Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-12-07

reciprocity treaties laid before it by my
! predecessor"
| The Merchant Marine.
The president pronounces our merchant
| insignificant to that of other nations which
| we overtop in other forms of business,
| and says We ''shoulG not longer submit.to
| conditions under which only trifiing por-
| ton of our great commerce is carried in
our own ships. Of this he says:
ITO remedy this state of things would not
| merely serve to build up our shipping IN
| terests, but it would also result in benefit
| to all who are interested in the perma-
rent establishment Of a wider market for
American products ard would provide an
auxiliary force for the ravy.~ Ships work
for their own countries Just as railroads
| lines, if established to the principal coun-
| tries with which We have dealings, would
be of political as well as commercial ben
eft. From every standpoint it is unWlse
for the United States 10 continue to rely
upon the ships of competing nations for the
distribution of oW goods. 1t should be
made advantageous to carry American
goods il American built ships
He also urges the enactment of such
financial legislation as will better safe
guard against the deranging influences of
commercial crises and financial panics, and
such as will make the currency of the
country more responsive to the demands
OF domestic neSt G, trade and commerce. He
outies on exports and internal taxes far
exceed the governments expenditures, but
cOuuSSlS against reduction that Will cause
a deficit, and in the same connection urges
strict economy in expenditures so far
as our national needs will permit.
Interstate Commerce.
He comments upon the complaints en-
tered against the management of the rail-
ways for their alleged discrimination in
the matter of freight rates against the
small shippers and certain localities, and
says:
THE act should be amended The rail-
be just to and open to all shippers alike
The government should see to it that
within its jurisdiction this is SO and
effective remedy to that end. AT the same
time it must not be forgotten that our
railways are the arteries through which
flows. Nothing could be more foolish than
the enactment of legislation which would
ment and operation of these commercial
agencies"
He points to the fact that in the past
1.-The ignorant or reckless agitator has
been the really effective friend of the
evils which he has been nominally oppos-
ing In dealing with business interests
for the government to undertake by
crude and ill-considered legislation to do
what may turn out to be bad would be
to incur the risk of such far-reachlng ma
tonal disaster that it would be prefer
able to undertake nothing at all The
men who demand the impossible or the
undesirable serve as the allies OF the
war, for they hamper those who would
endeavor to find out in rational fashion
what the wrongs really are and to what
extent and in what manner 1t is prac-
ticable to apply remedies.
Irrig ton
A considerable portion of the message is
given to the subject of irrigation for the
arid lands of the west and he urges govern
ment assistance in perfecting system of
irrigation that will reclaim these waste
LANDS and make them habitable for set
tiers. He believes the government should
virtually control the water rights of the
streams affording the water for irrigation
purposes, and should construct reservoirs
for this purpose. OF this he says:
THE government should construct and
maintain these reservoirs as it does other
public works. Where their purpose is to
regulate the flow of streams the water
should be turned freely into the channels
in the dry season to take the same course
under the same laws as the natural flow.
The Colonies.
He advocates reciprocal trade relations
for Cuba that will afford that island a
market for her products, and urges TINS
on the grounds of morality and national
interest.
For the Philippines he recommends
much in the way of legislation, but again
counsels caution in the enactment OF 1t.
He says we cannot leave the islands at
the present time but that it is our duty to
give to the Filipinos such an admlnlstra-
ton as will fit them for self-government
in the future. He desires such leglSla-
ton as will permit of the granting of
franchises in the islands and so develop
the natural resources of the group, and
says of this necessity for development:
mot to permit this is to do a wrong to
the Philippines. The franchises must be
granted and the business permitted only
under regulations which will guarantee the
islands against any kind of improper eX-
ploitation. But the vast natural wealth
of the islands must be developed, and the
capital willing to develop 1t must be given
the opportunity. The field must be thrown
open to individual enterprise, which has
been the real factor in the development OF
every region over which our flag has flown.
1t is urgently necessary to enact suitable
laws dealing with general transportation;
mining, banking, currency, homesteaQs and
the use and ownership of the lands and
timber. These laws will give free play to
industrial enterprise, and the commercial
development which will surely follow Will
afford to the people of the islands the
best proofs of the sincerity OF our desire
to aid them"
He also urges the immediate construc-
ticn of Pacific cable to connect Hawaii
and the Philippines with this country as
a commercial political and military ne
ceSsity.
The Isthmfan Canal.
He comments upon the necessity for
the immediate construction OF an lsth-
milan waterway, and says the way mas
been prepared for its construction by the
conclusion of new treaty with England
on the subject.
OF the new treaty recently concluded
able to announce to you that our negotia-
lions on this subject with Great Britain,
conducted on both sides in spirit of
friendliness and mutual good Will and re-
spect have resulted III my being able to
lay before the senate treaty which II
ratified will enable us to begin preparations
for an tsthmian canal at any time and
which guarantees to this nation every right
that it has eyer asked in CONNECTION with
the canal In this treaty the old Clayton
Bulwer treaty, so long recognized as in
adequate to supply the base for the con-
struction and maintenance OF necessarily
American ship canal, is abrogated. It spe-
cially provides that the United States
alone shall do the work of building and
assume the responsibility of safeguarding
the canal and shall regulate its neutral use
by all nations on terms of equality
without the guarantee or interference
Of any outside nation ton from , any q onre
be laid before the senate, and If ap-
proved. the congress can then proceed to
Us by providing for the building of the
canal"
The Army and Navy.
For the navy he recommends con-
tinued increase in ships as in keeping
with or place fo as "a FIR first o class po sgeo
recommends an increase in the officers
and men of the navy, that the ships now
building may be placed IN commission a11ls as
of the old ones He urges this as
means of performing our International
duties we'll Is safeguard Tor our IN
ternational rights. He believes that all of
our ships should be kept in commission as
a means of training officers and men for
times of emergency.
Of the army he says there is no need
of an increase, but recommends the es-
adjustment of staff department and
system by which there may be an elm
ination, grade by grade, of those who seem
unfit to render efficient service in the next
grade He also recommends the reduction
of the paper work. of the army, known
commonly as army ''red tape and espe-
same connection he recommends the adop-
ton of new militia laws which will rec
ognize the national guard of the several
states and place them upon an equal foot
ing with the army when called into the
government service, by which the obliga
lions and duties of both shall be the same,
as we'll as the equipment and discipline.