a purpose cannot but be wastful of money, and therefore unwise. A more ample reservoir, with corresponding facilities for keeping it filled, should, in my judgment, be constructed. I commend again to the attention of Congress the subject of the removal from their present location of the depots of the several railroads entering the city; and I renew the recommendations of my former messages in behalf of the erection of a building for the Congressional Library; the completion of the Washington Monument; and of liberal appropriations in support of the benevolent, refor matory, and penal institutions of the District.

EXECUTIVE MANSION,

December 6, 1880.

RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.

FOREIGN RELATIONS.

XXXI

1 Mr. Evarts to the consular officers of the United States at seaports.

1880.

Feb. 18 Legal status, rights, and liabilities of foreign-built
vessels purchased abroad, and wholly owned by
citizens of the United States; attention of De-
partment called to this point by recent case of
steamship Honduras, built at Liverpool in 1871;
on her arrival in Panama in 1879 sold by foreign
owner to Panama Railroad Company: by that
company sold to Pacific Mail Steamship Com-
pany; again resold to Panama Railroad Com-
pany, and run by latter company between Pan-
ama and Champerico, Guatemala. Tonnage
dues; authentication of bill of sale and of
citizenship of owner of vessel prima facie evi-
dence of bona fide purchase. Tonnage of each
and every vessel to be duly ascertained by col
lector of customs before issuance of his certifi-
cate: rulings of department coincident with
provision of Treasury regulations; said vessels
plying in foreign waters are, therefore, subject
to exaction and payment of tonnage dues in
like manner as regularly registered American
vessels; in case of vessels making regular
weekly or monthly trips, tonnage-dues to be
exacted only for four trips a year. Shipping
and discharge of seamen; subjects of extra
wages and relief discussed and law on these
points established; consuls directed to conform
to the suggestions herein contained. (See pages
150, 177, 861-865, 867, 874, 884, and 894 of volume
of Foreign Relations for 1879.)

2 Mr. Hay to consular officers June 19 Regulation, by the Secretary of the Treasury, of
of the United States.

3 Mr. Evarts to consulars-gen- July 1

eral, consuls, and commer

cial and consular agents of

the United States.

the fees authorized by act of Congress "to pre-
vent the introduction of contagious or infectious
diseases into the United States," to be collected
for the examination of passengers, officers, and
crews of vessels liable to such diseases.
Expresses appreciation of previous efforts, and
calls for further and fuller reports upon subjects
calculated to advance the commercial and in-
dustrial interests of the United States.

4 Mr. Evarts to the diplomat- July 30 International Sanitary Conference: powers hav
ic officers of the United
States.

ing jurisdiction of ports liable to be infected
with contagious diseases invited to join; object-
the adoption of an international system of no-
tification as to sanitary condition of such ports
and vessels sailing therefrom; memorandum
stating reasons inclosed; the President suggests
January 1, 1881, as a suitable date, subject to
the approval of the other powers.

5 Mr. Hay to the consular Sept. 6 Shipping and discharge of seamen: further dis-
officers of the United

States at seaports.

cussion of the subject; rules for the guidance
of consular officers.

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III -F R

XXXIII

1879. Dec. 18

1880.

No. 259. The war between Chili and Peru and
Bolivia: Chilian sccesses causing uneasiness
in government circles; discussions of President
Avellaneda and cabinet, concerning the policy
to be adopted by the Argentine Government;
Ex-President Mitré to be invited to go to Chili
on a special mission; his reported declination;
preparations making, by sea and land, for pos-
sible rupture with Chili; the probable advan-
tages of such an event.

Jan. 17 No. 264.-The political situation: outwardly un-
changed; President Avellaneda concentrating
large forces of regulars in Buenos Ayres; Gov. i
ernor Tejedor's adherents have also armed pa..
rades on Sundays; the legislature of Buenos
Ayres, being opposed to Governor Tejedor, re-
fuses to vote the provincial budget; the gov
ernor, by decree, revives last year's estimates;
the chamber of deputies votes the governor's
action illegal and unconstitutional; this move-
ment supposed to originate with the Roca
party; federal intervention unlikely in this
breach between Governor Tejedor and his legis-
lature; congressional elections, to be held Feb
ruary 1, will probably decide the Presidential
contest; General Sarmiento reported to have
secured three provinces, thus gaining the bal-
ance of power.

Feb. 11

No. 265-The political situation: election for members of the Argentine Congress; the candidates of the Tejedor party elected, the adherents of General Roca abstaining from voting in Buenos Ayres by reason of alleged military intimidation at the polls; disclaimer of such intention on the part of the Tejedor party, other motives being attributed to their opponents; the Roca party carries all the other provinces except Corrientes and possibly one or two others; attitude of the national guards; a conflict imminent.

No. 266.-The South American Continental Exhi
bition to be held at Buenos Ayres in September.
1880; transmits plans and regulations therefor,
with text of note from Argentine foreign minis-
ter; the government seeks to repeat the suc
cess of the late Córdoba Exposition, but on a
larger scale; attendance of Americans invited.
(NOTE. The regulations only provide for the
concurrence of exhibitors from Spanish Ameri-
can countries. (See Mr. Osborn's No. 271, of
February 28, page 18.)

No. 121.-Expresses the interest felt by the Gov-
ernment of the United States in the "South |
American Continental Exhibition," as tending
to increase the commercial and agricultural
prosperity of the Argentine Republic.
No. 267.-The political situation: Still critical;
the city of Buenos Ayres under arms, and busi-
ness suspended; proclamation of President
Avellaneda ordering the disarmament of the
national guards; probable refusal of Governor
Tejedor to disarm the Buenos Ayres volunteers;
concentration of troops and volunteers; pros-
pect of martial law; efforts of the peace com-
mittee to procure the withdrawal of General
Roca's candidature, in like manner with Dr.
Tejedor's declension; the resignation of Presi-
dent Avellaneda also demanded by extremists;
the text of his proclamation and decree of Feb-
ruary 13, 1880.
No. 269.-The political situation; the crisis past,
troops returning to their camps, and the people
to their regular pursuits; the "peace committee"
bring about an interview February 17, between
President Avellaneda and Governor Tejedor of

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