The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-12-02

/ communication between our ports ana
! ports of such nations as may meet our over
! lures for enlarged commercial exchanges.
The steamship carrying the mails stately
and frequently and Offering to passengers
comfortable, safe and speedy transit Is the
first condition OF foreign trade. IL carries
the order or the buyer. but not all that Is
ordered or bought. IL gives to the sailing |
vessel such car.Oes a. are not urgent OF
perishable. and indirectly at least, promotes |
the important adjunct Of commerce. There |
is now both in this country and In the ma
tiOns OF Central and South America state |
Of expectance and confidence as 10 increased |
trade that will give double value to your
action upon this question.
The present situation Of our mail commu-
nicatiOn with Australia illustrates the inn
pOrtance Of early action Of Congress. The |
Oceanic steamship Company maintains
line Of steamers between san francisco,
sydney and Auckland cOnsIs ing OF three
vessels. two Of which are OF United States
registry, and one Of foreign registry. For
the service done by this line in carrying the
mails we pay annually the sum Of $4,000.
being. as estimated, the full sea and United
States inland postage. which is the limit
fixed by law. The colonies Of New South
Wales and New Zealand have been paying
annually TO these lines $1,000 pounds for
carry ing the mails from sydney and Auck-
land to san Francisco. The contract under
which this payment has been made Is no"
about 10 expire. and those colonies have re-
fused To renew the contract unless the
| United States shall pay more equitable
proportion of the whole sum necessary to
maintain the service. | am advised by the
| Posimaster-General that the United states
receives flr carrying the Australian mails
brought 10 san Francisco in these steamers
| by rail to Vancouver, an estimated annual
income OF $4,000, while as have
stated we are paying out for iht
support of the steamship line that
| brings this mail to us only $4,000.
leaving an annual surplus resulting from
this service Of $4,000. The trade Of the
| / nited States with Australia, which IL IN |
"A considerable part carried by these steam |
prs and the whole Il which IL practically |
dependent upon the mail communication.
which they maintain is largely IN our favor |
our total exports Of merchandise 10 Aus
fralian ports during the fiscal year ending |
June 30, 1890. were Sll .266 49,. while the |
| total impOrt of merchandise from thes'
ports were only N,2I1.6I6. II we are not |
willing 20 see this important steamship line |
Withdrawn. or continued with Vancouver |
substituted Tor san Francisco AS the Ameri |
| can terminal. Congress should put II IN the |
| power of the Posimaster.Generdl I" make |
! lat eral Increase in the amount now paid |
/ lI ANi AtAnslNl AaAt'n VI AhA' Ahl'iN'h'
mail.
The South Atlantic and Cult ports oc-
cupy very ayored position towards the
new and important commerce which tn |
reciprocity clause # the Farm act aud the
| Postal Shipping bill are designed 10 pre- |
NOTE steamship lines from these ports tu
some Northern port OF South America VIII
almost certainly effect connection be
| tween the railroad systems OF the con- |
tnents hong before ANY continuous line II
railroads can he put into operation. Ih, |
verg large appropriation made at the last |
session FIR the harburs of Galveston wa
justified. as ii seemed To me. by these con
-idpraiions. The gr. AZ North vest will ei |
| the advantage OF trunk lines to the south. |
40 we'll a. to the East and Of The ne~ |
markets opened for their surplus food |
products, and for many Of their manu-
lactured products.
INTERN ATIONAL AMERICAN BANK.
Ihad occasion in May last TO transmit to
Congress report adopted by the lnterna-
| tonaI Conference upon the subject OF tn |
! INCORPORATION of an international American |
bank. with a view 10 facilitating money |
| Xchnnges hctwecn the states repre- |
sented in that conference. Such an M
,utulion would greatly promote the
trade we are seeking 10 develop. |
renew the recommendation That cartiu
and well guarded charter be granted. ! DO
not think the powers granted should include
those ordinarily exercised by trust guaranty
| and safe deposit companies, or that more
branches in the United states should be
auth rized than are strictly necessary t.
accomplish the object primarily IN view
named convenient foreign exchanges. IL j.
quite important that prompt action should
be taken in this matter in order that an.
| appropriations for better communications
with these countries, and any agreements
that NAV be made for reciprocal trade may
| not be hindered by the inconvenience OF
making exchanges through European
money centres, or burdened 10y the tribute
which is an incident Of that method OF busi-
| ness.
SUPREME COURT RELIEF.
The bill for the relief of the Supreme
Court has after many years Of discussion,
reached a position where final action 10
easily attainable, and it is hoped that any
difference of opinion may be 30 harmoniZed
a. 10 save the essential features OF this very
important measure. In this conn. ctiOn
earnestly renew my recommendation mat
| the salaries Of Judges of the United states
District Court be SO read justed that none OF
them shall receive less s. 900 per annum.
SPANISH AND MEXICAN GRANTS.
The subject Of the unadjusted Spanish and
Mexican land grants, ana the urgent neces-
-ity for prOyidiug some commission or TIL
bunal for the trial Of questions OF title grow
ing out of them. were twice brought by me
| L the attention OF Congress at the last SEES
sion Bills have been reported from 10
proper committees in both houses upon the
subject. and | very earnestly hope that this
Congress will put an end 10 the delay which
mas attended the settlement OF the disputes
as to title between the settlers and the clai-
mants under these giants. These disputes
rrtard the prosperity and disturb the peace
Of large aud important communities. Inc
| Governor of New Mexico, in his last report
10 the secretary OF the Interior, suggested
some notifications of the provisions Of the
peudiny bills relating to the small holdings
# farm lands. | commend to your attention
the suggestion Of the Secretary Of the lnte-
rior upon this subject.
NATIONAL BANKRUPT LAW.
The enactment OF national bankrupt
law [ still regard ~ very desirable. The
Constitution having gwen 10 Congress Ju-
risdictiOn of this subject, IL should De eXer-
cised. and uniform rules provided Tor the
administration Of the affairs Of insOlyent
debtors. The iDconNeniences resulting
from the occasional and temporary exer-
Use of this power by Congress, and from
the conf. citing state codes Of insoiyenc!
|
should be removed by the enactment OF
simple, inexpensive, and permanent ma
ticual bankrupt law.
COPYRIGHT PROTECTION.
| also renew my recommendation In
f,yor Of legislation aiioriing copyright po-
lection 10 foreign authors. on iOoting OF
reciprocal advantage tor our authors
abroad.
SAFETY on RAILROADS.
II may sull be possible for this Congress
10 Inaugurate. by suitable legislation,
movement looking Ia uniformity and in
creased safely in the Use Of cOuplsrs and
brakes upon freight trains engaged IN inter
state commerce. The chief difficulty in the
way is 10 secure agreement as 10
the beat appliances, simplicity, effective
ness. and cost being considered. This
d fhcuty will only yield 10 legislation.
which should be based upon full inquiry
and Impartial tests. The purpose should
be To secure the cooperation OF sll
well-dspos1d managers and owners. oui
t..l IA ~ nos ~ +. Hala N.