Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-12-05

Austria, The executive has N some in
stances appointed honorary commissioners
This is, however, a most unsatisfactory ex-
pedient, for. without some provision to meet
necessary working expenses of a commits
sion, it can effect little or nothing in behalf
OF exhibitors An International inventors
exhibition is to be held in London next
May. This will cover a field of special i'm
portance Ia which our country holds
foremost rank, but the executive is at.prss-
emit powerless to organize q proper rerresen-
tation OF our vast national interests IN this
direction, I have in some previous n essages
referred to this subject. 1t seems to me
that statute giving to the executive gen.
eral discretionary authority to accept such
invitations and 10 appoint honorary COM
nlissioners without salary and placing at
the disposal OF the secretary OF state a
small tnnd for defraying their reasonable
expenses would be of great public utility
This government has received ofhciai not1ce
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
1st of September last For the due protec-
ton of our shipping interests, the prOyls-
ions Of our statutes should at once be brought
into conformity with these regulations. The
question Of securing authors, composers and
in return for reciprocal rights abroad
is one that may justly challenge your
attention. 1t is true that q convention
will be necessary for fully accomplishing
this result but until congress shall fix the
extent to which foreign holders Of copyright
shall be here privileged, it has been deemed
inadyisable 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 our territory and
aimed against the peace Of friendly nation.
Existing statutes prohibit the fitting out Of
armed expeditions and restrict the shipment
OF explosives, though the enactmenrs III the
latter respect were not framed with regard
to international obligations, but simply for
the protection Of passenger travel All these
statutes were framed to meet the special
| emergencies that have already arisen. Since
modern ingenuity supplies means for the
organization Of hostilities without open re-
sort to armed vessels OR to hllbusterlng
parties, ] see no reason why overt prepara-
| tions in this country for the commi ssion of
| criminal acts such as are here under CON
| sideration should not be alike punishable,
| whether such acts are intended to be COM
mitted in our own country or in foreign
! country with which we are at peace The
| prompt and thorough treatnentOf this ques-
| 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 1875 and 1898 have now
! only historical interest Section 2172,
| recognizing the citizenship of the children Of
! naturalized parents, is ambiguous in its terms
and partly obsolete. There are special pro-
visions OF law favoring the naturalization of
| those who serve in the army or in merchant
| vessels, while no similar privileges are
| granted those who serve in the navy or ma
| rlne corps. \ uniform rule of naturaliZa-
| ton, slch as the constitution contemplates,
! should, among other things, clearly define
! the status OF persons born within the UniVed
| 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
! be filed authenticated transcripts of every
record of naturalization in the several fed
| eral and state courts and to make provision
| also for the vacation OF cancellation OF such
| record IN cases where fraud had been prac-
self, or where he had removed or forfeited
! his acquired citizenship A just and uniform
law in this respect would strengthen the
I hands OF the government in protecting
! it's citizens abroad, and would pave the
way for the conclusion of treaties
]
| The legislation of the last session effected III
! the diplomatic and consular service certain
| changes and reductions which have been
| productive of embarrassment The popnla-
| ton 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
a service within the limits Of expenditure
| then established is not, it seems to me, in &C
! cordance with true economy, and COM
muuity of sixty millions Of people should be
| adequately represented in its intercourse
with foreign nations. A project for the re-
| organization OF the consular service and fo1
| recasting the scheme of extra territorial jul
risdiction is now before you. If the limits OF
short session Will not allow it's full consid-
Grafton, 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 q salary is
attached. ! suggest that this course be
| abandoned, and that it be left to the presi
dent. with the advice and consent OF the sen
| ate, to tx from time to time the diplomatic
grade Of the repres entatlves of this govern
! ment abroad, as may seem advisable; pro
vision being definitely made, however al
now, for the amount Of salary attached tx
the respective stations.