The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-12-04

try holds a foremost rank; bnt the Executive is
at present powerless % organize proper repre-
sentatlon OF our vast national interests in this
direction have in several previous messages
referred TO this subject IL seems to me
that statute, giving TO the Executive
general discretionary authority TO accept
such invitations, and to appoint honorary
commissioners, without salary. and placing at
the disposal of the Secretary OF state a small
fund for defraying their reasonable expenses,
would be OF great public utility.
COLLISIONS AT SEA.
The Government has received official notice
that the revised international regulations Tor
preventing collisions at sea have been adopted
by all the leading maritime powers except the
OF September last For the due protection OF
our shipping interests, the provisions OF our
statutes should at once be brought into con-
formity 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 your attention
IL Is true that conventions viii be necessary for
fully accomplishing this result. But until
Congress shall by statute fix the extent TO
which foreign holders OF copyright shall be here
privileged it has been deemed inadvsable to
negotiate such conventions. For this reason
the United States were not represented at the
recent conference at Berne.
NEUTRALITY LAWS.
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 statues prohibit the
fitting out OF an expedition and restrict the
shipment OF explosives, though the enactments
in the latter respects were not framed with re-
gard TO international obligations, but simply
for the protection OF passenger travel. All
these statues were intended to meet special en-
ergencies that had already arisen. Other emer-
gencies have arisen since, and modern ingenuity
supplies means for the organization of hostlities
without open resort TO armed vessels, or to
nartiaS Il ana m rpa NV vaft
preparations in this country fer the commits
sion 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 a foreign country
with which we are at peace. The prompt and
thorough treatment of this question Is one
which intimately concerns the national honor
NATURALIZATION.
Our existing naturalization laws also need re-
vision. Those sections relating to persons re-
siding within the limits OF the United States
within 1875 and 1898 have now only his
torical interest. Section 2l72, recognizing
the citizenship OF the children of
its terms and partly obsolete. There are
special provisions of law favoring the natural
ization OF those who serve in the army or in
merchant vessels, while no similar privileges are
granted those who serve in the navy or marine
corps. uniform rule OF naturalization such
as the Constitution contemp!ates should, among
other things, clearly define the status of per-
sons born within the United States, subject to
a foreign power (Sec. 1892, and of minor
children of fathers who have declared their
intention OF becoming citizens but have failed
TO perfect their naturalization. IL might
be wise to provide for a central bureau of regis
try, 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 cancel
lation of such record in cases where fraud had
been practiced upon the court by the applicant
his acquired citizenship. just and uniform
law in this respect would strengthen the hands
of the Government In protecting its citizens
abroad, and would pave the way for the conclu-
sion OF treaties OF naturalization with foreign
countries.
DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE.
The legislation OF the last session effected in
the diplomatic and consular service certain
changes and reductions which have been pro-
ductive OF embarrassment The population and
commercial activity OF our country are steadily
on the increase, and are giving rise TO new
varying, and often delicate relationships with
other countries. Our foreign establishment now
embraces nearly double the area of operations
that IL did twenty years ago The confinement
of such a service within the limits OF expendi-
ture then established is not, il seems TO me, in
accordance with true economy. A community
of sixty millions of people should be adequate
ly represented in its intercourse with foreign
nations. A project for the reorganization OF the
consular service and for re-casting the scheme
OF extr territorial jurisdiction is now before
you. III the limits OF short session will not
allow its full consideration l trust you will not
fail to make suitable provision for 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 be abandoned, and that it be left to
the President, with the advice and consent of
the Senate. to fix from time to time the diplo-
matte grade of the representatives Of the Gov
eminent abroad as 1t may seem advisable, pro-
vision being definitely made, however. as now,
for the amount of salary attached to the respec-
tive stations.
THE CONDITION OF OUR FINANCES
Il Of fha hro,
the public service which are connected with the
Treasury Department are very fully discussed
in the report of the Secretary. 1t appears that
the ordinary revenues Tor the nScal year ended
June 80, 1884, were:
From customs. Sl95, 067, 4S9. 76
From internal revenue. ......... 12l, $50, 072.51
From all other sources. ......... 1866, 307. 65
Total ordinary revenues. 49,. .s34s, $40, 500. SO
THE PUBLIC EXPENDITURES
during the same period were:
For civil expenses. 800, 81 907.71
For foreign intercourse. ........... 1890 766.37
OF lholahS' o'4lo9ys ~
For pensions %, 429, DDS. SO
For the military establishment in
Guiding river and harbor improve
ments and arsenals. .........,.:. a9,42OG COS. SO
For the naval establishment, includ-
ing vessels, machinery and i'm
provements at navy yards........ 1922. COL
For miscellaneous expenditures, in
Guiding public buildings, light
houses and collecting the revenue. 1929, 1000
For expenditures on account of the
District OF Columbia. ............. 3.4070i9.62
For interest on the public debit. 54,57S 1878. 4S
For the sinking fund. ............ 46, 100 229. so
Total ordinary expenditures. 900, 9l6, 4S3. SO
Leaving a surplus of ....... 57,G03, 500. 90
AS compared with the preceding fiscal year,
there was net decrease OF over $2l 100000 in
the amount of expenditures. The aggregate re-
ceipts were less than those of the year previous
by about S54 10000 The falling off of revenue
from customs made up nearly $40, DOC, 900 of this
deficiency, and about 100000 of the
ceipts from internal taxation. The Sec
rotary estimates the receipts for the fis-
cal year, which will end June 80 1885,
at $3.50, 0O0,0 00 and the total expenditures ut
$500, 600 20l. 6, in which included the interest
on the debt and the amount payable to the sink
ing fund. This would leave a surplus for the en-
tire year of about $50, 100000.
THE VALUE OF EXPORTS
from the United States to foreign countries
during the year ending June 80 1884. was as fol-
lows
Domestic merchandise ............. 1874, 964, $50
Foreign merchandise ................. 15,54S,757
Total merchandise. $40, 513, 600
Specie. 61, l3J,jS3
Total exports of merchandise and
specie .tSO1, GAG 992
The cotton and cotton manufactures included
in this statement valued at sos 800 AIS, the
breadstufs at sl62,544, us, the provisions at
STA, 416,547 and the mineral oils at S47, 103,243.
IMPORTS.
During the same period the imports were
as follows: Merchandise, s667, 697,693 gold,
and silver, s37,426 ,262; total, sos, $50.
More than 63 per cent Of the entire value OF
imported merchandise consisted of the follow
ing articles Sugar and molasses, slO3, Si4, 2n;