The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-06

.,re,ch,ng along the Andean crests from
the southern border of the Atacama
desert 70 Magellan Straits, nearly a third
OF the length Of the South American con-
tinent assumed an acute stage IN the
early part Of the year. and AFFORDED 10
this Government occasion TO express tne
hSpe that the resort to arbitration al
ready contemplated by existing conven-
lions between the parties might prevail
despite the grave difficulties arising In
Its application. 7 am happy to say that
arrangements to this end have been per
fected the questions of fact upon which
the respective commissioners were unable
to agree being in course of reference
to Her Britannia Majesty for determina-
ton. A residual difference touching the
northern boundary line across the Alta
CANA desert, for which existing treaties
provided no aequate adjustment. bids
fair to be settled in like manner by
joint commission upon which the United
States minister at Buenos Ayres has been
invited to serve as umpire in the last
resort.
CABLE DISCRIMINATION.
have found occasion TO approach the
Argentine Government with a view to
removing differences of rate charges i'm
posed upon the cables of an American
corporation in the transmission between
Buenos Ayres and the cities of Uruguay
and Brazil OF through messages passing
from and to the United States Although
the matter is complicated by exclusive
concessions by Uruguay and Brazil TO
foreign companies, there Is strong nope
that good understanding will be reach
ed and that the important channels or
commercial communication between the
United States and the Atlantic cities Of
South America may be freed from an i'm
possible prohibItory discrimination.
In this relation | may be permitted
TO express my sense of the fitness OF an
international agreement. whereby the in
terchange OF messages over connecting
cables may be regulated on fair basis
OF uniformity. The world has seen the
postal system developed from a congeries
OF independent and exclusive services
into a well ordered union. of which all
countries enjoy the manifold benefits. II
would be strange were the nations not In
time brought to realize that modern civil
ization. which owes so much OF it's pro-
gress to the humiliation Of space by the
electric force demands that this all i'm
portant means Of communication be a
heritage of all peoples; to be administered
and regulated I'm their common behoof
a step in this direction was taken when
the international convention OF 1884 for the
protection of submarine cables was sign
ed, and the day is. | trust not far dis
tant when this medium for the transmits
sion of thought from land to land may
be brought within the domain OF inter
national concern as completely as is the
material carriage of commerce and cor
resDondence upon the face of the wa
tiers that divide them.
THE PAGE CLAIM.
The claim of Thomas Jefferson PAGE
against Argentina, which has been pend
Ing many years. has been adjusted. The
sum awarded by tho Congress of Ar
gentina was sl2i2S5.
The sympathy of the American people
has Justly been offered to the ruler and
the people of Austria-Hungary by reason
OF the affiictlon that has lately befallen
them in the assassination of the EN-
press Queen OF that historic realm.
THE LATTIMER TROUBLES.
On the 10th OF September, 1897. con-
ilict took place at Lattimer, Pa, between
body Of striking miners and the sheriff
OF Luzerne county and his deputies, in
which % miners were killed and A
wounded OF whom 10 OF the Rnled and L
VI Niit 'FDuIitu were AuSlIllu anu nun
garian subjects. This deplorable event
aroused the sOicitu1e of the Austro-
Hungarian government. which, on the
assumption that the killing and. woundins
involved the unjustihable misuse of au-
thorty, clairroi reparation for the suf-
ferers Apart from the searching in
vestigation and pre-emptory action Of the
authorities OF Pennsylvania, the Federal
authorities took appropriate steps to
learn the merits of the case in order to
be in a position to meet the urgent COM
plant of a friendly power
The sheriff and his deputies, having
been indicted for murder, were triei and
acquitted after protracted proceedings
and the hearing of hundreds OF witnesses
on the ground that the killing was In the
line Of their official duty 10 uphold law
and preserve public order I'm the State
representative OF the Department OF
Justice attended the trial and reported its
course fully. With all the facts in its
possession. this government expects 10
reach a harmonious understanding on the
subject with that of Austria-Hngary not
withstanding the renewed claim OF the
latter after learning the result OF the
trial for indemnity for its injured sub
iects.