The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-03

conditioned upon the cardinal fact that
the duties must never be reduced below
the point that Will cover the difference
between the labor cost here and abroad.
The well-being of The wage. worker is
prime consideration CT cur entire policy
OF economic legislation.
THE customers to whom we dispose Of
our surplus products in the long run, di-
reetIy or indirectly, purchase those sur
plus products by giving US something in
return. Their ability to purchase our
products should as far as possible be
secured by Sc arranging our tariff as to
enable Us to take II ON them those prod
ucts which We can Use without harm TO
our own industries and labor, or the use
OF which viii be of marked benefit to US
''The natural line of development for a
policy of reciprocity viii be in eonnec-
ton with those of our productions which
no longer 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
The Need of a Merchant Marine
THE condition of the American mer-
chant marine IS such as TO call fer i'm
mediate remedial action by the Congress
It should be made advantageous to carry
American goods in American built ships
The Gold Standard.
'-The act of March IA. 1890. intended IN
equirocaIiy TO establish gold as the stand
ard money and 20 maintain at parity
Herewith all forms of money medium in
use with rs. has been shown to be timely
and judicious- The price of our Govern
ment bonds IN the worlds market, whzn
compared with the price Of similar obIiga-
tons issued by other nations, is a fiat
teTing tribute to eur public credit This
condition 1t is evidently desirable to main
tain.
The National Banking Law.
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 safe
guards against the derauging influence CT
commercial crises and financial panics.
Moreover, the currency Of the country
should be made responsive TO the de-
mands Of cur domestic trade and com
merce.
The National Surplus.
The collections from duties on Imports
ard internal taxes. continue to exceed the
ordinary expenditures Of the Government,
thanks mainly to the reduced army ex-
peEditures.
The Need of Economy.
Only by avoidance Of spending money
or what IS needless or uajustiaabIe can
We Iegittmately keep cur income to tie
point required TO meet our needs that are
genuine
The Control OF Railways.
Those zho complain OF the manage
raent Of the railways aIiege that estab-
lished rates a-e not maintained: that re-
hates and similar devices are habitualIy
resorted to: that these preferences are
usually in favor Of the large shipper; that
they drive cut OF business the smaller
competitor; that while many rates are
too low, many others are excessive: and
that gross preferences are made, Affect
ing both localities and commodities.
Upon the other hand, the railways assert
that the Interstate commerce law. by its
very terms. tends TO produce many of
these Illegal practices BIZ depriving car
riers OF that right OF concerted action
which they claim is necessary to estab-
lish and msintain- non-discriminating
rates
The act should be amended. The rail
way is a public servant It's rates should
be just TO and open to all shippers alike.
The Government should see to it that
within its Jurisdiction this is so and
should provide a speedy, inexpensive, and
effective remedy to that end At the same
time nothing could be more foolish than
the enactment OF legislation which would
unnecessarily interfere with the develop
ment and operation Of these commercial
agencies
The Preservation of Forests.
"At present the protection of the forest
reserves rests with the General Land Of
fee. the mapping and description Of their
timber with The United States Geological
Survey, and the preparation Of plans for
their conservative use with the Bureau Of
Forestry, which is also charged with the
general advancement of practical forestry
in the United States These various func-
tons Should be united in the Bureau OF
Forestry. TO which they properly belong.
THE President should have by law the
power OF transferring lands for use as
forest reserves to the Department Of Ag-
riculture.
The Importance of Irrigation.
''The forests are natural reservoirs.
They cannot, however, fully regulate and
conserve the waters OF the arid regions.
Great storage works are necessary to
equaIize the flow of streams and to save
the flood waters Their construction is
properly national function. at least in !
some of its features.
THE Government should construct and
maintain these reservoirs, as It does
other public works.
Settlement Of the Arid Lands.
1.-The reclamation and settlement of the
arid lands viii enrich every portion of |
our country The products Of irrigation |
will be consumed chiefly in upbuiIding |
local centres of mining and other indus /
tries, which would otherwise not come
into existence at all Our people as a
whole will profit. for successful home /
making is but another name for the up
building of the nation
The recognition of private ownership. |
which has been permitted to grow up in
the arid regions. should give way TO a
more enIighteued and larger TecOgUifioo