The record-union., 1891-12-10
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countries being closed to them-is largely in
cTeastng, and is likely to assume proportions
H4hich may make ii difficult TO and homes and
employment Ior those here, and to seriously
affect the labor market. 1t is estimated that
over 100000 will be forced from Russia
within few years. The Hebrew is never a
beggar. He has always kept the law of life by
TOLL often under severe and oppressive civil
restrictions 1t is also true that no race. sect or
cas- has more fully cared for its own than the
Hebrew race, but the sudden transfer OF such
multitude undep conditions that tend to strip
them OF their small accumulauons, and to de-
press their energies and C urage, is neither
good for them nor for us. Inc banishment,
whether by decree or by not less certain indi-
rect meth6 :, OF so large number OF men ann
women is now great question. A decree TO
leave one country is, i'll the nature of things,
an order to enter some other. This consideIa-
ton, as We'll as the suggestions OF humanity,
furnishes an ample ground for the remon-
strancas which we have presented TO Russia.
while our historic friendship for that Govern
ment cannot TAIL to give the assurance that
cur representations are those ot sincere we'll
wisher.
NICARAGUA CANAL.
The annual report of tie Maritime Com
pany Of Nicaragua shows that much costly
ana necessary preparatory work has been
done during the year in the construction of
shops, railroad tracks and harbor piers and
breakwater;, and that the work of canal con-
SJrGcaon had made some success. / deem il
TO be a matter of the highest concern to the
United states that this canal; connecting the
waters Of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and
giving us a short water communication be-
tween our ports upon those two great seas,
should be speedily constructed and at the
smallest practicable limit of cost. The gain
IN freights 10 the people and the direct saving
to the Government of the United States in the
use of naval vessels would pay the cost of this
work within a short series OF years. The re-
port of the Secretary of the Navy shows the
saving IN ournavaleXI enditures which would
result.
The Senator from Alabama. Mr.. Morgan,
in his argument on this subject before the
Senate at the last session did not oyeresti-
mate the importance of this work when lie
said that "the canal is the most important
subject now connected with the commercial
growth and progress of the United States"
If this work is 10 be promoted by the usual
financial methods, and without the aid of this
government, the expenditures IN Its interest
bearing securities and stock. viii probably
be twice the actual cost. This will necessitate
higher tolls and constitute a heavy and alto
geLher needless burden uDOn our commerce
and tnat OF the world. Every dollar of the
bonds and stock of the company should rep
resent a dollar expended in the legitimate and
economical prosecution of the work. This is
only possible by giving 10 the bonds the
guaranty of the United States Government.
Such guaranty would secure the ready sale
al par OF Il 3 per cent. bond from time to time
as the money was needed. / do not doubt
that, built upon business methods, the canal
would, wnen fully inaugurated, earn its fixed
chargeS and operating expenses. But II its
bonds are TO be marketed at heavy diD ,ounts
and every bond sold is to be accompanied by a
gift of stock, as has come to be expected by in
Vestors III such enterprises, the traffic will be
seriously burdened TO pay interest and
dividends. L am quite willing TO recon-
nrosecptioo of the orE IN obeg fe
means offered, for securing its completion
Is OF such transcendenJ interest that the Gov
eminent should. in my opinion, secure il by
direct APPROXIMATIONS from its treasury a
guaranty OF the bonds of the Canal Company
to an amount necessary to the completion of
the canal could, | think, be SO given as not to
involve any serious risk OF ultimate loss. The
things 10 be carefully guarded are the com
pletion of the work within the limits of the
guaranty, the SubrCg alton of the United States
TO the rights of theLrst mortgage bondholders
for any amount it may have TO pay ana in the
meantime q control of the stock of
the company, q security against mis-
management or loss.
1 most sincerely hope that neither party
nor sectional lines VIII be drawn upon this
great American project, so full of interest to
the people Of all States, and so influential in
it, effects on the prestige ana spirits of our
common country.
