Gilpin observer., 1903-12-10

powers OF the world.
Last year the Interparliamentary Union
for International Arbitration met at
Vienna, six hundred members Of tho dif-
ferent Legislatures of civilized countries
attending. 1t was provided that the next
meeting should be in 1904 at st. Louis.
subject to our Congress extending an in
vitation. Like the Hague tribunal. this
Interparliamentary union Is one of the
forces tending towards peace among the
nations of the earth and 1t Is entitled to
our support. trust the invitation can
be extended.
Relations With Turkey.
Early in July. having received intclli-
gence. which happily turned out to be
erroneous, of the assassination of our
vice-consul at Beirut. dispatched q small
squadron to that port for such sservlce
as might be found necessary on arrival.
Although the attempt on the life of our
vice-consul had not been successful. yet
the outrage was symptomatic of a state
Of excitement and disorder which de-
manded immediate attention. The arrival
of the vessels had the happiest result.
feeling of security at once took the
place of the former alarm and disquiet:
our officers were cordially welcomed by
the consular body and the leading mer-
chants, and ordinary business resumed
its activity. The Government of the Sui
tan gave a considerate hearing to the
representations of our minister; the Of
fetal who was regarded as responsible
for the disturbed condition of affairs was
removed. Our relations with the Turkish
Government remain friendly; our claims
founded on inequitable treatment of some
of our schools and missions appear to be
in process of amicable adjustnNpt
Relations With China
The signing of a new commercial treaty
with China, which took place at Shanghai
on the Sth of October. is a cause for sat
isfaction This act. the result of long
dfcrnGcinn nd ftatf inn nj.
commercial relations with the great
oriental empire more satisfactory
footing than they have ever heretofore
enjoyed. 1t provides not only for the
ordinary rights and privileges of diplo-
matte and consular officers. but also for
an important extension of our commerce
by increased facility OF access to Chin
ese ports. and for the relief of trade by
the removal of some of the obstacles
which have embarrassed 1t in the past.
The Chinese Government engages on fair
and equitable conditions. which will prob
ably be accepted by the principal COM
mercial nations. to abandon the levy OF
'liken" and other transit dues through
out the empire, and to introduce other
desirable administrative reforms. Larger
facilities are to be given to our citizens
who desire to carry on mining enter
prises In China. We have secured for our
missionaries valuable privilege. tho
recognition of their right to rent and
lease in perpetuity such property as their
religious societies may need in all parts
OF the empire. And, what was an indis-
pensable condition for the advance and
development of our commerce in Man
churia. China. by treaty with us. has
opened to foreign commerce the cities OF
Mukden. the capital of the province OF
Manchuria. and Antung. an important
port on the Yalu river, the road to
which our commerce may rightfuily ex-
pect can hardly be looked for until tho
settlement of the present abnormal state
of things in the empire: but the founda-
tion for such development has at last
been laid.
Consular Service.
call your attention to the reduced cost
In maintaining the consular service for
the fiscal year ending June 30. 1908. as
shown in the annual report of the Aud
itor for the State and other departments,
as compared with the year previous. Fot.
the year under consideration the excess
of expenditures over receipts on account
OF the consular service amounted to $2S.-
125.12, as against $50. .972.5O for the year
ending June 30. 1902. and si47. .OiO.16 for tho
year ending June 90 1901. This is the
best showing in this respect for the con-
sular service for the past fourteen years,
and the reduction in the cost of the serv--
ice to the Government has been made in.
spite of the fact that the expenditures for
the year in question were more than
10000 greater than for the previous year.
Rural Free-Delivery Service.
The rural free-delivery service has been
steadily extended. The attention of the
Congress is asked to the question of tho
compensation Of the letter carriers and
clerks engaged In the postal service. es-
pecially on the new rural free-delivery
routes. More routes have been installed
since the first of July last than In any
like period in the departments history.
While due regard to economy must be
kept in mind In the establishment OF new
routes. yet the extension OF the rural
free-dcllvery system must be continued.
for reasons of sound public policy. No
governmental movement OF recent years
has resulted In greater immediate benefit
to the people OF the country districts.
Rural free delivery. taken In connection
with the telephone. the bicycle. and the
trolley. accomplishes much toward les
sening the isolation OF farm life and max
ing 1t brighter and more attractive. In
the immediate past the lack OF just such
facilities as these has driven many OF tho
more active and restless young men and
women from the farms to the cities; for
they rebelled at loneliness and lack OF
mental companionship. 1t Is unhealthy
and undesirable for the cities to grow at
the expense of the country; and rural
free delivery In not only a good thing
In Itself. but is good because II is ono
of the causes which check this unwhole-
some tendency towards the urban con-
centration Of our population at the ex-
pense Of tho country districts. 1t 10 for
the same reason that we sympathize with
and approve OF the policy Of building
good roads. Tho movement for good
roads Is ono fraught with the greatest
bencnt to the country districts.
Louisiana Purchase Exposition.
trust that the Congress will continue
to favor In all proper ways the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition. This Exposition
commentaries tho Louisiana purchase,
which was the nrst great step In the ex.
pansion which made US n continental
nation. Tho expedition OF Lewis and
Clark across the continent followed there
on. and marked the beginning of the proc.
ess of exploration and colonization which
thruat our national hauudaries ta tho Pa.