The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-07
INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, TUESDAY. DEcEMBER T. 1880.

assumed to grant it. The proceeding was
promptly disavowed, and the ovsrzealous official
| recalled. Special agents Of the three govern
| ments have been deputed to examine the situa-
ton in the islands. With change in the rep
| resentation of all three powers and an harmoni-
| Gus understanding between them. the peace
prosperity, autonomous administration and
neutrality OF Samoa can hardly fail to be Sc
! cured.
1t appears that the government of Spain did
/ not extend to the flag Of the United States, in
the Antilles, the full measure of reciprocity req
/ uislte under our statute for the continuance of
the suspension Of determinations against the
| Spanish flag in our ports. l was constrained,
sor's proclamation of July IA. 1884.
permitting such suspension. An arrange
| ment was, however, speedily reached
| and upon notification from the government of
Spain that all difterential treatment of our yes
| sells and their cargoes from the United States
| or from any foreign country, had been completely
| and absolutely relinquished, / awaited myself of
the discretion conferred by law, and issued on
the 9th of October, my proclamation declaring
| reciprocal suspension IN the United States. 1t
Is most gratifying to bear testimony to the earn
est spirit in which the government Of the Queen
Regent has met effort to avert the initiation of
commercial determinations and reprisals, which
| are ever disastrous to the material interests of
the political good will of the countries they may
| affect. The profitable development of the large
| commercial exchanges between the United States
and the Spanish Antilles is natur-
ally an object OF solicitude. Lying
| markets of supply and demand. the welfare of
| Cuba and Porto Rico. and their productions and
| trade are scarcely less important to the United
| States than to Spain Their commercial and
| financial movements naturally part of
| our system that no obstacle to fuller and freer
| intercourse should be permitted to exist The
| standing instructions of our representatives at
| Madrid and Havana have for years been to leave
&C. L.
| at no time has the equal good desire of Spain
been more hopefully manifested than now.
The government of Spain, by removing the con-
sular tonnage fees cargoes shipped to the
Antilles, and by reducing passport fees. has
shown it's recognition of the need of less tram
meled intercourse.
An effort has been made during the past year
to remove the hindrances to the proclamation of
the treaty OF naturalization with the Sublime
Porte, signed in 1874, which has remained mop
erative. owing to disagreement of interpreta-
ton OF clauses relative to the effects of the re-
turn to and sojourn of naturaliZed citizen in
the land OF his origin. l trust soon to be able
to announce favorable settlement of the differ
ences as to this Interpretation. 1t has been
highly satisfactory to note the improved treat
ment of American missionaries IN Turkey,
has been attested by their Acknowledgements to
our late minister to that government OF his sue
cessful exertions in their behalf
The exchange of ratification of the conven-
ton of Dec. 5, 1885, with Venezuela, for the re-
opening of the awards of the Caracas
commission, under the claims convention
OF 1866 has not yet been effected, owing
to the delay of the executive of that republic in
ratifying the measure. / trust that this post
ponement will be brief but, should it much
longer continue, the delay may we'll be regarded
as rescisson Of the compact and failure on
the part OF VeneZula to complete an arrange
ment persistently sought by her during many
years and assented to by this government in a
spirit of international fairness although TO the
detriment of holders of bona fide awards of the
impugned commission.
renew the recommendation of my last an
nual message that existing legislation concern
ing citizenship and naturalization be revised.
We have treaties with many states providing
for the remuneration of citizenship by naturaiZed
Aliens but no statute is found to give effect to
such engagements, any which provides
a needed central bureau for the registration of
naturalized citizens. Experience suggests that
our statues regulating extradition might be ad
vantageously amended by a provision for the
transit across our territory, now a convenient
thoroughfare of travel from one foreign country
to another, of fugtives surrendered by foreign
government to a third state. Such provisions
are not unusual in the legislation of other coun-
tries and tend to prevent the fniscarrying of
justice. 1t is also desirable insAcaer to remove
present uncertainties, that autka&ftv should be
conferred on the Secretary of State to issue a
certificate. in case of an arrest for the purpose
OF extradition, to the officer before whom the
preceding is pending showing that requisi-
ton for the surrender of the person charged has
been duly made. Such q certificate if required
to be received before the prisoners examination,
would prevent long and expensive judicial in
curry into a charge which the foreign govern
ment might not desire to press. / also recon-
mend that express provisions be made for the
immediate discharge from custody of persons
committed for extradition where the President is
of opinion that surrender should not be made
The drift of sentiment In civilized communi-
ties toward full recognition of the rights of prop
erty In the creation of the human intellect has
brought about the adoption by many important
nations of an international copyright convention,
which was signed at Berne on the 18th of Sep
tember 1885. Inasmuch as the Constitution
gives to Congress the power to promote the
progress of science and useful arts by securing
for limited terms to authors and inventors the
exclusive right to their respective writings and
discoveries this government did not feel war
ranted in becoming a signatory pending the
action OF Congress upon measures OF interna-
tional copyright now before it, but the right of
adhesion to the Berne convention hereafter has
been reserved. / trust the subject will receive
at your hands the attention it deserves, and that
the just claims of authors, so urgently pressed,
will be duly needed.
Representations continue to oe made to me of
the injurious effect upon American artists study
ing abroad and having free access to the art col
lections of foreign countries, of antaining
discriminating duty against the introduction of
the works of their brother artists of other coun-
tries, and I am induced to repeat my recon-
mendation for the abolition of that tax
Pursuant to provision of the diplomatic and
consular appropriation act, approved July 1,
1886, the estimates submitted by the Secretary
of State for the maintenance Of the consular
service have been recast on the basis of salaries
for all officers to whom such allowance is deemed
advisable. Advantage has been taken of this
to redistrbute the salaries of the Offices now
appropriated for in accordance with the work
performed, tho Importance of the representative,
the duties of the incumbent and the cost of liv-
ing at each post The last consideration has
been too often lost sight of in the allowances
heretofore made. The compensation which may
suffice for the decent maintenance of a worthy
and capable officer in position of representa-
tive trust at post readily accessible, and where
the necessaries of life are abundant and cheap,
may prove an inadequate pittance in distant
lands, where the better part of years pay Is
consumed in reaching the post Of duty. and