Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-12-13

II possible legislation should be passed,
in connection with the interstate COM
merce law. which will render effective
the efforts Of different States to do away
with the competition Of convict contract
labor In the open labor market.
The most vital problem with which this
country. and for that matter the whole
civilized world. has to deal, is the prob
lem which has for n side the better
ment Of social conditions, moral and ply
the effort to deal with that tangle Of far
reaching questions which we group to-
gether when we speak of Tabor" The
chief factor in the success Of each man
wage worker, farmer and capitalist alike
must ever be the sum total Of his own
Individual qualities and abilities. There
must in many cases be action by the gov
eminent in order to safeguard the rights
and interests of all.
Immigration Laws Unsati.factorx.
Our present immigration laws are uu-
satisfactory. We need every honest and
efficient immigrant fitted to become an
American citizen. But there should be a
comprehensive law enacted with the OBJ
ject of working a threefold improvement
over our present system. First, we should
aim to exclude absolutely not only all
persons who are known to be believers
in anarchistic principles or members of
'anarchistic societies, but also all persons
who are of a low moral tendency or of
unsavory reputation. The second object
of a proper immigration law ought to be
to secure by n careful and not merely
p~erfunctory educational test some intelli-
gent capacity to appreciate American in
stitutions and act sanely as American
citizens. Finally, all persons should be
excluded who are below a certain stand
dustrial field as competitors with Ameri-
can labor. Both the educational and
economic tests in u wise immigration law
should be designed to protect and elevate
the general body polite and social. A
very close supervision should be exercised
mainly, bring over the immigrants. and
they should be held to a strict a%ccounta-
bility for any infraction of the law.
. Tariff aud Reciprocity.
There is general acquiescence in our
present thrift system as a national pol
icy. The first requisite to our prosperity
is the continuity and stability of this
economic policy. Nothing could be more
unwise than to disturb the business in
terests Of the country by any general tar
if change at this time. Our experience
in the past has shown that sweeping re-
visions Of the tariff are apt to produce
conditions closely. approaching panic in
the business world. Yet it is not only
possible. but eminently desirable, to com
bine with the stability Of our economic
system a supplementary system Of recip-
rocal benefit and obligation with other
nations. Such reciprocity was especially
provided for in the present tariff law.
L. reciprocity, must. be treated as the
handmaiden Of protection. Our first duty
the tariff in every case where it is need
ed is maintained, and that reciprocity
be sought for so far as it can safely be
done without injury to our home indus
tries. Just how far this is must be deter
mined according to the individual case,
remembering always that every applica-
ton OF our tariff policy to meet our shift
ing 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
labor cost here and abroad. Subject to
this proyiso of the proper protection nee
home, the principle of reciprocity must
command our hearty support.
The natural line Of development for a
policy of reciprocity will be in connec-
ton with those of our productions which
no longer require all of the support once
needed to establish them upon u sound
basis, and with those others where either
because of natural or Of economic causes
we are beyond the reach of successful
competition. 1 ask the attention Of the
Senate to the reciprocity treaties laid
before it by my predecessor.
Americas Merch mt Marine,
The condition Of the American mer-
chant marine is such as to call for imme-
date remedial action by the Congress.
1t is discreditable to us as a nation that
our merchant marine should be utterly
insignificant in comparison to that of 9TH
err nations which we overtop in other
forms of business. We should not longer
submit to conditions under which only
a trifiing portion of our great
is carried in our own ships. To remedy
serve to build up our shipping interests,
but it would also result in benefit to ali
who are interested in the permanent es-
Enlistment Of a wider market for Amer
lean products, and would provide an aux
iliary force for the navy. Our government
these inequalities. The American mer-
chant marine should be restored to the
ocean.
The act Of March IA. 1900. intended un-
equivocally to establish gold as the stand
a wstb money a1f and, and to n maintain t at a parity there.
with us, has been shown to be timely and
tudicious. The price Of our Government
p papes WITH VI 5h the w oTise Of p 9miIs;r w .S;;a, t sem,
ute e our public credit. This condition It
Is evidently desirable to maintain.
In many respects the national banking
law furnishes sufficient liberty for the prop.
er exercise of the banking function; but
there seems to be need Of better safeguards
against the deranging influence Of CONNER
cial crises and financial panics. Moreover,
the currency of the country should be made
responsive to the demands Of our domestic
trade and IN
The collections from duties on imports and
internal taxes continue to exceed the ordi-
nary expenses of the Government, thanks
mainly to the reduced army expenditures.
The utmost care should be taken not to re.
duce the revenues SO that there 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.
I call special attention to the need of strict
economy in expenditures. Only by avoidance
OF spending money on what Is needless or
unjustifnble can we legltimately keep our
Income to the point required to met our
needs that are genuine.
Interstate Commerce.
In 1887 q measure was enacted for the reg
ulation of Interstate railways, commonly
known as the interstate m act. The
cardinal provisions of that act were that
railway rates should be just and reasonable
and that oil shippers, localities and commod
flies ShOuld be accorded enuaI frootn,ont