Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1911-12-15

Is. 1903. OF the rules OF fnterrAffons. law
TO be recognized within the meaning of
article. scve3 OF The Hague convention
for the establishment of an international
| prize court.
Fur-SeaI Treaty.
The fur-seal controversy. which for
nearly twenty-five years has been the
United States and the powers bordering
upon the north Pacific ocean, whose SUBJ
| Jects nave been permitted to engage in
| pelagic sealing against the fur-seal herds
having their breeding grounds within the
| jurisdiction Of the United States has at
last been satisfactorily adjusted by the
convention entered into between the
United States. Great Britain. japan and
Russia on the seventh of July last.
Inc attention OF congress is especially
cailed TO the necessity for legislation on
the part of the United States for the pur-
pose OF fulfilling the obligations assumed
under this convention. to which the SEN
ate gave its advice and consent on the
twenty-fourth day Of July last.
international Opium Commission.
In a special message transmitted to the
congress on the seventh of January 1911
in which I concurred in the recommended
ions macs by the secretary of state in
Figaro 70 certain needful legislation for
ine controi OF our interstate and foreign
traffic In opium and other menacing
drugs, quoted from my annual mes
sage OF December T. 1902 in which I an
nounced that the results of the Interna
nal IN February. 1909. at the invitation of
the United States. had been laid before
THIS government: that the report Of that
commission showed that China was max
efforts toward the eradication Of the
coium evil; that the interested govern
lnents had not permitted their CONNER
ciai interests TO prevent their co-opera-
uon In this reform; and, as a result of
cailateral Investigations of the opium
question In this country. 1 recommended
opium in the United States should be
more vigorously controlled by legislation.
Prior to that time and in continuation
OF the policy of this government to Sc,
nations the United States proposed an
international opium conference with full
powers for the purpose OF clothing with
the force of international law the reso-
buttons adopted by the above mentioned
commission, together with their essen
tial corollories The other powers con-
cerned cordially responded TO the pro,
posal of this government and, I am glad
TO be able to announce. representatives
of al the powers assembled in conference
at The Hague on the first Of this month
Foreign Trade Relations of the United
States.
In my last annual message referred
to the tariff negotiations OF the Depart
ment of state with foreign countries III
connection with the application, by Sc
ries of proclamations. OF the minimum
tariff Of the United States to inlporta-
tons from the several countries. and
stated that. in its general operation. sec
ton . Of the new tariff law had proved
guaranty of continued commercial
peace. although there we're unfortunate
". instances where foreign governments
dealt arbitrarily with American interests
within their jurisdiction in manner in
furious and ineouitable. During the past
wear some instances OF discriminatory
treatment have been removed, but | re-
gret to say that there remain few
cases Of differental treatment adverse to
the commerce OF he@United States. While
none Of these instances now appears 20
amount to undue discrimination In the
sense Of section 2 of tho tariff law Of
August 5. 1909. thev are all exceptions to
that complete degree Of equality or tar
If treatment that the department OF
state has consist emily sought to obtain
for American commerce abroad
While the double tariff feature Of tho
tariff law of 1909 has been amply JUST
fed by the results achieved in remoVoG
former and preventing new. undue dis
ordinations AGAINST American commerce.
1T is believed that the time has come for
the amendment of this feature OF IL" law
IL
means Of meeting varying degrees or
discriminatory treatment OF American
commerce in foreign countries as Wei as
to protect the financial interests abroao
OF American citizars against arbitrary
and injurious treatment on the part OF
foreign governments throush either leg
islative administrative measures.
It would seem desirable that the maxi
mum tariff of the United States should
embrace within It's purvew the free list.
which is not the case at the present time.
in order that il might have reasonnbl"
significance to the governments % those
countries from which the imD'rta tons
into the United States are confined vir-
tually to articles on the free list.
shows great progress in the development
Of American trade. 1t was noteworthy
as marking the highest record Of exports
of American products to foreign coun-
So coo. coo 0c0. These exports showed
gain over the preceding year of more
than $500 000
Crying Need fer American Merchant
Marine.
need hardly reiterate the conviction
that there should speedily be built up an
American merchant marine rms IS nee
essary to assure favorable transporta-
ton facilities to our great ocean-Dorn@
commerce as we'll as TO supplement the
navy with an adequate reserve or SHIPS
and men. 1t would have the economic al
vast sums now paid foreign shipping Tor
carrying American goods. All the great
commercial nations pay heavy suosidies
to their merchant marine, so that It Is
obvious that without some wise aid from
the congress the United States must lag
behind In the matter of merchant marine
In its present anomalous position.
Legislation to facilitate the extension
of American banks to foreign countries is
another matter IN which our foreign
trade needs assistance
With these factors and the continuance
of the foregn-service established depart
mental. diplomatic and consular) upon
the high plane where 1t has been placed
by the recent REORGANIZATION TINS gov
eminent would be abreast OF the times
in fostering the interests of its foreign
trade and the rest must be left 10 the
energy and enterprise OF our business
men.
Improvement of the Foreign Service
1,be entire foreign-service organization
is being improved and developed with
esneciaI regard to the requirements of
tbe commercial interests of the country
The rapid growth of our foreign trace
makes it of the utmost Importance that
anvernmental agencies through which
that trade is to be aided and protected
sho,,ld oossess a high degree of eff
clancy. Not only should the foreign rep
resentatives be maintained upon a gen
crows scale in so far as salaries and es-
ta hIishments are concerned, but the Sc
lection and advancement OF oIhcers
! IL oy-1 nor q n p