The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-09-14
Of congress to this subject in my several
annual messages.
The Isthmian waterway.


The Isthmian waterway.
A subject of immediate Importance to
our country is the completion Of great
waterway Of commerce between the At
lantic and Pacific. The construction of
a maritime canal is now more than ever
indispensable to that intimate and ready
communication between our eastern and
western seaports demanded by the an
nexation of the Hawaiian Islands and
the expansion Of our influence and trade
in the Pacific.
Our national policy more imperatively
than ever calls for its completion and
control by this government, and it is be-
lieved that the next session of congress,
after receiving the full report of the
commission appointed under the act ap-
proved March 8, 1899, will make pro-
visions for the sure accomplishment of
this great work.
Combinations Of capital which control
the market in commodities necessary to
the general use of the people by sup
pressing natural and ordinary compe&-
ton, thus enhancing prices to the gen
eral consumer, are obnoxious to the COM
mon law and the public welfare. They
are dangerous conspiracies against the
public good and should be made the sub
ject of prohibitory or penal legislation.
Publicity will be helpful influence to
check this evil. Uniformity of legisla-
ton in the several states should be Sc
cured. Discrimination between what is
injurious and what is useful and neces-
sary in business operations is essential
to the wise and effective treatment of
this subject. Honest cooperation of
capital is necessary to meet new bust
ness conditions and extend our rapidly
increasing foreign trade, but conspira-
cies and combinations intended to re-
strict business, create monopolies and
control prices should be effectively re-
strained.
The Best Service to labor.
The best service which can be render
! ed to labor is to afford it an opportunity
| for steady and remuneratiye employment
and give it every encouragement for ad-
vancement. The policy that subserves
this end is the true American policy.
The past three years have been more
| satisfactory to American workingmen
than many preceding years. Any change
of the present industrial or financial pol
icy of the government would be disas-
trous to their highest interests. With
prosperity at home and an increasing for
eign market for American products en-
ployment should continue to wait upon
labor, and with the present gold standard
the workingman is secured against pay
ment for his labor in deprecated cur
rency. For labor a short day is better
than short dollar. One will tighten the
burdens. the other lessen the rewards of
toll. The one will promote contentment
and independence, the other penury and
want. The wages of labor should be ad-
equate to keep the home in comfort, edu-
cate the children and with thrift and
economy lay something by for the days
Of infrmity and old age.
| Practical civil service reform has al
ways had the support and encourage
ment of the Republican party. The fu-
| ture of the merit system is safe in It's
hands.
The American people are profoundly
grateful to the soldiers, sailors and ma
rines who have in every time of conflict
fought their country's battles and de-
Tended its honor. The survivors and the
widows and orphans of those who have
fallen are justly entitled to receive the
generous and considerate care of the
nation.
Our Occupation of Cuba.
We have been in possession of Cuba
since the LIST of January, 1899. We have
restored order and established domestic
| tranquility. We have fed the starving,
clothed &he naked and ministered to the
sick. We have improved the sanitary
condition of the island. We have stimu-
lated industry, introduced public educa-
ton and taken full and comprehensive
enumeration of the inhabitants. The
qualification of electors has been settled,
and under 1t officers have been chosen for
all the municipalities of Cuba. These
local governments are now In operation,
administered by the people. Our mill
tary establishment has been reduced from
$4,000 to less than 5000. An election
has been ordered to be held on the 10Th
of September under a fair election law
already tried in the municipal elections
| to choose members of constitutional
convention. and the convention in the
same order is to assemble oil the first
Monday of November to frame const-
tuition upon which an independent gov
eminent for the island will rest. All this
is long step in the fultillment of our sa-
cred guasintees to the people Of Cuba.
The Government of Porto Rico.
We hold Porto Rico by the same title
as the Philippines The treaty of peace
which coded us the one conveyed to us
the other Congress has given to this is
land government in which the inhabit-
ants participate. elect their own legisla-
ture, enact their own laws, provide their
own system of taxation and in these re-
spects have the same power and privi-
leges enjoyed by other territories be-
longing to the United States and much
larger measure of self government than
was given to the inha bitants of Louisi-
ana under Jefferson. A district court of
the United States for Porto Rico has
been established, and local courts have
| been inaugurated, all of which are in OPP
GRAFTON. The generous treatment of the
| Porto Ricans accords with the most lib
eral thought of our own country and en-
courages the best aspirations of the peo-
pie of the island. While they do not
have instant free commercial intercourse
with the United States, congress COM
| piled with my recommendation by re-
| moving on the first day of May last SO
| per cent of the duties and provided for
the removal of the remaining 10 per cent
on the LIST of March, 1902, or earlier If
the legislature of Porto Rico shall pro-
| vide local revenues for the expenses Of
conducting the government.
The Philippine Question.
| For the sake of full and intelligent I'M
| Outstanding of the Philippine question
and to give to the people authentic infor
nation of the acts and aims of the ad
ministration present at some length the
events of Importance leading up to the
present situation. The purposes of the
executive are best revealed and can best