The morning times., 1896-02-14
IT Is ON ITS LAST LEGS
Bureau of American Republics in
Financial Straits.
Director Furbish's Report Calls At
tention to the Countries That
Are Delinquent.

The Bureau OF American Republics es-
tablished as result of the Pan-American
Conference held in Washington seems TO be
in bad way financially. That is to say,
scarcely any of the South or Central Ameri-
can States appear disposed TO comply with
the obligations then assumed to pay their
proportion OF the expenses OF the OrganiZa-
ton.
Director Furbish, in charge of the affairs
of the bureau, in his annual report Just de-
hvered to Secretary OIney Tenews the sug
gestion heretofore made that meeting OF
the representatives OF the government form
ing the International Union should be held
for consultation as to the future work OF
the bureau.
In the report of the Pan-American Con-
ference leading TO the formation of the
bureau it was provided that at such meet
ings each government should have vote
and in the opinion of Mr.. FurbiSh the COM
pletion of the work in hand renders such
meeting absolutely necessary.
1t appears from the report that while all
the republics in the Western Hemisphere ex-
cept Chile were original parties 20 the organ
iZation of the bureau; Guatemala, Honduras,
Mexico, Nicaragu Paraguay, Peru, Saliva
dor, Uruguay and Venezuela alone paid their
quotas for the support in S94 and that in
1895, only two, Honduras and Venezuela,
and the latter only in part. liquidated their
debt to the United States for advances
made.
Section 12 of the Pan-American report
provided that the United states would adj
vance the money annually, not to exceed
$50, 900. and section 1 Z provides as follows:
This union shall continue in force dur
ing term of ten years from the date OF
It's orga nization; and no country becoming
a member OF the union shall cease 10 be Il
member until the end of said period of ten
years. Unless twelve months before the ex-
piration of said period a ma jority OF the
members of the union shall have given TO
the Secretary of State of the United States
official notice of their wish to terminate
the union a. the end of its first period. the
union shall continue TO be maintained for
another period OF ten years and thereafter.
under the same conditions, for successive
periods of ten years each.'
For the next year Congress is asked to Sp-
propriate SOS, ,000 for the maintenance of
completing the code OF nomenclature trust
ing to the future to collect the proper
quota from South and Central America re-
publics.
Regarding the proposed meeting of those
concerned to consider the future of the
bureau the report says:
1T was obviously necessary that the or
ganiZation Of the bureau should be made
under the direction of a representative OF
the country in which it was located. Ac-
ceptance of this trust by the United States
carries with it responsibility for such thor
ough administration as will secure TO the
people represented every possible benefit.
The responsibility can not be discharged
by mere perfunctory performance OF the
special duties named by the conference. The
officials of the International Union have
accepted responsibility beyond that of citi-
zens and officials of a single republic. They
are representatives of political entity
unique in its nature and based upon the
highest ideaIs-that of extending friendly
| relations sbetweenpeOple animated by a COM
mon desire for the development OF the prin-
| ciples of self-government and of individual
| liberty on this continent.
IF the administration OF this trust is to
| be measured by the power and opportunities
| possessed by the people represented, may
be excused for pressing the suggestion that
| frequent consultation by officials of every
republic composing the union is most de-
| sirable."