Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-12-12
NATURALIZATION LAWS.

provision 6nO0l0 De made Tor 8 centf1
D bureau of record of the DEGREES of natur
9 aliEation granted by the various court
> throughout the United States now in
vested with that power. The right
. which spring from those domiciled il
the United States, especially whel
coupled with declaration of intention
. to become citizens, are worthy of defin
, ition by statute.
; The stranger coming hither with tn,
intent to remain, establishing his resi-
dence in our midst, contributing to tn,
general welfare, and by his voluntary
act declaring his purpose to assume tn,
responsibilities of citizenship, thereby
gains a status which legislation may
properly define.
}, RIGHTS OF ALIENS.
The laws of certain states and terri
tories admit q domiciled alien to the
local franchise, comforting on him the
rights OF citizenship to degree which
places him in the anomalous position Of
being citizen of state, and yet not Of
the United States, within the purview
of federal and international law. 1t il
important within the scope of national
legislation to define the right Of alien
domicilo as distin guished from federal
naturalization.
| OUR COMMERCIAL RELATIONS.
The commercial relations of the United
States with their immediate neigh bors
in, and with important areas of traffic
near our shores, suggest an especially
liberal intercourse between them and
the United States. Following the treaty
of 1888 with Mexico, which rested on
the basis Of reciprocal exemption from
custom duties, other similar treaties
were initiated by nv predecessor. Re-
cognizing the need of less obstructed
traffic with Cuba and Porto RIGA, and
met by the desire of Spain to succor
langnishing interests in the Antilles,
steps were taken to attain those ends Sy
q treaty of commerce.
A similar treaty was afterwards signed
| by the Dominion republic. Subsequent
ly overtures were made by her Britanic
majesty's government for like mutual
extension of commercial intercourse,
which the British, West Indian sand
South American dependencies, but
without result.
THE SPANISH TREATY.
On taking my Office 1 withdrew for re-
CAoAAihdCAOh tllO tIChUlC6 btRhOO Will
Spain and San Domingo, then pending
to satisfy me of the inexpediency of en-
tering into engagements of this charac-
ter not covering the entire traffic.
THE FAVORED NATION CLAUSE.
The treaties contemplated the surren-
der by the United States of large rev.
nues for inadequate considerations. Upon
sugar alone, duties were surrendered to
an amount far exceeding all advantages
offered in exchange. While this was in.
tended to relieve our consumers, it is
evident that so long as exemption but
partially covered our Importation, such
relief would be illusory. To relinquish
revenue so essential, seer1ed highly
improvident at time when new and
large drains upon the treasury we're con-
templated. Moreover, embarrassing
questions would have arisen under the
favored nation clauses of treaties with
other nations.
As further objection, it is evident
that tariff regulation by treaty dimin
ishes the independent control over its
own revenues, which is essential for the
safety and welfare of any government.
The emergency calling for an increase of
taxation may any time arise, and no en-
gagement with foreign power should
exist to hamper the action of the govern-
ment. By the fourteenth section of the
shipping act,approved June 26th 1884 GER
tain reductions and contingent exemp-
tiOns from tonnage dues were made as
to vessels entering ports of the United
States from any foreign port in North and
South America.
The West India Islands, the Bahamas,
the Bermudas, Mexico, the Isthmus, as
far as Aspinwall and Panama, Germany,
Portugal, Sweden and Norway, have as
serted, under the favored nation clause
in their treaties with the United States,
claim to like treatment in respect to
vessels coming to the United States from
their home ports. This government,
however, holds that the privileges grant
ed by the act are purely geographical
enuring to any vessel of any
foreign powers tnat may choose to en-
gage in traffic between this country and
any parts between the defined regions
and no warrants exist, under the most
favored nation clause, for the extension
of the privilege to vessels sailing to
this country from parts outside the limi.
tation of the act. Undoubtedly the re-
lations of commerce with our near
neighbors, whose territories form so
long a frontier line, difficult to be
guarded, and who find in our country,
and equally offer to US, natural markets,
demand special and considerate treat
ment. It rests with congress to consider |
what legislative action may increase the |
facilities of intercourse which contingency
makes natural and desirable.
CONSULAR SALARIES.
earnestly urge that congress Iecast |
the appropriationsfo for the maintenance |
of the diplomatic and consular service on |
footing commensurate with the import |
ance of our national interests. At every |
post where a representative is necessary, |
the salary should be 30 graded as to per
NIT him to live with com fort. With the |
assignment of adequate .laries, the
so called notarial extra fees, which our
officers abroad are now permitted to
treat as personal perquisites should be
done away with.
Every act requiring the certificate
and seal of the officers should be taxable
at schedule rates, and the fee therefor
returned to the treasury by restoring
these revenues to the public use. The
consulas service would be self-support-
ing, even with liberal increase of the
present low salaries, and in further pre-
vention of abuses system of consular
inspection should be instituted. The
appointment of limited number of Sec
retaries of legation at large to be assign
ed to duty wherever necessary, and in
particular for temporary service at mis-
sions which, for any cause, may be with
out head, should also be authorized.
favor also the authorization for the
de,ail of officers of the regular service as
military or naval attaches at legations.