Arizona republican., 1901-12-04

the interest of our commercial and ma | terial well-being. Our experience In the past has shown that sweeping re- visions of the tariff are apt to produce conditions closely approaching panic in the business world. Yet it is not only possible, but eminently desirable. to
 combine with the stability of our eco-
 homie system supplementary system | of reciprocal benefit and obligation with other nations. Such reciprocity is
 an incident and result of the firm es- tablishment and preservation of our
 present economic policy. It was speci- ally provided for in the present tariff law.
 Reciprocity must be treated as the handmaiden of protection. Our first duty is to see that the protection
 granted by the tariff in every case where it is needed is maintained. and | that reciprocity be sought for far
 as it can safely be done without injury
 to our home industries. Just how far
 this is must be determined according
 to the individual case. remembering al ways that every application of our tariff policy to meet our shifting n&- tional needs must be conditioned upon l 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 The we'll
 
 l consideration of our entire policy of
 economic legislation.
 | Subject to this proviso of the proper i protection necessary to our industrial
 " eil-being at home. the principle of
 reciprocity must command our hearty
 support. The phenomenal growth of
 our export trade emphasizes the urg-
 ency of the need for wider markets and
 for d liberal policy in dealing with for eign nations. Whatever is merely petty and veNatious in the way of trade restrictions should be avoided. The
 customers to whom we disDose of our surplus products in the long run. di- rectly or indirectly, purchase those | surplus products by giving us some thing in return. The ability to pur- | chase our products should as far as : possible be secured by so arranging our tariff as to enable us to take from | them those products which we can use without harm to our own industries and labor. or the use of which will be of marked benefit to us. It is most important that We should maintain the high level of our present prosperity. We have now reached the point in the development of our inter ! ests where we are not only able to sup ply our own markets but to produce | constantly growing surplus for which | We must find markets abroad. To se- | cure these IlaIketS We can utlllZe eN- ] isting duties in any case where they ! are no longer needed for the purpose | of protection. or in any case where the | article is not produced here and the | duty is no longer necessary for revenue, 1 as giving us something to offer in ex- change for what we ask. The cordial | relations with other nations which are so desirable will naturally be promoted hy tine course thus required by our own interests.
 The natural line of development for policy of reciprocity will be in con nection with those of our productions which no longer require all of the sup port once needed to establish them upon q sound basis. and with those others where either because of natural or of economic causes we are beyond the reach of successful competition.
 I ask the attention of the senate to the reciprocity treaties laid before it by my predecessor.
 THE MERCHANT MARINE.
 The condition of the American mer- chant marine is such as to call for i'm mediate remedial action by the con gress. It is discreditable to us as a nation that our merchant marine should be utterly insignificant in com plrison to that of other nations which we overtop in other forms of business. - G SHOulu IOI longer submit 10 con- l ditions under which only q trifiing DOT tion 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 estab- lishment of a wider market for Amer ican products, and would provide an force for the navy. Ships , work for their own countries inst 1 railroads work for their terminal points. Shipping lines, if established . to the principal countries with which we have dealings. would be of political as well as commercial benefit. From every standpoint it is unwise for the United States to continue to rely upon the ships of competing nations for the of our goods. It should be made advantageous to carry American ! goods in American built ships.
 At present American shipping is un- der certain great disadvantages when | put in competition with the shipping of I foreign countries. Many of the fast ( foreign steamships, at a speed of four teen knots or above. are subsidized: | and all our ships, sailing vessels and ( steamers alike. cargo carriers of slow { speed and mail carriers of high speed, have to meet the fact that the original | { cost of building American ships is 2 greater than is the case abroad: that ( the wages paid American officers and l seamen are very much higher than [ those paid the officers and seamen of | foreign competing countries; and that s the standard of living on our ships is | far superior to the standard of living C on the ships of our commercial rivals. c
 Our government should take such S action as will remedy these inequai- [ ties. The American merchant marine should be restored to the ocean. e
 FINANCE. C
 The act of March 14. 1900. intended . to establish gold as the money and to maintain at a parity herewith all forms of money medium in use with us, has been shown to be timely and iudicious. The price n