Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-12-02
Bel,rinx Sea Question.


ments touching the fur-seal question in the
behrlng sea Is not yet adjusted, as will be
seen oy the orrespondence which will soon
the question to arbitration proposed by her
maJestys government, has not been accepted
| for the reason that the form OF Submission
proposed is not thought to be ca lculated TO as
sure conclusion satisfactory TO either party.
~ Is sincerely hoped that before the opening
| may be effected which viii assure TO the
Dhited states property right, derived from
n Rassia, which was not disregarded by any
the outbreak of the existin trouble
In the tarin a wrong was done to the
| sumo was wholly unintentional. Duties We're
levied on certain commodities which are in
GUIDED In the reciprocity treaty now existing
between the unitei States and the kingdom
OF Hawaii without indicating the necessary
exception in favor of that kingdom. hope
congress will repair what might otherwise
| seem to be a breach Of faith on the part of
| this government
An award in favor of the United States in
the matter of the claim OF MIR. Vac Bokkelen
against Hayti was rendered on the 4th of
December, IsSS. but owing to disorders then
and afterward prevailing in Hapti the terms
| 81 payment were not observed. A new agree
ment as TO the time of payment has been APP
proves and is now in force. Other Just claims
Of citizens OF the United States for redress of
wrongs suffered during the late political con-
| fict Ia Hayt wi |. IL Is hoped, speedily yield
to friendly ire atment.
Propositions for the amendment ofthe treaty
or eXtradition between the Tn ted States and
| Italy are now under consideration.
You will be ask d to provide the means of ac-
ceptlng the invitation of the Italian govern
| ment TO take art in a approaching confer
ence to consider the adoption of universal
prime meridian from which TO reckon longi Jude
and time. As this pro osal follows in the
track OF the reform sought to ue initiated by
the maritime conference of W ashngton, held
on the Invitation of this government, the
United st ties should manifest a friendly in
terest in the ltali an proposal. In this connec-
ton may refer with a, proval TO the sugges-
N
on re made for acC epting VIII, never deemed
| advisable, the frequent Invitations of 10 eign
governments To snare IN conferences looking TO
| IN erna ionhl reforns in regard 10 science,
| sanitation, commercial laws and pro edure,
and other matters affecting til intercourse
ana progrt IS OF mo fern communities.
Delagoa Bay Railway.
In the sumIner of lSss an incident occurred
which foe some time threatened to interrupt
the ordia'ity of our relation with the gov
ment of Portugal. That government seized
the Delagoa BAY railway which was CONSTRUCT
ed under Ia concession granted to an American
citizen, and at the same time annulied the
charter. The eoncessionary, who had en-
barked his fortune in the enterprise having
exhausted other means of redress, WAS com ell
ed to invoke the protection of his government.
our representations, ma lie coincidenIalIy
with those of the Britt government, whose
subjects were also largely interested happily
resulted in the recos II ton by Portugal OF the
propTiety of submitting the lain for indem-
nifty growing out of its action TO arbitr,. ton.
The revision OF our treaty relations with the
leet OF conside ration anu correspondence.
The questions iavolved are both grave and
delicate; and while ii VIII be my duty 10 see
that the iuteresis of the United States ar not
by any changes exposed to undue ui-crimina
ton, | sincerely hope that such revision as
viii satisfy the legitimate eNl ectations OF the
Japanese government and maintain q pres
ent and long existing friendly rela lions be-
tween Japan and the United States will be
effected.
The friendship between our country and
Mexico, born OF lose neigh orhood and
strengthened by many considerations of init
mate intercourse and reciprocal interest," has
never been more conspicuous than now nor
more hopeful Of / creased benefit to both ma
tons. Tue intercourse al the two cOuntri by
rail-, already ervat, is IN King constant growth.
The esta blished lines, and those recently pro-
jected, add TO the intima OF traffic aud open
new ch nnels of ccess TO fresh areas of de-
mand and supply. The iinporIaGce of the
Mexican Railway system Wall DC further en-
HANGED, to a degree almt st impossible To fore
cast II II should become linz in the project
Ell intercontinentaE railway. | recommend
that our IN ssion in the City of mexico be
Spain and Cuba.
