The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-12-05

Sd4lC0 upon OF lHIS 10 take acG1On IN fulIill-
lnent OF Its international obligation toward
SPAN, the agitation in the island of Cuba.
nostile to the Spanish crown, having been
Ionented by persons abusing the sacred
rights OF hospitality which our territory
affords. The officers of the Government
have been instructed to exercise vigilance
20 prevent infracGOns of our neutrality
laws at Key West and at other points near the
CUBAN coast. l am happy to say that in the
only instance where these precautionary
measures were successfully eluded the Offend
efs, when found in our territory, were sub
Sequently tried and convicted The growing
need OF close relationship of intercourse and
trafnc between the Spanish Antilles and their
natural market in the United States led
20 the adoption, in January last, of a
commercial agreement looking to that
end. This agreement has since been super
seued by a more carefully framed and COM
prehenslye convention, which l shall submit
10 the senate Tor approval. 1t has been the
ann OF this negotiation to open such a
favored reciprocal exchange of productions
carried under the flag of eitheT.country as to
make the intercourse between Cuba and Porto
nlco ana ourselves scarcely less init
mate than the commercial movements be-
tween our domestic ports, and to insure a re-
moYal of the burdens on shipping in the Span
ISM indies, OF which in the past our ship-owners
ana snip masters have so often had cause to
complain The negotiation of this convention
mas Tor time postponed the prosecution of
certain claims of our citizens which were de.
elared to be without the jurisdiction of the
IL,
winch we therefore RENTED to diplomatic
channels for adjustment The speedy settle
ment OF these claims will now be urged by this
Government
The final disposition of the pending ques-
tons with Venezuela has not as yet been
reached but L have good reason to- expect an
carry settlement which will provide the means
OF re-eXamInlng the Caracas awards, in con-
formity with the expressed desire of Congress-
and which will recognize the justice OF GER
tam claims preferred against Venezuela.
The Central and South American Commits
sion appointed by authority of the act of July
I,loo4, Will soon proceed to Mexico. 1t has
Deen furnished with instructions which will be
lad before you. They contain a statement of
me general policy of the Government for en-
iarg1ng its commercial intercourse with Amer
lean states. The Commissioners have been
actively preparing for their responsible task
Dy holding conferences in the principal
cues with merchants and others interested in
Central and South American trade The in
ternational meridian conference lately con-
Vened IN Washington, upon the invitation Of
the Government of the United States,
composed OF representatives from TWEEN
ty-nVe snations, concluded its : labors
on the LIST of November, having with sub
stantial unanimity agreed upon the meridian
OF Greenwich as the starting point whence
longitude IS to be computed through 1870
degrees eastward and westward, and upon
the adoption for all purposes for which it may
pc found convenient, OF universal day,
Which shall begin at midnight on the initial
from zero up to twenty-four. The formal re-
port of the transactions of this Congress will
be hereafter transmitted to Congress.
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS.
This Government is in frequent receipt Of
invitations from foreign States to participate
in international exhibitions, often of great in
terest and Importance. Occupying as we do
an advanced position in the worlds produc-
ton, and aiming to secure profitable share
for our Industries in the general competitive
markets, it is q matter of serious concern
that the want OF means for participation
in these exhibits should so often exclude
our producers from advantages enjoyed by
those OF other countries. During the past year
the attention of Congress was drawn to the
formal invitations in this regard rendered by
the Governments of England, Holland, Bel
GUM, Germany and Austria. The Executive
mas Ill some instances appointed honorary
commissioners. This is however, q most I'M
satisfactory eXpedient, for without some pro-
vision to meet the necessary working expenses
of a commission it can effect little or nothing
in behalf of exhibitors. An international In
ventor5' Exhibition is to be held in London
next May. This will cover a field of special
importance in which our country holds fore
most rank, but the executive is at present
pOwerlesS to organize a proper representation
of our vast national interests in this direction.
I have, in several previous messages, referred
to this subject 1t seems to me that statute,
giving to the executive general discretionary
authority to accept such invitations, and to
appoint honorary commissioners without
salary, and placing at the disposal of the sec
rotary of state small fund for defraying
their reasonable expenses, would be OF great
public utility.
