The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-12-06

| Dllt III lllLtTIdlIDldl thNlDltIoIN, oIl'll v
great interest and Importance. Occupying
as we do an advanced position in IN
worlds production, and aiming to secure
profitable share for our industries In IN
general competitive markets. II is matte
of serious concern that the want OF mean
for participation in these EXHIBITS should 5
often exclude our producers from adval
tages enjoyed by those of other countrie
during the past year. The attention O
Congress was drawn to the formal invita-
tons in this regard rendered by the Govern
meuts of England, Holland, Belgium, Ger
| many and Austria The Executive has II
| some Instances appointed honorary com
misSi0ners. This is, however, a most IN
! satisfactory eXpedent, for without som
provision TO meet the necessary wOrkln!
| expenses of a commission II can effect lit
tie or nothing in behalf of exhibitors.
An international inventors exhibition Il
to be held in London next May. This viii
cover field OF special Importance, In which
| our country holds foremost rank; but the
executive Is at present powerless to organ
| ne a proper representation OF our vast ma
| tonal interests in this direction. l have In
several previous messages referred to this
subject Ii seems to me that statute, Civ.
Ing 10 the executive general discretionary
authority to accept such invitations, and
to appoint honorary commissioners, with
out salary, and placing at the disposal OF
lIlt k)ttIttdIy VI ptdt a Sllldll itIlu III ut-
fraying their reasonable expenses, would be
OF great public utility.
COLLISIONS AT SEA.
The Government has received official no.
tice that the revised international regula-
tons for preventing collisions at sea have
been adopted by al the leading maritime
powers excep; the United States, and came
into force on the Is; OF September last. For
the due protection OF our shipping inter
csts, the provisions OF our statutes should
at once be brought into conformity with
these regulations.
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
will be necessary for fully accomplishing
this result. But until Congress shall by
statute fix the extent 10 which foreign hold
ers of copyright shall be here privileged il
has been deemed nadvisable TO negotiate
such conventions. For this reason the Unit
ed States were not represented at the re-
cent conference at Berne.
NEUTRALITY LAWS.
recommend that the scope OF the neu-
trality laws of the United States be so en-
larged as to cover all patent acts of HOSTILE
~ committed in our territory and aimed
against the peace OF friendly nation. Ex-
isting statutes prohibit the fitting out of an
expedition and restrict the shipments of ex-
plOSKeS, though the enactments in the lat
ter 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
emergencies that had already arisen. Other
emergenc eS have arisen since and modern
for
ton Of hostilities without open resort TO
armed vessels, or to iiibustering parties
see no reason why overt preparations in
this country for the commission of criminal
acts, such as are here under consideration,
should not be alike punishable, whether
such acts are intended to be committed in
our own country, or in fore On country
and thorough treatment OF this question is
one which intimately concerns the national
honor.
NATURALIZATION.
Our existing naturalization laws also need
revision. Those sections relating to per-
sons residing within the limits of the Unit
ed States within 1875 and 1878 have now on
ly historical interest Section 2,l72, rec
ogniZing the citizenship OF the children of
naturaized parents is ambiguous in its
terms and partly obsolete. There are spec
cation of those who serve In the army or in
merchant vessels, while no similar privi-
lie reS are granted those who serve in the
navy or marine corps. An uniform rule of
such as the Constitution con-
templates should, among other things,
clearly define the statue OF persons born
within the United States, subject to for
ci5n power (Sec. 1882, and of minor chill
dren OF fathers who have declared their In
tentlOn of becoming citizhnS, but have fail !
Ell to perfect their naturalization. 1t might !
be wise to provide for a central bureau OF
registry, wherein should be filed authent- |
Gated transcripts of every record of natural |
lzation In the several Federal and State
courts, and to make provision also for the |
vacation 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 |
citizenship. a just and uniform law in /
his respect would strengthen the hands of |
'hc Gov. ram mt in protecting its citizens |
abroad, and would pave the way for the
conclusion of treaties of naturalization with
foreign countries.
DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE.
The legislation OF the last session effected .
n the diplomatic and consular service GER
ain changes and reductions which have
)een productive of embarrassment. The
population and commercial activity of our
country are steadily on the increase, and
IRE giving rise To new, varying and often
lelicate relationships with other countries.
)lr foreign establishment now embraces
nearly double the area of operations that it
lid twenty years ago. The confinement of
uch service within the limits of expendi-
ure then established is not, it seems to me,
n accordance with true economy. A com
nunity Of sixty millions of people should
Ne adequately represented in its intercourse
With foreign nations. A project for the re-
of consular service and for re-
asting the scheme of eXtra-territOrial juTis-
LECTION is now before you. Ii the limits of
short session will not allow its full con-
liberation, trust you will not fail to make
utabse provision for present needs of the
ervice.
1t has been customary TO define in the APP
'ropriatiOn acts the ranks of each diplomat
c office to which salary is attached. |
uggest that this course be abandoned, and
hat ii be left to the President, with the adj
ice and consent of the Senate, to fix from
inc to time the diplomatic grade N the
representatives of this Government abroad
IS 1t may seem advisable, provision being
definitely made, however, as now, for the
mount of salary attached to the respective
tationS,
THE CONDITION OF OUR FINANCES
nd the operations of the various branches
4 the public service which are connected