The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-12-17

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eminent. bilt without mitch apparent effect.
The military force of this Government dis
posable. for service In that quarter is quite
inadequate to effectually guard the line,
even at the points wherein excursions are
generally made.
An experiment of an armed vessel on the
Rio Grande for that purpose is on trial, and
it is hoped that If not tliwarted by shallow
ness ofthe river, and other natural obstacles
it may contribute to the protection Of the
herdsnen III Texas
THE FREE ZONE,
So called, several years since established by
Mexico in certain States of that Republic,
adjacent to our frontier, reallins in full
operation. Tt is always materially injurious
to domestic traffic, while it operates as an
incentive to traders in Mexico to supply
free of custom charges. the wants of tie
people of both sides of the line, aud pre-
vents the same from being supplied by Iner-
chants of the United States, thereby, to a
considerable extent. detrauding our revenue
and checking honest commercial enterprise.
DoTNGs OF THE MEXIcAN CLAIMS CoMails-
SION.
The proceedings of joint commission
under the convention between the United
States and Mexico, of the 4th July, 1868. OH
the subject of claims, will soon be brought
to close, The result ofthese proceedings
will then be communicated to Congress.
VENEZUELA.
am happy to announce that the govern
ment of Venezuela has, upon further con-
sideration, practically abandoned its ohiec-
tionS to pay to the United States the share
of its revenue, which some years since
it allotted toward the extinguisiIfnent
of claims of foreigners generally. In the
reconsideration Of its former determination.
that government has shown IA justice aud
self-respect which cannot fail to reflect ere
dit upon it in the eyes of all disiIterested
persons elsewhere. It IS to be regretted,
however. that its payments on account of
claims of citizens of the United States are
still so meager in amount, and that the
stipulations OF the trea.y i'll regard to the
sums TO be pa,,. and the periods when these
payments were to take place, should have
been so signally disregarded.
TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS WITH FOREIGN
POWERS.
Since nv last annual message the eX-
change has been made ofthe ratitications of
q treaty of commerce and navigation with
Belgium, and of conventions with the MeXi-
can Republic for the further extension of
the joint commission respecting claims
with the Hawaiian Islands for commercial
reciprocity. all of which lave been duly
/ proclaimed.
! COMMISSIONERS OF ALABAMA CLAIMS.
| The court of commissioners of -4ffl5ama
1 claims has prosecuted its important d tiles
! very ;tSSiduouS1y and very satisfactorily.
/ It convened and was organized on the 22ti
/ day of July. 1874. and by the terms Of the
/ act under which it was created. was to exist
| for one year from that date. The act pro-
vides. however that should it be found i'm
practicable to complete the work of the
! court before the expiration of the year. the
/ President might, by proclamation, extend
the time of its duration TO period not more
! than six months beyond the expiration OF
! the one year. Having received satisfactory
! evidence that it would be inpracticable TO
complete the work within the time origin
/ ally fixed, issued a proclamation, copy
| of Which is presented herewith, extending
the time of the Duration of the court for a
! period of six months from and after the 22d
! day of July last 4 report made through
| the clerk of the court, communicated here
with shows the condition of the calendar
! on the first OF November last, and the large
| amount of work which has been accom-
plislled.
Thirteen hundred and eighfy-two claims
/ have been presented, of which eight hun
dred aud sixty-tWo lad been disposed of al
| the date of the report,
| am informed that one hundred and sew
/ enty cases were decided during the month
| OF November. Arguments are being made,
and decisions given in the remaining cases
! with all the dispatch consistent with the
/ proper consideration of the questions
/ submitted. Many of these claims are in
| behalf of mariners, or depend on the
1 evidence OF mariners, whose absence has
| delayed the taking and the return of the
necessary evidence.
| 1t is represented to me that it will be I'M
| practicable for the court TO finally dispose
of all the cases before it. within tile present
/ limit of its duration. Justice to the parties
claimants, who had been at large expense
IN preparing their claims, and Obtaining
! evidence in their support. suggests short
| extension to enable tile court to dispose of
all claims which have already been pre-
1 sented.
| recommend the legislation which may
| be deemed proper to enable the court to
| complete the work before 1t.
COURT EoR CONSIDERING CLAIMS OF ALIENS
AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.
Also recommend that some suitable pro-
vision be made by the creation of Il special
| court, or by comforting The necessary juris-
dietion upon such appropriate tribunal for
! the consideration aud determination OF
claims of aliens against the Government of
the United States. which have arisen with
in some reasonable Limitation of time, or
which may hereafter arise, excluding all
claims barred by treaty provisions. Or other
wise. as it has been found impossible to give
! proper consideration TO those claims by fhe
! Executive Department of the Government.
Such 4 tribunal would afford all opportunity
present their claims on account ofaets COM
nittetl against their persons or property
during the rebellion. As also To those sub
| jeets of Great Britain, whose claims having
arisen subsequent to the 9th day of April,
I 1915, could not be presented TO the eonulis-
sion organized pursuant to provisions of the
Treaty OF Washington.
OCEAN TELEGRAPHs.
The electric telegraph has become an es-
sential and indispensabieagei III the trans
mission Of business and social message. Its
operation on land. within the limits of
| particular States, is necessarily under the
control of the Jurisdiction within which it
operates. The lines on the high seas, bow
ever. are not subject to the particular con-
! troll of any one Government.
In 1869 Il concession was granted By the
French government TO a Company which
proposed to Iay q cable from the shores of
j France TO the United States. At that time
there was telegraphie connection between
tile United states and the continento of Eu-
rope. fhrongi the possessions of an associ-
alton which had, at the cost of great out
| lay of capital, and at great risk, demon
stIated the praeticahility of maintaining
sucil means of communication. The cost
OF correspondence, by this agency, was