Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-12-06

commercial movement between our
domestic ports, and to insure a rcmov-
al Of the burdens on shipping in the
Spanish Indies, of which in the past
our ship owners and the shipmasters
have so often had cause to COM
plain.
The negotiations of this convention
have for 4 time postponed the prosecu-
ton Of certain claims of our citizens
which were declared to be without ju-
risdiction of the late Spanish American
claim commission and which we there
fore recomitted TO diplomatic channels
for adjustment. The speedy settle
ment OF the claims will now be urged
by the government.
The negotiations for treaty of COM
mercial reciprocity with the SouthAmer
cluded and the result will shortly be
tions between the United States and
the Ottoman Empire, still remain un-
solved; complaints in behalf of our
citizens are not satisfactorily adjusted.
The senate has sought to withhold from
our commerce the right of favored
treatment to which we are entitled by
existing conventional stipulations and
the revision of the tariff is unaccom-
! plished.
The final disposition of pending
questions with Venezula has not as
yet been reached, but l have good
reason to expect an early settlement
which will provide the means of re-
examining the Caracas awards, in con-
tOrlnity with the expressed desire of
congress and which will recognize the
justice of certain claims preferred
against VeneZcla. The Central and
South, American commission appoint
ed by authority of the act of July 9TH,
1884, will soon proceed to Mexico. 1t
has been furnished with instructions
which will be laid before you, they
contain statement of the general poll
cy of the government for enlarging its
commercial intercourse with the South
American states. The commissioners
have been actively preparing for their
responsible task by holding confer
ences in the principle cities with mer-
chants and others interested in Central
and South American trade. The in
ternal meridian conference lately called
in Washington upon the invitation Of
the government of the United States is
composed of representatives from
twenty-five nations. Tho conference
concluded its labors ON the 1st of No
vember, having with substantial unani-
nifty, agreed upon the Meridian of
Greenwich as the starting point whence
longitude is to be computed through
nd nsn Il
ward, and westward, and on the adop-
ton for all purposes for which it may
be found convenient of a 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 trans
actions of this conference will be here
after transmitted to congress.
THE EXPOSITION QUESTION.
This government is in frequent re-
ceipt Of invitations from foreign states
to participate in international cxhibi-
tons, often of great interest and i'm.
portance. Occupying as we do an ad-
vanced position in the worlds produce
ton, and aiming to secure a profitable
share tor our industri 9 IN the general
competitive markets, it is a matter of
serious concern that the want of means
for partlcipationin these exhibits should
SO 9atftefage t9atftefages sta1joed 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 the governments OF England,
Holland, Belgium, Germany and Au-
stria. The executive has in some in
stances appointed honorary commis-
sioners. This is, however, a most un-
satisfactory expedient, for without
some provision to meet the necessary
working expenses OF commission j.
can effect little, or nothing, in behalf
OF the exhibitors. An International in
veniors' exhibition is to be held in
London next May. This will cover a
field of special Importance in which
our country holds a foremost rank.
But the executive is at present power
less to organize a proper representation
OF our vast national interests in this
direction. have in several previous
messages referred to this subject. 1t
seems to me that statute giving to the
executive general discretionary author
ity to accept such invitations, and to
appoint honorary commissions without
salary, and placing at the disposal of
the secretary of state small fund for
defraying their reasonable expenses,
would be of great public utility.
FOREIGN MARINE LAWS.
This government has received official
notice that the revised international
regulations for preventing collisions at
sea have been adopted by all the lead
ing marine powers exct pit the United
States, and they came into force on the
| lst Of September last, for the due pro-
lection of our shipping interests. The
provisions of our statutes should at
once be brought into conformity with
these regulations.
The question of securing to authors,
composers and artists copyright privi-
leges i'll this country in return for re-
ciprocal rights abroad, is one that may
justly challenge your attention. 1t is
true that a convention will be necessa-
ry to fully accomplish this result; but
until congress shall by statute fix the
extent to which foreign holders of copy
right shall be here privileged, it has
been deemed inadvisable to create such
conventions.
THE BERNIE CONFERENCE.
| For this reason the United States
were not represented at the recent COLI
! ference at Berne. | recommend that
the scope of the neutrality laws of the
| United States be SO enlarged rs to COW
er all patent acts of hostility commit
ted in our territory, and aimed against
the peace of a friendly nation. Exist
ing statutes prohibit the fitting out OF
an armed expedition and restrict the
shipments of explosives. though the
enactmcnts in the latter respect were
not framed with regard to internation-
al Obligations, but simply for the pro-
lection 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 hOsilitics without
open resort to armed vessels OF To fill
clustering parties.
| THE NEUTRALITY LAWS.
| see no reason why overt prepara-
tions in this country, for the commits
sion of criminal acts, such as are mere
under consideration, should not be alike
! punishable, whether such acts are in
tended to be committed III our own
country or in 4 foreign country with
| which we are at peace. The prompt
and thorough treatment of this question
is one which intimately concerns the