The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-12-12

Their ability to purchase our products
should as far as possible, be secured
by so arranging 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.
| ask the attention of the Senate to
the reciprocity treaties laid before it
by my predecessor.
American Merchant Marine.
The condition of the American mer-
chant marine is such as to call for inn
mediate remedial action by the Con-
gress 1t is discreditable to us as aNation
that our merchant marine should be ut
terly insignificant i'm comparison to that
Of other nations which we overtop in
other forms of business We should not
longer submit to conditions under
which only trifling portion of our great
commerce is carried on Our own ships.
To remedy this state of things would
not merely serve to build up our ship
ping interests. but it would also result
in benefit TO all who are interested in
the permanent establishment of wider
market for American products. and
would provide an auxiliary force for the
Navy.
Our Government should take such
action as will remedy these inequali-
ties. The American merchant marine
should be restored to the ocean.
The Gold Standard.
The Act Of March H. 1000, intended
unequivocally to establish gold as the
standard money and to maintain at a
parity Herewith all forms of money
medium in use with us, has beea shown
to be timely and judicious The price
of our Government bonds in the worlds
market, when compared with the price
of similar obligations issued by other
nations, is flattering tribute to Our
public credit. This condition it is evil
dently desirable to maintain.
In many respects the National Bank
ing Law furnishes sufficient liberty for
the proper exercise of the anking
function; but there seems to be need
of better safeguards against the derang-
ing influence of commercial crisis and fl
nancial panics.
Internal Taxes.
The collections from duties on inn
ports and internal taxes continue to
exceed the ordinary expenditure of
the Government, thanks mainly to the
reduced army expenditures The ut
most care should be taken not TO re-
duce the revenues so that there will be
any possibility of deficit; but, after
providing against any such contingent
cy. means should be adopted which
will bring the revenues more nearly
within the limit of Our actual needs. In
his report to the Congress the Secre-
tary of the Treasury considers all these
questions at length and | ask your at
tenton to the report and recommenda-
tions.
Strict Economy.
! call strict attention 10 the need Of
strict economy in expenditures. The fact
that our national needs forbid us to be
niggardly in providing whatever is actu-
ally necessary to our well-being, should
make us doubly careful to husband our
national resources, as each OF us hus-
bands his private resources by scrupulous
avoidance of anything like reckless or
wasteful expenditure.
Agricultural Department.
The Department of Agriculture dur
ing the past fifteen years has steadily
broadened its work on economic lines,
and has accomplished results of real
value in upbuilding domestic and for
eign trade. 1t has gone into new fields,
until it is now in touch with all sections
of our country, and with two of the ISL
and groups that have lately come under
Our jurisdiction, whose people must look
to agriculture as a livelihood. 1t is
searching the world for grains, grasses,
fruits and vegetables specially fitted for
introduction into localities in the several
States and Territories where they may
add materially to our resources. By
scientific attention to soil survey and
possible new crops to breeding of new
varieties OF plants, to experimental ship
meats, to animal industry and applied
chemistry, very practical aid has been
given our farming and stockgrowing in
tcrests.
Insular Possessions.
In Hawaii our aim must be to de-
yelop the territory on the traditional
American lines We do not wish a
region OF large estates titled by cheap
labor: we wish a healthy American com
munity OF men who themselves till the
farms they own All our legislation for
the islands should be shaped with this
end in view.
1t is a pleasure to say that it 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 it is being administered efficiently
and honestly lis people are now en-
loving liberty and order under the pro-
lection Of the United States and upon
this fact we congratulate them and our
selves. ! ask the attention OF the Con
gress to the need of legislation concern
ing the public lands of Porto Rico.
In Cuba such progress has been made
towards putting the independent gov
ernment OF the island upon firm foot
ing that before the present session OF
the Congress closes this will be an &C
complished fact, Cuba will then start
as her own mistress; and to the beauti-
ful Queen of the Antilles, as she unfolds
this new page of her destiny, we extend
our heartiest greetings and good wishes
Elsewhere | have discussed the question
Of reciprocity In the case of Cuba how
ever, there are weighty reasons OF NOR
ality and of national interest why the
policy should be held to have a pecu-
liar application, and | most earnestly
ask your attention to the wisdom in
deed to the vital need, OF providing for
a substantial reduction in the tariff du-
ties on Cuban imports into the United
States
In the Philippines our problem is
rfe14 ..1 ss-