Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-07

LIAM Mckinley.
tiveS Of foreign country suggests that
the contingency has arisen for action
by congress in the direction of con-
ferring upon the federal courts juris-
diction in this class of international
cases where the ultimate responsibility
of the federal government may be in
volved."
CaUleS.
The president dwells at some length
on our especially good relations with
Japan, adding: THE japanese gov
eminent has shown a lively interest in
| the proposition of the Pacific cable
company to add to it's projected cable
| lines to Hawaii, Guam, and the Philip
pines a branch connection with the
coast of Japan. 1t would be crafty
| ing contamination were the utility of
the contemplated scheme enhanced by
bringing Japan and the United States
into direct Geographic relation. With
out repeating the observations of my
special message of February 10, 1899,
concerning the necessity of cable to
Manila, | respectfully invite attention
to it. | recommend that, in case the
congress should not take measures to
bring about this result by direct action
of the government, the postmaster gen
eral be authorized to invite competi
tive bids for the establishment of
| cable; the company making the best
responsible bid to be awarded the con-
tract; the successful company to give
ample bonds to insure the completion
of the work within a reasonable time"
Our improving eXtraditiOn laws with
Mexico are spoken of with satisfac
ton, as we'll as all our relations with
that republic. A permanent exposi-
ton of American products in Russia
is suggested.
The Samoan embroglio is fully dis
cussed. The arrangement under which
Samoa was administered had proved
impracticable and unacceptable to all
the powers concerned. To withdraw
from the agreement and abandon the
islands to Germany anu Great Britain
would not be compatible with our
interests in the archipelago, says the
president. To relinquish our rights
in the harbor Of Page Page, the best
anchorage in the Pacific, the occupancy
of which had been leased to the United
States in 1878 by the first foreign
treaty ever concluded by Samoa, was
not to be thought of either as regards
the needs of our navy or the interests
of our growing commerce with the
east. We could not have considered
any proposition for the arrOgatiOn of
the tripartite control which did not
confirm us in all our rights and safe
guard all our national interests in the
| islands. Our views commended them
selves to the other powers. A salts
factory arrangement was concluded be-
tween the governments of Germany
and Of England, by virtue of which
England retired from Samoa in view
of compensations in other directions,
and both powers renowned in favor
! Of the United States all their rights
and claims over and in respect to that
portion Of the group lying to the east
of the one hundred and seventy-first
degree of west longitude, embracing
the islands of Tutuila, Ofoo, Olosenga,
and Manua. The president transmits
to the senate a convention, which be-
sides the provisions above mentioned
also guarantees us the same privileges
N tn
and commercial vessels in all of the
! islands of Samoa as those possessed by
Germany. Claims have been preferred
| by white residents of Samoa on &C
count of injuries alleged to have been
suffered through the acts of the treaty
| governments in putting down the late
| disturbances. A convention has been
made between the three powers for
the investigation and settlement of
! these claims by neutral arbitrator
Cuba and Porto Rico.
! The president is gratified to an
nounce that the treaty of peace has re-
stored friendly relations between
Spain and the United States Effect
has been given to its most important
provisions. The evacuation of Porto
Rico having aEeady been accomplished
on the 18th of October, 1898, nothing
remained necessary there but to con-
tinue the provisional military control |
of the island until the congress should |
enact suitable government for the |
coded territory
The withdrawal of the authority of |
Spain from the island Of Cuba was eff !
fected by the first of January, so that |
the full establishment of peace
found the relinquished territory held |
by US in trust for the inhabitants, |
maintaining, under the direction of the /
executive, such government and con-
troll therein as should conserve public
order, restore the productive condi-
tons Of peace so long disturbed by the
instability and disorder which pre-
vailed for the greater part of the pre-
ceding three decades, and build up that
tranquil development of the domestic
state whereby alone can be realized the
high purpose, as proclaimed in the