Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-10

i this end our merchant marine should be
| improved and enlarged. We should do oul
full share of the carrying trade of the
| world. We do not do 1t now. We should
be the laggard no longer
In my message0of December 5, 1899, ]
| said.
| "Our national development will be one
/ sided and unsatisfactory so long as the re.
| markable growth-Of our inland industries
| remains unaccompanied by progress on the
seas. There is noylaek Of constitutional a,-
| thority for legislation which shall give to
| the country maritime strength commensu-
rate with its Industrial achievements and
1 with it's rank among the nations of the
/ earth. -
.'The past year. has Recorded exceptiona]
| activity in our shipyards, and the promises
Of continual prosRsrityain shipbuilding are
protection Of our seamen has been enacted
| Our coast trade, under regulations wisely
| framed at the beginning Of the government,
and since, shows results for the past fiscal
| any other power. We shall fail to realize
| our opportunities, however, II we compla-
| Gently regard only matters at home and
| Find ourselves to the necessity Of securing
| the world"
| 1 now reiterate these views.
| An Isthmian Canal.
| subject of immediate importance to
| our country is the completion of a great
waterway of commerce between the Allan
| tic and Pacific. The construction Of a
| maritime canal is now. more than ever in
| dispensa5le to that intimate and ready
communication between our eastern and
western seaports demanded by the annex
alton of the Hawaiian Islands and the ex-
panSon of our influence and trade in the
Pacific. a
Our national policy more imperatiyely
then ever calls for It's completion and con-
troll by this government; and 1t is believed
| mat the next session OF Congress. after re-
celv1ng the full report Of the commission
appointed under the act approved March
| 3, 1899, will make provisions for the sure
| accomplishment of this great work.
Restraint of Monopoly,
Combinations of capital which control the
| market in commodities necessary to the
general use of the people, by suppressing
| natural and ordinary competition, thus en-
HANGING prices to the general consumer.
are obnoxious to the common law and the
| public welfare They are dangerous con-
| spiracies against the public good and
should be made the subject of prohibitory
or penal legislation. Publicity will be a
helpful influence to check this evil Uni
| fOrmity of legislation in the several states
| should be secured. Dfscrimina ton between
what is injurious and what is useful and
| necessary in business operations is essen
tial to the wise and effective treatment of
| this subject. Honest cooperation Of capt.
tai Is necessary to meet new business con-
| ditfons and extend our rapidly increasing
| foreign trade. but conspiracies and COM
binations intended to restrict business,
| create monopolies and control prices should
| be effectively restrained.
The interests of Labor.
The best service which can be rendered
| to labor Is to afford 1t an opportunity for
| steady and remunerative employment, and
give 1t every encouragement for advance
ment. The policy that subserves this end
| is the true American policy. The past
| three years have been more satisfactory to
American wOrkingmen than many proceed
| ing years. Any change of the present in
| dustrial or financial policy of the govern
ment would be disastrous to their highest
interests. With prosperity at home and an
| Increasing foreign market for American
products, employrf1ent should continue to
wait upon labor, ard Mith the present gold
against payments, for bis labor in a depre-
| better than a short doIar; one will tighten
the burdens the. o. her lessen the rewards
of TOLL The one WIN promote contentmen,
| and independence. the other perjury and
| want The wages,of labor should be ade-
| qrate to keep the, home i'm comfort. educate
the children. and, with thrift and economy
| lay something by for the days Of infirmity
Guarding the Civil Service.
Practical civil sfrvics reform has always
had the support and encouragement Of the
| republican party The future of the merit
| system is safe Units hands.
During the present administration as oc-
| casibns have arfsenf .se COR" Modification OF
amendment In the existing civil service
law and rules they have been made. I'm
portant amendments were promulgated by
executive order under date of May 3d. 1899
hoy -fyNtp fnr fIAtr
ceptiOa- from competitive examination OF
certain places involving fiduciary RESPONSE
bilities or duties Of strictly confidential
| scientific or executive character, which ii
| was thought might better be filled either
| by snon-competitiveg examination or by
other tests of fitness in the discretion of
/ the appointing officer tits gratifying that
the experience. of more than a year has
indicated these changes, in the marked
Improvement OF the publice service
The merit system. as far as practicable
| Is made the basis for appointments to Of
hce In our new territory
| Just Admin stratiOn of Pension Laws.
| The American people are profoundly
| grateful to the soldiers, sailors and marines
who have in every time of conflict fought
| their country's battles and defended its
honor. The survivors and the widows and
orphans of those who have fallen are justly
entitled to receive the generous and consid-
crate care or the nation. Few are now left
| or those who fought in the Mexican war,
ana while many Of the veterans of the civil
war are st1ll spared to u.s. their numbers are
| rapidly diminishing and age and infrmty
| are increasing their dependence. These,
with the soldiers Of the Spanish war will
not be neglected by their grateful country
rlen Inc pension laws have been liberal.
ihey should be justly administered and will
pc Preference should be given to the SOL
dters. sailors and marines, their widows and
orphans. with respect to employment in the
public service.
Relations Toward Cuba.
We have been in possession Of Cuba since
the lst of January, 1899. We have re-
stored order and established domestic tran
guilty. We have fed the starving, clothed
| the naked and ministered to the sick We
have improved the sanitary condition of the
island. We have stimulated industry, in
| troouced public education, and taken full
and comprehensive enumeration Of the in
naoltants. The qualification Of electors
mas been settled, and under it officers have
| been chosen for all the municipalities of
Cuba. These local governments are now in
operation, administered by the people Our
military establishment has been reduced
| from $1,000 soldiers to less than 5000 An
| eIectlon mas been ordered to be held on the
lotn or September under fair election law
| already tried in the municipal elections. To
choose members of a constitutional conyen-
| tlon, and the convention by the same order
| Is TO assemble ha fret 90