The Somerset reporter., 1900-12-06

diminution OF the rights and privileges
they have hitherto enjoyed; but, however
necessary such an expedent may have
been to tide over the grave emergencies
! of the situation, II is at best but an I'M
satisfactory makeshift, which should not
be suffered to delay the speedy and com
plete establishment of the frontier line to
which we are entitled under the Russo
American treaty for the cession of Alas
ka.
In this relation I may refer again to
the need OF definitely marking the Alas
kan boundary where il follows the one
hundred and forty-frst meridian. A con
vention to that end has been before the
| senate for some two years, but as no ac
ton has been taken | contemplate nego-
tiating a new convention for u joint de-
termination of the meridian by tele-
graphic observations. These, il is beiev-
ed, will give more accurate and unques-
| tionable results than the sdereal methods
heretofore independently followed, which,
as is shown, proved discrepant at several
points on the line. although not varying
at any place more than 700 feet
The assassination of King Humbert
called forth sincere expressions of sorrow
! from this government and people, and oc
casion was fifty taken to testify to the
Italian nation the high regard here felt
for the memory of the lamented ruler.
The Isthmian Canal
The growth OF Japan is next referred
to. The president says our commercial
intercourse with Mexico continues tc
thrive. The movement for international
arbitration is the subject of another par
| agraph, and the president then turns to
the interoceanic canal. He says:
| The all important matter of an inter
oceanic canal has assumed new phase.
| Adherng to it's refusal to reopen the
! question of the forfeiture of the contract
! of the Maritime Canal company. which
was terminated for alleged nonexecution
i'll October. 1899 the government of Nj
caragua has since supplemented that ac-
ton by declaring the so styled Eyre
! Crngin option void for nonpayment of the
! stipulated advance. Protests in relation
| to these acts have been filed in the state
! department and are under consideration.
! Decming itself relieved from existing en-
gagements, the Nicaraguan government
! shows n disposition to deal freely with
| the canal question either in the way of
| negotiations with the United States or
| by taking measures to promote the wa
| terway.
| Overtures for a convention to effect
the building of canal under the auspices
| of the United States are under consider
! alton. In the meantime the views of the
congress upon the general subject, in
the light of the report of the commission
appointed to examine the comparative
| merits of the various transisthmian ship
canal projects, may be awaited.
! | commend to the early attention of the
| senate the convention with Great Britain
| to facilitate the construction of such n
! canal and to remove any objection which
might arise out of the convention com
monty called the Clayton Bulwer treaty.
Satisfactory progress has been made
| toward the conclusion of a general treaty
| of friendship and intercourse with Spain
| in replacement of the old treaty, which
passed into allegiance by reason of the
late war. A new convention of eXtradi-
ton is approaching completion, and |
| should be much pleased were a CONNER
| cia arrangement to follow. | feel that
we should not suffer to pass any oppor-
! tunity to reaffirm the cordial ties that ex-
listed between us and Spain from the
time of our earliest independence and to
enhance the mutual benefits of that
commercial intercourse which is nature!
between the two countries.
A bill is now pending to effect the rec
ommendation made in my last annual
message that appropriate legislation he
| had to carry into execution article Z Of
the treaty of peace with Spain. by which
the United States assumed the payment
of certain claims for indemnity of its cit
liens against Spain. | ask that action
be taken to fulfill this obligation.
" A. R,,IE ..
| Use of the sultan to make reparation for
the injuries suffered by American cit-
zens in Armenia and elsewhere in the
! Turkish empire. His majesty's good dis
position in this regard has been evinccd
by the issuance of an trade for rebuilding
the American college at karput
The failure of action by the senate at
its last session upon the commercial CON
yentions then submitted for its consider
alton and approval, although caused by
the great pressure of other legislative
business, has caused much disappont-
ment to the agricultural and industrial
| interests OF the country, which hoped to
profit by their provisions. The conven-
tional periods for their ratification hav-
| ing expired, it became necessary to sign
additional articles extending the time for
| that purpose. This was requested on
our part and the other governments in
terested have concurred, with the excep-
! ton of one convention.
The Pan-American Fair.
The exposition of the resources and
| products of the western hemisphere to
be held at Buffalo next year promises
important results not only for the United
| States. but for the other participating
countries. 1t is gratifying that the Latin
American states have evnced the live
| lest interest, and the fact that an inter
| national American congress will be held
In the City of Mexico while the exposi
| ton Is in progress encourages the hope
of a larger display at Buffalo than might
otherwise be practicable. The work of
preparing an exhibit of our national re-
sources Is making satisfactory progress
under the direction of different officials of
the federal government and the various
stion toward the most liberal participa-
ton in the enterprise.
The president dwels on the value of
the consular reports and then turns to
the revenues and expenditures. He says
1t is gratifying to be able to state that
the surplus revenues for the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1900. were $79. 1927 ,060. 10
For the six preceding years we had only
deficits, the aggregate of which from
1894 to 1899. inclusive, amounted to
S2S3, 022 .991.14. The receipts for the
year from all sources. exclusive of postal
revenues, aggregated S567 ,240, S51 so and
e., all fn,