The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-01-02


commercial movement between our domestic
ports, and to insure o removal OF the burdens
on shipping In the Spanish Indies, OF which
in the past our shipowners and shipmasters
| have SO often had cause to complain.
The negotiation of this convention has for
q time postponed the prosecution of certain
claims OF our citizens which were declared to
be without tho jurisdiction OF tho late Span
| ish- American claims commission, and which
| are, therefore, remitted 10 diplomatic chan
| nels for adjustment The speedy settlement
OF these claims will now be urged by this
government Negotiations for O treaty OF
commercial reciprocity with the Dominican
| republic have been successfully concluded,
| and the result will shortly be laid before the
senate. Certain questions between the
United States and the Ottoman empire still
remain unsolved Complaints in behalf of
our citizens are not satisfactorily adjusted
| The porte has sought to withhold from our
| commerce the right Of favored treatment to
| which we are entitled by existing conven-
| tional stipulations, and the revision of the
| tariff is unaccomplished. The final disposition
| OF pending questions with Venezuela has not
as yet been reached, but have good reason
| to expect an early settlement which will
provide the means of re-examining the
Caracas awards, In conformity with the OK
pressed desire OF congress, and which will
recognize the Justice of certain claims pre-
ferred against Venezuela
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
The Central and South American commits
sion, appointed by authority of the act of
July, 1884, will soon proceed to Mexico. 1t
has been furnished with instructions which
will be laid before you They contain o
statement OF the general policy of the gov
eminent for enlarging its commercial inter
course with American states The commits
sioners have been actively preparing for
their responsible task by holding confer
ences in the principal cities with merchants
| and others interested in the Central and
South American trade The international
Meridian conference, lately convened in
Washington, upon the invitation of the
government OF the United States, was com
posed OF representatives OF twenty-five ma
tons The conference concluded It's labors
on the LIST of November, having with sub
stantial unanimity agreed upon the meridian
| of Greenwich as the starting point whence
longitude is to be computed through $50
degrees eastward and westward. and upon
the adoption, for all purposes for which it
may be found convenient, of universal
day, which shall begin at midnight on the
initial meridian, and whose hours shall be
counted from zero up to twenty
four The formal report of the
transactions Of this conference will
be hereafter transmitted to congress-
This government il in frequent receipt Of in
vitations from foreign states to participate
in international exhibitions, often OF great
interest and Importance. Occupying as we
do an advanced position in the worlds pro-
uuCJiOli, anu 10 secure u
share for our industries in the general COM
patitive markets, 1t is a matter OF serious
concern that the want of means of partici-
patton in these exhibits should so often ex-
clude our producers from the advantages
| enjoyed by those of other countries During
| the past year the attention of congress was
| drawn to the formal invitations in this re-
gard rendered by the governments OF En-
| gland, Holland Belgium, Germany and
| Austria The executive has in some in
stances appointed honorary commissioners.
| This is, however, most unsatisfactory ex-
| pedient, for, without some provision to meet
necessary working expenses OF a commits
sion, II 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
| ent powerless to organize proper represen-
tation OF our vast national interests in this
direction have in some previous messages
referred to this subject 1t seems to me
| that a statute giving to the executive gen.
eral discretionary authority to accept such
| invitations and 10 appoint honorary COM
| missioners without salary and placing at
| the disposal of the secretary of state q
| small fund for defraying their reasonable
| expenses We uld be of great public utility
| This government has received official notice
| that the revised international regulations for
| preventing collisions ut sea have been adopt
| 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
| attention. 1t is true that 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, 1t has been deemed
| inadvisable to negotiate such convention
| For this reason the United States We're not
| represented at the recent conference ut
Berne. recommend that the scope of the
neutrality laws OF the United States be so
! enlarged us to cover all patent acts OF
hostility committed in our 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 tho enactments in 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 fiiDustering
| parties, see no reason why overt prepara-
| tions in this country for the commi ssion of
|
sderation 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 treatment Of 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 l10S have now
| only historical interest Section 2172,
recognizing the citizenship of the children OF
naturalized parents, is ambiguous In It's terms
| and partly obsolete. There are special pro-
visions of law favoring the naturalization Of
| those who serve in the army or i'll merchant
| vessels, while no similar privileges are
| granted those who serve In the navy or ma
| rine corps A uniform rule of naturaliZa-
| ton, such az the constitution contemplates,
| should, among other things, clearly define
| the status of persons born within the United
States, subject to foreign power (section