Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-07

States and Mexico of the Attn July, Isss, on
the subject OF claims will soon be brought 20
close. The result of those proceedings will
| then be communicated to Congress-
am happy TO announce that the govern
ment Of Nene.nela has, upon further consid-
| 10 pay TO the United States that share of its
| revenue which some years since il allotted
towarus .ne extlnggulshment OF the claims OF
| It's determination, that government has
| shown just sense of self respect which can
not fail 10 reflect credit upon 1t in the eyes Of
| all disinterested persons elsewhere. tits 10
! beregretted, however, that Its payments on
| account of claims OF citizens or the United
| States are still so meagre in amount and
| that the stipulations of the treaty in regard
to the sums TO be paid, and the periods when
those payments were TO take place should
| have been so signally isregarded.
| Since my last annual message the ex-
| charge has been made of the ratification of
| treaty of commerce and navigation with
| Belgium; and OF conventions with the Mex
! lean Republic for the frrther extension OF
! The Joint commission respecting claims; with
| the Hawaiian Islands for CO nmercial reel
| extradition, all of which have been duly pro-
/ claimed.
| The Court of Commissioners OF Alabama
| claims has prosecuted its important duties
| very assiduOusly and very satisfactorily. 1t
| convened and was organized on the I'D day
OF July, 1874, and by the terms OF the act
under which IL vas creatCf was 10 exist for
one year from that date. The act provided,
| however, that should il be found impracti-
cable 10 complete the work of the court be-
| fore the expiration OF the year, the
President might, by proclamation, eX-
tend the time of its duration 10 a
period not more than six months beyond the
expiration OF the one year. Having received
| satisfactory evidence that ii would be i'm
| practicable TO complete the work within the
Time originally hTed, 1 issued proclama-
ton copy of which Is presented herewith
| extending the time of duration of the court
Tor period OF six months from and after the
| 22d day of July last. A report made through
the clerk of the court (cOpn uiPQfni hpra-
| With shows the condition of the calendar on
| the LIST Of November last, and the large
amount of work which has been accom-
| plished. Thirteen hundred and eighty-two
claims have been presented, of which > had
| been disposed OF at the date of the report.
| am informed that 40 cases were decided dug
ing the month of November. Arguments
are being made and decisions given in the
| remaining cases with all the dispatch con
sistent with the proper consideration of the
| questions submitted. Many of these claims
are in behalf of mariners or depend on the
evidence of mariners, whose absence has de-
layed the taking or the return OF the neces-
Sary evidence. II is represented TO me that
IL will be impracticabie for the csurt 70
finally dispose of all the cases before il within
the present limit OF its duration. Justice 10
the parties claimant, who have been az large
expense in preparing their claims and Ob.
tanning the evidence in their support, sug-
gests short extension, TO enable the court to
dispose OF all or the claims which have been
presented. recommend the legislation
which may be deemed proper To enable the
T.
recommend that sonre suitable provision
be maize by the creation of a special court OF
by COME rring the Necessary jurisdiction
upon some appropriate tribunal for the con-
s1deration and determination OF the claims
OF aliens against the government OF the
United states WHICH have arisen within
some reasonable limitation OF time. or which
may hereafter arise, excluding all claims
barred by treaty provisions or otherwise. 1t
has been found Impossible to give proper
consideration TO these claims by the execu-
dc RI nf "a
tribunal would afford an opportunity to
aliens, other than British subjects, to pre-
sent their claims on account OF acts cQmp it.
yea against their persons or property daring
the rebellion; as also TO t.i0Se subjects OF
Great Britain whose claims having arisen
subsequent to the 9Th day Of April, 1865, could
not be presented 10 the late commission or
ganlZed pursuant to the provisions OF the
Treaty of Washington.
The electric telegraph has become au eS-
SentlaI and indispensable agent in the trans
mission OF business and social mes ages. Its
operation on land and within the limit OF
particular states is necessarily under the
control of the jurisdiction within which il
operates. The lines on the high seas. how
ever, are not subject to the particular control
OF any one government. In 1869, a concession
was granted by the French government to =
company which proposed to lay a cable from
the shores of France to the United States.
AT that time there was Geographic connec-
ton between the United States and the Con-
ttnent OF Europe, (thlough the possessions Of
Great Britain at either end of the lineD uu-
der the control of an association which had
at large outlay Of capital, and at great risk,
demonstrated the practicability OF rnain-
tairlng such means OF communication.
The cost OF correspondence OF this agency
was great, possibly not too large at the time
for proper remuneration for so hazardous
and SO costly an enterprise. 1t was, how
ever, a heavy charge upon means of COM
munication which the progress in the Gocial
and commercial intercourse OF the world
found to be a necessity, and the obtaining
OF this French concession showed that other
fhn oil
ready to enter into competition with assur-
ance or adequate return for their outlay.
Impressed with the conviction that the in
terests not only of the people OF the United
States, but, OF the world at large demanded,
or would demand the multiplication OF such
means OF communication between sepe-
rated continents, / was DESTROYS that
the proposed connection should be made,
but certain provisions of this concession
ticularly one which gave for a long term OF
years the exclusive right OF telegrapiic COM
mUnication by submarine coble between the
shores of France and the United States.
could not cOncede that any power should
claim the right to land a cable on the shores
OF the United States, and at the same time
deny 10 the United States or to its citizens
or grantees an equal right TO land cable on
us shores. The right TO control the condi-
lions for the laying OF cable within the
Jurisdictional waters OF the United States 10
connect our shores with those of any
foreign states, pertains exclusively 10
the government of the United States
as Congress may impose. ia the absence OF
legislation by Congress was unwilling on the
one hand to yield to foreign state the right 70
say that its grantees might land o n our shores
while II denied similar right TO our people 70 |
land on its shores, and on the other hand was
reluctant TO deny to the great interests of the |
world and OF civilization the facilities Of such
communication as were proposed 1 therefore /
withheld any resistance TO the landing OF the |
cable on condition that the offensive m1ropoly |
feature OF the concession be abandoned, aud /
tnat the right OF any cable which nav be es-
tablished by authority of this government to /
land upon French territory and TO connect with |
French land lines, aud enjoy all the ueces-
sary facilities or privileges incident 20 /
The use thereof upon as favorable TENS as |
any other company, be conceded. As the re-
suit thereof, the company in question re-
nounced the exclusive privilege, and the |
representative OF France was informed that,
understanding this REIMBURSEMENT 10 be /
construed as granting the entire reciprocity |
and equal facilities which had been demand |
ed, the opposition to the landing OF the cable |
was WITHDRAWN. The cable, under this
French concession, was landed in the month
or July, 1869, and has been an efficient and /
valuable agent OF communication between