Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1884-12-04

raugua, an inland sea forty miies In width. arc
TO constitute part OF thu projected enter
This covers for actual canal construction
seventeen miles on tho Pafifc side and thirty.
six miles on the Atlantic. To tho United
States. whose rich territory on the Pacinc -
tically cut of from Communication by water
with the Atlantic ports, tho political and com.
scarcely be over estimated. II is believed that
when the treaty is laid before you the justice
and libcrality of its provisions viii command
universal approval at home and abroad.
This Government has more than once been
called upon of late 10 take action In fulfill
ment OF its international obligation toward
Spain, the agitation in the island OF Cuba,
hostile to the Spanish crown, having been
fomented by persons abusing the sacred
rights of hospitality which our territory
have been instructed to exercise vigilance
10 prevent attractions of our neutrality
laws at koy West and ut other points near tho
only instance where these precautionary
measures wsrgsuccessfully eluded the offend
ers, whom found In our territory, were sub
sequently tried and convicted. The growing
need of close relationship of intercourse and
traffic between the Spanish Antilles and their
natural market in the United States led
to the adoption, In January last, OF
commercial agreement looking to that
end. This agreement has since been super
seeded by more carefully framed ana com
to the Senate for approval 1t has been the
aim OF this negotiation 10 open such
favored reciprocal exchange OF productions
carried under the flag of either.country as TO
make the intercourse between Cuba and Porto
Rico and ourselves scarcely less 1nt-
mate than the commercial movements be-
tween our domestic ports, and to insure a Ie-
moYal of the burdens on shipping in the Span
ish Indies of which in the past our ship owners
and shp-masters have so often had cause to
complain. The negotiation of this convention
has for n time postponed the prosecution OF
certain caims OF our citizens which were de-
clared to be without the jurisdiction of tho
! Spanish American Claims Commission, and
which we therefore RENTED to diplomatic
channels for adjustment The speedy settle
ment of these claims will now be urged by THIS
The iinai disposition OF the pending ques-
| tOns with Venezuela has not rs yet been
| reached, but j have good reason 10 expect an
| early settlement which will provide the means
| of re-examining the Caracas awards, in CON
formity with the expressed desire of Congress,
and which will recognize the justice OF Ger
| tain claims preferred against Venezuela.
The Central and South American Commits
sion appointed by authority OF the act of July
| z, 1884, will soon proceed to Mexico. 1t has
been furnished with instructions which Will be
| laid before you. They contain u statement OF
the general policy of the Government for en-
larging its commercial intercourse with AMIR
lean States. The Commissioners have been
| actively preparing for their responsible task
cities with merchants and others interested in
| Central and South American trade. The in
| ternntional meridian conference lately con
vened in Washington, upon the invitation OF
the Government of the United States,
composed of representatives from TWEEN
ty-ive nations. concluded its labors
on the list of November, having with gu b.
stantial unanimity agreed upon the meridian
| of Greenwich rs the starting-point whence
longitude is u be computed through lSO
degrees eastward and westward, and upon
the adoption for all purposes for which It may
nan III midnight on tie Initial
meridian, and whose hours shall be counted
from zero up to twenty-four. The formal re.
| port of the transactions of this Congress will
| be hereafter transmitted TO Congress.
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS.
This Government is in frequent receipt OF
| invitations from foreign States to participate
in international exhibitions often of great in
| tcrest and Importance Occupying as we dc
| an advanced position in tho worlds produc
ton, and aiming to secure a profitable share
for our industries in the general competitive
| markets, IL is matter of serious concern
that the want OF means for participation
| in these exhibits should so often exclude
our producers 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 rendered by
the Governments OF England, Holland, Bel
GUM, Germany and Austria. The Executive
has in some instances appointed honorary
commissioners This Is however, n most un
| satisfactory expedient, for without some pro
| vision to meet the necessary working expense:
of n commission it can effect little or nothing
i'm behalf of exhibitors An International In
| NentOfS EXnlDltlOn Is 70 DC nclu IN IOIuOf
next May. This will cover field of special
Importance in which orr country holds u fore
most rank, but the executive Is at present
pOwerless to organize proper representation
Of our YAst nat2ppl " tAls
TO this subject. It seems to me that n statute
| giving to the executive general discretionary
authority TO accept such invitations and "a
appoint honorary commissioners, without
salary, and placing at the disposal of the sec
| rotary of state n small fund for defraying
their reasonable expenses, would be of great
| public utility.
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 atten
ton. 1t is true that conventions will be nee
| essarysfor fully accomplishing this result. But
until Congress shall by statute fix the extent
| to which foreign holders of copyright shall be
| here privileged, II has been deemed inadvlsa
bic to negotiate such conventions. For this
reason the United States was not represented
! at the recent conference at Berne.
| NEUTRALITY LAWS.
! recommend that the scope of the Neutral
ity laws of the United States be so enlarged ms
to cover all patent acts of hostility committed
| in our territory and aimed against the peace
| of friendly nation. Existing statutes pro
hibit the fitting out of an expedition and re
strict the shipments of explosives, though the
cnactinents In the latter respect were not
framed with regard TO international obliga
tions, but simply for the protection OF pas
senQer .travcL All these statutes were in
arisen since and modern ingenuity supplies
means for the organization OF hostilities with.
out oPen resort to armed vessels, or TO fiji.
| clustering parties. | see no reason why overt
preparations in this country for the commits
sion OF criminal acts, such as are here under
consideration, should not be alike punishable
| whether such acts are intended to be com
mtted in our own country, or in foreign
country with which we arc at peace. The
prompt and thorough treatment of this quos
ton is one which intimately concerns the ma
tional honor.
NATURALIZATION
Our existing naturalization laws also need
| revision. Those sections relating to persons
residing within the limits of the United States
within 1905 and lbs have now only Il historical
interest Section 2, liz, recognizing the citizen
ship of the children of naturalized parents is
ambiguous in its terms and partly obsolete.
There are special provisions of law fayoring
| the naturalization of those who serve in the
| army or in merchant vessels, while no sim
| liar privileges are granted those who serve
in the navy or Marine Corps. An uniform
! rule of naturalization such as the Const tu-
ton cOntempates should, among other things,
clearly define the status of persons born
within the United States, subject to a foreign
i power (Sec. 1922, 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 n central bureau OF regis
| try, wherein should be filed authenticated
| transcripts or every record OF natural
| iZation in the several Federal and State
| courts, and TO make provision also for the va
cation or cancellation of such record I'm cases
whore fraud had been practiced upon the
| court by the applicant himself or where he
| had removed or forfeited his acquired citizen
| ship. A just and uniform law in this respect
] would strengthen the hands of the Govern
ment in protecting its citizens abroad, and
would pave the way for the conclusion of
/ treaties of naturalization with foreign coun-
tries
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. Tho population