Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-12-16
ID South American dependencies, but without re-

JIOn Jne tTeNGIeS Signed WIN bpNln and 6tlltO
Domingo, then pending before the Senate The
result has been to satisfy me of the inexped-
1ency of ent ring into engagements OF this
character not covering the entire traffic.
These treaties contemplated the surrender by
the United States of large revenues for made
quate considerations Upon sugar alone duties
We're surrendered to an amount far exceeding
all the advantages offered in exchange. Even
were it intended to relieve our consumers, it
was evident that SO long as the exemption but
partially covered our importation, such relief
would be il1usOry. To relinquish O revenue SO
essential seemed highly improvident at a time
when new and large drains upen the treasury
were contemplated. Moreover, embarrassing
questions would have arisen under the favored
nation clauses of treaties with other nations.
AS a further objection, it is evident that tariff
regulation by treaty diminishes that independ-
ent control it's revenues which is
essential for the safety and welfare of any
Government. An emergency calling for an in
crease of taxation may at any time arise, and no
engagement with foreign power should exist
to hamper the action of the Government.
TUNNAGE DUES
By the fourteenth section of the shipping act
approved June 26, 1884, certain reductions
ard contingent exemptions from tunnage
dues were made to vessels entering
ports of the United States from any foreign
port in North and Central America.
The West India Islands, the Bahamas and Ber-
mudas, Mexico nnd the Isthmus as far as Aspin-
wall and Panama; the Governments of Belgium
Denmark, Germany, Portugal and Sweden and
Norway. have asserted under the favored-nation
clause in their treaties with the United States a
claim to like treatment in respect to vessels
coming to the United States from their home
ports. This Government, however, holds that
the privilege granted by the act is purely geo
graphical, inuring to any vessel of any
foreign power that may choose to engage in
traffic between this country and any port within
the defined zone, and no warrant exists under
the most-favOred nation clause for the extension
Of the privileges in question to vessels sailing to
this country from ports outside the limitation of
the act. Undoubtedly the relations of COM
merce with our near neighbors, whose terri
tories form SO long frontier line difficult to be
guarded, and who find in our country and
equally offer to us natural markets, demand
special and considerate treatment. 1t rests
with Congress to consider what Legislative
action may increase facilities of intercourse
which contiguity makes natural and desirable
DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE.
[ earnestly urge that Congress recaSt the ap-
preparation for the maintenance of the diplo-
matte and consular service on q footing COM
mensurate with the Importance of our national
interests. At every post where q representative
is necessary, the salary should be SO graded as
to permit him to live with comfort. With the
assignment of adequate salaries the so-caI1ed
nOtarial eXtra-Official fees, which our Cficers
abroad ere now permitted to treat as
personal perquisites, should be done away with.
Every act requiring the certifcation and seal of
the officer should be taxable at schedule rates,
and the fec therefor returned to the treasury.
By restoring these revenues to the public use
the Consular service would be self-suppOrting,
even with a liberal increase of the present low
salaries. In further prevention of abuses q
system of consular inspection should be in
stituted.
The appointment of a limited number of
secretaries Of legation at large to be assigned
to duty wherever necessary, and in particular
for many causes may be without
head should also be authorized. I
favor also authorization for the detail of Off
GERS of the regular service, as military or naval
attaches at lega5ions.
Some foreign Governments do not recognize
the union of consular with diplomatic functions.
Italy and Venezuela will only receive the ap-
pontee in one of his two capacities, but this
does not prevent the requirement of q bond and
submission to the responsibilities of an Office
whose duties he cannot discharge. The super
added title of Consul General should be aban-
doned.
EXTRA TERRITORIAL. COURTS
deem it expedient that well-devised meas
ure for the reorganization of the extra territorial
courts in Oriental countries should replace the
present system, which labors under the disad-
vantage of combining judicial and executive
functions in the same Office
LEGATION PREMISES.
In several Oriental countries generous offers
have been made of premises for housing the
legations of the United States. grant of land
for that purpose was made some years since by
Japan, and has been referred to in the annual
messages of my predecessor. The Siamese
Government has made gift to the United States
of commodious quarters in Bangkok.
In Corea the late Minister was permitted to
purchase building from the Government for
legation use. In China the premises rented for
the legation are favored as 10 local charges.
At Tangier the house occupied by our repre-
sentative has been for many years the prop
erty of this Government, having been given
for that purpose in 1922 by the Sultan of
Morocco. I approve the suggestion heretofore
made that in view of the condition of life
and the administration in the Eastern
countries, the legation buildings in China
Japan COrea, Siam, and perhaps Persia, should
be owned and furnished by the Government,
with O view to permanency and security.
To this end [ recommend that authority be
given to accept the gifts adverted to in Japan
and Siam, and to purchase in the other countries
named, with provision for furniture and repairs.
considerable saving in rentals would result.
THE NEW ORLEANS EXPOSITION.
The Worlds Industrial Exposition, held at
New Orleans last winter with the assistance of
the Federal Government, attracted large num-
Der of foreign exports, and proved of great value
in spreading among the great concourse of WIS.,
itors from Mexico and Central and South Amer
lea wider knowledge of the various manu-
their availability in exchange for the products
of those regions
TARIFF ON WORKS OF ART.
Past Congresses have had under consideration
the ACCESSIBILITY of abolshing the discrimination
made by the tariff laws in favor of the works of
American artists. The odium of the policy
which subjects to a high rate of duty the paint
ings of foreign artists, and exempts the produc-
tions of American artists residing abroad, and
who receive gratuitOusly advantages and in
struction is visited upon our citizens engaged
in art culture in Europe, and has caused them,
with practical unaniInity to favor the abolition
or Sucn an Qngrac1OQS u1SC1DCC1On, ana III their
interest and for other obvious reasons 1 strongly
recommend it.
THE GOVERNMENT FINANCES
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
fully exhibits the condition of the public finan-
ces, and of the several branches of the Govern
ment connected with his department. The suo-
gestions of the Secretary relating to practical
operations of this important department. and
his recommendations in direction of sirnplificl-
ton and economy, particularly in the work of
collecting customs duties, are especially urged
upon the attention of Congress.
LAST YEARS REVENUE.
The ordinary receipts from ell sources for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1885, were 1922, $780,
706.39. Of this sum $191, 474 939 "a was received
from customs and Sis, 498, 1854 from internal
$2 829 .54 less than those for the year ending
June 80, 1884 This di1nunition embraces a fall
ing off of $13 $685. AZ in the receipts from Gus
toms and So 6S7 4697 in the receipts from inter
nal revenue.
EXPENDITURES.
The total ordinary expenditures of the Gov
eminent for the fiscal year were $3.50, 226, 935 So
leaving surplus in the treasury at the close of
the year of $63, 463, ~ This is $40 929 S54 80
less than the surplus reported at the close of the
previous year. The expenditures are CLASH
fed as follows: For civil expenses,
S23. 926, 1927 for foreign intercourse
So, 439, 909.n; for Indians. Sc, $50, 494 50
for pensions, $50 1922 267. 40 for the military in
Guiding river and harbor improvements and
arsenals, $40 SIC, 578.47; for the navy including
vessels, machinery, and improvements of navy
yards, $16,O21, 07969; for interest the public
debt IS, 1885, 256 At; for the District of Columbia
s., 400, 650.95 for miscellaneous expenditures
public buildings lighthouses and