ent an effective
code of State legislation as to make a complete system of laws
throughout the United States adequate to compel a general observance of
the salutary rules to which I have referred.

The whole question is so important and far-reaching that I am sure no
part of it will be lightly considered, but every phase of it will have
the studied deliberation of the Congress, resulting in wise and
judicious action.

A review of our relations with foreign States is presented with such
recommendations as are deemed appropriate.

The long-pending boundary dispute between the Argentine Republic and
Chile was settled in March last by the award of an arbitral commission,
on which the United States minister at Buenos Ayres served as umpire.

Progress has been made toward the conclusion of a convention of
extradition with the Argentine Republic. Having been advised and
consented to by the United States Senate and ratified by Argentina, it
only awaits the adjustment of some slight changes in the text before
exchange.

In my last annual message I adverted to the claim of the
Austro-Hungarian Government for indemnity for the killing of certain
Austrian and Hungarian subjects by the authorities of the State of
Pennsylvania, at Lattimer, while suppressing an unlawful tumult of
miners, September 10, 1897. In view of the verdict of acquittal rendered
by the court before which the sheriff and his deputies were tried for
murder, and following the established doctrine that the Government may
not be held accountable for injuries suffered by individuals at the
hands of the public authorities while acting in the line of duty in
suppressing disturbance of the public peace, this Government, after due
consideration of the claim advanced by the Austro-Hungarian Government,
was constrained to decline liability to indemnify the sufferers.

It is gratifying to be able to announce that the Belgian Government has
mitigated the restrictions on the importation of cattle from the United
States, to which I referred in my last annual message.

Having been invited by Belgium to participate in a congress, held at
Brussels, to revise the provisions of the general act of July 2, 1890,
for the repression of the African slave trade, to which the United
States was a signatory party, this Government preferred not to be
represented by a plenipotentiary, but reserved the right of accession
to the result. Notable changes were made, those especially concer