Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-12-04

| SUBJECT 10 further delay.
comprehensive treaty of amity ano
commerce with Peru was proclaimed No
venber 7th last, and it is expected thai
under its operation mutual prosperity anC
good understanding will be promoted in
the 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 be only submitted for the approval OF
| the Senate. Like disposition of the claim
of Carlos Butterfield against Denmark, and
Han Balklen against Hayti, will probably
be made, and trust the principle of such
settlements may be extended in practice
under the approval of the Senate.
Through unforeseen causes, foreign TO the
will of both Governments, the ratification
OF the Convention of December 3, 1885,
with Venezuela, for the rehearing of claims
of citizens of the United States under the
treaty of 1866, failed to exchange within
the time provided, and a supplementary
| Convention further extending the time for
| the exchange of ratification and explain
atory of an ambiguous 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 making power
OF one branch of Congress, | advert to it in
view OF the interest repeatedly and con-
| spicuously shown by you in your legisla-
tive capacity in favor of speedy and equit-
able 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 representation of Venezuela in this
| regard, the time seems TO have arrived
to end this matter and | trust their
prompt confirmation by both parties of the
supplementary action referred TO will avert
the need of legislative or other action TO
prevent the longer Withholding of such
rights OF actual claimants as may be shown
to exist
CONGRESS OF AMERICAN STATES.
As authorized by the Congress, prelim-
mary steps have been taken for the assem-
bly, at this Capitol, during Inc coming
year, of the Representatives of the South
and Central American States, together
with those of Mexico, Hayti and San Do
mingo, to discuss sundry important none
| tary and commercial topics. Excepting in
those cases where, from reasons of contigu-
ity of territory and the expense of a rough
border line, incapable of being guarded
reciprocal commercial treaties may be
found expedient, it is believed that COM
mercial policies, inducing freer mutual
exchange of products, can be most advan-
tageously arranged by independent, but
cooperative, legislation in the mode last
mentioned. The control of our taxation
for revenue will be always retained in our
our own hands, unrestricted by conven-
tional agreements with other Governments.
MARITIME AFFAIRS.
In conformity also with Congressional
authority, the maritime Powers have been
invited to confer in Washington in April
next upon the practicability of devising
uniform rules and measures for the greater
security of life and property at sea. a dis
position to accept on the part of number
of the Powers has already been manifested,
and if the cooper alton of the nations
chiefly interested shall be secured import
ant results may be confidently anticipated.
The Act of June 26, 1884, and the Acts
amendatory thereof in relation to the ton
mage, duties have given rise to extended
| correspondence with foreign nations with
whom we have existing treaties of naviga-
ton and commerce, and have caused wide
and regretable divergence of opinion in re-
lation to the imposition of the duties re-
ferred to. The questions are important,
and shall make them the subject of a
special and more detailed communication.
NATURALIZATION ABUSES.
With the rapid increase of immigration
to our shores. and the facilities of modern
travel the abuses of the generous priyi-
leges afforded by our naturalization laws
call for their careful revision. The easy
and unguarded manner m which certifi-
Gates of American citizenship can now be
obtained has induced class, unfortunately
large, TO avail themselves of the oppor-
tunity to become absolved from allegiance
| to their residence to escape any Just duty
fNf1fi nf
of their proposed adoption. Thus, while
evading the duties of citizenship to the
United States, they make prompt claim
| for its National protection and demand its
| Intervention in their behalf. International
complications OF a serious nature arise,
and the correspondence of the State De-
partment discloses the great number and
complexity of the questions which have
been raised. Our laws regulating the issu-
ance of passports should be carefully re-
| vised, and the institution of a central bu-
reau of registration at the Capitol is again
| strongly recommended. By this means
| full particulars of each case of naturaliza-
ton in the United States would be secured
| and properly indexed and recorded, and
| thus many cases of spurious citizenship
would be detected and unjust RESPONSE
bilities would be avoided.
CONSULAR AND DIPLOMATIC SERVICE.
The reorganization of the'Consulsr serv-
| ice is a matter of serious importance to
our national interests. The number of
existing principal Consular offices is be-
| lieved to be greater than is at all necessary
for the conduct of the public business. 1t
need not be our policy TO maintain more
| than a moderate number of principal
Offices, each supported by a salary sufi-
eient to enable the incumbent to live in
comfort, and so distributed as to subordi-
nate the agencies of affairs over a consider
! able district.
repeat the recommendation heretofore
made by me, that the appropriations for
the maintenance of our diplomatic and
consular service should be recast; that the
so-called notarial or unofficial fee which
our representatives abroad are now per-
limited to treat as personal perquisites
| should be forbidden; that a system of Con-
sular inspection should be instituted, and
and that limited number of Secretaries of
Legation at large should be authorized.
THE WASHINGTON CENTENNIAL.
Preparations for the centennial celebra-
ton on April 80, 1889, of the Inauguration
of George Washington as President of the
United States, at the city of New York,
| have been made by a voluntary organiza-
ton of citizens of that locality, and believ-
ing that an opportunity should be afforded
for the expression of the interest felt
| throughout the country with this event, l
respectfully recommend fitting and CO.
operate action by Congress on behalf of the
people of the United States.
GOVERNMENT FINANCES.
The report OF the Secretary of the Treas
ury exhibits in detail the condition Of our
national finances and the operation of the
several branches of Government related to
| his department. The total ordinary rev.
enues of the Government for the fiscal year
| ending June 30. 1888, amounted to 1919, =
266, ,874 rs, of which S2l9,091, ,173 63 was re.
ceived from customs duties and $124, ,296. :
! S71 IS from internal revenue taxes. The
! total receipts from all sources exceeded
! those for the fiscal year ended June 50, 1887,
| by 81. .S62, ,797 10. The ordinary expendi-
lures of the fiscal year ending June 30,
1888, are $259653 95s 81, leaving q sur
! plus Of S1l9612, Lie D9. The decrease
| IN these expenditures es coynrared