The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-12-14


to further delays.
A comprehensive treaty of amity and COM
merce with Peru was proclaimed ON Nov. z,
last and IL Is expected that under its opera
tion mutual prosperity and good understand
ing will be promoted.
In pursuance Of the policy Of arbitration a
treaty to settle the claim Of Santos, an
American citizen, against Ecuador has been
concluded under my authority, and will DO
duly submitted for the approval of the senate.
Like disposition of the claim Of Carlos
Butterfied against Denmark, and of Van
Bokelen against Hayti, will probably be
made, and l trust the principle Of such set-
Elements may be extended in practice under
the approval Of the senate.
THE VENEZUELAN MATTER.
Through unforeseen causes foreign TO the
will OF both governments, the ratification Of
the convention of Dec s. 1885, with Vene-
zuela, for the rehearing of claims Of citizens
of the United States under the treaty of
1896, failed of exchange within the term pro-
vided, and n supplementary convention,
further extending the time for exchange of
ratifcations and explanatory Of an am
biguous provision of the prior convention
now awaits the advice and consent of the
senate
Although this matter, In the stage referred
to- concerns only the concurrent treaty maxi
ing power of one branch II congress, advert
TO it in view OF the interest repeatedly and
conspicuously shown by you, in your legisla-
tive capacity in favor of "a speedy and cquita.
BILE adjustment of the questions growing out OF
the discredited judgments of the previous
mixed commission of Caracas. With every
desire TO do justice to the representations Of
Venezuela in this regard, the time seems &c
have come to end this matter, and trust the
prompt confirmation by both parties of the
supplementary action referred to will avert
the need of legislative or other action TO pre-
vent the longer withholding of such rights OF
actual claimants as may be shown to exist.
As authorized by the congress- prelimin-
ary steps have been taken for the assemblage
at this capital during the coming year, OF
the representatives of South and Central
| American states, together with those Of
Mexico Hayti and San Domingo, to discuss
sundry important monetary and commercial
topics.
Excepting in those cases where, from rea.
sons of contiguity of territory and the ex-
istence of a common border line incapable of
| being guarded, reciprocal commercial treaties
| may be found expedient, it is believed that
commercial policies inducing freer mutual
exchange of products can be most advan-
tageously arranged by independent but CO..
| operative legislation.
In the mode last mentioned the control of
our taxation for revenue will be always re.
tanned in our own hands unrestricted by com
ventional agreements with other govern
ments.
In conformity also with congressional au-
thority the maritime powers have been in.
vited to confer in Washington, In April next,
upon the practicability of devising uniform
rules and measures for the greater security
| ofb and ut a tf,
accept on the part of number of the powers
has already been manifested, and if the CO.
operation of the nations chiefly interested
shall be secured important results may be
confidently anticipated.
The act of June 26, 1884, and the acts
amendatory thereof, in relation to tonnage
duties, have given rise to extended cores
pondence with foreign nations, with whom
we have existing treaties of navigation and
commerce. and have caused wide and regret
table divergence of opinion in relation to the
imposition of the duties referred to. These
questions are important, and l shall make
them the subject of a special and more de-
tailed communication at the present session.
ABUSE OF NATURALIZATION PRIVILEGES.
| With the rapid increase of immigration to
our shores and the facilities of modern travel,
abuses of the generous privileges affor ~ by
our naturalization laws call for their eful
revision
The easy and uuguarded manner in which
certificates of American citizenship can now
be obtained has induced a class, unfortu
nately large, to avail themselves of the op
portunity to become absolved from allegiance
to their native land and yet by a foreigi
residence to escape any just duty and cortri
button of service to the country of heir pro
posed adoption. Thus while evading the du
ties of citizenship to the United States they
make prompt claim for its national protec
ton and demand its Intervention in their be
half International complications of a seri
Gus nature arise, and the correspondence @
the state department discloses the great nun
Der and complexity of the questions whic
have been raised
Our laws regulating the issue of passport
should be carefully revised, and the institr
tion of a central bureau of registration a
the capital is again strongly recommended
By this means full par rticulars of each case c
naturalization in the United States would
secured and properly indeXed and recorded
and thus many cases of spurious citi2onshi
would be detected and unjust responsibilitie
would be avoided.
= The reorganization of the consular serviC
is a matter OF serious Importance to our ms
tonal interests. The number of existing priI
, cipal consular offices is believed to be create
the public business. 1t need not be our polio
70 maintain more than moderate numbC
o. principal offices, each supported by a sa
{ ary sufficient to enable the incumbent to liS
in comfort, and so distributed to secure I'll
convenient supervision, through subordinat
agencies, of affairs over a considerable di
trict.
| repeat the recommendations heretofo
made by me, that the appropriations for q
maintenance of our diplomatic and consult
service should be recast; that the so-calle
l. notarial or unofficial fees, which our repr
$ sentatives abroad are now permitted to tire;
as personal perqusites should be forbidde
, that system of consular inspection shou
d be instituted, and that limited number
d secretaries of legation at large should be a
> thorized
+ Preparations for the centennial celebratio
70 on April 80 1889, of the Inauguration
George Washington as president of 4
u United States, at the city of New York, ha
u been made by voluntary organizati
J. of the citizens of that locality, and believil
y that an opportunity should be afforded
d the expression of the interest felt througho
the country in this event, | respectfully r.
10 ommend fitting and cooperative action
NJ congress in behalf of the people Of the Unit
~ States.
10 THE NATIONAL FINANCES
IL The report of the secretary of the treasu
n exhibits in detail the condition Of our nati
'd al finances and the operations of the seve
he branches of the government related to
" department
IN The total ordinary revenues of the COVE
he ment for the fiscal year ended June 30, Is
amounted to S3f9, 256,0 GA 20, Of which So
ce 09l, ,l73 63 was received from customs dut
ry and Sl24, ,296,s ,s7l9S from internal revei
es taxes.
The total receipts from all sources exec
no ed those for the fiscal year ended June
ch 1887, by a. s62, 797 10,
IN The ordinary expenditures OF the COVE
ri ment for the fiscal year ending June 80, Il
go were $3.50, ,653, ,95S.6i, leaving surplus
ny Sll9,6l2, 1909
en- The decrease in these expenditures as CO
pared with the fiscal year endel June, Is
Dth was s,27s, 2!l. 30, notwithstanding the p
nal ment of more than 81, ,OOO, OOJ for pension
ith excess of what was paid for that purpos
ial the latter mentioned year
cd. The revenues of the government for
ow year ending June 80, 1889, ascertained for
ire quarter ended Sept, 50, lSSs, and estima
on for the remainder of the time amount