The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-08
MEXICAN CONGRESS OPENS.
Extracts From President Diaz'
inaugural Message.

Mexico City, April 1.-President Diaz
opened congress this evening and began
his inaugural message with review of
foreign relations, and remarked that this
country had no difficulty with any for
eign government In referring to Cuba,
he said that whenever Mexican citizens
have been arrested and imprisoned in
the Instruction, the Mexican consul at
Havana has been successful in obtaining
their release.
With respect to the United States, he
referred to the extension of the term for
the completion of the international water
boundary commission by an agreement
between the two governments concluded
at Washington, November last. The eX-
tension is for one year, and the SUBJECT
for this commission is to settle the CON
troversy arising from changes in the bed
of the Rio Grande river and in that part
of its course where it forms the interna-
tional boundary. He also states that the
same commission has reported on the plan
for the construction of the dam of the
same river above El Paso. and says that
the Mexican minister at Washington is
negotiating treaty with the United States
government on lines recommended in the
report of the commission. He remarks
that the two governments have agreed to
submit to the arbitration of the Argen-
tine minister At Madrid, the claims
against Mexico of Charles Oberlander
and Barbara NJ. Messenger. growing out
of the arrest of the former by Mexican
officials on the border of Lower Cafor-
MIA. The arrangements for arbitration
of this claim have been reached under
the old treaty of Guadalupe, which pro-
vided for the submittal to arbitration OF
all controversies between the two nations
which can not be settled through dlpio'
matte channels, provided that arbitra,
ton is not applicable to special circum,
stances which do not exist in the present
instance.
In dealing with domestic affairs the
president alludes to the progress of pub
lie works throughout the country and de-
votes much space to the subject of edu.
cation.
Gold and silver mining continue &c
prosper.
He remarks that since his previous
message, in September, 2Oo3 mining
grants have been issued. During the
| leo amounted to $105,00O,O0O of which
mineral products contributed S11OOO,O0O
| In some of the mining camps of Mexico
great progress is being made in the ap
| plicatiOn of electricity generated from
water power for the operation of mining
and milling machinery.
The Mexican government has accepted
| the invitation to be represented by dele
gates at the fifth universal postal congress
| to meet at Washington in May.
The railway system of the country Ia!
| been extended since September by AZ.
| kiometers Twenty-Five new or mod
| fed charters for railroads have. beef
granted in the same time and only fou
| have been forfeited.
The financial condition of the govern
ment continues entirely satisfactory lnt
normal sources of revenue continue to in
crease In the first half of the presen
fiscal year the normal revenue amounted
to S25, 100000, which is more than hal
of the sum adopted as the basis for es
timating the revenue during the next fis
cal year. Import duties exceed collec
tons in the first half of last fiscal yea
by half a million, and the yield of staml
duties by nearly 100000.