New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-08
WORK DAILY TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER iS5-TRpLE SHEET


revenue and cheating honest commercial enterprise
Depredations by armed bands from Mexico on tho
people of Texas the frontier continue, though
tho main object Of the incursions IL rob-
berry, they frequently result in the murder
of unarmed and peaceaby disposed persons, and IN
some instances even the United States Post-Oihces
and mail communications have been attacked. ke-
ncwod circumstances on this subject have been adj
dressed TO the Mexican Government, but without
much apparent effect. The military force Of TINS
Government disposablc for service in that quarter IL
quito inadequate to eoctuay guard the line oven Mt
those points where tho incursions are usually
made. An experiment of an armed vessel on the Ri0
Grande for that purpose Is on trial. ana IL is hoped
that If not thwarted by the shaownesS OF inc rlVer
and other natural obstacles, it may materially con-
tribute to the protection of the berdsmen OF Texas.
The proceedings of the Joint Commission, under the
Convention between the United States and Mexico.
of the 4th of july 1868. on tho subject OF CLAIMS
will soon DO brought 10 close. The result OF those
proceedings will then be communicated to Congress:
| am happy to announce that the Government OF
Venezuela has upon further consideration practi,
caly abandoned its objection to pay to the UNITED
States that share OF its revenue which some years
since it allotted toward the eAtlngulshment OF the
claims of foreigners generally. In thus reconsider
ing its determination, that Government has shown
just of selrespect which cannot fa to reflect
credit upon il III the eyes OF all dslnterested persons
elsewhere 1t is to be regretted, however, that ltS
payments account of claims OF citizens OF the
United states are still meager III amount, ana
that the stipulaions of the treaty in regard to the
sums to be paid and the periods when those pay
ments were To take place should havo Deeh 80 SLY
Dally dlsTegarded.
Since my last annual message tho exchange has
been made of the ratification of treaty OF com
merce and navigation with Belgium, and OF conVei-
tons with the Mexican Republic for the further OK
tension of the joint commission respecting CLAIMS;
with the Hawaiian Islands for commercial reciproc-
ity and with the Ottoman Empire for eXtradltlon,
all of which have been duly proclaimed
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS COURT
The Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims
has prosecuted its important duties very asslduousy
and very satisfactorily. 1t convened and was organ
lied on the 22d 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 provided how
ever that should it be found mpracticable to COM
pleie the work Of tho court before the expiration OF
the year the President might by proclamation ex-
tend the time of it's duration to period not more
than six months beyond the expiration of the one
year. Having received satisfactory evidence that it
would be impractcable to complete the work within
the time originally fixed | issued proclamation Ia
cony of which is presented herewith extending tho
time of duration of the court for period of SIX
months from and after the Odd day of July last.
Alreport made through the Clerk of tho Court com
municated herewith shows the condition of the cal
endar on the 1st of November last, and the large
amount of work which has been accomplished.
Thirteen hundred and eighty-two claims have been
presented Of which GS2 had been disposed of at the
date of The report l am informed that TO cases
were decided during tho month of November. Ar
ruments are being made and decisions given in the
remaining cases with all the dispatch consistent
with the proper consideration Of the.questions sub
mtted. Many of these claims are in behalf OF mar
iucrs or depend on the evidence OF mariners whose
has pd lg
of the necessary evidence. 1t IL represented
to that it will be npracticable to the Court o
finally dispose of all the cases before IL WITHIN the
present limit Of its duration. Justice 10 he parties
claimant. who have been at large expense IN prepar-
ing their claims and obtaining the evidence III their
support, suggest short extension 10 enaDle ule
Cont TO dispose of all of the claims which have been
presented. ! recommend the legislation which may
be deemed proper TO enable the Court 10 com
plcte the work before 1t. j recommend that
some suitable provision be made, by tho
creation of court or by comforting tho
necessary jurisdiction upon some appropriate ulc
buna for the consideration and determination OF
the claims of aliens against the Government OF the
United States which have arisen WITHIN some rea-
sonabe limitation of time, which may hereafter
arise excluding all Claims barred by treaty pro-
visions or OF herwise. IL has been found Impossible
to give proper consideration b. these claims by the
Executive Department of the Government. Sncn a
tribunal wOud afford an opportunity to aliens, other
than British subjects to present their CLAIMS on ac-
count of acts committed against their persons or
property during the Rebellion, as also To those SUD
iccts Of Great britain whose claims having arisen,
subsequent to the 9th day OF April, 1850, could not
he presented to the late Commission, oganiZed plr-
suant 10 the provisions of the Treaty vi asilhBtOn
OCEAN TELEGRAPns.
The electric telegraph has become essential and
INDISPENSABLE agent in the transmission of business
and social messages. It's operations on land and
WITHIN the limit Of particular States is necessarily
under the control OF the jurisdiction within which
il operates The lines on tho high seas, however,
are not subject to tho particular control If any one
Government. IN 1869 a concession was granted by
the French Government 10 n company which pro-
posed to lay cable from the shores OF France 10 the
United States. At that time there was Geographic
connection between the United states and tine couti-
neut OF Europe through the possessions of
Great Britain Mt either end OF the Ine).
ander the control # an association which had at
large outlay of capital and at great risk demon
stracd the practcability Of maintaining such means
Of communication. The cost of correspondence by
ths agency was great possibly not too largo At The
time for proper remuneration Tor so hazardous ana
so costly an enterprise IL was. however, a heavy
charge upon a means of communication which tAe
progress in the social and commercial intercourse Of
The world found to be necessity and the obtaining
OF this French concession showed that other capital
than that already invested was ready to enter
into competition with assurance Of adequate
return for their outlay Impressed with the convic-
ton that the interests not only of the people Of the
United States but Of the world ut large demanded
or would demand the multiplication of such means
Of communication between separated continents,
was DESTROYS that tho proposed connection
should be made, but certain provisions of this con
cesson were deemed by mo to be Objectionable, par
tieuarly one which gave for long tenn OF years the
exclusive right of telcgrapbc communication by sub
marine cable between the shores Of France and the
United States. | could not concede that any power
should claim the right to land cable the shores OF
the United States and at the same time deny to the
United States or TO its citizens, equal right to