Omaha daily bee., 1890-12-02

10 some OF the meas ureS, WnlCn seem 10 me
most important, now briefly call your at
tention.
| desire to repeat with added urgency the
recommendations containe ed In my last annual
message in relation to the development of
American steamship lines. The reciprocity
and and diminished If ' provision H'''O is
not contemporaneously made to encourage
the establishment of hrst-class steam com
municaton between our ports and the ports
of such nations rs may meet our overtures
for enlarged commercial exchanges. The
steamships carrying the mails stately and
frequently, and Offering to passengers com
Portable, safe and speedy transit is the first
condition of foreign trade. 1t carries the
order of the buyer, but not all that is ordered
or bought. 1t gives to the sailing vessels
such cargoes as are not urgent or perishable,
and indirectly at least promotes that import
ant adjunct of commerce. There is now
both in this country and in the ma
tions of Central and South America
a state of expectation and confidence as TO in
creased trade that will give double value TO
your prompt action upon this question. The
present situation Of our mail communication
with Aus straa illustrates the importance OF
early action by congress. The Oceanic team
ship company maintains line of steamers
between san Francisco, Sydney and Auck-
land, consisting of three vessels, two OF
which are of United States registry and one
this line in carrying the mails we pay an
nually the sum of SAG 900, being estimated the
full sea and United States inland postage,
which is the hmitfxed by law. The colonies
of New South Wales and New Zealand have
been paying annually TO these lines e31,0O0
for carrying the mails from Sydney and
Auckland to San Francisco. The contract
under which this payment has been made is
now about to expire and those colonies have
refused to renew the contract unless the
United States shall pay more equitable
proportion of the sum necessary to hold the
service. 1 am advised 10y the postmaster
general the United States receives for carry
ing the Australian mails brought to San
Francisco in those steamers by rail to Van
couver an estimated annual income Of So
600, while, as 1 have stated, we are paying
out for the support of the steamship line
that brings this mail to us only
$iG, 900, leaving an annual surplus resulting
from this service of $4,000. The trade of the
United States with Australia, which is in a
considera BILE part carried By these steamers,
and the whole of which is practically depcn-
dent upon the mail communication which
they maintain, Is largely in our favor. Our
total exports of merchandise to Australian
ports during the fiscal year ending June 30,
1890, were Sll ,2G6, asa, while the
total imports of merchandise from
these ports were oay 1927 ,676 If we
ship line Withdrawn orcontnued with Van
couver substituted for San Fran
cisco as the American terminal, con-
grcSs should put it in the power
of the postmaster general to make aliberal
increase in the amount now paid for the trans
portation of this important mail. The south
Atlantic and gulf ports occupy avery favored
position towards the new and important COM
merce which the reciprocity clause of the tar
if act and the postal shipping bill are de-
signed to promote. Steamship lines from
these ports to some northern port OF South
America will almost certainly effect connec-
ton between the railroad systems of the con-
tnents long before any continuous line of rail-
roads can be put into operation. The very
large appropriation made at the last session
for the harbOr of Calves ton was justified, as
it seemed to be- by those considerations. The
great northwest will feel the advantage of
trunk lines to the south as well as TO the east
and of the new markets offered for the sup
ply of food products and for many of their
manufactured products.
International American Bank.
/ had occasion in May last to transmit to
congress q report adopted by the interna-
tionalSAmercan conference upon the subject
of the incorporation of an international Amer
lean bank with view to facilitating money
exchanges between the states represented in
that conference. Such an institution would
greatly promote the trade we are seeking to
develop. renew the recommendation that
careful and well guarded charter be granted.
| do not think the powers granted should in
clude those ordinarily exercised by trust,
guaranty and safe deposit companies, or that
more branches in the United States should
be authorized than are strictly neces-
sary to accomplish the object primar
lily in view, namely, convenient foreign
exchanges. 1t is quite important that prompo-
action should be taker in this matter in order
that any appropriations in order for better
communication with those countries and any
agreements that may be made for reciprocal
trade may not behindered for the onvenience
of making exchanges through European
l,,,,,g ht alNtf.a
which is an incident ofthat method of busi-
ness.
Relief of the Supreme Court.
The bill for the relief of the supreme court
has, after many years of discussion, reached
aposition where final action is easily attain
able, and it is hoped that any differences of
opinion may be so harmonized as to save the
essential features of this very important
measure In this connection l earnestly re-
new my recommendation that the salaries of
the Judges of the United States district
courts be so readiusted that none of them
shall receive less than St, 900 per annum.
Spanish and Mexican Land Grants.
The subject of the unadjusted Spanish and
! Mexican land grants and the urgent necessity
| for providing some commission or tribunal for
| the trial of questions of title growing out of
| them were twice brought by me to the atten-
| ton of congress at the last session Bills
| have been reported from the proper commit
| tees in both houses on the subject and very
earnestly hope that this congress VIII put an
| end to the delay which has attended the set
| tlement of the disputes as to title between
| settlers and the claimants under those grants
| These disputes rotard the prosperity and dis
| turb the peace Of large and important COM
| munitieS.
| Small holdings of Fa rm Lands.
The governor of New Mexico in his last re-
| port to the secretary of the interior suggests
| some notifications of the provisions of the
| pending bills relating to the small holdings
| of farm lands. | commend to your attention
the suggestions of the secretary of the inte-
rlor upon this subject
| National Bankrupt Law.
| The enactment of national bankrupt law
/ still regard as very desirable. The consti-
tuition having given to congress jurisdiction
of this subject 1t should be exercised and uni
form rules provided for the administration OF
the affairs of insolvcnt debtors. The incon-
veniences resulting from the occasional tenn
porary exercise of this power by congress
and from the conflicting state codes of nsol-
vency which come into force intermediary
should be removed by the enactment of q
simple inexpensive and permanent national
bankrupt law
Copyright Protection for Auth ors.
also renew my recommendation in favor
of legislation afording just copyright protec
ton for foreign authors on footing of rcci
al ,,lu fam for aI,t ahrnn1