty furnish
sonee guide. In others it seems left to the
persons claiming the benefit of citizen
ship while living in foreign
country, contributing in no manner
by the performance of the duties of citizens
of the United States, and without intention at
any time to return and undertake these duties
who claim citizenship of the United states
simply as shield from the pc Torrance Of
the obligations of citizens e. e. The
cases of children born of American parents re-
siding in a foreign country, of American
women who have married Aliens OF
American citizens residing abroad, where such
questions are not regulated by treaty, are sub
iected to frequent difficulty. Legislation upon
this and similar questions, and particularly de-
filming when and under what circumstances ex-
patriation can be accomplished or be pre-
sumed is especially necessary.
In this connection earnestly gall the atten-
ton of Congress to the d1ftcnlts arising from
fraudulent naturalization. The United States
wisely. freely and literally offers its citizenship
TO all who may come in good faith and reside
within its limits on their complying with GER
tain prescribed reasonable formulas and condi-
tons. Among the highest duties Of
the government is that to afford
firm efficient and effectual protection
to all citizens, whether natiye-born or natural
lied Steps should be taken that that right,
carrying with it such support from the govern
ment. should not be frauduently obtained, and
should he bestowed only upon fun proof OF
compliance with the law There are frequent
Instances Of illegal and fraudulent naturali2a-
ton and of the unauthorized certificates thus
improperly obtained. In some cases the
fraudulent character of the naturalization
has appeared upon the face of the certificate
itself "a in others examination discoses that
the holder had not complied with the law and
in others certificates have been obtained where
the persons holding them not only
were not entitled to be naturalized, but had
not even been within the United Suites at the
time of their pretended naturalization. In
stances of each of these classes of fraud are
discovered at our legations, where the certiti
Gates of naturalization are presented either for
the purpose of obtaining passports. or in de-
handing the protection of the legation. When
fraud was plain ON the face of such certificates
they. were taken up by the representatives of
the government and forwarded to the.nepart-
ment of State. But even the record of the
court in which fraudulent naturalization
occurred remains, and duplicate certificates
are readily obtainable upon the presentation
of these. for the issue of passports on de-
manding protection Of the government The
fraud sometimes escapes notice, and such
certificates are not unfrequently used ia the
transaction of business, to the decertion and
injury Of innocent parties. Without placing
any additional obstacle in the way Of the OBJ
tainment of citizenship by the worthy and
well mtentiOned foreigner who comes to cast