River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-12-04

Key Vest and other ports near the Cuban
coast | am haDpy TO say that in the only
instance where l-ese precautionary measures
were successfully eluded, the offenders when
found in our territory were subsequently
tried and convicted. The growing need OF
close relationship Of Intercourse and traffic
between the Spanish Antilles and their nat
ural market in the United States led to the
adoption in January last of a commercial
agreement looking to that end This agree
ment has since been superseded by q more
carefully framed and comprehensive CON
yention, which | shall subject TO the senate
for approval 1t has been the aim of this
negotiation to open such Il favored reciprocal
exchange of production carried on under the
flag of either country as TO make the inter
course between Cuba and Porto Rico anC
ourselves scarcely less intimate than the
commercial movement between our domestic
ports, and to insure removal OF the burdens
on shipping in the Spanish Indies, OF which
in the past our shipowners and shipmasterS
have so often had cause to complain.
The negotiation of this convention has for
a time postponed the prosecution of certain
claims of our citizens which were declared to
be without the jurisdiction of the late Span
ish-American claims commission, and which
are therefore, RENTED to diplomatic chan
-nels for adjustment The speedy settlement
of these claims will now be urged by this
government Negotiations for treaty OF
commercial reciprocity with the Dominican
and The result viii shortly be laid before the
senate. Certain questions between the
United States and the Ottoman empire still
remain unsolved Complaints in behalf OF
our citizens are not satisfactorily adjusted.
The porte has sought to withhold from our
commerce the right of favored treatment TO
which we are entitled by existing conven-
tional stipulations and the revision of the
tariff is unaccomplished The final disposition
of pending questions with Venezuela has not
hna h11fT
to expect an early settlement, which will
provide the means of re-examining the
Caracas awards, in conformity with the ex-
pressed desire of congress, and which will
recognize the Justice of certain claims pre-
ferred against Venezuela.
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.
The Central and South American commits
July, 1884, will soon proceed to Mexico 1t
has been furnished with instructions which
viii be laid before you They contain a
statement of the general policy of the gov
eminent for charging its commercial inter
course with American states The commits
sioners have been actively preparing for
their responsible task by holding confer
ences in the principal cities with merchants
and others interested in the Central and
South American trade. The international
Meridian conference lately convened in
Washington, upon the invitation of the
government of the United States, was COM
posed of representatives of twenty-five ma
tons The conference concluded its labors
on the LIST of November, having with sub
stantial unanmity agreed upon the meridian
of Greenwich as the starting point whence
longitude is to be computed, through $50
degrees eastward and westward. and upon
the adoption, for all purposes for which it
may be found convenient, of universal
day, which shall begin at midnight on the
initial meridian, and whose hours shall be
D COnnfHH from
four The formal report of the
transactions of this conference will
be hereafter transmitted to congress.
This government is in frequent receipt of in
vitatons from foreign states to participate
in international exhibitions, often of great
interest and importance. Occupying as we
do an advanced position in the worlds pro-
duction, and aiming to secure profitable
share for our industries in the general COM
petitve markets, it is a matter of serious
concern that the want of means of partici-
patton in these exhibits should so often ex-
clude our producers from the advantages
enjoyed by those OF other COUNTLESS During
the past year the attention OF congress was
drawn 10 the formal invitations in this re-
gard tendered by the governments of En-
gland Holland, Belgium, Germany and
Austria The executive has in some in
stances appointed honorary commissioners.
This is however, a most unsatisfactory ex-
pedient, for, without some provision to meet
necessary WOTkiI2 eApensGS vi u COtliAis-
sion it can effect little or nothing in behalf
of exhibitors An international inventors
exhibition is to be held in London next
May. This will cover field of special i'm
portance in which our country holds
foremost rank, but the executive is at pres
ent powerless to organize proper represen-
tation of our vast national interests in this
direction / have in some previous messages
referred to this subject It seems to me
that statute giving to the executive gen.
i -. Nnsef
invitations and 10 appoint honorary COM
miSsioners without a salary and placing at
the disposal OF the secretary of state q
small fund for defraying their reasonable
expenses We uld be of great public utility.
This government has received official notice
that the revised international regulations for
preventing collisions at sea have been adopt
ed by all the leading maritime powers exec 1t
the United States, and came into force on tie
LIST of September last For the due protec-
ton OF our shipping interests the proyis-
ions of our statutes should at once be brought
into conformity with these regulations. The
question of securing authors, composers and
artists copyright privileges in this country
in return for reciprocal rights abroad
is one that may Justly challenge your
attention. 1t IS true that a convention
will be necessary for fully accomplishing
this result, but until congress shall Tx the
extent to which foreign holders of copyright
shall be here privileged, it has been deemed
inadvisable to negotiate such convention.
For this reason the United States were not
represented at the recent conference at
Berne / recommend that the scope of the
neutrality laws of the United States be sc
enlarged as to cover all patent acts OF
hostility committed in our territory and
aimed against the peace of "A friendly nation
Existing statutes prohibit the fitting ont OIL
armed expeditions aud restrict the shipment
of explosives. though the enactments in the
latter respect were not framed with regard
to international obligations, but simply. for
the protection of passenger travel All these
statutes were framed TO meet the special
emergencies that have already arisen Since
modern ingenuity supplies means for the
organization of hostihties without open re-
sort to armed vessels or to hiibuSterirg
parties, see no reason why overt prepare
lions in this country for the comm1 sslon CT
criminal acts such as are here under con.
sideration should not be alike punishable,
whether such acts are intended TO be COM
mitted in our own country or IN foreign
country with which we are ct peace TIE
prompt and thorough treatment of this ques-
ton is one which Intimately concerns the
national honor. Our existing
NATURALIZATION LAWS
also need revision Those sections relating
L to persons residing within the limits of the
United States in 1895 and 1898 have now
only a historical interest Section 2l92
recognizing the citizenship of the children OF
laturalized parents, is ambiguous tits terms
md parity obsolete. There are special pro
visions of law fayoring the naturalization OF
those who serve in the army or in merchant
vessels while no similar privileges are
granted those who serve in the navy or ma
| rne corps. A uniform rule or nataraliza-
ton. such as the constitution contemplates
should. among other things, clearly define
the status OF persons born within the United
States, subject TO foreign power tsection
| 1892. and Of minor children Of fathers who
have declared their intention OF becoming
citizens. but have failed 20 perfect their nat
! nralization. It MIGHT be well TO provide fol