The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-12-14

economy in the foreign service as in other branohe,
that in some instances the Withholding OF snnrnn,o
tions will prove
AN EXPENSIVE EcoSoMY,
and that the small retrenchment secpred bv
change or grade in certain diplomatic posts Is not
an adequate consideration for tho loss Of influence
ana importance which will attend our foreign repre.
sentatves under this reduction. | am of the onnon
that re-examination of the subject will oause
change in instances in the conclusions reached
on these SUBJECTS at the last session of Congress
THE COURT OF COMMISSIONERS
OF Alabama claims, whose functions were con.
unued by an act of the last session of Congress un.
I'll the first day OF January, 1871 has carried on It's
abors with diligence aud general satisfaction By
with, bearing date November IL 1870 Il nppenrs
that thin the time now allowed by law the court
viii have disposed OF all the claims presented
Tor adjudication. This report also contains
statement OF the general result Of the lnbors
of the court to date thereof. 1t is cause Of salts
faction TO know that the method adopted fot tho
satisfaction of the classes of claims submitted 10
the court, which are OF long standing and Justly en-
titled to early consideration, should have proved
successful and acceptable. 1t is with satisfaction
that am enabled to state that the work OF the Joint
commission for determining the boundary line be-
tween the United States aud British possess sions
irem the northwest angle of tho Lake OF the Woods
to the Rocky mountains, commenced in 1871. has
been COMPLETED The final agreements OF tho eon,-
missoners with the maps, have been duly signed,
ana the work OF the commiss Il Is complete. The
fixing OF the
BOUNDARY UPoS THE PACIFIC COAST
by the protocol of March 10, 1873, pursuant to the
eWarq OF the Emperor OF Germany by article
nation of the work of this commission, adjusts and
fixes the entire boundary between the United States
and the British possessions, except the portion of
territory ceded by Russia TO the United states under
the treaty OF 1861 The work intrusted to the COM
missoners and the officers of the ARM attached 10
the commission has been well and satisfactorily
performed The original of the final agreement OF
the commissioners, signed upon the twenty-ninth
OF May, 1876, with the original list of astronomical
stations Observed the original official "list of
monuments marking the international boundary
me, ana the maps records and general reports
lating to the commission, have been deposited In the
department OF State. The official report of the
commissioners ON the part of the United States,
with the report of the chief astronomer of the
United States, will be submitted to Congress within
short time.
THE ExTRApITIoN TREATY WITH ENGLAND
reserve for separate communication TO Con.
gress statement Of the condition Of the questions
which lately arose with Great Britain, respecting
the surrender Of fugitive criminals under the treaty
of 1912.
FOREIGN TREATIES.
The Ottoman government gave notice under date
OF January Is, l574, of its desire to terminate the
treaty OF 1862 concerning commerce and navigation
pursuant to the provisions of the twenty-second
article thereof Under this notice the treaty termi-
ted upon the fifth day of June, 1876. That gov.
ernment has invited negotiations toward the con-
cusion of new treaty. by the act of Congress of
March %, 1874 the President authorized when
he should receive satisfactory Information that the
Ottoman government, or that Of Egypt had organ
lied tribunals likely TO secure TO itizens of tbe
United States the same impartial justice enjoyed
under the exercise of judicial functions by dipo.
matte and consular officers of the United States, to
suspend the operation of the act OF June a. 1860.
and to accept for citizens Of the United States the
lurs s1iction OF the new tribunals. Satisfactory in
formation having been received OF the organization
OF such new tribunals in Egypt, caused procla-
nation to be issued on the twenty-seventh of March
last suspendlng the operation OF the act of June a.
1870, in Egypt, according to the provisions of the
act. copy of the proclamation accompanies this
message. The United States has united with the
other powers in the organization of these courts II
is hoped that jurisdictional questions which have
arisen may be readily adjus' ed and that this ad-
vance in Judicial reform may be hindered by no
obstacles.