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT.
The question of securing to authors, COM
posers and artists copyright privileges in this
country, in return for reciprocal rights abroad,
is one that may justly challenge your atten-
ton. 1t is true that conventions will be nee
essarysfor fully accomplishing this result. But
until Congress shall by statute fix the extent
to which foreign holders of copyright shall be
here privileged, it has been deemed inadvisa-
Die to negotiate such conventions. For this
reason the United States was not represented
at the recent conference at Berne.
NEUTRALITY LAWS.
recommend that the scope of the Neutral
ity laws of the United States be so enlarged as
to cover all patent acts of hostility committed
in our territory and aimed against the peace
of friendly nation. Existing statutes pro-
hibit the fitting out of an expedition and re-
strict the shipments of explosives though the
enactnents in the, latter respect were not
framed with regard to international Oblga-
lions, but simply for the protection of pas
senger travel. All these statutes were in
tended to meet special emergencies that
had already arisen. Other emergencies have
arisen since and modern ingenuity supplies
means for the organization of hostilities with
OutOpen resort to armed vessels, or to fill
clustering parties see no reason why overt
preparations in tns country for the commits
sion of criminal acts, such as are here under
consideration, should not be alike punishable,
whether such acts are intended to be COM
mitted in our own country, or in a foreign
country with which we are at peace. The
prompt and thorough treatment of this ques-
ton is one which intimately concerns the ma
uonal honor.
NATURALIZATION.
Our existing naturalization laws also need
revision. Those sections relating to persons
residing within the limits of the United States
within 1875 and 1898 have now only historical
interest Section 2, 172, recognizing the citizen
ship of the children of naturalized parents is
ambiguous in its terms and partly obsolete.
There are special provisions OF law faVoring
the naturalization of those who serve in the
army or in merchant vessels, while no SIM
liar privileges are granted those who serve
in the navy or Marine Corps An uniform
rule or naturalization such as the Constitu-
ton contemplateS should, among other things,
clearly define the status of persons born
within the United States, subject to foreign
power (Sec. 1922, and of MINOR children of
fathers who have declared their intention
OF becoming citizens, but have failed TO
perfect their naturalization. 1t might be
wise to provide for a central bureau of regis
try, wherein should be filed authenticated
transcripts of every record of natural
iZation in the several Federal and State
courts, and to make provision also for the va
cation or cancellation of such record in cases
where fraud had been practced upon the
court by the applicant himself or where he
had removed or forfeited his acquired citizen
ship. A just and uniform law in this respect
would strengthen the hands of the Govern
IuClb III protecting us clUlL0uS dDTOdQ. anu
would pave the way for the conclusion of
treaties of naturalization with foreign coun-
tries.
DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE.
The legislation of the last session effected in
the diplomatic and consular service certain
changes and reductions which have been pro-
ductlye of embarrassment The population
and commercial activity of our country are
steadily on the increase, and are giving rise to
new, varying and often delicate relationships
with other countries. Our foreign establish
ment now embraces nearly double the
area of operations that it did twenty
years ago. The confinement of such
a service within the limits of expendi-
ture then established is not, it seems to me, in
accordance with true economy. A commune
ty of sixty millions of people should be adj
equately represented in its intercourse with
foreign nations. A project for the reorgan-
ization of consular service and for recast-
ing the scheme of extra-territorial juris-
diction is now before you. If the limits of
short session will not allow its full conSid-
Grafton, / trust you will not fail to make
suitable provision for present needs of the
service.
THE CONDITION OF OUR FINANCES
and the operations of the various branches of
the public service which are connected with
the Treasury Department are very fully dis
cussed in the report of the Secretary. 1t
appears that the ordinary revenues for the
fiscal year en- ded June 80. 1884, were:
From customs Observation-Disclosures 5, 067, 4S9 rs
From internal revenue........... 121,5S6,072 81
From all other sources. .......... 31,S66,307 50
Total ordinary revenues. ..... S34S,5 ,569 81