The Dickinson press., 1884-12-06

Austria The executive has IN some In.
stances appointed honorary commissioners
This Ia, however, a most unsatisfactory ex
pedient, for, without some provision to meet
necessary working expenses Of . commits
sion, 1t can effect little or nothing in behalf
Of exhibitors. An International inventors
exhibition is to be held in London next
May. This will cover q field Of special i'm.
portance in which our country holds
foremost rank, but the executive is at pres.
emit powerless to organize q proper represen-
tation of our vast national interests in this
direction. I have in some previous messages
that q statute giving to the executive. gen.
eral discretionary authority to accept such
invitations and 10 appoint honorary CON-
missioners without a salary and placing at
the disposal Of the secretary of state a
small fund for %defraying their reasonable
This government has received official notice
that the revised international regulations for
preventing collisions at sea have been adopt
ed by all the leading maritime powers except
the United States, and came into force on the
LIST of September last For the due protec-
ton of our shipping interests, the provis-
ions of our statutes should at once be brought
into conformity with these regulations The
question of securing authors, composers and
artists copyright privileges in this country
in return for reciprocal rights abroad
is one that may Justly challenge your
will be necessary for fully accomplishing
this result, but until congress shall tx the
extent to which foreign holders of copyright
shall be here privileged, it has been deemed
inadvisable to negotiate such convention.
For this reason the United States were not
represented at the recent conference at
Berne. recommend that the scope of the
neutrality laws of the United States be SO
enlarged as to cover all patent acts of
hostility committed in u territory and
aimed against the peace Of a friendly nation.
Existing statutes prohibit the fitting out of
armed expeditions and restrict 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 Althese
statutes were framed to meet the special
emergencies that ave already arisen. Since
modern ingenuity supplies means for the
organization of hostilities without open re-
sort to armed vessels or to flibustering
parties, l see no reason why overt prepara-
ttonsin this country for the commi ssion of
criminal acts sue as are here under con
sideration should not be alike punishable,
whether such acts are intended to be COM
mitted in our w country or in a foreign
country with which we are at peace. The
prompt and thorough treatment Of this qnes-
ton Is one which intimately concerns the
national honor. Our existing
NATURALIZATION LAWS
also need revision. Those sections relating
to persons residing within the limits of the
United States in 1895 md 1898 have now
only q historical interest Section Pip,
recognizing the citizenship of the children of
naturalized parents, is ambiguous Units terms
and partly obsolete. There are special pro-
yiSiono of In VI fo vorinr tho natI1ra1izatiOn pf
those who serve In the army or in merchant
vessels, while no similar privileges are
granted those who serve in the navy or ma
r1ne corps. A uniform rule OF naturaliza-
ton, such as the constitution contemplates,
should, among other things, clearly define
States, subject to a foreign power %(section
1892, and of minor children Of fathers who
have declared their intention of becoming
citizens, but have failed to perfect their nat
uralization. 1t might be well to provide for
q central bureau of registry, wherein should
record of naturalization in the several fed
eral and state courts, and to make provision
also for the vacation or cancellation of such
record IN cases where fraud had been prac-
ticed upon the court by the applicant him
self, or where he had removed or forfeited
law in this respect would strengthen the
hands of the government in protecting
its citizens abroad, and would pave the
way for the conclusion of treaties
of naturalization with foreign countries.
The legislation of the last session effected in
the diplomatic and consular service certain
changes and reductions which have been
productive of embarrassment. The popula-
tion and commercial activity of our country
are steadily on the increase. and are giving
rise to new, varying and often delicate re-
latiOnships with other countries. Our for
eign establishment now embraces nearly
double the area of operations that it did
twenty years ago. The confinement of such
q service within the limits of expenditure
then established is not, it seemsto me, in &C.
.cordance with true economy, and a CON-
munity Of sixty millions of people should be
represented in its intercourse
with foreign nations. project for the re-
Il the consular service and. for
the scheme of extra territorial ju-
is now before you. Ii the limits of
q short session will not allow it's full consid-
Grafton, l trust you will not fail to make
suitable provision for the present needs of
the service. 1t has been customary to de-
fine in the appropriation acts the rank of
each diplomatic office to which a salary Is
attached. L suggest thab this course be
and that it be left to the presi-
dent, with the advice and consent Of the SEN
ate, to fix from time to time the diplomatic
grade of the representatives of this govern
ment abroad, as may seem advisable; pro-
vision being, definitely made, however, as
now, for the amount Of salary attached to
the respective stations.
FTNAN CvAr.