Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-12-14


distinctvely American field of achievement
have won several awards, l recommend that
congress provide for the repayment of the per-
sonal expenses incurred in the public interest
by the honorary commissioners and delegates.
INTER-OCEANIC CANAL.
The questions growing out of the proposed
inter-oceanic waterway across the Isthmus of
Panama are OF grave national importance.
This government has not been unmindful of
the solemn obligations imposed upon it by its
compact of 1916 with Colombia as the indie
pendent and sovereign mistress of the territory
crossed by the canal, and has sought to render
them effective by fresh engagements with the
Colombian republic looking to their practical
execution. The negotiations to this end after
they had reached what appeared to be mutu-
ally satisfactory solution here were met
in Colombia by disavowal of the powers
which its envoy had assumed and by proposal
fer negotiation On a modified basis. Mean
while this government learned that Colombia
had proposed to the European powers to join in
a guarantee of the neutrality of the proposed
Panama Canal, guarantee which would be an
indirect cOntraventon of our obligation as the
sole guarantee of the integrity of Colombian
territory, and of the neutrality of the canal it
self. My lamented predecessor felt it his duty
to place before the European powers the rea-
sons which make the prior guarantee of the
United States indispensable and for which the
intersection of any foreign guarantee might be
regarded as a supertluous and unfriendly act
THE CLAYToN-BULwER TREATY.
Foreseeing the probable reliance of the Brit
lsh government in the provisions of the Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty of 1850 as affording room
for share III the guarantees which the United
States covenanted with Colombia four years
before, have not hesitated to supplement the
action Of my predecessor by proposing to her
majesty's government the modification of that
instrument and the abrogation of such clauses
thereof as do not comport with the obligations
of the United States toward Colombia or with
the vital needs of the two friendly parties to
the compact.
GENEVA PEACE CONVENTION
At its last extra session the senate called for
the text of the Geneva convention for the re-
lief of the wounded in war. L trust that this
action foreshadows such interest in the sub
ject as will result in the admission to that hui
name and cOmmendable engagement.
TRADE STATISTICS.
The state department still continues to pub
lish to the country the trade and manufacture
ing reports received from its officers abroad.
The success of this course warrants its continu-
ance and such appropriation as may be required
to meet the rapidly increasing demand for these
publications. With special reference to the
Atlanta cotton exposition the October number
of the reports was devoted to a valuable col
lection of papers on the cotton goods trade of
the world. The international conference
for which the congress of 1878 made provision
assembled in this city in January last and its
| sessions were prolonged until March. Although
it reached no specific conclusions affecting the
future action of the participant powers, the in
terchange of views proved to be most valuable.
The full protocols of the sessions have been al
| ready presented to the senate.
COLLISIONS ON THE HIGH SEAS.
1 invite your attention to the propriety of
adopting the code of international rules
for the prevention of collisions on the high
| seas. and of conforming the domestic legisla-
ton of the United States thereto, SO that no
| confusion may arise from the application of
conflicting rules in the case of vessels of differ
ent nationalities meeting in tidal waters. These
international rules differ but slightly from ours.
| They have been adopted by the navy depart
ment for the government of the war ships OF
| the United States on the high seas and in for
eign waters, and through the action of the state
| department in disseminating the rules, and in
acquainting the ship masters with the option of
| conforming to them without the jurisdictional
| waters of the United States, they are now very
generally known and obeyed.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
| As pertinent to this general SUBJECT 1 call your
attention to the operations of the national
| board of health established by act of congress
approved March 8, 1879. Its sphere of duty
| was enlarged by the act of June q in the same
| year. By the last named act the board was re-
| quired to institute such measures as might
| be deemed necessary for prevent
| ing the introduction of contagious
or infectious diseases from foreign countries
| into the United States or from one state into
| another. The execution of the rules and regu-
| lations prepared by the board and approved by
| my predecessor, has done much to arrest the
| progress of epidemic disease and has thus rem
| dered substantial service to the nation. The
| international sanitary conference to which
| have referred adopted form of a
| bill of health, to be used by all YES
| sells seeking to enter the ports of the
| countries whose representatives participated in
| the deliberations. This form has been pre-
| served by the national board Of health and in
corporated with its rules and regulations, which
have been approved by me in pursuance of law.
| The health of the people is of supreme impor-
| lance, and all measures looking to their preser-
| diseases, and to the increase of our sanitary
knowledge for such purposes, deserve the at
| tention of congress.
| The report Of the secretary Of the treasury
| represents in detail highly satisfactory exhibit
| of the state of our finances and the condition
of the various branches of the public service
administered by that department.. The ordin-
airy revenues from all sources for the fiscal year
ending June 10, 1881, were from CUSTOMS $685.
| 1896; from internal revenue, $135, 264,
| 3S5: from public lands, 1922, 1861
from tax on circulation and de-
posts of national banks, 1911, Gil ,572;
from the payment of interest by the Pacific
Railway Companies, 1910, 1880; from sinking
| fund for Pacific Railway Companies, $685.
1904; from customs fees, fines, penalties, ETC.,
1922, 551, 486; from fees, consular letters, pat
ents and lands, 500, 244, 948. SO; from proceeds
of sales of government property, 1926, 217, 400;
from profits on coinage, So, 468, 1851; from
revenues Of the District of Columbia, $2,016,-
1923; from miscellaneous sources, $6,206,-
890.13; total ordinary receipts, $3.50, 782,297.
The ordinary expenditures for the same
period were: For civil expenses, $17, 941, 177,
10; for foreign intercourse, $109, 395, 1872; for
Indians, Sc. 3d. ISL. %; for pensions, $50, O5O,
279.62; for the military establishment including
river and harbor Improvement and arsenals,
$40, 465, 465 55; for the naval establish
ment, vessels; machinery in improvement at
navy yards, $15, $50, 67l.66; for miscellaneous
expenditures, including public buildings, light
houses and collecting the revenue, $41, 1897, $40;
for expenditures on account of the District of
Columbia So, 543, 912; for interest on the public
debt, Ss2, 5os "a; for premium on bonds pur-
penditures, $3.50, 1897, leaving sur