Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-12-09

On Of these courts. II is hoped the juris
k;cl.nnal questions which have arisen ma,
az duly adjusted, and that this may b,
1iHdcr,d by no obstacles.
TIE HAWAIIAN RECIPROCITY TREATY.
The necessary legislation to cary int,
riicct the convention of commercial rccip
fsciiy concluded with the Hawaiian Isl
nnds in 1910 having been had, a prYclama
ton to carry it into effect. rs provided by
he act approved August Is, 1876 was
tluly issued upon Tuesday, September
Both \ copy thereof accompanies this
message.
MEXICAN BORDER TROUBLES.
The connections which have been pre-,
Ealent in Mexico for some time past, and
which unhappily seem to be not yet whcl
/ ly quiet, have led to complaint of citi-
zens of the United States of injuries by
persons in authority. 1t is hoped, how.
ever, that these will ultimately be adjust
I'd to the satisfaction of both governments
The frontier of the United States in that
quarter has shown examples of acts of vi.
|0lence by citizens of one Republic upon
those of the other. The frequency of
fthese is supposed to be increased and their
| adjustment made more difficult by con-
| siderable changes in the course of the low
cr part of the Rio Grande River. which
river is a part of the boundary between
The two countries. These changes have
placed on either side of tie river portions
of land which by existing conventions be-
long to the jurisdiction of the government
pn the opposite side of the river The
subject of adjustment of this cause of
difficulty is under consideration between
the two Republics.
THE COLOMBIAN INDEMNITY
The government of the United States of
columbia has paid the award in the case
a f the steamer Montejo, seized by the au
thorities of that government some years
since, and the amount has been trans
ferrcd to the claimants.
MEXICAN CLAIMS COMMISSIONER.
1t is with satisfaction that am able to
announce that the joint commission for
HE adjustment of claims between the Unit
ed States and Mexico, under convention of
lSG9, the duration Of which has been sew
eral times extended, has brought its labOrs
to close. From the report of the United
States commissioners which accompanies
he papers transmitted herewith, it will be
Been that within the time limited by the
OhC thOuStuu SCNCHtCCIl
claims on the part of citizens of the Unit
ed States against Mexico, were referred to
4he commissioners. OF these claims eight
hundred and thirty-one were dismissed or
hisallowed, and in one hundred and
Icighty-six cases awards were made in ia
IvOr of the claimants, against the Mexican
Republic. amounting in the aggregate to
81 125, G22 20. Within the same period
tnine hundred and ninety-eight claims on
the part of citizens of the Mexican Repub-
Bic against the United States were referred
to the commissioners. Of these claims
blight hundred and thrty-one were dis
missed and disallOwed, and in one hun
3lred and fifty-seven cases awards were
made in favor of claimants against the
United States, amounting in the aggregate
ITO $3.50, 1884 BY the terms of the con-
|ventiOn the amount of these awards is to
be deducted from the amount awarded in
favor of our citizens invite your attcn-
ton to the legislation which viii lie ncces-
sary to provide for the payment.
In this connection | am pleased to be
able to express the Acknowledgements due
to Sir Edward Thornton, the umpire of
the commission, who has given to the
consideration of the large number of
claims submitted to him much time, un-
|wearied patience, and that tirmness and
intelligence which are we'll known to be-
Hong to the accomplished representative
|Of Great Britain, and which are likewise
recognized by the representative in this
country and the Republic of Mexico.
TIE VENEZUELA CLAIMS
Monthly payments of very small part
TOf the amount due by the government of
Venezuela to citizens of the United States
on account of claims of the latter against
that government continues to be made
with reasonable punctuality. That gov
'ernment has proposed to change the system
which it has hitherto pursued in this re-
spect, by issuing bonds for part of the
amount of the several claims. The prop
Osition, however, could not, it is said,
properly be accepted, at least without the
consent of the holders of certificates of
Indebtedness of Venezuela. These are so
much depressed that it would be difficult
|if not impossible to ascertain the DISPOSE
|tion of the subject.
THE NATURALIZATION LAWS
In former messages l have called atten-
ton of Congress to the necessity of legisla-
ton with regard to fraudulent naturaliza-
tion, and to the subject of repatriation,
and election of nationality. The number
Iof persons of foreign birth seeking a home
|in the United States, and the ease and fl
|delity with which the honest emigrant
|may, after the lapse of reasonable time,
become possessed of all the privileges of
of the United States and the
frequent occasion which induce such
adopted citizens to return to the country
of their birth, render the subject of natur.
alization and the safe guards which expert
ence has proved necessary for the protection
of the honest naturaliZed citizen of para.
mount importance. The very simplicity
in the requirements of law on this Ques-
ton afford uniformity in the proceedings
and records of the various courts. and in
the forms of the certificate of naturaliza.
tion issued, afford a constant source of diff
1iculty. l suggest no additional require
ments to the acquisition of citizenship be-
You'd those now existing; but l invite
the earnest attention of Congress to
the necessity and wisdom Of some
provision regarding uniformity in the rec
ords and certificates, and providing against
the frauds which frequently take place
and for the vacating of the record of nat
uralization obtained in fraud. These pro-
visions are needed in aid and for the
protection of honest citizens Of foreign
birth. For want of this he is made to
suffer not unfrequently. The United
States has insisted upon the right Of ex.
patriation, and has obtained, after long
struggle, an admission of the principle
contended for by acquieseence therein on
the part Of many foreign powers and by the
conclusion treaties on that subject. It is
however, but justice to the government to
which such naturalized citizens have for
merly owed allegiance, as well as to the
That certain fixed and definite rules should
nc adopted governing such cases, provid-
Ing how repatriation may be accom-.
plished. While emigrants in large num-
oers become citizens Of the United States,
IL also is true that persons, both native
born and naturalized, once citizens of the
United States, either by formal acts or as
the effect of series of facts and circum-
.has