Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-12-03

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mate frlendliness which has ever marked the in
tercourse of the two countries.
The course of this government in raising its
representation at Bang kOk 10 the diplomatic
rank has evoked from Siam evidences of
warm friendship, and augurs well for our en-
larged interior. The Slnmese government has
| presented to the United States commodious
mansion and grounds for the occupancy of the
legation, and 1 suggest that by joint resolution
Congress attest its appreciation OF this generous
gift.
called of late, to take action ia the fulhllment
OF international obligation toward Spain. Aglta
ton on the island of Cuba. hostile to the Spanish
| crown, has been termented toy persons abusing
the sacred rights of hospitality which our terri
tory affords, the officers OF the government have
been instructed to increase vigilance to prevent
| infractlonS of our neutrality laws al Key west
| and other ports near the Cuban coast am
happy to say that in this instance only were these
| precautionary measures successfully Guided
The offenders when found in our territory, were
| subsequently tried and convicted Inc growing
| need of close relationship of intercourse and
traffic between the Spanish Antilles and their
natural market in the United States. led to the
| adoption in January last, OF commercial
| agreement looking to that end This agreement
| has since been superseded by more carefully
framed and comprehensive convention which
! shall submit TO the Senate for approval.
| 1t has been the aim of this negotiation
| to open such a favored reciprocal exchange of
productions carried under the flag OF either coun-
| try as to make the intercourse between Cuba and
| Porto Rico and ourselves scarcely less intimate
| than the commercial movement between our do
Is,
| burdens on shipping in the Spanish Indies. of
| which in the past ship owners ana ship
masters have SO often had cause to complain.
| The negotiations ofthis convention have fora time
postponed the prosecution of certain claims OF our
citizens which were declared to be without the
Jurisdiction of the late Spanish American Claims
Commission, and which we therefore RENTED to
| diplomatic channels for adjustment. The speedy
| settlement of these claims will now be urged by
| this government
| Negotiations for a treaty of commercial reci-
| procity with the Dominion republic have been
successfully concluded and the result will 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 salts
factOrily adjusted. The Porte has sought to with
hold from our commerce the right of favored
treatment to which we are entitled by existing
conventional stipu atoms, and the revision OF the
tariffs is unaCcOmpllShed.
The final disposition of pending questions with
Venezuela has not az yet been reached but
have good reason to expect an early settlement
which will provide the means of re-eXamin1ng
the Caracas awards in conformity with the ex-
pressed desire of Congress, and which will recog-
ef T6e and
American commission appointed by authorit y
of the act of July Is, 1884, will soon proceed to
Mexico. 1t has been furnished with instructions
which will be laid before you. They contain q
statement of the general policy of the govern
ment for charging its commercial intercourse
with American states. The commissioners have
been actively preparing for their responsible
task by holding conferences in the principal
| cities with m6rchantS ana others interested IN
Central and South American trade.
THE MERIDIAN CONFERENCE.
| The International meridian conference lately
convened in Washington upon the in in,
States, was composed OF representatives
from twenty-five nations. The conference
concluded its labOrs on the LIST of November, hay
ing with substantial unanimity 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 counted from up to "a.
The formal report of the transactions of this
ference will be hereafter transmitted to Con-
gress.
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS.
This government is in frequent receipt of in
vitaons from foreign states to parici in inter
national exhibitions, often of great interest and
importance. Occupying, as we do. an advanced
position on the worlds production, and aiming
to secure profitable share for our industries in
the general competitive markets. it is a matter of
serious concern that the want of means for par
ticipation in these exhibits should often ex-
clude 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 govern
ments of England, Holland, Belgium, Germany
and Austria. The executive has in some
instances appointed honorary commissioners.
This is, however: a most unsatis-
vision to meet the necessary working expenses of
commission it can affect little or nothing in be-
half cf exhibitors. An International inventors
exhibition is to be held in London next May.
This will cover field of special importance in
which our country holds foremost rank; but
the executive is at present powerless to organize
q proper representation of our vast national in
terests in this direction. l have in several pre-
vious messages referred to this subject. 1tSeemS
to that a statute giving to the executive gener-
al discretionary authority to accept such invita-
tons and to appoint honorary commissioners
without salary and placing at the disposal of the
secretary of state small fund for defraying their
| reasonable wOutd he of great D1blic
utility.
MARITIME REGULATE oNs.
This government has received official notice
that the revised international regulations for pre-
venting collisions at sea have been adopted by all
the leading maritime powers except the United
States and came into force on the 1st Of Septem-
Der last. For the due protection of our shipping
interests, the provisions of our statutes should at
once be brought into consideration with these
regulations.
COPYRIGHT PRIVILEGES.
The question of securing to authors, composers
and artists copyright privileges in this country
in return for reciprocal rights abroad is that
may justly challenge your attention. 1t is true
that convention will be necessary for fully ac-
comprising this result; but until Congress SHALL
of copyright shall be here privileged, it has been
deemed inadvisable to negotiate such conven-
ton. For this reason the United States were not
represented at the recent conference at Berne.
THE NEUTRALITY LAWS.
I recommend that the scope of the neutrality
laws of the United States be so enlarged as TO
our territory and aimed against the peace of a
friendly nation. Existing statutes prohibit the
fitting out of armed expeditions; and restrict
the shipment of explosives. Though enactments
in the latter respect not framed with
regard to International obligations. but
simply for the protection of passenger
travel, all these statutes were intended to meet
special emergencies that had already arisen
Other emergencies have arisen since, and modern
ingenuity supplies means for organization of hos
Utilities without open resort to armed vessels or to
nIlbusterlng parties. see no reason why overt
preparations in this country for the commission
of criminal acts such are here under consider
alton should not be alike punishable, whether
such acts are intended to be committed in our
own country or IN foreign country with which
we at peace. The prompt and thorough treat
ment of this question is one which intimately
concerns the national honor.
THE NATURALIZATION ] Avs.
Our existing naturalization laws also need re-
vising. Those sections relating to persons residing
within the limits of the United States in 1895 and
1898 have now only a historical interest Section
21,172 recognizing the citizenship of the children
of naturaized parents is ambiguous in its terms
and partly obsolete. There special provisions
Of law favoring the naturalization of those who
serve in the army in merchant vessels, while
no similar privileges are granted those who serve