The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-12-09

sui, without authority. assumed 10 grant it The
proceeding was promptly disavowed and the
over,zealous official recalled. Specil agents Of
inc tnree governments have been deputed to ex-
anime the situation in the islands With q
cnange IN the representation Of all three powera
an ana q harmonious understanding between them
.no peace, prosperity. autonomous administrA-
ton and neutrality of Samoa will hardly fail TO be
secured.
THE WEST INDIAN TARIFFN
1t appearing that the Government of Spain
did not extend to the flag of the United States
10 the Antilles the full measure OF reciprocity
requisite under our statute for the continuance
Oh the suspension of discrimination against the
Spanisn nag in our ports, l was constrained Ia
Octooer TO rescind my predecessors proclama.
ton OF February 14th 1884, permitting such sus-
pension. An Arrangement was, however, speedily
reached, and upon notification from the Govern.
ment OF Spain that all differential trea tment of
our vessels and their cafgoes, from the United
states or from any foreign country, had been
completely and absolutely relinquished / availed
myself Of The discretion conferred by l. W and
issued on the 9th OF October my proclamation
declaring reciprocal suspension in the United
States. 1t is most gratifying to bear testimony
10 the earnest spirit in which the Government of
tne queen regent has met our efforts TO avert
the Initiation OF commercial discrimination and
rcprisals, which are ever disastrous to The mate
Rial Interests and the poliiical good will of the
countries they may affect The profitable devel-
opment OF the large commercial exchanges be-
tween the United States and the Spanish Antil-
les IS naturally an object of sOlcitude Living
close at our doors, and finding here their
main markets OF supply and demand, the well
fare OF Cuba and Porto Rico and their produc-
tons and trade, are scarcely less important to US
than to Spain. Their commercial and finan-
ciai movements are so naturally part of
our system that no obstacle to fuller and freer
ShOult % fta1 v;af
standing instructions of our representatives at
Madrid and Havana have for years been to
leave no effort unessayed to further these ends.
and at no time has The equal good desire OF Spain
been more hopefully manifested than now The
Government OF Spain, by removing the consular
tonnage tees on cargoes shipped to the Antilles.
and hy reducing the passport fees, has shown its
recognition OF the needs of less trammeed inter
course
QUESTIONS OF NATURALIZATION
An effort has been made during the past year
TO remove the hindrances to the proclamation of
The treaty OF naturalization which the Sublime
Porte, signed in 1874, which has remained inon.
erative, owing 10 disagreement of The interpre.
tation OF the clauses relative to the effect of the
return to, and sojourn of a naturalzed citizen in
the land OF his origin. trust soon to be able
to announce favorable settlement of the
dlnerences as to this interpretation II has been
highly satIsactnrytO to note the inproye ed treatment,
OF American missionaries in Turkey as has been
attested by their Acknowledgements to our late
minister to that government of his successfully ex-
ertiOns in their behalf
The exchange OF ratifications of the conyen-
ton of December 5th, 1885, with Venezuela for
the reopening of the awards of the Caracas COM
mission under the claims convention of 1855 has
not yet been effected, owing TO the DELAY of the
executive OF that republic in ratifying the meas
ure. trust that this postpOnement will be brief
but should 1t much longer continue the delay
may 0e regarded as a RECESSION of the compact
ana failure on the part of Venezuela to com
piete an arrangement 80 persistently sought bv
ner during many years and assented to bv this
government in spirit of International fairness.
although To the deirment of holders of bona tids
awards OF the impugned commission
renew the recommendation of my last annual
message, that the existing legislation concerning
citizenship and naturalization be revised We
nave treaties with many States providing for the
remuneration of citizenship by na'uralized aliens.
but no statute is found to give effect to such en-.
gagements nor any which provides needed CEN
tral bureau for the registration of naturalized
citizens.
Experience suggests that our statutes regulat-
ing exradlti"n might be advantageouslv amend.
ed by provision ter the transit across our terri.
tory, now convenient thoroughfare of travel
from one foreign country to another of fugityes
surrendered by foreign government to a third
state Such provisions are not unusual N the
legislation ol other countries, and tend to pre-
vent the miscarriage of Justice 1t is also desir-
aoie, IN order TO remove present uncertainty,
that authority should he conferred on the Secre-
tary OF Slate to issue certificate in case of ar
resi- Tor the purpose of extradiiOn to the officer
before whom the proceeding is pending showing
that reqnlsltion tor the surrender oil the person
charged has been duly made. Such certificate,
II required To be received before the prisoners
examination, would prevent long and expen-
sive judicial inquiry into charge which the
Iorelgn government might not desire TO press [
also recommend that xpress provision be made
Tor Inc immediate discharge from custody of
persons committed for extradtion where the
president Is OF the opinion that the surrender
should not be made
THE COPYRIGHT CONVENTION
The drift of sentiment in civilized communi-
ties toward full recognition of the rights of prop
erty in the creations 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. 1nasmuch as the Constitution
gives 10 Congress the power to promote the pro.
gress of science and useful arts by securing for
limited times to authors and inventors the ex-
elusive right 10 their respective writings and
discoveries this government did not feel war
ranted in be >ming a sgnatory pending the &C
ton OF Congress upon measures of International
copyright now before it. but the right of adhc.
sion 10 Inc 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, 30 urgently pres ed, will be
duly needed. Representations continue to be
made to me of the injurious effect upon Ameri.
can artists studying abroad aud having free &C.
cess TO the art collection Of foreign countries, of
maintaining discrminative duty against the in
PRODUCTION OF the works of their brother artists
OF other countries; and am induced to repeat
my recommendation for the abolition of that
tax
THE CONSULAR SERVICE.
Pursuant TO provision of the diplomatic and
consular appropriation act approved January
1st, 1886, the estimates submitted by the Secre.
tary of State for the maintenance of the consular
service have been recast on the basis of salaries
for all officers TO whom allowance is deemed
advisable. Advantage has been taken of this to
redistrbute the salaries of the officers now ap-
propriated for in a. cordance with the work per-
formed, the importance of the representative
duties of the incumbent and the cost of living at
each post. The last consideration has too often
been lost sight OF In the allowance heretofore
The compensation which may sufice for the de-
cent maintenance of a worthy and capable off,
Ger in position Uf Onerous and representative
trust at post readily accessible and where the
necessaries Of life are abundant and cheap may
prove an inadequate pit ance in distant lands,
where the better part of years pay Is consumed
in reaching the post of duty, and where the CON-
forts of ordinary civilized existence can only be
obtained with difficulty and at exorbitant cost
ules, no mistaken theory OF economy will per-
petuate a system which 10 the past has virtually
closed TO deserving talent many Offices where
caDacity and attainments Of n hiVh order are in