Madison times., 1885-12-19

liar treaties were initiated By my
predecessor Recognizing the need
OF less obstructed traffic with Cuba
and Porto Rica, and met by the desire of
Spain to succor Ian gushing interests In
the Antilles, steps were taken to attain
those ends by treaty OF comnGrce. A
Dominican Republic subsequently over
lures were made by Her Brtanic Majesty's
Government for like mutnai exten-ipn OF
West India and South American deDen-
denotes, but without result. On tax
ing office j withdrew for re-examination
the treaties signed with spain and san d.
mingo, then pen ding before the Senate. The
result has been to satisfy me OF the mex
pediency OF entering into engagements of
fc. These treaties contemplated the sur
render by the United states OF large
revenues for inadequate considera-
tlons. Upon sugar alone duties were sur
rendered to an amount far exceeding all the
advantages offered In exchange. Then, were
It intended to relieve our customers, It was
evident that so long as the exemption but
partially covered our importation such re-
lief would be illuSory. To relinqutsh rev
enue so essential seemed highly imprOvi-
dent at a time wneu new and large drains
upon the Treasury were contemplated.
Moreover, embarrassing questions wodld
have arisen under the favored nation clauses
of treaties with other nations.
TARIFF REGULATION By TREATY.
Asa further objection, It is evident that
tariff regulation by treaty diminishes that
independent control over It's own revenues
which s essential for the safety and welfare
of any Government An emergency exist
ing for an increase OF taxation may Mt any
time arise and no engagement with tor
eign power should exist to hamper theaction
of the Government BY the fourteenth sec
ton OF the shipping Act, approve June 2s,
1891, certain reductions and contingent ex-
emptions from tonnage dues werelnade asto
vessels enter ng ports OF the United states
from any foreign port in North and Central
America The West India Islands, the Bahia
mas and Bermudus, Mexico and the lsthmus
as far as Aspnwall and Panama. the Gov
ernments of Belgium, Denmark Germany,
serted under the favored nation clause In
their treaties with the United states, claim
to like treatment in repect to vessels
| States from their home ports. The
| Government, however, holds that the privf-
leges granted by the act are purely geo
| graphical, inuring to any vessel OF any for
| eign power that may choose to engage In
| traffic between this country AMI any port
within the defined zone: AM no warrans
| for the extension OF the privileges In ques-
| ton to vessels sailing to this country
| from ports outside the Limitation OF the
| act. Undoubtedlyth the relation OF commerce
| with our near neghbors, whose territories
form so long n frontier line dihcult to be
! guarded, and who find in our country and
| equally offer to us natural markets, demand
| special and considerate treatment. IL rests
| with Congress to consider what leg 81 ative
action may Increase facilities of intercourse
| which cOntiguty makes natural and desir-
| able.
| SALARIES OF CONsULs.
| earnestly urge that Congress recast the
| appropriations for the maintenance of the
| diplomatic and consular service on foot.
| ing commensurate with the Importance OF
% representative Is necessary, the salary
should be so graded as to permit him to live
in comfort. With the assignment of ade-
Quate salaries the so called notoriai extra.
| official fees, which our officers abroad are
now permitted to treat as personal per
quisites, should be done away with
as,ss Gyssy and aSi ssaprns ssa the the seer
should be taxable at schedule rates. and the
fee therefor returned to the Treasury. by
restoring the revenue to the public use the
consular service would be self-sdpporting,
even with liberal increase of the present
low salaries. In further prevention VI abuses
system OF consular Inspection should oe
| instituted. The appointment OF lmfteo
number of secretaries of legation at large, to
be assigned to duty wherever necessary
and In particular for temporary service al
missions which for any cause may be with
out a head should also be authorized.
MILITARY AND NAVAL LEGATION ATTACHES
favor, also, an appropriation for the de-
tail of officers OF tho regular service as mill
tary or naval attaches at legations. Some
foreign governments do not recognize the
|
tions Italy and Venezuela will only re-
ceive the appointee in one OF his two ca
| pacities. but this does not prevent tine
| requirement of Il bond and submission &C
the responsibilities OF an officer whose du
ties he can not discharge. The superadde6
title ofConsul- General should be abandoned
at all missions.
EXTRA JUDICIAL COURTS IN ORIENTAL coUs
TRIES.
Ideem it expedent that a we'll devised
f-~ 81 .izaf n
judicial courts In Oriental countries shoulc
| replace the present system which labor
| under the disadvantage OF combining 1udl
cial and executive functions in the same OF
fee.
HOUSING THE LEGATIONS.
; In several oriental countries, generous Of
fers have been made OF premises for hous
. ing the legation of the United States. A
grant of land was made some years since by
Japan and has been referred to In the an
nual messages OF my predecessor INT
Siamese Government has made gift o tn
United states Of commodious quarters u
Bangkok. In Corea the late Minister wa
permitted to purchase building from tn
. Government for legation use: In China
the premises rented for the legation ar
favored as to local charges. At Tangier TN
, | been for many years the property OF thi
Government, having been given Tor that pur
pose in 1872. by the Sultan of Morocco aI
that in view of the conditions @
life and administration In tn
, | Eastern countries, the legation build
. haps Persia, should be owned and furnish o
by the Government. with view to pei
. | manency and security. To this end recon
{ mend that authority be given to aceep. ,n y
; | gifts adverted to In Japan and Siam, ana {
| pure ,ase In the other countries named wit
/ | provision for furniture and repairs. cor
, siderable saving in rentals would result
l. RESULTS OF THE WORLDS INDUSTRIAL EXPO
. srrIoN.
The Worlds Industrial Exposition, held a
New Orleans last winter with the assistanc
of the Federal Government, attracted lare
q number of foreign exhibits and proved {
: great value in spreading among the cor
: course of visitors from Mexico ana Oentrs
y and South America Q wider kno Wedge OF IN
: various manufactures and productions {
!, this country and their availability In ex
: change for the productions OF those region
q DIsCRIMINARIoN IN FAVOR OF NATIVE Artist T
/. Past Congresses have had under consider
: alton the advisability OF aooiishing tne ais
q of the works OF American artists rhe odl
: um OF policy which subjects TO a mig n rat
OF duty the paintings OF foreign artists an
O exempts the productions OF American al
!. lists residing abroad, and who receive graf
Il uitously advantages and instruction. is WI
!. tied upon our citizens engaged In art euitul
n tlcal unanimlty, to favor the abolition I
!. such an ungracious distinction, ana In the
!. interest, and for other obvious reasons,
y strongly recommend IL.
q CIVIL, SERVICE REYoRN-No RELAXATION
i rrs PRINCIPLES TO BE EFFECTED.
e The report OF the Civil Service Comm
y sion. which will be submitted, contains
3 account of the manner In which the ely
service law has been executed during g
!. mast wear, and much valuable informatit
% on this mpor tant subject: