The record-union., 1898-12-06

necessity of some amendment Of our
fe2:sting extradition statute. 1t is
common stipulation of such treaties
that neither party shall be bound to
| give up its own citizens, with the added
proviso, in one of our treaties. that
with Japan, that it may surrender if it
see fit. 1t is held in this country. by
an almost uniform course of decisions,
that where treaty negatives the OBJ
ll!gation to surrender, the President is
not invested with legal authority to act.
The confinement of such authority
would be in the line of that sound mo-
rality which shrinks from affording Sc
cure asylum to the author of a heinous
crime.
Again, statutory provision might be
we'll made for what is styled extradi-
ton by way of transit, whereby a fugit-
live surrendered by one foreign Govern
ment to another may be conveyed
across the territory of the United States
to the Jurisdiction of the demanding
State. A recommendation in this be-
half, made in the Presidents message
of 1896, was not acted upon. The mat
ter is presented for your consideration.
MEXICAN FREE ZONE.
The problem of the Mexican free zone
has been often discussed with regard
to its inconvenience as a provocative
of smuggling into the United States
along an extensive line and thinly
guarded land border. The effort made
by the House resolution of March 1,
1890, to remedy the abuse charged by
suspending the privilege of free trans
pcrtation in bond across the territory
of the United States to Mexico failed of
good result, as is stated in report No.
702 of the House of Representatives,
submitted in the last session, March
II, 1898. AS the question is one to be
conveniently met by wise concurrent
legislation of the two countries looking
to the protection of the revenues by
harmonious measures operating equally
on either side of the boundary, rather
than by conventional arrangements,
suggest that Congress consider the ad-
visibility of authorizing and inviting a
conference of representatives of the
Treasury Departments of the United
States and Mexico to consider the sub
ject in all it's complex bearings. and
make report, with pertinent recommen-
dations to the respective Governments
for the information and consideration of
their Congresses.
WATER BOUNDARY QUESTION.
The Mexican Water Boundary Com
mission has adjusted all matters sub
mitted to it to the satisfaction of both
Governments, save in three important
cases-that of Chamizal at FL Paso,
Texas, where the two Commissioners
failed to agree, and where it has been
proposed to Mexico the addition OF a
third member the proposed elimination
of what are known as "bancos," small
isolated islands formed by the cutting
oft of bends in the Rio Grande, from
the operation of the treaties of 1854
and 1889, recommended by the Commis-
s:oners and approved by this Govern
ment but still under consideration by
Mexico and the subject Of the 'equit-
able distribution of the waters of the
Rio Grande," for which the Commis-
s:oners recommended an international
dam and reservoir, are approved by
Mexico, but still under consideration by
this Government.
Preceding this question it is neces-
sary to extend the life of the commits
sion which expires December 2oth next.