The necessary legisR to carry into effect the
convention respecting commercial reciprocity con-
cluded with
THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
in 1875 having been had the proclamation 10 carry
into effect the convention, as provided by the act
approved August 49, 1875, duly issued upon the
ninth day OF September last. copy thereof accom-
panies this mess Ige The commotions which have
been prevalent in Mexico for some time past, aud
which, unhapply, seem to be not yet wholly quiet
ed, have led to complaints of citizens of the United
Safes Of injuries by persons in authority 1t is
hoped, however that these will ultimately be ad-
1usted To the satisfaction Of bJth governments. The
FRONTIER OF THE UNITED STATES
Iii that quarter has not been exempt from acts of
violence by citizens OF republic on those of the
other The frequency of these Is supposed to be in
creased ana their adjustment made more difScnit
by the considerable changes in the course Of the
Rio Grande river which river is part Of the boun-
Diary betw cen the two countries. These changes
have placed either side of that river portions of
land which by existing conventions belong to the
jurisdiction Of the government the opposite side
OF the river. The subject Of adjustment of this
cause or dlfhculty Is under consideration between
the two republics.
The government of the Cnted States of Columbia
has paid the award in the of the steamer Mon.
tito, seized by authorities of that government some
years SINCE and the amount has been transferred to
the claimants.
NpxrCIS cr ANA
1t is with satisfaction that am able 10 announce
that the joint commission for the adjustment of
claims between the United States and Mexico under
the convention of 1885,. the duration of which las
been several times extended has brought its labors
to a close.
From the report of the agent Of the United States
which accompanies the papers transmitted here
with it will he that within the time limited by
the commission oae thousand aud seventeen claims
ON the part of the citizens Of the United States
against Mexico were referred to the commission
OF these claims eight hundred and thrty-one
We're dismissed or disallowed, and in one hundred
and eigh,y y-sX cases awards made in favor of
the claimants against the Mexican republic amounts
ing III the aggregate TO Sil25,G2l.2C. Within the
same period nine hundred and uinety-eioht claims
on the part OF citizens of the Mexican republic
against the Unite States were referred to the COM
mission. or these claims eight hundred and thirty
one were dismissed or disalowed, and in one hun
dred and siXty-seyen cases awards were made In
tavor OF the claimants against the United States,
amounting in tho aggregate TO one hundred and
fifty thousand four hundred and nlety-eight
dollars aud forty-cne cents
Montny payments OF q very small part of the
amount due by the government of Venezuela to
citizens OF the United States account of claims OF
the latter against that government continue TO be
made with reasonable punctuality.
FRAUDULENT NATURALIZATION.
In former messages have called the attention of
congress 10 the nee ssy of legislation with regard
TO fraudulent naturalization, and to the subject of
expatriation and the elect on of nationality The
numbers OF persons of foreign birth seeking home
IN the United States, the and facility with
when tne honest IMMIGRANT may, after the lapse of
leges OF citizenship of the United States and the
frequent occasions which induce such adopted citi-
zens to return to the count of their BIRTH render
the subject of naturalization and the Safeguards
which experience has proved necessary for the pro
1ecuon OF the honest naturalized citizen Of para
mount importance. The very simplicity in the
requirements of law this question afford oppor-
tunlty for fraud, and the want Of uniformity In the
proceedings and records OF the various courts and
!u the forms OF the certificates of naturalization
lssued AFFORD u constant source of difficulty I
suggest no additional requirements to the acauisi-
ton OF citizenship beyond those now existing but
invite the earnest attention of Congress to the nece
slty ana wisdom OF some provisions regarding uni
formlty in the records and certificates and proyid
ing against the frauds which frequently take Mace
and Tor the yacating of record of naturnlizatio,,
obtained in fraud. These provisions are needed i'm
ana and for the protection of the honest citizen of
foreign BIRTH and for the want of which he is moda
TO suffer not infrequently. The United States has
insisted upon the right of expatriation. and has
obtained, after long struggle admission of III
principle contended for by acquie, therein on
the part of many foreign powers and by the conclu
sion of treaties on that subject. 1t is however, but
justice to the government to which such naturaiized
citizens have formerly owed allegiance as well as 10
the United States, that certain fixed and definite
rules should be adopted governing such cases. and
providing now e1patration may be Accomplished
While immigrants in large numbers become citizens
OF the United States, it is also true that persons