Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-12-06

| sncs m the pase has shown that swsspins
| reyisions Of the tariR are apt e. producs
conditions closely apprceching panic "a tns
but eminsntiy desirable. to combine With the
stability Of our economic system supple
s q
Is an incident and result of the hrm estao.
iishment and preservation Of our present
for in the present tarin law.
Our nrst duty - to see that the prosecuo \.
y the t.m n s sna nat
be sought for % far ~ It can safely % done
without Injury to our home industries. Just
Ing ing to Q. the Individual case. rsmsmGerins a.
ways that every application OF our tariff pol.
icy to meet our shifting 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
u or. eons BRINE
OF our entire policy of economic legislation.
Subject to this proviso of the proper pro-
at home. the principle OF reciprocity must
command our hearty support. The pheno-
growth Of export IT. trade asr
eign nations. Whatever is merely petty and
should sso Be- avoided. The Z customers to whom
We dispose OF our surplus products IN the
long run. directly. OF indirectly. purchase
those surplus products by giving us some
thing in return. Their ability to purchase
our products should rs far as possible be
able US to take from them those products
which We can use without harm to our own ..,,
industries and laDos Or the use OF which will
I'VE have now reached the point in the
development of our interests where we are
but to produce a constantly growing surplus
for which We must find markets abroad. To
secure these markets we can utilize existfng
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
,ne az guy living NO to oer IN
exchange for what we ask. The cordial re-
lations with other nations which are 80 de-
sirable will naturally be promoted by the
course thus required by our own interests
The natural line Of development for
policy Of reciprocity VIII be IN mn nn
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 it by my pre-
decessor.
Our Merchant Marine.
1.-THE condition Of the American merchant
marine IL such az to call for immediate
remedial action by the Congress. 1t is dis
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
fourteen knots or above. are subsidized: and
all our ships, sailing vessels and steamers
Of slow speed e a abe
fact that the original cost of building Aneri-
can ships is greater than is the case abroad !;
that the wages paid American oh1eers and
seamen are very much higher than those paid
the ohicers and seanen Of foreign competing
eountries and that the standard :s OF LIVING " a{
living on the ships OF our commercial rivals
"Our government should take such action
lean merchant marine should be restored to
s'The Act Of March IA, 1900. intended un-
money and to maintain at a parity Herewith
all forms OF money medium in use with us.
has been shown to be timely and tudicious
worlds market, when compared with the
price Of similar obligations issued by other
na.lons. Is fattering tribute to our public
credit This condition it is eminently desir-
able to maintain.
Law furnishes sufficient liberty for the proper
exercise Of the banking function but there
seems to be need of better safeguards against
the deran ging 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. Is
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 r., Gec 80
after providing against any such contingency,
means should be adopted which will bring the
actual needs.
II call special attention to the need Of strict
economy IN expenditures. me iact tnaI ou In
matt anal ro0Ha q n
providing whatever Is actually necessary to
our well-being. should make us doubly care
each Of US husbands his private resources, by
scrupulous avoidance OF anything like waste
full or reckless expenditure. 3
Regulation Of Railroads.
In 1887 measure was enacted for the reg
known AZ the Interstate Commerce Act. The
cardinal provisions of that act were that
railway rates should be just and reasonable
dities should be accorded equal treatment a
commission was created and endowed with
ers to execute the provisions OF this act
That law was largely an experiment Elk
perience has shown the wisdom OF its pur-
OF its requirements are wrong. certainly that
the means devised for the enforcement OF Its
provisions are defective.
is a public servant. Its rates should be just
to and open to all shippers alike: The gov
eminent gnOulQ see 10 IL tn0S Wltulu lto JuTls-
diction this Is SO 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.
sariy 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 irrigatng
systems for the reclamation Of the arid lands
of the West or the water rights it says
'.In the arid states the only right to water
which should be recognized is that of use. In
irrigation this right should attach to the
land reclaimed and be inseparabe 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 CT cities. A few OF the
Western states have already recognized this
and have incorporated in their constitutions