The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-07

:. NHro uotUer prObectlon Oh luf seals
~ une North Pacific ocean and Boring
ia a, were renewed at an early date by
W. unts aon administration, ana have Been DUR
sueo with aarnestness ITDon INV iDrise
oion .ne governments of japan and Rus
sra seh1 delegates to WASHINGTON and an
lnCerna tional conference was held during
, Gne months of October and November
tha. ~.,s IL was unanimously agreed
snao;es es tRe existing regulations This
spooion Vi useful animal was threatened
WIN extlnetlon and that an International
asreeinens Oh all the interested powers was
ueGossary Ior their ADEQUATE nrotectinn.
Ihe government of Great Brjtain did
nou seo propsr Go De represented at this
GGnIe!ense, pce subsequently sent to
Washington as delegates, the exuert cam
| missionsrs of Grea5 Britain and Ganada
who had during the past two veews VIC
| tied tns Pribilof islands Tana ~ 80
| in conference similar COMMUNICATES - ~
the part of the United States Ths rt,s,'ir
or THIS conference was an agreement on
Important iaots connected with the con-
dition of the seal herd heretofora in dis.
pute, which should place beyond cortro.
versy the duty of the governments CON
cerned to adopt measures without de1sv
| for the preservation and restoratinn Of
the herd. Negostations to this end are
now In progress, the result of which
hope TO be able to report to Congress at
an early date.
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.
International arbitration cannot he
omitted from the list of SUBJECTS
claiming our consideration. Evsnts
have only served to strengthen the general
| views on this question expressed In nv
inaugural address. Tine best sentiment
OF the oivilizsd world ia moving seward
the settlement OF differences between ma
tions without resorting TO the horrors Of
war. Treaties embodying these humane
principles on broad lines without in any
| way imperiling cur interests or our honor
snail have my constant encouragement.
THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
The acceptance by this government of
the invitation Of the republic of France
to participate In the universal exposition
lowed by the appointment of special
commissioner TO represent the United
| States in the proposed exposition with
| special references to the securing OF space
for ADEQUATE exhibit on behalf of the
United States.
The special commissioner delayed his
departure for Paris long enough to asoer-
tain the probable demand for space by
American exhibitors. His inquiries ie-
yeloped an almost unprecedented interest
In the proposed exposition and the in
formation thus required enabled him to
justify an application for much larger
allotment Of space for the American seq
tion than had been reserved by the exposi-
| tion authorities. The result YVES psrticu
larry FL atifying in view OF the fac5 that
/ the United States was one Of the last
countries to accept the invitation OF
France.
f. The reception accorded our special COM
| missioner was most cordial and he was
given every reasonable assurance that
the United States would receive oonsid
Grafton commensurate with the proportions
OF our exhibit. The report of the special
commissioner as to the magnitude and
| importance of the coming exposition and
the great demand for space by American
exhibitors supplies new arguments for
liberal and judioioua approximation by
Congress to the end that an exhibit fairly
representative of the industries and re-
| sources OF our country may be made in
an exposition which will Illustrate the
worlds progress during the nineteenth
century. That exposition ia intended to
be the most Important and comprenen-
sive Of the long SERIES of International
exhibitions. of which our own at Chicago
was q brilliant example. and il 10 desirable
that the United States should make a
worthy exhibition Of American genius and
skill and their unrivalled achievements
in every branch of industry.
THE NAVY.
The present Immediately effective force
Of the navy consists of four battlest,ips OF
the first elias. two of the second and forty
eight other vessels ranging from armorHd
cruisers to torpedo boats. There are I'M
der construction five batGleships of the
first GLASS; 16 torpedo boats and one SUBJ
marine boat No provision has yet been
made for the armor of three of the five
hattleships as 1T has heen impossible to
obtain 1t at the price fixed by Congress.
1t is Of great Importance thas Congress
provide this arrnor, as until then the
ships are OF no fighting value.
The present naval force. especially in
view of its increase by the chips now un-
der construction. while not as large as
that OF few other powers is formidable
| force; its vessels are the very best Of each
type and with hhe increase that should be-
made to it from sime TO time in the fu-
ture, and careful attention to keeping it
is well adapted to the necessities of the
country.
DRY DOCKS.
The great increase of the navy which
has taken place lin recent years was justi-
fed by the requirements for national de-
Tense and has received public appreciation.
The time has now arrived, however. VIII en-
| this increase, to which the country is
| committed should for time take the
form OF increased facilities commensurate
with the increase of our naval vessels It
is unfortunate raCt that there is only one
dock on the Pacific coast capable of dock
ing our largest ships and only one on
the Atlantic coast, and that the latter
has for the last six or seven months heen
under repair and therefore incapable of
use Immediate steps should be taken to
provide three or four docks OF this oapnoi-
| ty on the Atlantic coast, at least one on
! the Pacific coast and floating dock in
the Gulf This Is the recommendation of
a very competent board appointed to in
vestgate the subject.
OTHER NAVAL NEEDS.
There should also be ample provision
made for powder and projeotilss and 9th
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