The record-union., 1898-12-06


last resort.
CHARGES ON CABLES TO SOUTH
AMERICA EXCESSIVE.
have found occasion to approach
the Argentine Government with view
to removing differences of rate charges
imposed upon the cables of an Ameri-
can corporation in the transmission be-
tween Buenos Ayres and the cities OF
Uruguay and Brazil of through mes
sages passing from and to the United
States. Although the matter is conf
plicated by exclusive concessions by
Uruguay and Brazil to foreign COM
panies, there is a strong hope that
good understanding will be reached,
and that the important channels of
commercial communication between
the United States and the Atlantic
cities of South America may be freed
from an almost prohibitory discrimin-
alton.
In this relation I may be permitted
to express my sense of the fitness of an
international agreement whereby the
interchange Of messages over con-
Meeting cables may be regulated on a
fair basis of uniformity. The world
has seen the postal system developed
from congeries of independent and
exclusive service into a we'll ordered
union, of which all countries found the
manifold benefits. 1t would be strange
were the nations not in time brought to
realize that modern civilization, which
owes so much of it's progress to the
annihilation of space by the electric
force. demands that this all-important
ne nf i0af
all peoples, to be administered ana
regulated in their common behalf: A
step in this direction was taken when
the international convention of 1851,
for the protection of submarine cables
was signed, and the day is, trust, not
far distant when this medium for the
transmission of thought from land to
land may be brought within the domain
of International concert as rapidly as
in the material carriage of commerce
and correspondence upon the face OF
the water that divide them.
THE PAGE CLAIM.
The claim of Thomas Jeffers On Page
against Argentina, which has been
pending many years, has been adjusted.
The sum awarded by the Congress OF
Argentina was $4.24235
ASSASSINATION OF AUSTRIAN
EMPRESS.
The sympathy of the American peo-
pie has just been offered to the ruler
and the people of Austria Hungary by
reason of the affliction that has lately
befallen them in the assa assination of
the Empress-Queen of that historic
realm.
THE LATIMER INCIDENT.
On the 10th of September. 1897, a
conflict took place at Latimer. Pa, be-
tween a body of striking miners and
the Sheriff of Luzerne County and his
deputies, in which twenty-five miners
We're killed and forty-four wounded of
which ten of the killed and twelve of
the wounded were Austrian and HIN
garian subjects. This deplorable event
naturally aroused the Solicitude of the
Austro- Hungarian Government, which
on the assumption that the killing ard
wounding involved the unjustifiable
misrule of authority, claimed repara-
tion for the sufferers. Apart from the
searching investigation and the per-
emptory action of the authorities of
Pennsylvania, the Federal Executive
took appropriate steps to learn the
merits of the case, in order to be in
a position to meet the urgent complaint
of a friendly Power.
The Sheriff and his deputies, having
been indicted for murder, were tried
and acquitted after protracted proceed
ings and the hearing of hundreds OF
witnesses, on the ground that the kill
ing was in the line of their official duty
to uphold law and preserve public or
der in the State. A representative OF
the Department of Justice attended
the trials and reported it's course fully
With all the facts in it's possession
this Government expects to reach a
harmonious understanding on the sub
ject with that of Austro- Hungary
Notwithstanding the renewed claim OF
the latter after learning the result oi
the trial for indemnity for it's injured
subjects.
BRUSSELS EXPOSITION
Despite the brief time allowed for
preparation, the exhibits of this coun-
try at the Universal Exposition al
Brussels in 1897 enjoyed the singular
distinction of a larger proportion o.
awards, having regard to the number
and classes Of articles entered, than
those of other countries. The worth o1
such result in making known ou1 ma
tional capacity to supply the world
markets is obvious
Exhibitions of this international
character are becoming more frequent
as the exchanges of commercial coun-
tries grow more intimate and varied
Hardly a year passes that this Govern
ment is not invited to national parti-
cipation of those important foreign
center, but often on too short notice to
permit of recourse to Congress for the
power and means to do SO. My pre-
decessors have suggested the adyisa-
bility of providing by a general enact
ment standing appropriation for ac-
cepting such invitations and for rep-
resentation of this country by a com
mission. This plan has my cordial ap-
proval.
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST OUR
MEATS ABROAD.
I trust the Belgian restriction on the
Importation of cattle from the United
States, originally adopted as a sanitary
precaution, will at an early date be
modified as to their present and fu-
ture of hardship and discrimination. sc
as to admit live cattle under due regu-
lation of their slaughter. 1 am hope
full, too, of a favorable change in the
Belgian treatment of our preserved and
salted meats. The growth of direct
trade between the two countries, not
alone for Belgian consumption and
Belgian products, but by way of tran
sit from and to other Continental
States, has been both encouraging anG
beneficial. No effort will be spared tc