The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-12-04

Z
successfully concluded, and the result Will
shortly be laid before the senate. Certain
questi ms bet cen the United States and the
Ottoman empire still remain unsettled. Com
plants in behalf of our citizens are not salts
factDrily adjusted. The porte has sought to
withhold from our commerce the right of
favored treatment 10 Which we are entitled by
existing conventional StipulatiOnS. and the
revision of the tariffs is unaccomplish "a.
The final disposition Of the pending question
with Venezuela has not been reached. but
have good eaSon TO expect Il early settlement,
which will provide the means of re-eXamining
the Caracas awards, in conformity with the
expressed desire OF congress, and which Will
recognize the justice OF certain claims pre-
ferred again Venezuela
The Central and South American Com
mission, appointed by authority act OF July Z,
1884, will soon proceed to Mexico. 1t mas
been furnished with Instructions which
will lie laid before You. They contain
ernment for entering its commercial inter-
cOu Sc wlthithe American states The COM
mlSsionerS have been actively preparing for
t cir responsible task by holding a conference
in the principal cities with merchants and
o hers inteJe ted in the Central and South
American trace.
MERIDIAN CONFERENCE
The International Meridian Conference
lately convened in Washington, upon the inYi-
tatlon OF the government of the United States,
was composed of representatives from twenty
five nations, The conference concluded its il
DOrS on the first Of November, having, with
substantial undnimi,y. agreed upon tie me-
whence'iongitude is to be cOmpufed, ana upon
the adoption, for all pu doses for Which it may
be found convenient, of univers day, which
shall begin at midnight on the initial meridian
and VIII Sc hours shall be counted from zero
up to a. The formal report Of the transactions
of this conference will be transmitted to con-
gresS,
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITS.
This government is in frequent receipt of
invitations from foreian states TO participate
in International exhibitions, OF great interest
and importance. Occupying as we do, an ad-
Vanced position in the WUr DIS pr Oductinn and
aiming 10 secure profitable share for our in
dnstrieS in the general competitive markets,
1t is matter OF serious concern, that the
wan of means for participation in these eX-
hibitions Should SO often exclude cur producers
fro advantages enjoyed By those of other
countries, During The past year the att en-
ton of congress was drawn t. the formal IN
vtatiOn, i'll this regard. rendered by the gov
ernmentS of England, Holland, Belgium, Ger
many and Austria he executive has in some
inSt ances appointed honorary commissioners.
This is, however, more unsatisfactory tx
pertinent, r, without some provision to meet
the necessary working expenses Of commits
sion. it can effect little nothing in behalf of
exhibitions. An int irrational inventors ex-
hibitiOn is to be held in London n. 1t May.
This will cover field OF sp cial Importance
in which our country holds
a foremost rank; but the executive is, at pres
ent. powerless to organize a proper represen-
tatiou of our vast national interests. In this
direction L have, in several previous messages,
a statute giving to the executive general dis
cretiouary authority 70 accept such lnyit tons
and to appoint honorary commi- SionerS, with
out a saary, placing at the disposal of the
secretary of state a small fund for defraylng
their reasonable expenses, would be of great
public utility.
INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS.
This government has + ceivtd official notice
that the r'viSed International regulations for
preventing collisions at sea have been adOuted
by all the leading maritime powe except the
United States. and came into force On the LIST
of September last the due protection of
our shipping interests. The provisions of our
statutes should at once BE- brought int con-
foTmity with these regulations. The question
copyright privileges in this cOuntry-in return
ing from reciprocal rights abroad, is one that
may justly challenge your attention.
l recommend that the scope CT the neutrdli
ty laws of the United States be so enlarged us
to cover all potent acts of hostility Committed
in our territory and aimed against the peace
of friendly nations Existing statutes prUhi it
the fitting ont OF armed expeditions, aud r
strictS the shipment of explosives. Though
the enacmentS in the latter respect were i,J
framed with regard to international OBJ! ga
tiOnS, but simply for the protection OF paSSen-
ger travel, all these statutes were Intended t.
meet special emergencies that hal al
arisen, since our mo .ern ingenuity sup
plies means for the organization nf
hos ttss without 0Ren resort to armed
| see 10 reason why over preparations i'll this
country for the commission of criminal acts,
such as are here under consideration, should
not be alike p1nlSha lie, whether such acts are
Intended to be committed in our country or i'll
aforeign country, with which we are at peare.
The prompt aid thorough treatment of this
question Is one which immediately concerns
the national honor.
NATURALIZATION.
Our existing naturalization laws also need
revision Those sections relating to persons
residing within the limits OF tue United States
in 1872 and 1898 have now only an historical
interest. Section PIP recognizing the citizen
ship # the children OF naturaliZei Parents is
ambiguous in its terms and partly O soiete.
