Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-12-17
WEEKLY LEDGER
SUPPLEM ENT.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To the Senate and House of Representatives,;
The reports of the heads of the several
executive departments, required by ia"'
to be- submitted to me, which are here
with transmitted, and the report OF the
secretary of the treasury, and the at
torney general made directly to congress-
furnish a comprehensive view OF the ad-
m;nistrative work of the last fiscal year
relating to internal affairs. 1t would De
Of great advantage if these reports
could have an attentive perusal by every
member of congress, and by all who
take an interest in public affairs.
Such perusal could not fail to excite
n higher appreciation of the vast labor
and conscientious efforts which are
siven to the conduct of our civil admin
istration. The reports will, l believe,
show that every question has been ap-
proached, considered and decided from
the standpoint of public ddty, and upon
considerations affecting the public ln-
terests alone. Again, l invite to every
branch of the service the attention and
scrutiny of congress.
STATE DEPARTMENT..
The work of the state department
during the last year has been
characterized by an unusual num-
Der of important negotiations and
by diplomatic results of notable and
highly beneficial character. Among
these are the reciprocal trade arrange
ments which have been concluded. III
the exercise Of the powers conferred by
section 8 of the tariff law, with the re-
public of Brazil, with SPAN for Its west
India possessions and with San Do
mingo.
Like negotiations with other countries
have been much advanced and it is
hoped that before the close of the year
further definite trade arrangements of
great value will be concluded.
Behring Sea Question.
In view of the reports received as
to the diminution of the seal herds In
the Behring sea, deemed 1t wise to
propose to her majestys government IN
February last that an agreement for
the negotiations for arbitration which
then seemed to be approaching a favor
able conclusion. After much cores
pondence, and delays for which this
government was not responsible, an
agreement was reached and signed on
the 18th of June by which Great Britain
undertook, from that date and until
May /, 1892, to prohibit the killing by
her subjects of seals in the Behring sea.
and the government of the United States
during the same period to enforce its
existing prohibition against pelagic seal
ing, and to limit the catch by fur seal
Companies upon the islands to 1900
skins. If this agreement could have been
reached earlier, in response to the strenu-
ous endeavors of this government, it
would have been more effective, but
coming as late it did, it unquestionably
resulted in greatly diminishing the des-
truction of the seals by the Canadian
sealers. In my last annual message,
stated that the basis of arbitration pro
posed by her majesty's government for
the adjustment of the long pending con-
troversy as to the seal fisheries was not
acceptable. am glad now to be able
to announce that terms satisfactory tc
this government have been agreed upon
and that an agreement as to the arbitra.
tors is all that is necessary to the com
pletion of the convention. In view oi
the advanced position which this gov
ernment has taken upon the subject ol
international arbitration, this renewed
expression of our adherence to this
method for the settlement of disputes
such as have arisen in the Behring sea
will. doubt not, meet with the concur
renee of congress.
Boundary Lines.
Provision should be made for Join
demarkation of the frontier line between
Canada and the United States whenever
required by the increasing border settle
ments and especially for the exact loca
ton of the water boundaries in tn,
straits and rivers. l should have beer
glad to announce some favorable dispo
sition Of the boundary dispute between
Great Britain and Venezuela, touching
the western frontier of British Guiana
but the friendly efforts of the United
States in that direction have thus fa
been unavailing. This government will
continue to express its concern at an,
appearance of foreigen encroachment OF
territories long under the administrative,
control Of American states. The deter
mination of disputed boundary is easil,
attainable by amicable arbitration
where the rights of the respective par
ties rest, as here, on historic facts, read
lily ascertainable.
Trade Concessions.
The law of the last congress pro
viding a system of inspection fo
our meats intended for export, AM
clothing the president with powe
to exclude foreign products from ou
markets In case the country sending
them should perpetuate unjust discrim
nations against any product of tn
United States, placed this government i,
aposltlon to effectively urge the remova
of such determinations against on
meats. It is gratifying to be able t
state that Germany, Denmark, Italy
Austria and France, in the order named
have opened their ports to inspecte
American pork products.
The removal of these restrictions i
every instance was asked for and give
solely upon the ground that we had no1
provided meat inspect lion that shoul
be accepted as adequate to the complet
removal OF the dangers, real or fanciet
which had been previously urged. TIL
state department, our ministers abroad
AMI the secretary of agriculture hay
co-operated with unfagging and INTEL
gent zeal for the accomplishment of tn
great result. The outlines of an agre,
ment have been reached with German,
looking to e .uitable trade concessions
consideration of the continued free in
portation of her sugars, but the time hs
not yet arrived when this correspondent,
can be submitted to congress.
Relations with Brazil,
The recent political disturbances
the republic of Brazil have excited +
grst and solicitude. The infornatic
we possessed was too meagre to enab
as TO form satisfactory Judgment
the causes leading to the temporary a
sumption OF supreme power by Pres
dent Fonseca; but this government d
not fail to express to him its anxious $