Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-12-05

cahIo. esc' &c The conclusion hat in some
,nN II .1 -oe Withholding of appropriations
NJ PiSxs an expensive economy, and that
u Wy mail retrenchment secured by a change
~ grSue in certain diplomatic posts is not an
aaoequate consideration for the loss OF in
puence and importance which will attend
our foreign representatives under this reduc-
ton. am of the opinion that re-examina-
ton OF the subject will cause change in
some instances in the conclusions reached on
these subjects at the iast session of Congress.
The court of commissioners OF Alabama
claims, whose functions were continued by
an act OF the last session of Congress, until
the LIST day Of January, 1877, has carried on
Its labors with diligence and general salts
faction. BY report from the CLERK of tn :
court, transmitted herewith, bearing dat !,
November IA. 1876. il appears that within the
time now allowed by law the court will
have disposed of all the claims presented for
adjUd cation. This report also contains a
statement of the general results of the labors
of the court to the date thereof 1t is a cause
of satisfaction that the method adopted for
the satisfaction OF the classes of claims sub
United TO the court. which are of long stand
ing and justly entitled 10 early considera-
ton, should have proved successful and ac-
Ttable.
II is with satisfaction that I am enabled
to statc that the work of the joint commits
sion fOF determining the boundary line be-
tween tn United Stats and British pO sSeS-
SiOps. from the northwest angle of the Lake
OF the Woods to the Rocky Mountains, com
m need i'm 1sI2, has been completed. The
hral agreements of the commissioners, w tn
the maps, have been duly signed. and the
work of the commission is complete.
The fixing of the boundary upon the Pacific
coast by the protocol of March 10, 1873 pur-
Suant TO the award of the Emperor of Ger
many by article XXXIN of the treaty of
Washington with the termination of the
work of this commission adjusts and fixes
the entire boundary between the United
States and the British possessions, except as
to the portion of the territory ceded by Russia
10 the United States under the treaty of
1861. The work entrusted to the commits
sioner and the officers Of the army attached
10 the commission has been well and salts
factOrily performed. The original of the
final agreement OF the commissioners signed
upon the 18th of May, 1876, with the original
List of astronomical stations observed" the
original official List of monuments mark
ing the international boundary line" and the
maps, records and general reports relating to
The commission, have been deposited in the
Department of State. The official report of
the commissioner on the part OF the United
states, with the report of the chiet astronO-
mer of the United States, will be submitted
TO Congress within short time.
i reserve for a separate communication to
Congress statement Of the condition of the
questions which lately arose with Great Brit
ain, respecting the surrender of fugitive
criminals under the treaty of 1912.
The Ottoman government gave notice,
under date of January 10, 1874, of its desire
10 terminate the treaty Of 1862, concerning
commerce and navigation. pursuant to the
provisions of the 22d article thereof. Under
this notice the treaty terminated upon the 5th
day OF June, 1876. That government has in
v1ted negotiations towards the conclusion of
a new treaty.
By the act Of Congress OF March q. 1874, the
President was authorized, when he should
receive satisfactory information that the OF
toman government or that of Egypt had or
ganiZed new tribunals likely 10 secure TO cit
liens of the United States the same impair
tlai Justice enjoyed under the exercise OF
judicial functions by diplomatic and consul
lar officers of the United States, TO suspend
the operation of the act of June % 1860, and
TO accept for citizens of the United States the
OF M no ynxr frfh nnl tfsfa
tory information having been received of the
organization of such new tribunals in Egypt
i caused proclamation to be issued upon
the eth of March last, suspending the opera
ton of the act of June %, 1860, in Egypt ac-
cord1ng TO the provisions OF the act. a copy
OF the proclamation accompanies this mes
sage. The United States has united with the
other powers in the organization of these
courts 1t is hoped that the jurisdictio1al
questions which have arisen may be readily
adjusted, and that this advance in judicial
reform may be hindered by no obstacles.
The nt ces airy legislation TO carry into ef
feet the convention respecting commercial
rc'pioc1ty concluded with the Hawaiian
Islands in ISIS having been had, the procla-
nation TO carry into effect the convention as
provided by the act approved August 10, 1876,
was duly issued upon the 9Th day of Septem-
Der last. A copy thereof accompanies this
message.
The connections which have been preva
lent in Mexico for some time past AMI
which unhappily seem 10 be not yet wholly
Quoted, have led to complaints of citizens
of the United States OF Injuries by perso IS i'm
aH ,m II Is hoped, however, that these
ton OF both governments. The frontier of
the United States in that quarter has not
been exempt from acts Of violence by citi-
zens OF one republic on those of the other
The frequency OF these is supposed TO be
Increased and their adjustment made more
difficult by the considerable changes in the
course OF the lower 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 that river por-
lions OF land which by existing conventions
belong TO the jurisdiction of the government
on the opposite side of the river. The sub
lect OF adjustment of this cause of difficulty
is under consideration between the two re-
publics.
The government of the United States of
colombia has paid the award in the case of
the steamer MontijO, seized by authorities of
that government some years since. and the
amount has been transferred TO the claim
ants.
nounce that the joint commission for the ad-
justment OF claims between the United States
and Mexico, under the convention of 1868,
the duration OF which has 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 trans
United herewith IL will be seen that within
the time limited by the commission, one
thousand and seventeen claims on the part
of citizens of the United States against Mex
leo, were referred to the commission. OF
these claims eight hundred and thirty-one
were dismissed or disallowed, and i'm one
hundred and eighty-six cases awards were
made In favor OF the claimants against the
Mexican Republic, amounting in the aggre-
gate to four million one hundred and twe.l-
ty-hve thousand, six hundred and twenty
two dollars and twenty cents. Within the
same period nine hundred and ninety-eight
claims on the part of citizens of the Mexican
Republic against the United States were re-
ferred to the commission. OF these claims
eight hundred and thirty-one were dismissed
or disallowed, and i'm one hundred and six
ty-seven cases awards were made in favor
of the claimants against the United States,
amounting in the aggregate TO one Hundred
and fifty thousand, four hundred and ninety
eight dollars and fOrty-One cents.
By the terms of the convention the amount
OF these awards is to be deducted from the
amount awarded in favor of our citizens
against Mexico, and the balance only to be
paid by Mexico TO the United States, leaving
the United states TO make provision for this
proportion Of the awards in favor of its own
citizens.
/ invite your attention to the legislation
which will be necessary TO provide for the
payment. In this connection am pleased
10 be able to express the ACCOMPLISHMENTS
due to Sir Edward Thornton, the umpire of
the commission, who has given to the consid-
Grafton OF the large number of claims sub
mitted tohim much time, unwearied patience
and that fairness and intelligence which are
well known to belong to the accomplished
representative of Great Britain, and which
are likewise recognized by the renroSo pfativa