ISLAND OF NAvASsA
The Island OF Navassa. in the West Indian
group, has, under the provision Of Title ~ OF
the Revised Statutes, to be recognized by the
President as appertainlng TO the United
owned by the NaNais isa Phosphate Company,
and occupied solely by It's employees. In Sep
tember, 1889, n revolt took place among these
1abOrerS resulting in the killing OF the agents of
the company, caused, as the laborers claimed
by cruel treatment. These men were arrested
and tried in the United States courts at Bati-
more under Section 55T6 of the statute re-
feTred 10, as Il the otttnses had been COM
mitted on board an American vessel of the
United States on the high seas. There APP
peared on the trial and otherwise came to me
such evidences of the bad treatment of the
men that in consideration of this and of the
fact that the men had no access to any public
officer or tribunal for protection or the redress
OF their wrongs, l commuted the death sem
tence that had been passed by the court upon
three OF them. In April last my attention
was again called TO this island and the un-
regulated condition of things there by letter
from colored laborer, who complained that
he was wrongfully detained on the island by
the Phosphate Company after the expiration
o. his contract of service. 4 naval
vessel was sent to examine into the case
of this man, and generally into the condition
oE Things on the islands. lC was found that
the ls5orer referred to has been detained be-
NonG the cOLtract limit. and that Il conoition
ofrevolt again existed among the laborers. a
board OF naval officers reported. among other
things. the following: 1--WE would desire to
state further that the discipline maintained
on the islands seems 10 be that Of convict es-
adjustment, without It's comforts and cleanli-
ness, and that until more attention is paid TO
the shipping of flabOrerS by placing il under
Government supervision to prevent miSEn-
deTs,anding anu misrepre sentation, and until
some ameiforatlng influence is shown in the
treatment of laborerS, these disorders viii be
OF constant occurrence
! recommend legislation that shall place la
Dor contracts upon this and other islands
having the relation that NavaSsa has to the
United States under the supervision of court
commissioner, and that shall provide at the
expense of the owners an otncer to reside
upon the islands, with power to judge and ad-
just disputes, and to enforce just and hui
name treatment of the employees. 1t is mex
cusable that American laborers should be left
within our own jurisdiction without access to
any Government officer or tribunal for their
protection and the redress of their wrongs.
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT.
International copyright has been secured in
accordance with the conditions of the Act OF
March ), 1891, with Eelgiuln France Great
Britain and the British possessions and Switz-
erland. the laws of those countries permitting
TO our citizens the benefit of the copyright
on substantially the same basis as their own
citizens or subjects. With Germany special
convention had been negotiated upon this
subject, which Will bring that country within
TIE social benefits OF our legislation.
TARIFF LEGISLATION.
The general interest in the operations of the
Treasury Department has been augmented
during the last year by reason OF the conflicting
predictions which accompanied and followed
the tariff and other legislation of the last Con-
gress affecting the revenues as to the results OF
Ihis legislation upon the treasury and upon
The country. On the one hand it was contenued
that the imports would so fall of as to leave
the treasury bankrupt, and that the prices oi
articles entering into the living OF the people
wodld be SO enhanced as to disastrously affect
their comfort and happiness; while on the
other, 1t was argued that the loss 10 the rev e.
nue., largely the result OF placing sugar on the
uCt Hsl, NOuid oe q u1IS I gain 10 the people
that the prices of the neeessaries of life IN
Guiding those most highly protected would
not be enhanced; that lator would have q
larger market, ana the prouucts of the farm
advanced prices, while the treasury surplus
and receipts would be adequate TO meet the
appropriation, including the large exceptional
expenditures for the refunding TO the States o
the direct tax, and the redemption OF the
four-and-a-half per cent bonds.
1t is not my purpose 10 enter at any length
INTO discussion OF the effects of the leglsla-
tion to which have referred, but brief ex-
animation OF the statistics of the Treasury