Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-12-10

ed is maintained, and that reciprocity
be sought for so far as it can safely BIZ
done without injury to our home indus
tries. Just how far this is must be deter
mined according to the individual ease,
remembering always that every appllca-
ton of our tariff policy to meet our shift
ing national needs must be conditioned
upon the cardinal fact that the duties
must never be reduced below the point
that will cover the difference between the
labor cost here and abroad. Subject 10
this proyiso of the proper protection nee
essary to our industrial we'll being at
home, the principle of reciprocity must
command our hearty support.
The natural line of development for
policy of reciprocity will be in connec-
ton with those of our productions which
no longer require all of the support once
needed to establish them upon sound
basis, and with those others where either
because of natural or of economic causes
we are beyond the reach of successful
competition. | ask the attention OF the
Senate to the reciprocity treaties laid
before it by my predecessor.
Americas Merch mt Marine.
The condition. of the American mer-
chant marine is such as TO call for imme-
| date remedial action by the Congress.
our merchant marine should be utterly
insignificant in comparison to that of 9th
| err nations which we overtop in ether
forms of business We should not longer
submit to conditions under which only
a triHing portion of our great commerce
is carried in our own ships. To remedy
this state of things would not merely
serve TO build up our shipping interests,
but it would also result in benefit to all
| who are interested in the permanent es-
adjustment of a wider market for Amer
lean products, and would provide an aux
iliary force for the navy. Our government
| should take such action as will remedy
| these inequalities. The American mer
chant marine should be restored to the
| ocean.
The act of March IA, 1900. intended I'M
| equivocally to establish gold as the stand
| ard money and to maintain at q parity there
| with all forms of money medium in use
| with us, has been shown to be timely and
iudieioqs The price Of our Government
pared with the price of similar obligations
issued by other nations, is a tiattering trib-
ute to our public credit. This condition 1t
is evidently desirable to maintain.
| In many respects the national banking
law furnishes sufficient liberty for the prop
er exercise of the banking function; but
there seems TO be need of better safeguards
! against the deranging influence of CONNER
cial crises and financial panics. Moreover,
the currency of the country should be made
trade and commerce.
The collections from duties on imports and
internal taxes continue to exceed the ordi-
| nary expenses of the Government, thanks
mainly to the reduced army expenditures.
The utmost care should be taken not to re-
duce the revenues so that there VIII be any
possibility of deficit; but, after providing
against any such contingency, means should
be adopted which will bring the revenues
more nearly within the limit of our actual
| needs.
call special attention to the need of strict
economy in expenditures. Only by avoidance
| of spending money on what Is needless or
unjustifable can we Iegitimately keep our
income to the point required to met our
needs that are genuine.
Interstate Commerce.
In 1887 a measure was enacted for the reg
| ulatiOn of interstate railways, commonly
| known as the interstate commerce act The
cardinal provisions Of that act were that
railway rates should be just and reasonable
and that all shippers, localities and commod-
tiles should be accorded equal treatment.
That law was largely an experiment. Ex-
perience has shown the wisdom of It's pur-
poses, but has also shown, possibly that
some of its requirements are wrong, GER
tainiy that the means devised for the en-
fOrcement of its provisions are defective.
The act should be amended. The railway is
a public servant. Its rates should be just
to and open TO all shippers alike. The Gov
eminent should see TO ii that within its jur-
isdiction this is so, and should provide
speedy, inexpensive and effective remedy to
that end At the same time nothing could
be more foolish than the enactment of legis-
lation Which would unnecessarily interfere
| with the development and operation of these
The Department of Agriculture curing the
last fifteen years has steadily broaGened its
| work ON ecoAomic lines, and has accom-
plished results of real value in upbuilding
| domestic and foreign trade. 1t has gone
into new fields until Ii Is now in touch with
| all sections of our country and with two or
the island groups that have lately come I'M
der our jurisdiction, whose people must
look to agriculture for a livelihood. 1t Is
fruits and vegetables specially fitted for in
PRODUCTION into localities In the seyerHl
States and Territories where they may add
materially to our resources. By seientihc
attention to soil survey and possible new
crops. to breeding of new varieties of plants,
to experimental shipments, to animal indus;
try and applied chemistry. very practical
aid had been given our farming and stock
| growing interests. The products of the
farm have taken an unprecedented place In
our export trade during the year that has
Just closed.
Protection of the Forest
Public opinion throughout tie United
States has moved steadily tOwaryl Just APP
probation of the value Of forests, whether
planted or of natural growth. The great
part played by them in the creation and
maintenance of the national wealth is now
more fully realized than ever before.
Wise forest protection does not mean the
/ withdrawal of forest resources, whether of
wood, water or grass. but, on the contrary,
| gives the assurance or larger ana more GER
tain supplies. The fundamental Idea of
forestry is the perpetuatiOn OF forests by
use. Forest protection is not an end of
itself: Ii is means TO increase and sustain
the resources of our country and the indus
tries which depend upon them. The preser-
walton of cur forests is an imperative bust
OF the forest reserves rests with the Gen
eral Land Office. the mapping out aud de-
scription of their timber with the United
States Geological Survey. and the prepara-
4 2 fara Of mis- ThRi witt
the Bureau Of Forestry, which is also
charged with the general advancement of
These various functions should be united In
the Bureau OF Forestry. to which. they
properly belong.
Reclamation of Arid Lanis.
The reclamation of The unsettled arid pub
lie lands presents different problem. Here
IL is not Enough TO regulate the flow Of
streams The object Of the Government is
to dispose Of the land to settlers who will
object water must be brought within their
The pioneer settlers on the arid public
domain chose their homes along streams
from which they could themselves divert the
water TO reclaim their holdings. Such OPP
portunities are practically gone. There re.
main. however, FaSr areas Of public lana
which can be made available for homestead
settlement, but oaly by reservoirs and main
line canals impraeticabie for. private enter
prise. These irrigation works should be
built by the national Government for actual
settlers. and the cost of construction should
so far as possible be repaid by the land re-
claimed
| In Hawaii our aim must be to develop the
| territory the traditional American lines
We do not wish a region Of large estates
, titled by cheap labor we wish = healthy
! American community OF men who them
selves till the farms they own. All our
, legislation for the islands should be shaped
with this end in view: the weil-being of the
average home-maker muss afford the true
test OF the healthy development Of the
islands. The land policy should as nearly