Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-09


United States must hold in their intercourse
with every power that the status of their citi-
Zens is to be respected, and full civil privileges
allowed 70 them without regard to creed, and
affected by no consideration, save those grow
ing out of domicilian return to the land of orig
inal allegiance, or, if unfulfilled personal obi
CATION which may survive, and municipal laws
or such voluntary return.
VENEZUELA TRUST FUNDS.
The negotiations with Venezuela relating to
the rehearing of the awards OF the Mixed Com
mission, constituted under the treaty of 1866
was resumed in view of the recent acqlieseence
of the Venezuelan Government in the principal
point advanced 10y this Government, that The
effects of the old treaty could only be set aside
by the operation of Il new convention A result
in substantial accord with the advisory sug-
Gestions contained in the joint resolution of
March s. 1855, has been agreed upon. and viii
shortly be submitted to the Senate for ratitica-
ton.
Under Section 1863 of the revised statnes all
funds held in trust by the United states and the
annual interest accruing thereon, when not
required by treaty, are TO be invested
in stocks of the United States, bearing Il rate of
interest not less than five per centufn nor an
mum. There being now no procurable stocks
paying so high n rate OF interest the letter of
the statue is at present inapplicable. but its
spirit Is subseTVed ny continuing to make in
veStments OF this nature in current stocks bear
ing the highest Interest now pSid The statute
however, makes no provision for the DISPOSAL af
such accretions it being contrary to the general
claims. | recommend the repeal of the pro
vision in question, aod a disposition. under Il
uniform rule, OF the present accumulations
from the investment of trust fands.
CITIZENSHIP AND SATURAIIzArIoN.
The inadcquacy OF existing legislation touch.
ing citizenship and naturalization demands
your consideration. While recognizing the right
of eXpatriation, no statutory provision exists
providing means for renouncing citizenship by
an American citizen, Datiye-bom or natural
lied, nor for terminating and yacating the i'm
proved acquisition Of citizenship. Even q
fraudulent decree OF naturalization cannot now
be canceled: The, privilege aud franchise Of
American citizenship should be granted with
care, and extended to those only who intend in
good faith to assume its duty and responsibility
When optalnlng It's privilege II shoHld be
withheld from those who merely. through the
forms OF naturalization. wish to at-emut escap-
ing duties with their original allegiance with
out taking upon them elves those of their own
status; or who may acquire the rights of Amcri-
can citizenship for no other than Il hostile pur-
pose towards their original Government These
evils have had many fragrant illustrations
! regard with favor the suggestion put forth
by one OF my predecessors that provision may
be made for II central bureau of record of the
DEGREES OF naturalization granted by the Various
Courts throughout the United States now in
vested with that power. The rights which
spring rom Il domicile in the United states, cs
pecially when coupled with a declaration of in
tention 10 become citizen, are worthy of defini-
ton by statute The stranger coming nither
with intent To remain. establishing his residence
in our midst, contributing to the general wei
fare, and by his voluntary act decIarin, his p1r-
pose 10 assume the responsibility OF citizenship,
thereby gains an inchoate status which legisla-
tiop may properly define.
The laws of certain States and Territories ad-
NIT domiciled alien to the local franchise
eonferring on him the rights of citizenship to a
degree which places him in the anomalous DO.
sition Of being citizen of the State ami vet not
OF the United States, within the pursiews of
federal and international laws. 1t is important
~ tIEag
slider this right of alien domcle as distin-
gulshed from federal naturalization.
EXISTING COMMERCIAL RELATIONS.
