Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-12-10

,tIPSl III the lDIl0lflH HtllNHN III lhN
United states which lead to beneficial eN-
changes.
Tue convention to adjust the claims of
our citizens during ne civil war i'll Peru
is under consideration. The mission of
Lieut.. Schentzr, In appreciation of the
kindness of the S,berlaus III aiding our
Arctic voyage, has been accomplished and
it is pleasant to note its appreciation by
the Russian government. Special agents
OF Germany, Great Britain and the United
States have been dcputed to examine the
situation ut the Samoan islands where
lhe interests of the countries nave been
inperilled hy internal disSensiOnS.
The improved relations with spain in
the matter of trade with the Antilles
caused 10y spanish concessions Is highly
spoken of and commented upon. me
president trusts soon to be enabled to an
nuuuce the hlndrance to the operation OF
the naturalization treaty with Turkey
which has been in operation since in 1871
owing to misiuteIpreiatiOn. the improved
treatment of American missionaries IN
Turkey is noted the exchange Of the rati-
iicatiOus of he convention with \eueHuelH
for rcOpcnluG the awards OF the Caracas
commission not vet been effected owing
To the delay of the Venezuela executive.
should puStpuuemeut muCn longer con
liuut the delay may we'll he regarded rs Il
rc~cieiun of the compact and Il failure on
the part of Venezuela 10 complete the ar
langemcnt 50 persistently sought by her
tor many wears The recommendation OF
the last annual me,Naga that existing leg
slatlUn concerning citizenship and natura-
llHatiun he revised is renewed. We have
treaties with many States providing for he
remuneration of citizenship by naturalized
alieus, but no statute 10 give elect to such
engagements nor any which provide Il
needed central bureau for registration Of
naturaIiZed citizens.
ENTRAD1TION MATTERS.
Our statutes regulating eXtradition
might be aGVapta1cOuSly amended 10y Il
provision for transit across our territory
from one foreign country to auotheri of
fugltives surrendered by foreign gov
ernmeut to thrd State. 1t * also de
-nable to remove the present uncertainty
aud delay that power he conferred upon
the secretary of state to issue a certificate
in c use of arrest for the purpose of extra
dition to the officer before whom the pro-
ceciirgs are pending; also recommend
that express provision be made for the
immediate discharge of the persons com
mittcd for eNtlHditluu where the president
i, Of the opinion that he surrender should
not he made.
lie trusts that the subject of the inter
national copyright VIII receive from Con
4rcss the attention ii deserves, and that
the Just aims of the authors be duly
Needed. The recommendation for repeal
of tax on paintings 10y foreign artists is
renewed IN relation 10 the reCast O1 the
estimates of the secretary Of state Of the
estimates for the maintenance Of the con
sular service on Il basis Of salaries for all
Ulcers to whom such allowance il deemed
advisable, the president says he hopes no
mistaken theory OF economy will perpetC-
ate a system which in the past was WRIT
tually closed TO deserving talent.
TARIFF REFORM.
The president especially directs the at
tcntion OF Congress to that portion of the
secretary of the trea-uIN's report touching
simpIiiCatlou and amendment of the laws
relating to the collection OF our revenues
and hopes that ia the interest of economy
and Justice to the government they MAY
De adopted by appropriate legislation.
| again urge upon the consideration of
the government that III view OF the fact
| that the revenues exceed lis actual needs
| legislation should he taken to relieve the
| people from an unnecessary burden OF
| taxation. The application of TIE surplus
TO the payment OF such portion of the
public deut as is now at our option, sub
| iect to eNtinguishmeut, if continued at the
| rate which lately prevailed, would retire
this class of Indebtedness within one yeal
| from this date; we should then be con
| trOnted with a vast quantity of money
! the circulating medium OF the people
boarded in the treasury when it
should be in their hands, or We
! should he driven into Wa~teful pub
lie extravaganza with all the corrupliul
national decentralization when follows II
| its train. When more OF the peoples
! substance is eXacted through the form of
! taxation than Is necessary to Il Just Oh
! legation OF The government and expense o
Of its economical administration, such eX
action becomes ruthless eNtOrtlOn aud q
violation of the fundamental principles o
free government. As every patriotic
citizen rejOices in constantly increasIn.
pride of our people in American citizen
ship and IN the glory of our natiOna
achievements and progress, sentiment
prevails that the leading strings uSetu
TO nation in its infancy may he well Il
a great extent discarded in the preseu
stage of American ingenuity, courage ant
fearless self reliance and for the privileg,
of INDUCING thi, sentiment with tru,
American enthusiasm, our citizens
are quite willing to forego al
and all people know that the aVerag,
rate of federal iuactiOn upon the import
to-day in a time of peace are bat Il littl,
less, while upOn some articles OF necessar!
consumption il is actually more than wa
imposed during the war, and then vii
} llngly borne, when the government need
ed millions to preserve the integrity O
the Cu,on. In readJusung the burden
OF the federal taxation sound public polio,
requires such If our citizens who built III
large and important Industries under tn
} present conditions should nor bt ~uddenl.
: and Ia their injury deprived OF the advan
= td5es 10 which they have adapted thel
business. but if the public good requires i
. they should be content with such Il con
sidrration as shall deal fairly and eau
tiOus'y with their interest, while the jus
demand OF the people for relief from need
less taxation is honestly answered.
The relation of the wOIkingman t
the revenue laws of the cuuntr
and the manner in which it pa
baby Influences the question Of wage
! should not be forgotten IN the lust
: liable prominence given to the proper SUI
ply and protection of small paid labor an
those considerations suggest such an al
rangement of government revenues a
shall reduce the expenses of living Will
it does not curtail the opportunity fo
, work nor reduce the compensation {
! American labor and injurously effect II
condition. But our farmers and agrlcu
turalistS are perhaps more directly an