, 1901-12-05

secure these markets we can utilize existing
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 Tor
exchange for what we ask. The cordial re-
lations with other nations which are so de-
sirable will naturally be promoted by the
The natural line OF development for n
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 a 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 1t by my pre-
decessor.
Our Merchant Marine.
THE condition OF the American merchant
marine is such as to call for immediate
remedial action by the Congress. 1t is dis
credltable to US as "A 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 NJ 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 Amert-
can ships Is greater than is the case abroad;
that the wages paid American officers and
seamen nre 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
the ocean.
The Act OF March u. 1900. intended un-
equivocally to establish gold as the standard
money and to maintain at a parity Herewith
all forms of money medium In use with us.
has been shown to be timely and judtcious.
The price Of our government bonds in the
worlds market, when compared with the
price OF similar obligations Issued by other
nations, is a fattcring tribute TO our public
credit. This condition IL is eminently desir-
able to maintain.
I'm 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 ord
nary expenditures. The utmost care should
be taken not TO reduce the revenues so that
thre will be any possibility OF a 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.
II cali special attention to the need of strict
economy in expenditures. The fact that our
national needs forbid us to be niggardly in
ITbNlulNE Whatever Is actually necessary 10
our well-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
ful or reckless expenditure.
Regulation of Railroads.
In 1857 a measure was enacted for the reg
ulation of Interstate railways, m
known as the Interstate Commerce Act. Tho
cardinal provisions of that act were that
railway rates should be Just and reasonable
and that all shippers. localities. and commo-
commission was created and endowed with
what were supposed to be the necessary pow
ers to execute the provisions of this act
That law was largely an experiment. Ex-
pcrience 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.
THE act should be amended, The railway
is n public servant. Its rates should be just
to and open to all shippers alike. The gov
ernment should see to It tina: within its iuris-
dtction this is SO and should provide q speedy,
Inexpensive, and effective remedy to that end
Atthe same time 1t must not be forgotten that
our railways are the arteries through which
the commercial llfebluod 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 irrtgating
systems for the reclamation OF the arid lands
of the West. or the water rights IL says:
In the arid states the only right to water
which should be recognized is that OF use. In
irrlsatlon TINS rlght should attach to the
land reclaimed and be tnseparable 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
the doctrine of perpetual state ownership of
water.
"our aim should be not simply to reclaim
the largest area Of land and provide homes
for the largest number of people. but to
create for this new industry the best possible
social and Industrial conditions; and this re
quires that we not only understand the eS-
listing situation, but avail ourselves OF the
best experience Of the time in the solution
MADE, both by the nation and the states, of
the Irrigation laws and conditions here and
abroad, Ultimately II will probably be neces-
sary for the nation to cooperate with the
several arid states in proportion as these
states by their legislation and administration
show themselves fit to receive 1t.
Development of Hawaii.
I'm Hawaii our aim must be to develop the
territory on the traditional American lines.
We do not wish n region of large cities titled
by cheap labor, we wish a healthy American
community OF men who themselves Till the
farms they own. All our legislation for the
islands should be shaped with this end in
view the well-beInR OF the average home
maker must afford the true test OF the
healthy development OF the islands. The
land policy should as nearly as possible be
modelled on our homestead system.
1t is a pleasure to say that 1t is hardly
more necessary to report as to Porto Rico
than as to any state or territory within our
continental limits. The island is thriving as
never before, and 1t is being administered
efficiently and honestly. It's people are now
enjoying liberty and order under the pro-
lection OF the United States. aud upon this
fact We congratulate them and ourselves.
Their material welfare must be as carefully
and lealuusly considered as the welfare OF
any other portion Of our country. We have
given them the great eft OF free access for
their products to the markets OF the United
States. ! ask the attention OF the Congress
to the need Of legislation concerning the pub
lie lands Of Porto Rco.
Progress In Cuba.
In Cuba such progress has been made to-
ward putting the independent government Of
the island upon u firm footing that before the
present session OF the Congress closes this
VIII be an accomplished fact. Cuba will then
start as her own mistress, and to the beauti-
fl Queen Of the Antilles, as she unfold5 this
new page Of her destiny, we extend our
heartiest greetings and good wishes. Else
whero / have discussed the question Of reci-
prOcity In the case OF Cuba. however, there
are wciEhty reasons OF morality and Of ma
tionHl interest why the policy should be held
to have d peculiar application, aud / most