The commercial relations of the United States
with their immediate neighborS with import
ant areas of traffic near our shores, suggest au
especially liberal intercourse between them and
the United States Following the treaty OF 1883
with Mexico, which rested on the basis of reci-
procal exemption from customs duties, other
5 milar treaties were invited by nv predecessors
Recognizing the need OF Il less obStructed traffic
with Cuba and Porto Rica, and met By the desire
of Spain to succor her languishing interests in
the Antilles, steps were taken to attain those
ends by treaty OF commerce. a similar treaty
was afterwards signed by the Dominican Re
public. Subsequently overtures were made by
her Britannia Majesty's Government LOT Il like
mutual extension of commercial intercourse
with the British West Indies and South Amer
lean independencies but without result On
taking Office l withdrew for re-eXamination
the treaties signed with Spain and Santo Do
result has been to satisfy me of the ineXpediency
of entering into engagements of this character
not covering the entire traffic. These treaties
contemplated the surrender by the United States
OF large revenues for inadequate considerations
Upon sugar alone duties were surrendered to an
amount far exceeding all the advantages offered
i'll exchange. Even were it intended to relieve
our consumers, such relief would be illuSory
To relinquish revenue so essential seemed
highly improvident at a time when new and
large drains upon the Treasury were conteln-
flar
have arisen under the favored nations clauses
of treaties with other nations As flrthcr OBJ
lection, 1t Is evident that tariff regulation by
treaty dlminiShes that independent control over
its own revenues which is essential for the safety
and welfare of any government. An emergency
calling Tor an increase OF taxation may at any
time arise, and 10 engagement with foreign
power should exist TO hamper the action OF the
Government.
By the fourteenth section of the Shipping Act
approved June O. 1884, certain reductions and
contingent exemptions from tonnage dues were
made on vessels entering the ports of the United
states from any foreign port in North and Cen
tral America, the West India Islands, the Ba-
hamaS and BermudaS, Mexico and the Isthmus
as far as Aspiuwall and Panama. The Govern
mentS of Belgium, Denmark, Germany Portu-
gal, and Sweden and Norway have asserted url-
der the favorvd-naiion clause in their treaties
with the United States, claim o like treatment
IN respect % vessels coming to the United States
from their home ports. This Government holds
however, that the privileges granted by the
AIS are purely EGG-Tl pnlCal, mourning to Qnv
vessel OF any ior.ign power that may choose to
engage i'll traffic between this country and any
part within the defined zone and no warrant
exists. under The nOst-favored-natiou clause for
the eXte sipii OF the privileges in question to
vessels sal ilg to this country from ports outside
the limi'S Of the Act,
Undoubtedly the relations of commerce with
our near neighbGrs, whose territories form so
long frontier line difficult to be guarded, and
who hnd in our country and equally offer 10 lis
natural markets, demand special and consid-
crate treatment: 1t res S with Congress to con
sider what legislative action may increase the
facilities of intercourse which contiguity makes
material and desirable.
OUR CONSULAR SERVICE.
earnestly urge that Congress recast the ap-
for the maintenance of the diplo-
matte and Consular service on a footing COM
menSurate with the Importance of our national
interests. At every post where n representative
IS necessary, the salary should be graded so as
to permit him 10 live with comfort. With the
assignment OF adequate salaries, the so-called
notarial extra official fees, which our officers
abroad are now permitted to treat as personal
pre- requisites, should be done away with. Every
act recurring the certificati0n and seal of the
Office should be taxable at schedule rates. and
the fees therefore returned to the treasury. BY
restoring these revenues to the public use the
Consular service would be self-suppoIting event
with liberal increase of the present low sal
aries.
In the further prevention of abuses. a system
OF Consular inspection should be instituted.
appointment VI humber OF Sef'Te-
taries OF legation at large, to be assigned to
duty wherever necessary and, i'll particular, for
temporary service at missions which for any
cause, may be without head, should also be
authorized
favor also authorization for the details of
officers of the regular service as military or
naval attaches at legations Some foreign Gov
ernmenis do not recognize the union of Con
suar with diplomatic functions Italy and
Venezuela viii only receive the appointee in
one OF his two capacities, but this does not pre-
vent the requirement of bond and submission
to the responsibilities of officer whose duties
he cannot discharge. The superadded title
of ConsulGeneral should be abandoned at ali
missions.
] deem it expedient that a well-designed
for the reorganization of the extra
territorial replace the present system, which
labors under the disadvantage of combining
judicial and executive functions in the same
office.
GIFTS TO CoNsUIS.
In several Oriental countries generous offers
have been made of premises for housing the
Legation of the United States. A grant of land
for that purpose was made some years since
nual messages of my predecessors. The Siam
ese Government has made gift to the United
States of commodous quarters in Bankok. In
COFea the late Minister was permitted to pur-
chase a building from the Government for Iega-
ton use. IN China the premises rented for the
Legation are favored as TO local charges AZ
Tanghier the house occupied by our represent
atiye has been tor many years the PROPERTY of
This Government, having been given for that
purpose, in 1872, by the Sultan OF Morocco |
approve the suggestion heretofore made that in