Isthmian Canal-Messages from the President of the United States trans- mitting a statement of action in executing the act entitled "An act to provide for the construction of a canal connecting the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans," approved June 28, 1902... Attitude of the United States Government in the event of the Colombian Government landing troops in the Republic of Panama.. Intention of Government of Panama to assume portion of exterior debt of Colombia; method of payment of $10,000,000, the payment of which by the United States to Panama is stipulated in treaty of November 18, 1903... Relations of the United States with Colombia and the Republic of 281 Supplementary convention between the United States and Cuba, extend- ing the time within which above commercial convention may have rati- Revolution in Santo Domingo, and recognition of new Government. Attempt of the Dominican Government to blockade, by decree, ports held Construction of treaty provision regarding arrest and delivery to German consuls of deserters from German vessels in United States ports... Difficulty with Venezuela growing out of nonpayment of claims against the Government of that country of nationals of Germany and other countries. Protocol of agreement between Venezuela and Germany, to which the United States and other powers are parties, respecting the reference of the question of the preferential treatment of claims to the tribunal at Right of consular officers to apply to local authorities for information.. 444 448 Difficulty with Venezuela growing out of nonpayment of claims against the Government of that country of nationals of Great Britain and other Protocol of agreement between Venezuela and Great Britain, to which the United States and other powers are parties, respecting the reference of the question of the preferential treatment of claims to the tribunal at Rejection of claims of British subjects on account of losses incurred through action of United Statee troops in Cuba and the Philippines............. Right of United States consuls to receive effects of United States citizens deceased on British territory or vessels.. Alaskan boundary: convention between the United States of America and Correspondence between the Governments of the United States and Great Britain after the ratification of the boundary treaty of January 24, 1903. Decision of the Alaskan boundary tribunal under the treaty of January 24, 1903, between the United States and Great Britain.. Regulations governing admission of aliens into the Transvaal and Orange 488 Convention between the United States and Greece defining the rights, privileges, and immunities of consular officers in the two countries....... Protection of Chinese in Guatemala by United States minister. Revolution in Honduras, and recognition of new Government. Arrest for refusal to pay a "forced war loan," and subsequent release of Alberto Posadas, a naturalized citizen of the United Staies Address by United States minister at banquet given by President of Passport application of Lazarus Marks and his son David.. 594 Display of foreign flags over private establishments.. Protection of naturalized American citizens of Syrian origin Difficulty with Venezuela growing out of nonpayment of claims against the Government of that country of nationals of Italy and other countries.. Protocol of agreement between Venezuela and Italy, to which the United States and other powers are parties, respecting the reference of the ques- tion of the preferential treatment of claims to the Tribunal at The Ceremonial audience of the diplomatic corps with the Emperor of Korea.. Ownership of certain lands in the general foreign settlement at Chemulpo.. Imprisonment of American citizens, railway employees, in Mexico Extracts from messages of the President of Mexico to Congress. Diplomatic immunities-collection of alien head-tax from foreign diplo- Failure to apprehend and punish murderers of American citizens in Mex- 661 Negotiations with Turkish Government with reference to official recogni- tion of American educational, charitable, and religious institutions in Attempted assassination of United States vice-consul at Beirut. Difficulty with various powers growing out of nonpayment of claims of their nationals against the Government of Venezuela. Protocol of an agreement between the Secretary of State of the United States and the plenipotentiary of Venezuela for submission to arbitration of all unsettled claims of citizens of the United States against Venezuela. Rights of aliens in Venezuela (involving issuance of consular or vice-con- MESSAGE. To the Senate and House of Representatives: The country is to be congratulated on the amount of substantial achievement which has marked the past year both as regards our foreign and as regards our domestic policy. With a nation as with a man the most important things are those of the household, and therefore the country is especially to be congratulated on what has been accomplished in the direction of providing for the exercise of supervision over the great corporations and combinations of corporations engaged in interstate commerce. The Corporations. Congress has created the Department of Commerce and Labor, including the Bureau of Corporations, with for the first time authority to secure proper publicity of such proceedings of these great corporations as the public has the right to know. It has provided for the expediting of suits for the enforcement of the Federal antitrust law; and by another law it has secured equal treatment to all producers in the transportation of their goods, thus taking a long stride forward in making effective the work of the Interstate Commerce Commission. The establishment of the Department of Commerce and Labor, with the Bureau of Corporations thereunder, marks a real advance in the direction of doing all that is possible for the solution of the questions vitally affecting capitalists and wage-workers. The act creating the Department was approved on February 14, 1903, and two days later the head of the Department was nominated and confirmed by the Senate. Since then the work of organization has been pushed as rapidly as the initial appropriations permitted, and with due regard to thoroughness and the broad purposes which the Department is designed to serve. After the transfer of the various bureaus and branches to the Department at the beginning of the Department of Commerce and Labor. current fiscal year, as provided for in the act, the personnel comprised 1,289 employees in Washington and 8,836 in the country at large. The scope of the Department's duty and authority embraces the commercial and industrial interests of the Nation. It is not designed to restrict or control the fullest liberty of legitimate business action, but to secure exact and authentic information which will aid the Executive in enforcing existing laws, and which will enable the Congress to enact additional legislation, if any should be found necessary, in order to prevent the few from obtaining privileges at the expense of diminished opportunities for the many. The preliminary work of the Bureau of Corporations in the Department has shown the wisdom of its creation. Publicity in corporate Bureau of affairs will tend to do away with ignorance, and will afford facts upon which intelligent action may be taken. Systematic, intelligent investigation is already developing facts the knowledge of which is essential to a right understanding of the needs and duties of the business world. The corporation which is honestly and fairly organized, whose managers in the conduct of its business recognize their obligation to deal squarely with their stockholders, their competitors, and the public, has nothing to fear from such supervision. The purpose of this Bureau is not to embarrass or assail legitimate business, but to aid in bringing about a better industrial condition— a condition under which there shall be obedience to law and recognition of public obligation by all corporations, great or small. The Department of Commerce and Labor will be not only the clearing house for information regarding the business transactions of the Nation but the executive arm of the Government to aid in strengthening our domestic and foreign markets, in perfecting our transportation facilities, in building up our merchant marine, in preventing the entrance of undesirable immigrants, in improving commercial and industrial conditions, and in bringing together on common ground those necessary partners in industrial progress-capital and labor. Commerce between the nations is steadily growing in volume, and the tendency of the times is toward closer trade relations. Constant watchfulness is needed to secure to Americans the chance to participate to the best advantage in foreign trade; and we may confidently expect that the new Department will justify the expectation of its creators by the exercise of this watchfulness, as well as by the businesslike administration of such laws relating to our internal affairs as are intrusted to its care. Functions of new |