The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-12-16

J cFeateu Nv an act Ol CObgIeSS OF IN
0 last session, has organized and com
meneed its work, and it is to b
e hoped that the claims admissible IN
r der the provisions Of the act ma,
4 be speedily ascertained and paid.
CONCESSIONS PROM TURKEY.
1t has been deemed advisable t,
exercise the~iseretion conferred up
on the Executive at the last session
by accepting the conditions required
by the Government of Turkey for tht
privilege of allowing citizens of tbt
United States to hold real estate il
the former country. and by asserting
ton certain change Of jurisdiction o
court in question "A copy of the
proclamation on these subjects j:
here with communicated.
MEXICAN oUTRAdEs on THE TEXAS
BORDER.
There has been BIO material change
in our relations with the indepen-
dent States Of this hemisphere. which
were formerly under the dominion oi
Spain. Marauding on the frontiers
| between Mexico aud Texas stiIl fre-
quently takes place despite the vigi-
lance Of The ciyi! and military au-
thorities in that quarter. The diff
Guilty Of checking such trespasses
along TIE course of river Of such
length as the Rio Grande, and so Of
ten fordable, is obvious. 1t is hoped
that the efforts of the Governmen.
viii be seconded by those of Mexico
to the efectnal suppression OF the acts
of wrong
4 MEXICAN QhAJMS COMMISSION.
From report upon the condition
Of the business before tie American
and Mexican Joirt Claims Conmis-
sion, made by the agent on the part
Of the United States and dated Octo-
Der 2sth 1874. it appears that of the
I.0l7 claims filed on the part of the
United States, 4S3 had been finally
decided, and Is were in the hands of
the umpire, leaving 462 to be dis
posed OF; and Of the 99S claims filed
against the United States 1875 bad
been finally decided, one was before
the umpire, and Ill, remained to be
disposed of Since the date of sncb
report, other claims have been dis
posed of, reducing somewhat the
number still pending, and others have
been passed upon by the arbitrators.
1t has become spparent, in view Of
these figures and ofthe fact that the
work devoiving on tue umpire is par
tieularly laborious. that the Commits
sion would be unable to dispose of
the entire number Of claims pending
prior TO the first day of February,
1875, the date fixed for its expiration.
/ Negotiations are pending looking to
the securing of the results of the de-
cisions which have been reached, and
to the further extension Of the Com
mission fer limited time, which it
is confidently hoped will suffice to
bring all the business now before it
to fnal close.
TIE sTRIyE IN THE ARGEyrrNE RE-
PUBLIC
Is to be deplored, both on account of
the parties thereto and from the
probable effects on the interests of
those engaged in the trade to that
quarter, of whom the Uniied States
are among the principal As yet,
so far as ] am aware, there has been
no violation of our neutrality rights,
which. as well as our duties in that
respect, it shall be my endeavor to
maintain and observe.
REeALcITRANT VENEZUELA.
1t is with regret I announce that
no further payment has been re-
ceiyed from the Government Of
Venezuela on account of awards in
favor of citizens of the United States
Hopes have been entertained that If
that Republic could escape both
foreign aad civil war for few years,
its great natural resources would en-
able it to honor lis obligations.
Though i. Is now understood to be
az peace with other countries, a seri-
Gus insurreetion is reported to be in
I progress in an important region Of
that republic This may be taken
advantage of as another reason to de-
lay the payment oftbe dues of our
citizens
THE DEPLOBABLE STRIFE IN CUBA
Continees without any marked
change in the relative advantages of
the coatending forces. The insurrec-
ton continues, but Spain has gained
no superiority. Six years of strife
give the insurrection a significance
which cannot be denied. Its dura-
ton and the tenacity Of its advance,
together with the absence of mani
tested power of suppression on the
part of SPAN, cannot be controverted,
and may make some positive steps
on the partof other powers matter of
selfneeessity.
OUR RELATIONS WITH SPAIN.
l had confidently hoped at this
time to be able TO announce The ar
rangement OF some of the important
questions between this Government
and thst Of Spain, but the negotia-
iions have been protracted, the un-
happy intestine dissensions Of Spain
command our profound sympathy,
and must be accepted as perhaps a
cause of some DELAY An early set
tlement, 10 part at least, of the ques-
ton between the Governments is hop
ed. 10 the meantime, awaiting the
results of Immediately pending ne
gotiations, ] defer further and fuller
communication on the subject Of the
relations Of this country and Spain.
CHANGES NECESSARY IN THE LAWS RE-
LATISG TO ExPATR1ATIoS.
! have again to call the attention
Of Congress to the unsatisfactory con-
dition Of the existing laws with ref
erenee 10 expatriation and the cleo
tion of nationality Formerly amid
conflicting opinions and decisions. it
was dificult to exactly determine
how far the doctrine of perpetual al
legiance was applicable to citizens Of
the United States. Congress, by the
act of the eth of July, 1868, asser-
ted the abstract right of expatristion
as q Fundamental principle Of this