Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1882-12-04

prOval OF other nations.
About year since invitations were ex.
tended to the nations of this continentt to
send representatives to peace congress
to assemble at Washington in November.
1892. The time Of the meeting was fixed
at q period then remote, in the hope,
as the invitation itself declared, that in.
the meantime the disturbances between
the South American republics would be
adjusted. Az, that expectation seemed
unlikely to b. erealized; ;sI~asked in April
last for an expression Of opinion from
the the two houses OF congress as to the
advisability of holding the proposed cone
vention at the time appointed. This ac-
tion was prompted in part by doubts
which mature reflection had suggested. ;.
whether diplomatioSnSage and traditions
Of the government did not make it fitting
that the executive should consult the
representatives of the people before pur-
!snlngis line of policy sonnq1het, t,pOvel fp
,its character and far reaching,ip p, its pos.
.sible consequences. In view OF the fact
that no action was taken by congress in
the premises, and that no pro-
vision had been made for
necessary expenses: subsequently de-
cided to postpone the convention. and so
notified the several governments which
had been invited to'attend. am unwill.
ing to dismiss this subject without as
suring you of my support Of any meas
ure the wisdom Of congress may devise
for the promotion of peace on this con-
-tinent and throughout the world; and I
trust that the time is nigh, when, with
the universal consent of the civilized
people, all international differences can
be determined without resort to arms, by
the benignant processes Of arbitration.
Changes have occurred in the diplo-
matte representation of several foreign
powers during the past year. New
ministers from the Argentine,
representatives of Austria, Hungary,
Brazil, Chill, China, Faance, Japan, Mex
leo, Netherland and Russia have present.
ed their credentials. The missions of
Denmark and Venezuela at this capital
have been raised in grade. Switzerland
has created plenipotentiary mission to
this government and an embassy from
Madagascar and q minister from Siam
will shortly arrive. Our diplomatic in
tercourse has been enlarged by the es.
Of; relations with the new
kingdom of Servia by the creation of a
mission to Siam and by the restoration
of the mission to Greece. The shah of
Persia has expressed his qualification
that charge de affaires will shortly be
sent to that country, where the rights of
our citizens have been hitherto court
eously guarded by the representatives of
Great Britain.
legislation as will place the United States
n ho xu1kE ~
with respect to the international rules
for the prevention Of collisions at sea
In conformity with the joint resolution
of the Sd of August last, / have directed
the secretary of state to address foreign
governments in respect to proposed
conference for considering the subject o.
the universal adoption Of a common me.
dium to be used in reckoning longitude
and in the regulation of time through
out the civilized world. Their replies
will, in due time, be laid before you
A clause in the act making appropria.
tions for the diplomatic and consular ser,
vice contemplates the reorganization of
both branches of such service on sala-
ried basis, leaving fees to inure to the
benefit of the treasury. Icordially favor
such project ns likely to correct abuses
in the present service. The secretary of
state will present to you at an early day
plan for such reorganization. A full
and interesting exhibit of the operations
Of the treasury department is afforded
by the report Of the secretary
NATIONAL REVENUE.
1t appears that the ordinary revenues
from all sources, for the fiscal year ended
June 10th, 1882, were as follows:
Customs. $22o, ,421, $780,
Internal revenue. e.............. 146, ,4s7, ,5e54
Sale of public land: :..........:. 4,753, 1906
Tax on circulation and depostsin
national banks ................ 1856. 1914
Repayment of interest by Pacific
| railway companies. ....:..... si0,55l.S
Sinking fund for Pacific railway
companies ..................... 7a6,27l.4
Customs fees. fines, penalties &c. 1884 5000