Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-12-06

ence in the past has shown that sweeping
revisions Of the tariff are apt to produce
| conditions closely approaching panic In the
| business world. Yet 1t Is not only possible.
| but eminently desirable to combine with the
| stability Of our economic system supple
mentary system Of reciprocal beneft and obli-
| CATION with other nations. Such reciprocity
Is an incident and result Of the firm estab-
lishment and preservation OF our present
economic policy. 1t was specially provided
for in the present tariff law.
"Our first duty is to see that the protection
granted by the tariff In every case where II
Is needed is maintained and that reciprocity
be sought for SO far as II can safely be done
without injury to our home industries. Just
how far this Is must be determined accord
ing to the individual case. remembering al
ways that every application Of our tariff pol
icy to meet our shifting national needs must
be conditioned upon the cardinal fact that the
that will cover the difference between the
labor cost here and abroad The well-being
OF the wage-worker Is prime consideration
Of our entire policy Of economic legislation.
Subject to this proviso Of the proper pro-
lection necessary to our industrial well-beiny
at home. the principle of reciprocity must
command our hearty support. The pheno-
menal growth Of our export trade emphasizes
the urgency Of the need for wider markets
and for liberal policy In dealing with for
eisn nations. Whatever is merely petty and
vexatious In the way OF trade restrictions
should be avoided. The customers to whom
we dispose OF our surplus products In the
long run. directly or indirectly. purchase
thing in return. Their ability to purchase
our products should as far as possible be
secured by SO arranging our tariff as to en-
able us to take from them those products
industries and labor or the use OF which will
be Of marked benefit to us.
I'VE have now reached the point In the
development Of our interests where we are
not only able to supply our own markets
but to produce a constantly growing surplus
for which must find markets abroad. To
secure these markets we can utilize existing
needed for the purpose Of protection. or In any
case where the article Is not produced hero
and the duty is no longer necessary for
revenue. as giving US something to oifer In
exchange for what We ask. The cordial re-
lations with other nations which are de-
sirable will naturally be promoted by the
Se eqpI ne % for
policy Of reciprocity will be In connection
with those Of our productions which no long
er 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.
II ask the attention of the Senate to the
reciprocity treaties laid before II by my pre-
decessor.
Our Merchant Marine.
1.-THE condition of the American merchant
marine Is such to call for immediate
remedial action by the Congress, II is dis
credtable to us as Nation that our mer-
chant marine should be utterly Insignificant
in comparison to that of other nations which
we overtop in other forms of business.
American shipping Is under certain great
disadvantages when put in competition with
the shipping of foreign countries. Many OF
the fast foreign steamships. at a speed Of
fourteen 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 Ameri
ships Is greater than is the case abroad:
that the wages paid American officers and
seamen are very much higher than those paid
the officers and seamen OF foreign competing
countries; and that the standard OF living
on our ships is far superior to the standard OF
living on the ships OF our commercial rivals.
Our government should take such action
as will remedy these inequalities The Amer
lean merchant marine should be restored to
the ocean.
1.-THE Act OF March Il, 1900 intended un-
equivocally to establish gold as the standard
money and to maintain at parity Herewith
all forms Of money medium In use with us,
has been shown to be timely and ludicious
The price of our government bonds in the
worlds market. when compared with the
price Of similar obligations issued by other
nauons is a fattering tribute to our public
credit. This condition it is emnently desr-
able to maintain.
"In many respects the National Banking
Law furnishes sufficient liberty for the proper
exercise OF the banking function but there
seems to be need Of better safeguards against
the deranging influence OF commercial crises
and financial panics. Moreover, the currency
of the country should be made responsive
to the demands Of our domestic trade and
commerce.
Reduction of Revenues.
"The collections from duties on imports and
internal taxes continue to exceed the Ordi-
nary expenditures. The utmost care should
be taken not to reduce the revenues so that
.x.tI ha M n
after providing against any such contingency,
means should be adopted which will bring the
revenues more nearly within the limit OF our
actual needs.
II call special attention to the need Of strict
economy in expenditures The fact that our
national needs forbid us to be niggardly In
providing whatever Is actually necessary TO
our we'll being, should make us doubly care
full to husband our national resources, as
each Of us husbands his private resources. by
scrupulous avoidance Of anything like waste
full or reckless expenditure.
Regulation of Railroads.
In 1887 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 commo-
dities should be accorded equal treatment.
commission was created and endowed with
what we're supposed to be the necessary pow
ers to execute the provisions OF this act.
perence has shown the wisdom OF Its pur-
poses, but has also shown, possibly that some
Of its requirements are wrong certainly that
the means devised for the enforcement OF its
provisions are defective.
1.-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 1t that within Its Juris-
diction this is 30 and should provide speedy,
inexpensive and effective remedy to that end
At the same time 1t must not be forgotten that
our railways are the arteries through which
the commercial lifeblood Of this nation flows
Nothing could be more foolish than the en-
actment of legislation which would unneces-
sarily interfere with the development and
operation Of these commercial agencies. The
subject Is one of great Importance and calls
for the earnest attention of the Congress.
The message points out the value OF the
American forests and the necessity for their
conservation, and urges the construction and
maintenance of reservoirs and irrlgating
systems for the reclamation Of the arid lands
of the West. or the water rights 1t says:
"In the arid states the only right to water
which should be recognized Is that ofuse. In
irrigation this right should attach to the
land reclaimed and be inseparable therefrom.
Granting perpetual water rights to others
than users, without compensation to the
public is open to all the objections which
apply to giving away perpetual franchises TO
the public utilities Of cities. A few OF the
Western states have already recognized this
and have incorporated in their constitutions
tho doctrine of perDetual state ownership or