Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-12-06

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.
1t 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 in
terests where we are not only able to
supply our own markets, but to pro-
duce a constantly growing surplus for
which we must find markets abroad.
To secure these markets we can util-
lie existing duties in any case where
they are no longer needed for the pur-
pose of protection, or in any case
where the article Is not produced here
and the duty is no longer necessary
for revenue, as giving us something to
offer in exchange for what we ask.
The cordial relations with other ma
tons which are so desirable will nat
urally be promoted by the course thus
required by our own interests.
The natural line of development for n
policy of reciprocity will be in connec
ton with those of our productions
which no longer require all of the sup
port once needed to establish them
upon sound basis and with those 9th
ers 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 it by
my predecessor.
The Merchant Marine.
The condition of the American mer-
Giant marine is such as to call for i'm
mediate remedial action by the con
grcSs. 1t is discrcditable to us as n
nation that our merchant marine
should be utterly insignificant in com
parson to that of other nations which
we oVcrtop in other forms Of business.
We should not longer submit to cOndi-
tons under which only Il trifing por-
ton 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 cstab-
liShment of wider market for Amer
lean products and would provide an
auxiliary force for the navy. Ships
work for their own countries just as
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 ev-
cry standpoint it is unwise for the
United States to continue to rely upon
the ships of competing nations for the
distribution of our goods. 1t should be
made advantageous to carry American
goods in American built ships.
At present American shipping is I'M
der certain great disadvantages when
put in competition with the shipping
of 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
greater than is the case abroad. that the
wages paid American officers and sea
men 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
! American merchant marine should be
! restored to the ocean.
Financial.
The passage of the act establishing
gold as the standard money has. it is
declared, been shown to be timely and
! judicious The president adds
In many respects the national bank
! ing law furnishes sufficient liberty fol
the proper exercise of the banking
function, but there seems to be need
of better safeguards against the de
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