proof of sincere friendship for China, to voluntarily release that country from its legal liability for all payments in excess of the sum which should prove to be necessary for actual indemnity to the United States and its citizens.

Such a revision has now been made by the different executive departments concerned, and I am authorized by the President to say that, in pursuance of that revision, at the next session of the Congress he will ask for authority to reform the agreement with China under which the indemnity is fixed by remitting and cancelling the obligation of China for the payment of all that part of the stipulated indemnity which is in excess of the sum of $11,655,492.69 and interst at the stipulated rate.

Accept, Mr. Minister, etc.

ELIHU ROOT.

The Chinese Minister to the Secretary of State.

IMPERIAL CHINESE LEGATION,
Washington, June 17, 1907.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your valued note of the 15th instant, in which, by authority of the President, you inform me... that, . . the President, at the next session of the Congress, will ask for authority to reform the agreement with China under which the indemnity is fixed, by remitting and canceling the obligation of China, for the payment of all that part of the stipulated indemnity which is in excess of the sum of $11,655,492.69 and interest at the stipulated rate of 4 per cent per annum.

I have lost no time in communicating by cable to my Government the welcome information with the request that it be laid immediately before the Emperor.

I take this first opportunity to express to you the grateful thanks of my Government for this signal act of generosity shown by the United States toward China, which can not fail to bind the two countries into closer and more friendly relations, and which affords another conspicuous proof of the high sense of justice that has always actuated the Government of the United States in its intercourse with China.

Accept, etc.,

CHENTUNG LIANG-CHENG.

The Wai-wu Pu to the Chinese Minister.

[Translation.]

PEKING, June 24, 1907.

Your telegraphic report on the remission of the indemnity having been laid before the Emperor, you are commanded to convey to the President of the United States His Majesty's warm thanks for this noble exhibition of his friendship toward China, which is deeply and gratefully appreciated, by having alone taken the lead in a matter of international justice.

236. THE RECALL

The recall was a stock device among political reformers of the early 20th century for increasing popular control of government by allowing the people of the state to remove from office public officials in whom they had lost confidence. The recall amendment from the constitution of Oregon is here given.

June 1, 1908

ARTICLE II-SUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONS

SECTION 18. Every public officer in Oregon is subject, as herein provided, to recall by the legal voters of the state or of the electoral district from which he is elected. There may be required 25 per cent, but not more, of the number of electors who voted in his district at the preceding election for justice of the supreme court to file their petition demanding his recall by the people. They shall set forth in said. petition the reasons for said demand. If he shall offer his resignation, it shall be accepted and take effect on the day it is offered, and the vacancy shall be filled as may be provided by law. If he shall not resign within five days after the petition is filed, a special election shall be ordered to be held within 20 days in his said electoral district to determine whether the people will recall said officer. On the sample ballot at said election shall be printed in not more than 200 words, the reasons for demanding the recall of said officer as set forth in the recall petition, and in not more than 200 words, the officer's justification of his course in office. He shall continue to perform the duties of his office until the

result of said special election shall be officially declared. Other candidates for the office may be nominated to be voted for at said special election. The candidate who shall receive the highest number of votes shall be deemed elected for the remainder of the term, whether it be the person against whom the recall petition was filed, or another. The recall petition shall be filed with the officer with whom a petition for nomination to such office should be filed, and the same officer shall order the special election when it is required. No such petition shall be circulated against any officer until he has actually held his office six months, save and except that it may be filed against a senator or representative in the legislative assembly at any time after five days from the beginning of the first session after his election. After one such petition and special election, no further recall petition shall be filed against the same officer during the term for which he was elected unless such further petitioners shall first pay into the public treasury, which has paid such special election expenses, the whole amount of its expenses for the preceding special election. Such additional legislation as may aid the operation of this section shall be provided by the legislative assembly, including provision for payment by the public treasury of the reasonable special election. campaign expenses of such officer. But the words, "the legislative assembly shall provide," or any similar or equivalent words in this constitution or any amendment thereto, shall not be construed to grant to the legislative assembly any exclusive power of law-making nor in any way to limit the initiative and referendum powers reserved by the people.

237. LODGE AMENDMENT TO MONROE DOCTRINE
AUGUST 2, 1912

Congressional Record, 62 Congress, 2 session, Part 10, p. 10045.

FOREIGN OCCUPATIONS ON AMERICAN
CONTINENTS.

THE PRESIDENT pro tempore. There is a resolution coming over from a former day which is now in order. It will be read.

The Secretary read Senate resolution 371, submitted by Mr. LODGE on the 31st ultimo, as follows:

Resolved, That when any harbor or other place in the American continents is so situated that the occupation thereof for naval or military purposes might threaten the communications or the safety of the United States, the Govern

ment of the United States could not see without grave concern the possession of such harbor or other place by any corporation or association which has such a relation to another Government, not American, as to give that Government practical power of control for national purposes.

238. THE SIXTEENTH AMENDMENT

Passed in July, 1909, by both houses of Congress. Declared in force February 25, 1913.

Statutes at Large of the United States, Vol. 37, 62 Congress, 3 session, Proclamations, p. 109.

ARTICLE XVI. The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

239. THE SEVENTEENTH AMENDMENT

Passed Congress May 14, 1912. Declared in force May 31, 1913. Statutes at Large of the United States, 1913, 63 Congress 1 session, Proclamations, p. 49.

ARTICLE 17

THE Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointment until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

240. NEWLANDS CONCILIATION ACT

Approved July 15, 1913; intended to obviate the tying-up of our transportation by strikes.

Statutes at Large of the United States, Vol. 38, Public Laws, pp. 103-108.

BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the provisions of this Act shall apply to any common carrier or carriers... except masters of vessels and seamen, . . engaged in the transportation of passengers or property wholly by railroad, or partly by railroad and partly by water, for a continuous carriage or shipment from one State or Territory of the United States... to any other State or Territory... or the District of Columbia, or from any place in the United States to an adjacent foreign country, . .

The term "employees " as used in this Act shall include all persons actually engaged in any capacity in train operation or train service of any description, ..

A common carrier subject to the provisions of this Act is hereinafter referred to as an "employer," and the employees of one or more of such carriers are hereinafter referred to as "employees."

SEC. 2. That whenever a controversy... shall arise between an employer... and employees subject to this Act interrupting or threatening to interrupt the business of said employer... to the serious detriment of the public interest, either party to such controversy may apply to the Board of Mediation and Conciliation created by this Act and invoke its services for the purpose of bringing about an amicable adjustment of the controversy; and... the said board... shall use its best efforts, by mediation and conciliation, to bring them to an agreement; and if such efforts... shall be unsuccessful, the said board shall at once endeavor to induce the parties to submit their controversy to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

In any case in which an interruption of traffic is imminent and fraught with serious detriment to the public interest, the Board of Mediation and Conciliation may, if in its judgment such action seem desirable, proffer its services to the respective parties to the controversy.

SEC. 3. That whenever a controversy shall arise between an employer or employers and employees subject to this Act, which can not be settled through mediation and conciliation in the manner provided in the preceding section, such controversy may be submitted to the arbitration of a board of six, or, if the parties to the controversy prefer