The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-12-07

ity and cost of construction OF the MIC
aragua canal, with a view of making
complete plans for the entire work of
construction of such canal" is now en-
ployed in the undertaking. In tie fu-
ture 1 shall take occasion to transmit
to congress the report of this commits
sion, making at the same time such fur
Their suggestions as may then seem adj
visable.
Bimetallism.
Under the provisions of the act of
congress approved March 3, 1897, for
the promotion of an international agree
ment respecting bimetallism,I appoint
ed on the 14th day of April, 1897, Hon
Edward O. Wolcott of Colorado, Hon.
Adlai e. Stevenson of Illinois and Hon.
Charles J. 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 graf
flying action of our great sister republic
of France in joining this country in an
attempt to bring about an agreement
among the principal commercial ma
lions of Europe, whereby a fixed and
relative value between gold and silver
shall be secured, furnishes assurance
that we are not alone among the larger
nations of the world in realizing the in
ternational character of the problem
and in the desire of securing some wise
and practical solution of it. The Brit
ish government has published resume
of the steps taken jointly by the French
ambassador in London and the special
ENJOYS of the United States with whom
our ambassador at London actively CO.
operated in the presentation of this sub
ject to her majesty's government. This
will be laid before congress.
Our special ENJOYS have not made
their final report, as further negotia-
lions between the representatives of this
government and the governments of
other countries are pending and in con-
temptation They believe that doubts
which have been raised in certain quar-
tiers respecting the position of main
tanning the stability of the parity be-
tween the metals and kindred questions
may yet be solved by further negotia-
tons. Meanwhile it gives me satisfac-
ton to state that the special ENJOYS
have already demonstrated their ability
and fitness to deal with the subject, and
it is to be earnestly hoped that their
labors may result in an international
agreement which will bring about rec
ognition of both gold and silver as
money upon such terms and with such
safeguards as will secure the use of
both metals upon a basis which shall
work no injustice to any class of our
citizens, In order to execute as early
as possible the provisions of the third
and fourth sections of the revenue act
approved July "a, 1897, ] appointed the
Hon. j a. Kasson of Iowa a special
commissioner plenipotentiary to UNDER
take the requisite negotiations with for
eign countries desiring to avail them
selves of these provisions. The negoti-
ations are now proceeding with several
governments, both European and Amer
| lean. 1t is believed that by a careful
Exercise of the powers conferred by that
act some grievances of our own and of
other countries in our mutual trade re-
lations may be either removed or large
ly alleviated and that the volume of our
commercial exchanges may be enlarg-
ed with advantage to both contracting
parties.
Foreign Commerce.
| Most desirable from every standpoint
of national interest and patriotism is
the effort to extend our foreign COM
merce To this end our merchant ma
rine should be improved and enlarged
We should do our full share of the car
rying trade of the world. We do not dc
it now We should be the laggard nc
! longer The inferiority of our merchant
marine is justly humiliating to the ma
tional pride. The government by every
| proper constitutional means should aiC
in making our ships familiar visitors
at every commercial port of the world
thus opening up new and valuable mar.
kets to the surplus products of the farm
and the factory.
Sealing Question.
The efforts which had been made dur.
ing the two previous years by my pred
| ecessor to secure better protection Of
fur seals in the North Pacific ocean anC
Behring sea were renewed at an early
| date by this administration and have
been pursued with earnestness.
Upon my invitation the governments
of Japan and Russia sent delegates tt
| Washington and an International con
| ference was held during the months
of October and November last wherein
it was unanimously agreed that under
the existing regulations this species O
| animals was threatened with extinction
and that an international agreement O.
all the interested powers was necessar!
for their adequate protection.
The government of Great Britain die
not see proper to be represented at thi
conference, but subsequently sent t.
Washington, as delegates, the exper
commissioners of Great Britain AM
Canada who had during the past tw,
years visited the PribylOff Islands ant
who met in conference similar commits
sioners on the part of the United States
The result of this conference was al
agreement on important facts connecte
with the condition of the seal her
heretofore in dispute which should plac
beyond controversy the duty of tn
governments concerned to adopt meas
ures without delay for the preserva
ton and restoration of the herd Ne
gotiations to this end are now in prog
ress, the result of which 1 hope to b
able to report to congress at an earl
day.
All