PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF COST OF DRAINAGE OF WINNEBAGO INDIAN ALLOTTED LANDS. FEBRUARY 4, 1909.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed. Mr. HACKNEY, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 27244.] The Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 27244) to enable the Winnebago Indians to protect from overflow their tribal and allotted lands located within the boundaries of any. drainage district in Nebraska, having given the same careful consideration, make the following report: We find that this bill is identical with H. R. 20385, which enables the Omaha Indians to protect from overflow their tribal and allotted lands located within the boundaries of any drainage district in Nebraska, which was favorably reported by this committee on January 25, 1909 (Report No. 1924), and that the report on that bill covers all the questions involved in this bill. This bill has the approval of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, as shown by the following letter: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, MY DEAR MR. BOYD: I have received your letter of January 30 in which you inclose a copy of H. R. 27244 "to enable the Winnebago Indians to protect from overflow their tribal and allotted lands located within the boundaries of any drainage district in Nebraska." The bill contains the same provisions for the Winnebagos as those in H. R. 20385 for the benefit of the Omahas, which received the favorable recommendation of the department on April 25, 1908. H. R. 27244 meets with my approval. Very respectfully, Hon. J. F. BOYD, House of Representatives. Your committee therefore recommends that this bill be consolidated with H. R. 20385, and that the bill as consolidated be passed. 60TH CONGRESS, 2d Session. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. No. 2046. REPORT EQUIPMENT OF MOTOR BOATS WITH MUFFLERS. FEBRUARY 4, 1909.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed. Mr. GREENE, from the Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 27479.] The Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 27479) to require motor boats to be equipped with mufflers, submit the following report: The purpose of this bill is to compel owners of motor boats to place upon said boats mufflers of some kind so as to do away with the intolerable noise caused in propelling said boats as they are now run. This noise has become a menace to navigation and a nuisance to the people on shore, particularly in the very early morning hours and late at night. Heretofore the Department of Commerce and Labor has been unable to minimize or abate this nuisance because of lack of authority, and this bill gives them this authority needed. The bill has the indorsement of the department. The mufflers can be attached to the boats without large expense, and it is not intended that the passage of the bill will result in hardship to the owners of this kind of water craft. The act, if passed, shall take effect on July 1, 1909. O EXHIBITION AT BRUSSELS. FEBRUARY 4, 1909.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed. Mr. CAPRON, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 27818.] The Committee on Foreign Affairs, to whom was referred the message from the President of the United States transmitting a report from the Secretary of State recommending an appropriation to enable the United States fittingly to participate in the Universal and International Exhibition to be held at Brussels from April to November, 1910 (S. Doc. 631), after a careful consideration of the same respectfully report to the House and recommend the adoption of the accompanying bill (H. R. 27818). This bill declares it to be the purpose of the Government of the United States to participate in the forthcoming international exhibition at Brussels by erecting suitable buildings and making an appropriate exhi' it of arts, industries, manufactures, and products of the soil and mines and, as far as practicable, of the functions of the General Government of the United States, and the exhibit of such other articles as the President of the United States may direct. The Secretary of Agriculture is also authorized to prepare suitable exhibits of agriculture and food products of the States and Territories of the United States, and to exhibit the same under the direction and control of the commissioner-general. Authorization is also made for the exhibition by other executive departments, of the Fish Commission, and of the Smithsonian Institution. It is provided that not more than $300,000 shall be expended for all expenditures of the Government, including buildings, exhibits, salaries, and transportation, one-third of which is appropriated by this bill. The commission shall consist of one commissioner-general at a salary of $8,000 and six commissioners who shall receive no salary, but shall be allowed not to exceed $2,000 a year for all personal and traveling expenses; one of the six commissioners to be a Senator and one to be a Representative, and all to be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The amount of $300,000 was deemed necessary by the committee in view of the important relations between this country and Belgium, it being the same amount that Belgium expended in our exposition at St. Louis. It will be recalled that since 1900, when we expended $1,455,436 for participation in the international exposition at Paris, the United States Government has not been represented at any important international exposition in Europe, while we have had five such expositions in our own country, namely, in Buffalo, 1901; Charleston, 1902; Portland, 1904; St. Louis, 1904; and Jamestown, 1907; and it is deemed by the committee to be not only an act of courtesy to reciprocate the friendly action of Belgium in this way, but a business investment by which our manufacturers and farmers and other producers will profit. That our trade relations with Belgium are important is shown by the fact that in the importation of wheat alone she takes from us one-third of her entire importation. In his recommendation to the President, the Hon. Elihu Root, then Secretary of State, said: "The official invitation of the Belgian Government was communicated by their minister in a letter of December 4, 1907, and