Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-12-13

any encroachment on their rights.
CHINA AND JAPAN.
China by the payment of money indem-
nifty has settled certain of the long pend
ing claims of our citizens and have strong
hopes that the remainder will soon he ad-
justed. Questions have arisen concerning
using the right of American and other
foreign manufacturers in China under the
provisions of treaties which permit aliens
to exercise their industries in that country
On this specific point our own treaty is ST.
lent. but under the operation of the most
favored nation clause we have like privileg-
es with those of other powers, but while it
is the duty of the government to see that
our citizens have the full enjoyment Of ev-
cry benefit secured by treaty, doubt the
expediency of leading in movement to
constrain China to admit an Interpretation
which we have only an indirect treaty right
to exact.
The transicrence to China of American
capital for the employment there of Chi
nese labor would in effect inaugurate a com
pact for the control of the markets now sup
piled BY our home industries There is
good reason to believe that the law restrict
ing immigration of Chinese has been viola
!
ticials of China, upon whom is devolved the
duty Of certifying that immigrants belong TO
excepted classes Measures have been tax
en- to ascertain the facts incident to this sup
posed infraction and il is believed that the
government Of China will cooperate with us
in securing the faithful observance of the
law.
Some considerations which prompted Con-
-.
the Simoneski indemnity. seems to me TO
require at its hands like actiol in respect to
the Canton indemnity fund, now amounting
to three hundred thousand dollars The
question of the general revision of foreign
treaties of Japan has been considered in an
international conference, held at Toxic, but
without definite results as vet. This Gov
ernment is disposed to concede the requests
Of Japan 70 determine its own tariff duties,
to provide such proper judicial tribunals as
may commend themselves to western powers
for the trial Of causes to which foreigners
are parties, and to assimiate the terms and
duration of its treaties to those Of other civ
iized States.
THE RICH VALLEY or THE CONGO.
Through our ministers at London and at
Monrova this government has endeavored
to aid Liberia in its difference with Great
Britain touching the northwestern bounda-
ries Of that republic There is prospect Of
an adjustment of the dispute bv the adoption
Of the Mannah River as the line. This ar
rangemcnt is compromise of conflicting
territorial claims and takes from Liberia no
country over which il has maintained eiirc-
tive jurisdiction.
The rich and populou> valley Of the Con
go is being opened to commerce BY socie-
" called the International African AsSocia-
ton, Of which the King of the Belgaus is
president and citizen Of the United States
the chief executive officer Large tracts Of
territory have been ceded to the association
by the native chiefs, roads have been open
ed, steamboats, placed on the rivers. and the
nucti Of States established al TWENTY-FIVE
stations, under one flag. which offers free
dom to commerce and prohibit, the Slave
trade. The object of the society are phil
anthrcpic. II does not aim at permanent
political control, but seeks the neutrality of
the valley. The United States cannot be In
different ID this work. nor 10 the interests
Of their citizens involved in IT, l. may be-
come advisable for US to cooperate with
other commercial. powers in promoting the
rights Of trade and residence III III" Congo
Valley free from interference or political
control Of any nation
SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS.
In view Of the frequency of invitations
from foreign governments to participate IN
tho social and scientific congress for the dis
cussion Of important matters Of general con
cern, repeat the suggestion of nv last mes
sage that provision be made for the exercise
of discretionary power by the Executive in
appointing delegates to such conventions.
Able specialists are ready 70 serve the ma
tional interests in such capacity without per
sonal profit, or other compensation than the
detrayment of expenses actually incurred.
and this comparatively small annual ap-
preparation would suffice to meet
have alluded in my previous message 70
the injuries and yexatiou> restrictions suf-
fered by our trade in the Spanish West H.
dies Brazil, whose natural outlet for its
great national staple coffee, is in and
through the United States, imposes heavy
export duty upon that product and like
narrow polio, is pursued in other American
countries. Our petroleum exports are ham
pered in Turkey and in other eastern ports
by restrictions as to storage and by onerous
taxation, and free outward movement of our
great food products. is in some quarters
clogged with like impedimen's. For these
mlschlets, adequate relief is not always af-
forded by reciprocity treaties like that with
Hawaii, or that lately negotiated with Mex
leo. and now awaiting the action Of the Sen
ate. Is il not advisable to provide some
measure Of equitable relations with the
governments which discriminate against our
own? II, for example, the Executive were
empowered to apply to Spanish vessels and
carg0es from Cuba aud Por;o Rico the same
rules Of treatment and scale OF penalties for
technical faults which are applied to our ves-
sells and cargoes in the Antilles, resort to
that course might not be barren of good re-
suits. a discretionary authority to forbid
the importation Of articles Of consumption
injurious to health might be exercised in
our dealings with such countries as inequit-
ably discriminate against our food products
OUR FINANCES.
The report of Secretary Of the Treasury
gives a full and interesting exhibition Of
the financial condition of the country, and it
shows that the ordinary revenues from all
sources for the fiscal wear ended June 80,
1888, amounted to $39S, ,2S7 ISL 90, whereof
| there was received from customs, S2l4 ,7O6,-
1868 from internal revenue, $l44,120,-
36S. .9S from sales of public lands, 81 ,95j,-
| S64.42 from tax on circulation and depos-
its of national banks, S9,lll ,00S.Sj from
other sources, 81 ,333, ,6}7 go; for the same
period the ordinary expenditures were for
civil expenses, S22,343, ,2S5.16; for foreign
intercourse, S2,4l9,27j.2i for Indians,
1882 ,j90.3i for pensions, S66,0l2 ,j13.-
Ct for military establishment including
river and harbor Improvements and arsenals,
S4S, 81 ,3S2.93; for naval establishments
including vessels and improvements at the
naval yards, Sl5,2S3, ,437.17; for miscella
neous expenditures including public build
ings, light houses, and collecting revenues,
S4O,O9S ,432. .73 for expenditures on account
of the District Of Columbia, S3,Sl7 ,02S4s
for interest on public debt, $50, lGO, 1925,
total S265, ,40S, 1874. leaving a surplus
revenue of Sl32, ,S19, ,4i4.4l, which with an
amount drawn from the cash balance in the
treasury of Sl,299, ,322.55 making Sl34,-
20 M 4