The cordial character OF our relations with
Spain warrants the hope that by the continu-
ance OF methods of friendly negotiations much
may be accomplish d in tile Il rection of IN
adj jqstment OF pendi z Questions and Of IN
crease of our trade The extent and deyelop-
ment OF o II trade with the island of Cuba in
vest the commercial relations OF the United
States and spain with peculiar Importance
IL Is now develOpe TIA At special arrangement
in rega d 10 Commerce. based upon the reel
posity provision OF the recent tariff act wouId
operate most benrii> tally for both gsvern-
ments. This subject is Receiving atten-
ton.
The restoration OF the remains of John Er
ricssOn to Sweden afforded IA gratifying occs
sion to honor the IN mory of the great inventor
and bear witness to the unbro en- fr endshiD
viii has existed between the land which Dore
him and oar own, which claimed him as a
citizen.
On the I'd of September last the commission
appointed TO revise the proceedings OF the com
mission under the claim invention between
the United States and Venezuela of IsfS
brought its labOrs to close within th. p-arind
liked for that purpose, The proceedings OF the
of importantly and a high sense Of Justice and
an incident which was for many years the sub
Ject OF diScussl between the two govern
Inents has been disposed of in ~ manner alike
honorable and satisfactory to both parties
FOR the settlement of thu claim OF the Tenezu-
elan Steam TRANSFORMATION comuany uhieh
was abe subject of 10 mt esolution adopted at
the las session of congress. negotiations are
still IN progress and their early conclusion is
anticipated,
The legislation of the pa few years has ev,-
denced on the part of G. ngress a growing re-
aiization OF the importance OF the cousular
service III fostering our commercial relations
abroad and in protecting the domestic reve-
nues. As the scope OF o Grafton expands in
creased provision must be made TO keep up Tia
essential standard OF eth iency. The necessity
Of some n equate measure OF supervision and
inspection has been 50 often presented that /
ton.
Government Finances.
The revenues OF the government from ALI
sources for the fiscal year ending June 81 lsgO
We're SOB 963,0sl55 and the tot / expenditures
for the same period were S:I5S. ills as4 az The
postal receipts have not heret fore been in
Guided IN the stat ment of th9se Aggregates
and for the purpose of comparison the sum OF
-tD,o ,U91.s2 should be deducted from both
sides of the account. The surplus for tue wear
Including the amount applied TO the sink ng
fund, was Si0i.3ii,4 GG3 The receipts for ls91
were Sl6.Io 9 3. 80 and the EXPENDITURES Z a.
1881 III excess of those of 1889. The customs
receipts Increased S5,c3l.S2.h rs and the receipts
from Internal revenue 81. 20. lglS9 while GA
the side of expenditures that Tor pensions was
Sigs3l2 ,O15.s6 In excess o. the preceding year
The treasury statement for the current fiscal
year. partly actua and partly estimated. / as
follows: Receipts from all sources, S40J. UElOist
total expenditures. S554U1,UO, leaving a sur
plus of Ss2,Uel.0U0 not taking the postal re-
ceipts into account on either side The loss of
revenue from customs for the last quarter il
estimated At sZ5,Uo0UO, but from this is de-
Quoted "a gain of about Sl6,01O,UJi realized dur
ing the first four months of the year Fo- the
year / 81 tue total estimai ed receipts are ID
$1,000 and the estimated expe dturss 50 -
o52, 9.+2 leaving an estimai ed sIIrnlu, of Sl5-
l41,I6Ooo which, with cash b. .Iarce of Sd2-
UI.U1 at the beginning Of the ear. viii give
Sbi ia ,,U.5S as the sums avaia he Tor the re-
demption OF outstanding bonus o. c.ner uses
The estimates of receipts and penditures for
the Postoifice Department. being equal. are not
lncluded IN lhls statement ON either side.
The act directing the purchase of silver bull
lion and issue of treasury notes thereon" ap-
proved July IA, l59l has been administered by
the Secretary Of the Treasury with an earliest
purl ose To get into circulation at the earliest
possible dates the 1ud monthly amounts OF
treasury notes contemplated by its provisions,
aud at the same time TO give the market for
silver bullion such support as the law contem-
plates The recent depreciation in the price
OF silver has been observed with regret The
rapid rise in prize which anticipated and fol-
lowed the pas age o. the a I was influenced in