The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-12-15
result of fthose proceedings will then
be communicated TO Congress.


VENEZUELA WILL PAY UP.
/ am happy to announce that the
Government Of Venezuela has upon
further consideration. practically
sd
Uslled St4Ies taat s84Te VI - .eso
nue. which, some years since it sllot-
ted toward the extinguishment Of
claims Of foreigners generally. In
thus reconsidering its determination
that Government has shown just
sense of selfrespect which cannot
fail 10 reflect credit upon it in the
eyes of all disinterested persons else
where. 1t is to be regretted, how
ever, that its payments on account OF
claims of citizens ofthe United States
are still so meager as 70 demand that
the stipslations of the treaty in re-
gard to the sums to I've paid, and the
periods when these payments were to
take place, should have been so
signally disregarded.
TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS
Since my last annual message the
exchange has been made Of the rsti-
fcation Of a treaty Of commerce and
navigation with Belgium, and Of con-
ventions with the Mexican Republic
for the further extension of the joint
commission respecting claims. with
the Hawaiian Islands for commercial
reciprocity, and with the Ottoman
Empire for extraditiOn-. sl OF which
have been duly proclaimed.
ALABAMA CLAIMS.
The Court of Commissioners Of
Alabama Claims has prosecuted its
important duties very assiduously
and very satisfactorily. 1t convened
and was orgaaized on the 22d day Of
July, 1874, and by the terms Of the
act under which il was created was
TO exist for one year from that date.
The act provided, however, that
should it be found impracticable to
complete the work of the court before
the expiration of the year, the Presi-
dent nigh, by proclamation, extend
the time Of duration, not 70 exceed
six months beyond the expiration OF
the one year. Having received sat-
isfactory evidence that it would be
impracticable to complete the work
within the time originally fixed, L
issued q proclamation "a copy Of
which is presented herewith }, extend
ing the time of the duration OF the
court for a period of six months from
and after the 22d day Of July last. A
report made through the clerk Of
court communicated herewith shows
the condition of the calendar on the
Let of November last, and the large
amount Of work which has been ac-
compIished. Thirteen hundred and
eighty-two claims have been present
ed, of which six hundred and eighty
two had been disposed of at the date
Of the report. | am informed that
one hundred and seventy cases were
decided during the month Of Novem-
Der. Arguments are being made and
decisions given in the remaining
cases, with all the dispatch consistent
with the present complication OF the
question submitted. Many Of these
claims are in behalf of mariners or
depend on the evidence of mariners,
whose absence has delayed the taking
the necessary evidence. IL ls repre-
sented TO me that it will be Impracti-
cable for the court to finally dispose
Of all the cases before it within the
present limit Of its duration. Justlcs
to the parties claimant, who have
been at large expense in preparing
their claims and obtaining the evl-
dence in their support, suggests
short extension to enable the court
20 dispose Of all Of the claims which
have been presented l recommend
the legislation which may be deemed
proper to enable the court TO COM
Dlete the work before it.
CLAIMS OF ALIENS.
/ recommend that some suitable
provision be made, by the creation
Of special court, or by conferring
the necessary jurisdiction upon some
appropriate tribunal, for the consid-
Grafton and determination of the
claims of aliens against the Govern
ment of the United States which have
arisen in some reasonable time, or
which may hereafter arise, excluding
all claims barred by treaty provisions
or otherwise. It has been found i'm
possible to give proper consideration
to these claims by the Executive De-
partment Of the Government Such
a tribunal would afford an opportu-
nity to aliens other than British sub
jects to present their claims on &C
count ofscts committed against their
persons or property during the re-
bellion, as also those subjects OF
Great Britain whose claims having
arisen subsequently, to the 9Th Of
April, 1865, could not De presented
to the late commission organized
pursuant to the provisions of the
Treaty of Washington.
THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH
has become an essential and indis-
peasable element in the transmission
of business and social messages. Its
operation on land and within the
limit Of particular States is particu-
larly under the control Of the juris-
diction within which it operates
The lines on the high seas, however,
are not subject TO the particular con-
troll of any one government In 1869
a commission was granted BY the
French Government to q company
which proposed to lay = cable from
the shores of France to the United
States. At that time there was a
telegraphic connection between the
United States and the continent Of
Europe, through the possessions OF
Britain at either end Of the line, in
the control of an association which
had at large outlay Of capital and
az great risk demonstrated the przc-
tie2bility of maintaining such means
of communication. The cost Of cor
respondence by this agency was great
..,.,,t,I,- rcs too larrs or the firua for