The herald., 1897-12-07

| qua canal, with q view OF making COM
plete plans Of the entire work of con-
struction Of such canal. Is now employed
in the undertaking. In the future
shall take occasion to transmit to Con-
gress the report of this commission,
making at the same time such further
suggestions as may then seem advisa-
BILE.
! THE MONETARY COMMISSION
Under the provisions of the act Of
Congress, approved March 3, 1897, for
the promotion of an international agree
ment respecting bimetallism, I ap-
pointed on the 4th day of April, 1897.
Hon. Edward o. Wolcott of Colorado,
Hon. Adlai E. Stevenson of Illinois and
Hon. Charles ]. Paine of Massachusetts
as special ENJOYS to represent the
United States. They have been diligent
in their efforts to secure the concurrence
and cooperation of European countries
in the international settlement of the
question, but up to this time have not
been able to secure an agreement con-
templated by their mission.
The gratifying action of our great Sis
ter republic of France in joining this
country in the attempt to bring about an
argeement between the principal COM
mercial nations of Europe, whereby
fixed and relative value between gold
and silver shall be secured, furnishes
assurances that we are not alone among
the larger nations of the world in real
izing the international character of the
problem and in the desire of reaching
some wise and practical solution of 1T.
The British government has published
Aol, tNiv, hx-
the French Ambassador in London ana
the special ENJOYS of the United States,
with whom our Ambassador in London
actively co-operated in the presentation
of this subject to Her Majesty's gov
ernment. This will be laid before Con-
gress. Our special ENJOYS have not made
their final report, as further negotiations
between the representatives of this gov
ernment and the governments of other
countries are pending and in contempla-
ton They believe that doubts which
have been raised in certain quarters re-
specting the possibility of maintaining
the stability of the parity between the
metals and kindred questions may yet be
solved by further negotiations.
Meanwhile it gives me satisfaction to
state that the special ENJOYS have al
ready demonstrated their ability and fit
ness to deal with the subject and it is to
be hoped that their labors may result in
an international agreement which will
bring about recognition of both gold and
silver as money upon such terms and
with such safeguards as we'll secure the
shall work no injustice to any class of
our citizens.
RECIPROCITY NEGOTIATIONS
In order to execute as early as possi-
BILE the provisions of the third and fourth
sections of the revenue act approved
July "a, 1897, appointed John A. Kasson
of Iowa a special commissioner plen-
ipotentiary to undertake the requisite
negotiations with foreign countries de-
string to avail themselves of these pro-
visions. The negotiations are now pro-
ceeding with several governments both
European and American. 1t is believed
that by careful exercise of the powers
conferred by that act some grievances
of our own and of other countries in our
mutual trade relations may be either re-
moved or largely alleviated, and that
the volume of our commercial exchanges
llldy De cIltl Std Will iQNdlleSSS "
both contracting parties.
FOREIGN COMMERCE
Most desirable from every standpoint
of national interests and patriotism is
the effort to extend our foreign COM
merce. To this end our merchant marine
should be improved and enlarged. We
should do our full share of the carrying
trade of the world. We do not do it now.
We should be the laggard no longer
The inferiority of our merchant marine
is justly humiliating to the national
pride. The government by every proper
constitutional means should aid in max
ing our ships familiar visitors at every
commercial port of the world, thus OPEN
ing up new and valuable markets to the
surplus products of the farm and the
factory.
PELAGIC SEALING
The efforts which had been made dur
ing the two previous years by my pre-
decessor to secure better protection to
the fur seals in the North Pacific ocean
and Bering sea were renewed at an early
date by this administration and have
been pursued with earnestness. Upon my
invitation the governments of Russia
and Japan sent delegates to Washington
and an international conference was
held during the months of October and
November last, wherein it was unani-
mously agreed that under the existing
regulations this species Of useful ami
mails was threatened with extinction and
that an international agreement of all
the interested powers was necessary for
their adequate protection.
The government of Great Britain dill
not see proper to be represented at the
conference, but subsequently sent to
Washington as delegates the expert COM
mssioners of Great Britain and Canada
who had during the past two years Wis
tied the Pribyloff islands, and who met
in conference similar commissioners on
the part of the United States. The re-
suit of this conference was an agree
ment on important facts connected with
the condition of the seal herd, heretofore
in dispute, which should place beyond
controversy the duty of the governments
concerned to adopt measures without
delay for the preservation and restora-
ton of the herd. Negotiations to this
end are in progress, the result of which
/ hope to be able to report to Congress
at an early day.
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION
International arbitration cannot be
omitted from the list of subjects claim
ing our consideration. Events have only
served to strengthen the general views
on this qustion expressed in my inaugu-
raj address, The best sentiment of the