The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-02
DIAZ OPENS CONGRESS-
FINDS MUCH CAUSE FOR CON-
 COMPUTATIONS.
Lack of Stability of the Price of Silver as Measured by Gold the
 One Cause of Worry.

Mexico City. April 1.-President Diaz opened Congress tonight in the presence of brilliant audience, including many visiting Americans of distinction, invited for the occasion.
 Speaking of the decision against Mex ico by The Hague Tribunal, in the matter of the Plus Fund, President Diaz said that although the decision was adverse to Mexico, it served to demonstrate be- fore the world that there are peaceful means for settling international ques- tions.
 The measures recently taken in the Federal district for regulating the retail liquor traffic have given satisfactory re- suits, since cases of intoXication and crimes have diminished notably. Much space is given in the message to educational matters. in which a steady improvement has been seen. The mining industry continues to make solid progress. New mining titles have been granted to the number of 2.247 in the first half of the current fiscal year and four new metallurgical establish ments have been contracted for in the States of Hidalgo, Chihuahua and So- nora.
 Much progress is noted in irrigation and hydraulic works.
 During the past six months the rail-
 way lines in the country have increased by 4O6 kilometres and the total length of the railway in the country is now 17,596 kilometres.
 The total number of Federal postoff1ces Is now 2,274. There Is a steady growth
 in the amount of postal matter trans ported. The international money order service shows a substantial increase. as also is the case in telegraphic communi- cation.
 The condition of the Federal Treasury has been satisfactory during the present fiscal year.
 The products of customs collections and internal stamp taxes have grown steadily as compared with the previous period.
 The country has been. in general, pros porous, although there arc a few slight clouds which cast a shadow on the fu- ture. The rapid and continuous deprec- ation in the value of the white metal since 1901 threatens to cause eventually, even in the opinion of the most optim- Istic, disturbances outweighing all ad- vantages derived from the rise in foreign | exchange.
 | This, and the knowledge that other na- tions using silver as a monetary base | meditated changes in their currency sys-
 tems. melted the executive to seek the
 cooperation of the United States. being
 already assured of the aid of China, for
 the purpose of joint study of this i'm
 portant matter and to bring about a fixed relation between gold and silver | among the countries employing these different standards. Our ideas have re-
 ceived a welcome in the United States.
 At the same time commission has been
 appointed here to study the question purely from local standpoint in order
 to define the policy which would best
 suit Mexico as regards the employment
 of silver In her currency quite independ- ently of what may happen in the course | of international negotiations.
 The new sliding scale of duties on for eign exports has given excellent results
 so that whatever may be the rate of ex-
 change there will be an equilibrium of 1 budgets of outgo and income and the gov
 ernment is certain of its ability to make
 payment of its gold interests abroad.