National Republican., 1884-12-02

been reached, but have good reason to
expect an early settlement, which will
provide the means of re-examining tho
Caracas awards in conformity with the
expressed desire of congress, and which
will recognize the justice Of certain
claims preferred against Venezuela
SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE.
The Central and South American COM
mission appointed by authority of the
act of July Z. 1884, will soon proceed to
Mexico. 1t has been furnished with in
structions which will DO laid before you.
They contain statement Of the general
policy Of tho government for enlarging
its comml rcial intercourse with Ameri-
can statos. The ommissioners have
been actively preparing for their respon-
siblo task by holding conferences in the
principal cities with merchants and
others interested in Central and South
American trade.
THE MERIDIAN CONFERENCE.
The international meridian conference.
lately convened in Washington upon tho
! invitation of the government of the
| United States, was composed Of repre-
sentatives of twenty-five nations. The
conference concluded its labors on the
| 1st Of November, having with substantial
unanimity agreed upon the meridian of
| Greenwich as tho starting point whence
| longitude is to be computed through 1902
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 zero up to twenty-four.
| The formal report OF the transactions of
/ this conference will be hereafter trans
mitted to the congress.
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS.
This government is in frequent receipt
of invitations from foreign states to par
| tcipate in international exhibitions, often
of great interest and importance Occupy
| ing as we do an advanced position in the
worlds production, and aiming to secure
q profitable share for our industries in the
general competitive markets, il is q
/ matter of serious concern that the want
/ of means for participation in these exhl-
/ bitions should 80 often exclude our pro-
ducers 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 ten
dered by tho governments of England,
/ Holland, Belgium, Germany, and Austria.
/ Tho executive has, in some instances. ap-
| pointed honorary commissioners. This Is,
/ however, n most unsatisfactory cNpedient,
/ for without some provision to meet tho
/ necessary working expenses of q commits
sion. IL can effect little or nothing in be-
/ half of exhibitors. An international in
| ventionH exhibition is to bo held in
| London next May. This will cover field
I OF special importance in which our coun-
| try holds a foremost rank. but the cxecu-
/ tive is at present pOwerless to organize q
| proper representation of our vast national
! interests in this direction.
| have in several previous messages re.
ferred to this subject. 1t seems to me
that a statue, giving to the executive
general discretionary authority to sc-
cept such invitations, aud to appoint
honorary commissioners, without salary,
md placing ut the disposal of tho secre-
tary of the state small fund for defray-
ing their reasonable expenses, would be
Of great public utility.
COLLISIONS AT SEA.
| This government has received official
notice that tho Revised International
Regulations for preventing collisions at
sea have been adopted by all tho leading
maritime powers except the United
| States, and came into force on the lat of
September last. For the due protection
| Of our shipping interests, the provisions
Of our statues should at once be brought
into conformity with these regulations.
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT
The question of securing to authors,
composers and artists copyright privi-
leges in this country in return for re-
cipr0cal rights abroad is one that may
justly challenge your attention. 1t is
true that conventions will be necessary
for fully accomplishing this result, but
until congress shall by statute fix the ex-
tent to which foreign holders of copy
right shall be here privileged. it has been
doomed inadvisable to negotiate such
conventions. For this reason tho United
States were not represented ut the recent
conference at Berne.
VIOLATIONS OF THE NEUTRALITY LAWS
recommend that the scope Of the
neutrality laws of the United States be
80 enlarged as to cover all patent acts of
hostility committed in our territory and
aimed against the peace of friendly
nation. Existing statutes prohibit the
fitting out of armed expeditions and re-
strict 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 intended to meet special emer-
geucies that had already arisen. Other
emergencies have arisen since and mod
erm ingenuity supplies means for the or
ganizatiOn of hostilities without open re-
sort to armed vessels or to 1libustering
parties.
see no reason why overt preparations
in this country for the commission of
criminal acts, such as are here under con-
sideration, should not be alike punisha-
bic, whether such acts are intended to be
] az n trN, =.
foreign country with which we are at
peace.
The prompt and thorough treatment of
this question is one.which intimately con.
cerus the national honor.
REVISION OF THE NATURALIZATION
LAWS.
Our existing naturalization laws also
need revision. Those sections relating
to persons residing within the limits OF
tho United State in 1905 and l70S have
now only a historical interest. Section
Pig, recognizing tho citizenship Of the
children of natuTaliZel parents, Is AM
biguous in Its terms and partly obsolete.
There are special provisions of law favor
ing 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 the marine
corps.
AN uniform rule Of naturalization, u
such as the constitution contemplates,
should, among other things, clearly define
the status of persons born within the
United States subject to foreign power
section 1902 and of minor children OF
fathers who have declared their intention
to become citizens but have failed TO per-
feet their naturalization. 1t might be wise
to provide for central bureau Of registry,
wherein should be fled authenticated tran
scripts OF every record Of naturalization
In the several federal and state courts and
to make provision also for the vacation
or cancellation Of such record in cases
whore fraud had been practiced upon the
court by tho applicant himself or whore