Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-12-13

- 80 - SaD4sA4Acnt OF an tnleEuAt1onha
Fur-sesl Treaty.
The fur-seal controversy. which for
s nesres S ~ al years has been The
United States and the powers bordering
| upon the north Pacific ocean, whose sub
ssSts nave been permitted 20 engage In
peIaglc sealing against the fur-seal herds
naFing their breeding grounds within the
| jurisdiction OF the United States has 81
last been satisfactorily sdiustld by the
conclusion OF the North Pacific sealing
convention entered into between the
Dniseo states, Great Britain. japan and
RUSSIA on the seventh OF July last.
the attention OF congress is especially
called 70 the necessity for legislation o.
the part Of the United States for the pur-
pose OF fulfilling the obligations assumed
uhoer TINS convention, 10 which the SEN
ate gave its advice and consent on .ss
tWenty-fourth day Of July last
international Opium Commission.
In a special message transmitted 70 the
congress on the seventh OF January 1911.
N which eoncurred in the recommenda-
ions made by the secretary OF state IN
regard to certain needful legislation for
the control of our interstate and foreign
Irafnc In opium and other menacing
drugs, 1 quoted from my annual mes
sage OF December Z 1909. in which I an
nouneed that the results Of the Interna-
uonal Opium commission held at Shang-
hal IN February. 1909 at the invitation OF
the United States. had been laid hDeT0re
lis government; that the report OF that
commission showed that China was max
efforts toward the ERADICATION of the
opium evil; that the interested govern
ments had not permitted their CONNER
eial interests to prevent their co-opera-
ton in this reform; and as q result OF
callateral Investigations OF the opium
question In this country. / recommended
that the manufacture. sale and use OF
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 fun
powers for the purpose OF clothing with
the force of international law the reso-
lutons adopted by the aforementioned
commission. together with their essen
tiai coroilories. The other powers con-
cerned cordially responded to the pro-
posal OF this government. and. ! am glad
TO be able to announce, representatives
OF All 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 I referred
TO the tariff negotiations OF the depart
connection with the application. by a Sc
RES of proclamations, of the minimum
| tariff Of tke United States to importa-
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 were, unfortunate
| ~, instances where foreign governments
| dealt arbitrarily with American interests
| within their jurisdiction in a manner In
| furious and ineQuitabe. During the past
| year some instances of discrimina tory
| treatment have been removed. but re-
| greet to say that there remain few
| cases Of differential treatment adverse TO
the commerce of the United States. While
none Of these instances now appears to
amount TO undue discrimination in the
! sense of section of the tariff law Of
| August 5, 1909 they are all exceptions TO
| that complete degree OF equality of tar
| III treatment that the department OF
| state has consistently sought to obtain
| for American commerce abroad
While the double tariff feature OF the
| tariff law of 1909 has been amply tusti-
| fed by the results achieved in removing
| former and preventing new. undue dis
| ordinations against American commerce.
| IL is believed that the time has come for
| the amendment Of this feature of the law
! In such way as 20 provide q graduated
| means Of meeting varying degrees OF
| discriminatory treatment OF American
| commerce In foreign countries as we'll as
| to protect the financial interests abroad
| of American citizens against arbitrary
! and injurious treatment on the part OF
! foreign governments through either leg
| islative or administrative measures.
II would seem desirable that the maxi
| mum tariff of the United States should
embrace within Its purview the free list.
which is not the case at the present tlfne,
! In order that II might have reasonable
| significance TO the governments OF those
| countries from which the imports lions
into the United States are confined vir-
| tually to articles on the free list.
The fiscal year ended June 30. 1911.
! shows great progress In the development
| OF American trade i was noteworthy
| OF American products to foreign coun-
| tries, the valuation being in excess OF
| 81. 900 e00.0oo. These exports showed a
] M
than 5000, 100000.
Crying Need for American Merchant
Marine.
need hardly reiterate the, conviction
! that there should speedily be built up an
| American merchant marine. This Is nee
essary to assure favorable transporta-
| ton facilities to our great ocean, borne
i navy with an adequate reserve OF ships
| and men. II would have the economic adj
| vantage OF keeping at home part OF the
| vast sums now paid foreign shipping for
| carrying American goods. All the great
| commercial nations pay heavy subsidies
to their merchant marine, so that i Is
| 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 foreign-service establishes depart
| mental. diplomatic and CONSULAR upon
| the high plane where IL has been placed
| nv the recent REORGANIZATION this gov
| eminent would be abreast OF the times
| in fostering the interests OF its foreign
| trade. and the rest must be left to the
| energy and enterprise OF our business
! men.
Improvement Of the Foreign Service.
The entire foreign-service organization
! is being improved and developed with
| especiai regard to the requirements OF
| the commercial interests of the country.
| The rapid growth OF our foreign trade
| makes Ii of the utmost Importance that
| governmental agencies through which
| that trade is to be aided and protected
| sboi,ld t1ossess a high degree of eff
| cheney Not only should the foreign rep
| resentatives be maintained upon gen
| erous scale in so far as salaries and es-
| Establishments are concerned, but the Sc
| lection and advancement OF officers
| should be definitely and permanently reg
uiated by law, so that the service shaH
4 NOT fail to attract men OF high character
| and ability. The experience OF the past
few years with a partial application Of
! civil service rules to the diplomatic and
| consular service leaves no doubt IN my
| mind OF the wisdom OF a wider and more
| permanent extension OF those principles
| 10 both branches of the foreign service.
| therefore again commend to the IA
| vorable action Of the congress the enact
| ment OF a law applying to the diplomatic
| and consular service the principles en-
| bodied in section 1888 Of the Revised Stat
| service act OF January i6. 1883, and the
| executive orders of june q, 1905. ana OF
November 20 lsos In i'S Consideration a;l "a . 81
| 10 the attention OF the congress the very
| favorable report made on the L0Wden
bill for the improvement Of the
l9F siEI COMMITTEES te Of he house Of repre-
sentatives Available statistics show that