Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-22
WASHINGTON NEWS,
Senator Frye's Congress of American
Nations.
WASHINGTON Feb .

NduOuSs
WASHINGTON, Feb. 81.
The following is the full text of the bill 10
be introduced on Tuesday by Senator Frye,t TO
provide for Congress of delegates from the
American republics
Be it enacted that the President be and
hereby is authorized and directed to invite,
on behalf of the government and people of
the United States, delegates from each of the
republics of Central and South Americs. Mex
leo and the empire of Brazil to assemble in
Washington on the - day of October. 1856.
to meet delegates on the part of the United
States to consider, and decide upon such
questions as may be 10 the mutual interest
and common welfare of tn American peo-
pie; that each of the independent nations of
the hemisphere shall be entitled to send as
manp delegates as it shall itself determine,
but in the determining questions in the Con
gress no delegation shall have more than one
vote.
Sec. 2d-That in forwarding the invitotion
TO the constituted authorities of the several
governments of the American Hemisphere,
the President of the United States shall set
forth that the Congress is called 10 consider :
First-Measures that tend TO preserve the
peace and promote the prosperity of the sew
eral republics and the empire of Brazil; to
perpetua,e and encourage republican form of
government upon this hemisphere, and to
present united resistance against the en-
croachment of European monichial power; to
settle disputes between the several nations.
by arbitration, without appeal to arms, aed to
preserve the present integrity and territorial
condition of each, as they exist, against for
chile dismembership.
Second-Measures towards the formation
of an American Customs Union, under which
the trade of American nations shall as far as is
possible, and profitable, be confined to Amer
lean waters, and there shall be free interchange
of the natural and peculiar manufactured
products of each.
Third-The consideration of lines of di-
rect regular and frequent steamship commu-
nication between the ports of the United
States and the ports of Central and South
America.
rourth-The establishment of a uniform
system of customs regulation in each of the
Independent American States, to govern the
importation and expectation of merchandise,
the classification and valuation of such mer-
chandise in the ports of each country, and a
uniform system of invoices.
Fifth-The adoption of a uniform system
of weights, and measures, and uniform laws
to protect the persons and property, the pa
tent rights and trade marks of citizens of
either country, in the others.
Sixth The adoption of a common silver
coin of the value of the gold dollar of the
United States, which shall be issued by each
government in such an amount, proportion
ate to the population of each, as may be de-
termined upon, the same to be legal tender in
all commercial transactions between the ma
tions of the American Hemisphere.
Seventh-An agreement upon and recon-
mendation for adoption to their respective
governments of definite plan of arbitration
of all questions, disputes and difficulties that
may now orshereafter arse between them.
Sec. 3.-That such delegates as may at
tend the said congress, shall be the guests Of
the government of the United States and
shall be entertained from the time of their ar
rival IN this country until their departure, in
such manner as shall be consistent with
the dignity of the nation, and the importance
of the duty they are appointed to perform,
and that the sum of 100000, or so much
thereof as may be necessary is hereby APP
propriated ou. of any money in the treasury
not otherwise appropriated, the same to be
distributed under the direction of the Secre-
tary of State.
Sec. THAT the President of the United
States. shall appoint by and with the advice
of the Senate, twenty-four delegates to the
said congress, selected equally from the po-
litlcal parties, one-half of whom shall be
chosen from the manufacturing, the export
ing, the importing and the agricultural inter-
ests of the country, and twelve of whom shall
have been learned in international law, and
said delegates shall serve without compen-
sation other than their expenses.
In an interview Mr.. Frye said that the OBJ
ject of this bill, as was shown in its several
sections, was to bring the nations OF the
American hemisphere into closer political
and commercial relations that while he did
not advocate any political compact, which
might involve the United States in complica-
tions with our sister republics, he believed
that a convention could be entered into under
could be exercised so as to preserve peace
and encourage the development of nations
that have been framed upon the model of
our own, and are striving to initiate us in all
of the features of our national greatness.
Mr.. FRYE said he should press this bill upon
the attention of the Senste, and believed 1t of
greater importance to agricultural, indestria
and merchantile interests of this country
than any that had been proposed for years.
Business of Congress.
Monday being Washington's birthday
neither houses of Congress will be in session.
The Blair educational bill remains unfinished
business of the Senate. Should it be disposed
of before the end of the week, Senator Hoar
will try to secure the right of way for the
bankruptcy bill, and Senator Platt will make
n = /. Al