There are special provisions of law fayoring
the naturalization of those who serve IL the
army or in merchant yessel., while no SINH
lar privileges are granted those who serve in
the LA y and marine corps, a Uniform rule OF
naturalization. such as tia constitution on
templates. should among other things, clearly
define the status OF persons born within the
United states subject to foreign powers and
minor children of fathers who have declared
their int ton OF becoming citizens but failed
to perfect their naturalization. 1t might
be wise to provide for central bureau OF reg
iStry wherein should be filed authenticated
transcripts of every record OF naturalization
in the several federal and state courts, and to
make provision, also, for the vacation, or can
collation. of Sucn record in cases wheIe fraud
had been Dracticed upon the court by the ap'
plicant himself, or before he had moved or for
feiled acquired citizenship. A Just and uni
form law in this respect would strengthen the
hands of the government in protecting its citi-
conclusion OF treaties OF NATURALIZATION with
foreign countries.
CONSULAR AND DIPLOMATIC.
The legislation of the last session effected,
in the diplomatic and consular service, certain
changes which have been productive of en-
barrassment. The population and lntermedi-
ate activity of our country are steadily on the
increase, and are giving rise 20 new, varying
and often delicate relationship with 9th.
countries Our foreign establishments now
embrace nearly double the area OF operations
that they did twen4y years 90. The confne-
ment Of such servsce within the limits OF ex-
penditure then established, is not, it seems, in
accordance with true economy. A community
of O000.O09 people should be adequately rep
resented iniitS Intercourse with foreign nations,
project for the reorganization of the co su-
lar service and for recaSting the scheme for
extra territorial jurisdiction is now before you.
IL the limits of short session will not allow
its full consideration, j trust yuu will not fail
to make suitable sproviSion for the present
needs Of the service.
1t has been customary to define in the appro-
priatiOn acts the rank Of each diplomatic office
to which salary is attached l suggest that
this course can be abandoned, an that it be
LETT to The president, with the advice and con-
sent of the senate TO fix, from time to time.
the diplomatic grade of the repre- entatives Of
this government abroad, as may seem adyisa-
bic, provision being definitely made. however,
as now, for the amount of salary attached to
the respective stations.
FINANCES.
The condition OF our finances and the opera
tons of the vdrio is branches of the public SER
vice, which are connected with the treasury
department. are very FULLY discussed in tho re-
port of the secretary. 1t appears that the or
binary revenues for the yesr ended June so,
1884, were: From customs. Sl95, 067, 469. 10;
fr m internal revenue. 1921 ,5S6, OI25l; from all
other sources, S3t,s66, 307 50; total ordinary
avenue, S3iS, 519, 500 90.
The public expenditures during the same
period were: For civil expenses. 80 ,3l2 907. II;
for forei II intercourse, 81, go, 1881; for In
dams, &c. AIS 999.z9 for penSi ms, $50 429 32S &c.
for the military establishment, including river
and harbor improvements and arsenals, S59,-
1880 .39; for The naval establishments, includ-
ing vessels, machinerq and improvements at
the navy yards, Sl7, 292, 6o1.44: for mis-
cellaneos exp mixtures, including pub,
collecting the revenue. s4s, sss, 7ioo 1G
for expenditures on account of the District OF
Columbia, 50 .407, 70 6; for interest on the
fund, SIC, 100, 2z9.5i. Total ord nary espendi
lures, $290, 9l6, 1888, leaving a surplus or
s57 603 $500 Ascompared with the precedi G
s2I 10000; in the amount of expenditures, The
aggreg tie receipts were less than those of the
year previous by about S54.oo0,u0o.
The sfalliDg on OF revenue from customs
made up nearly 81 100000 of this deficiency
and about S23, 00,00of the remainder was due
to the diminished receipts from internal tax
alton.
The secretary estimates the total receipts
for the fiscal year, which will end June 80.
1885, at $780, eco 900, and the total expenditures
at $3.50, 620, POLLS. in which are included the
interest on the debt and the amount payable
to the sinking fu1d. This would leave a sur
plus for the emit re year of about $50, 100000.
EXPORTS AND IMPORTS
The value of exports from the United States
to foreign countries, during the year ending
June 10, 1884, was as follows: Domestic
merchandise, S724,964 S52 foreign merchan-
disc, SIS 54s, 757; total merchandise S7405i3 600;
specie. S67, 133 1888. Total exports of
merchandise and specie, 1907 6l0, 9g2
The cotton and wooden manufactures Included
in this statement are valued at 81 8 9OO415; the
breadstuffS at S162. us. the provisions at