The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-12-10

suit. On taking Office 1 withdrew for
| re.examination the treaties signed with
Spain aud San Domingo, then pending
before the senate. The result has been
TO satisfy me OF the inexpediency of en-
tering into engagements of this character
not covering the entire traffic.
The treaties contemplated the surrender
! by the United States OF large revenues
| for inadequate considerations upon eugaF
alone. Duties were surrendered to an
amount far exceeding all the advantages
offered in exchange for them. Were it
! intended TO relieve our consumers, Ii
| was evident that so long as exemption
| but partially covered our importation.
such relief would be Illusory. To relin-
! quish revenue so essential would be
highly improvident at time when new
and large drains upon the treasury were
contemplated; moreover embarrassing
i qestions would have arisen under the
favored nations clauses of
treaties with other nations.
As further objection 1t Is evident that
the tariff regulation by treaty dimLnishes
that independent control over Its own
revenues, which Is essential for the
safety and welfare of any government
An emergency calling for an increase Of
taxation might at any time arise, and no
engagement with foreign power should
exist to hamper the action OF the govern
ment. By the fourteenth section of the
shipping act, approved June 90, 1854,
certain reductions and continegetly ex-
emptions from tonnage dues were made
as to vessels entering ports of the
L. $. from any foreign ports
In North and Central America,
the West Indian Islands, the Bahamas,
Bermudas, Mexico, the Isthmus as far as
Aspinwall and Panama, Germany, Por-
tugal and Sweden and Norway have as
kasEVr slnvs SIna .In
in their treaties with the United States e
claim to like treatment in respect to YES
sells coming to the United States
from their home ports. This govern
ment, however, holds that the privileges
granted by the act are purely geographi-
cal, insuring TO any vessel Of any
foreign power that may choose to en-
gage In traffic between this country and
port within the defined zone and no
warrant exists under the most favored
nation clause for the extension of the
privileges Ia question TO vessels sailing
to this country from ports outside the
Limitation of the act. UndoubtedlyIthe
| relations of commerce with our near
neighbors whose territories form so long
frontier line difficult to be guarded,
and who find Ia our country and equally
Offer to US natural markets, de-
mand q special and considerate treat
ment. It rests with congress to consider
what Legislative action may increase
facilities of intercourse which contiguity
makes natural and desirable.
| earnestly urge that congress recast
the appropriations for the maintenance
of the diplomatic and consular service
on footing commensurate with the Inn
pOrtanca OF our national interests at
every post where a representative Is NEG
essary. The salary should be SO graded
as TO permit him to live with comfort
with the assignment OF adequate salaries.
The so called nOtarial extra official fees,
which our officers abroad are now per-
mitted to treat as personal peTquisites.
should be done away with.
Every act repairing the certificate and
seal of the officer should be taxable at
schedule rates and the fee thei efor re-
turned to the treasury. By restoring
these revenues to the public use the con-
sular service would be self-supporting,
even with liberal increase OF the pres
ent low salaries, and In further preven-
ton of abuses, system of consular in-
spection should be Instituted. The ap.
| pOlntment of limited number of secre-
taries of legation at large TO be assigned
to duty wherever necessary and In par
tleular for temporary service at missions
which Tor AEy c8use may be without
| a head, should also be authorized.
favor also the authoriz 4tion for the de-
tail OF officers OF the regular service as
military or naval attaches at legations.
Some foreign governments do not recog
nize the union OF consular with dlplO-
matte functions. Italy and Venezuela will
only receive the appointee In one OF hIs
two capacities, but this does not pre-
vent the requirement OF A. b. d. and
submission to the responsibilities of the
officer, whose duties he cannot discharge.
The fuperadded title of consul-general
should be abandoned at all missions.
| l deem 1t expedient that we'll devised
measure for reorganization OF the extra
territorial courts in Oriental countries
should replace the present system which
tla6ors under the disadvantage of COM
bining judicial and executive functions
in the same Office in several Oriental
countries. Generous offers have been
made of premises for housing Of Legal
lions of the United States. A grant Of
| land for that purpose was made some
years since by Japan and has been re-
ferred to IN the annual messages of my
| predecessors. The Siamese government
has made gift TO the United States of
commodious quarters In Bang KOk.
In CoreA the late minister was per-
mltted 10 purchase building Of the gov
ernment for the legation to use. In
China the premises rented for the lega-
ton are favored as tn local charges. At
TanGier tie house occupied by our rep
resentative has been for many years the
property Of this government. having been
given for that purpose in 1922 by the
sultan of Morocco. approve the sug.
gestiGn heretofore made, that In View of
the conditions of life and administration
| In the eastern countries, the legation
buildings In China, Japan, Corea, Siam
and perhaps Persia, should be owned
and furnished by the government, wifi q
view to peTmanency and security.
To this end | recommend that authority
be given to accept the gifts adverted TO
In Japan and Siam aud purchase In the
other countries with provision for furni-
ture and repairs. A considerable saving
In rentals would result. The worlds ia
dustrial e xposltion held at New Orleans
last winter with the assistance of the
number of foreign exhibits land proved
of great value In spreading among the
concouree of visitors from Mexico and
Central and South America q wider
knowledge Of the various manufactures
and productions Of this country and their
availability in exchange for the pro-
ductlOns of those regions.
Past congresses have had under con.
lsiderstiOn the adVisability Of abolishing
the discrimination made by the tariff
laws In favor of the works OF American
artists. The odium OF the policy which
subjects to q high rate of duty the paint
tings of foreign artists and exeDpts the
productions of American artists residing
abroad and who receive gratuitously the
advantages and instructions that are Wis.
tied upon our citizens engaged in art
culture Ia Europe and has caneed them
with practical unenlnity 70 favor the ab.
clifton of such ungracious distinction,
and In their Interests and for other OBJ