was renewed by his note of October 2, 1908. Copies of the correspondence on this subject are hereto attached. In expressing appreciation of the cordiality of the invitation the department promised the subject full consideration pending the assembly of the present session of Congress. "The Government of Belgium made liberal appropriation for American expositions, notably $300,000 for its representation at St. Louis, and it is felt that in matters of this kind there should be reciprocity. Moreover, the strategic commercial position occupied by Belgium, the fifth in the list of countries having the largest foreign trade, as well as the intense activities of the Belgian people in manufacturing, mining, and scientific agriculture, make Belgium an important field for commercial activities. American trade with Belgium has been increasing and amounted in 1907 to $81,635,608, of which $51,000,000 was the value of our exports of domestic merchandise. "Among these items are found heavy shipments of raw cotton, mineral oils, breadstuffs, animals, iron and steel and their manufactures, meat and dairy products, wood and its manufactures, leather and its manufactures, etc. The importance of this trade certainly calls for worthy representation of American products side by side with the products of the other leading commercial nations, many of which are already known to be preparing for participation on a large scale." Attention is also called to the following communications from the minister from Belgium to the United States: [Translation.] LEGATION OF BELGIUM, Washington, December 31, 1906. Mr. SECRETARY OF STATE: I have the honor to advise your excellency that an international exposition to which the Government of the King has promised to extend its patronage will be held at Brussels during the year 1910. I have been directed by my Government to inform the Government of the United States now of the organization of the exposition. I shall have the honor to transmit to your excellency later the documents which will be published by the executive committee of the proposed exposition. Accept, etc., His Excellency the Hon. ELIHU ROOT, BN. MONCHEUR. Secretary of State. [Translation.] LEGATION OF BELGIUM, Washington, December 4, 1907 Mr. SECRETARY OF STATE: By my communication dated December 31, 1906, I had the honor to advise your excellency that a universal and international exposition would be held at Brussels during the year 1910. By direction of my Government I have the honor to invite the Government of the United States to take part officially in that exposition, which is placed under the high patronage of His Majesty the King of the Belgians and the Presidency of Honor of His Royal Highness Prince Albert of Belgium. My Government attaches special importance to the official participation of the United States, which took so conspicuous a part in the preceding universal expositions in Belgium, and especially that of Liege in 1905, in the same manner as Belgium made great sacrifices in order to be worthily represented at the World's Fair at St. Louis. It therefore cherishes the hope that the official attendance of the Government of the United States will contribute again to the success of the Universal International Exposition of 1910, which affords to American producers another opportunity to distinguish themselves. I have the honor to transmit herewith to your excellency copies of a circular which contains information concerning the general organization of the exposition herein referred to. The executive committee has adopted the principle of division into national sections; that is to say, the grouping of the works and produce of each country in combination with a system of general classification. Trusting that your excellency will kindly give a favorable reception to this my request, I beg you to accept the renewed assurances of my very high consideration. BN. MONCHEUR. [Translation.] LEGATION OF BELGIUM, Mr. SECRETARY OF STATE: By the letter addressed to your excellency on December of last year I had the honor to invite the Government of the United States, in the name of the Belgian Government, to participate officially in the Universal International Exposition which will take place at Brussels in 1910. The general management of the exposition at Brussels informs me that it is most important for it to know within a short time the decision of the American Government. The acceptances of foreign countries are now being received in great numbers, and it is important to know the amount of space which should be eventually reserved for the United States in the buildings and on the grounds of the exposition. I have already had occasion several times to advise your excellency of the importance which my Government attaches to the official participation of the great American nation, which has made such a wonderful record in all branches of industrial activity. I venture to add that the commercial considerations and the reciprocal courtesies which your excellency may have used as bases to justify participation by the United States in other expositions appear to exist also in favor of Belgium. With reference to the value of importations from the United States, Belgium comes sixth in the list of European nations. Belgians have always made it a point of honor suitably to participate in all the great American international expositions. The Belgian pavilion at the world's fair at St. Louis was considered remarkable by all visitors and cost the Belgians several millions of francs. From the information which has reached me it appears that the Brussels exposition of 1910 will be the handsomest and most important of any exposition which has been held in Belgium. Three great European countries which heretofore have never taken official part in our expositions have this time sent their acceptances. I venture, therefore, to hope, Mr. Secretary of State, that my government's invitation will be accepted, and that the United States, by its participation in the universal exposition at Brussels, where the great resources of its industry will enable it to make a brilliant figure, will give another proof of the ties of friendship which have always so happily united the two nations. Accept, etc., His Excellency the Hon. ELIHu Root, BN. MONCHEUR. Secretary of State. O |