Chapter 307. authorizing the President of the United States to arrange a conference between the United States of America and the Republics of Mexico, Central and South America, Hayti, San Domingo, and the Empire of Brazil
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CHAP. 307.— An Act authorizing the President of the United States to arrange a conference between the United States of America and the Republics of Mexico, Central and South America, Hayti, San Domingo, and the Empire of Brazil.May 24, 1888. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,International conference of American nations. That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, requested and authorized to invite the several Governments of the Republics of Mexico, Central and South America.
Hayti, San Domingo, and the Empire of Brazil to join the United States in a conference to be held at Washington, in the United States, at such time as he may deem proper, in the year eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, for the purpose of discussing and recommending for adoption to their respective Governments some plan of arbitration for the settlement of disagreements and disputes that may hereafter arise between them, and for considering questions relating to the improvement of business intercourse and means of direct communication between said countries, and to encourage such reciprocal commercial relations as will be beneficial to all and secure more extensive markets for the products of each of said countries. 156FIFTIETH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Ch. 307. 1888. Sec. 2. That in forwarding the invitations to the said GovernmentsScope of conference. the President of the United States shall set-forth that the conference is called to consider— First. Measures that shall tend to preserve the peace and promote the prosperity of the several American States. Second. Measures toward the formation of an American customs union, under which the trade of the American Nations with each other shall, so far as possible and profitable, be promoted.
Third. The establishment of regular and frequent communication between the ports of the several American States and the ports of each other. Fourth. The establishment of a uniform system of customs regulations in each of the independent American States to govern the mode of importation and exportation of merchandise and port dues and charges, a uniform method of determining the classification and valuation of such merchandise in the ports of each country, and a uniform system of invoices, and the subject of the sanitation of ships and quarantine.
Fifth. The adoption of a uniform system of weights and measures, and—laws to protect the patent rights, copyrights, and trademarks of citizens of either country in the other, and for the extradition of criminals. Sixth. The adoption of a common silver coin, to be issued by each Government, the same to be legal tender in all commercial transactions between the citizens of all of the American States. Seventh. An agreement upon and recommendation for adoption to their respective Governments of a definite plan of arbitration of all questions, disputes, and differences that may now or hereafter exist between them, to the end that all difficulties and disputes between such Nations may be peaceably settled and wars prevented.
Eighth. And to consider such other subjects relating to the welfare of the several States represented as may be presented by any of said States which are hereby invited to participate in said conference. Sec. 3. That the sum of seventy-five thousand dollars, or so muchAppropriation. thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the same to be disbursed under the direction and in the discretion of the Secretary of State, for expenses incidental to the conference.
Sec. 4. That the President of the United States shall appoint, by andDelegates. with the advice and consent of the Senate, ten delegates to said conference, who shall serve without compensation other than their actual necessary expenses, and the several other States participating in said conference shall be represented by as many delegates as each *Proviso*.Votes.may elect: *Provided*,* however*, That in the disposition of questions to come before said conference no State shall be entitled to more than one vote.
Sec. 5. That the Secretary of State shall appoint such clerks andExpenses under Secretary of State. other assistants as shall be necessary, at a compensation to be determined by him. and provide for the daily publication by the Public Printer, m the English, Spanish, and Portuguese languages, of so much of the proceedings of the conference as it shall determine, and Report.upon the conclusion of said conference shall transmit a report of the same to the Congress of the United States, together with a statement of the disbursements of the appropriation herein provided for.
Approved, May 24, 1888.