Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-12-06

| adopted. They widen Our markets and
secure the lowering of duties when they
are no longer needed for protection, or
whenthe minimum of damage done may
be disregarded for the maximum OF good.
If il prove impossible to ratify the
pending treaties, and IL there seem to
be no warrant for the endeavor to exc
cute others, or to amend the pending
treaties so that they can be ratified,
then the same end-to secure reoiproo-
ity-should be met by direct legislation.
Wherever tariff conditions are such that
a needed change cannot with advantage
be made by reciprocity, then 1t can be
made outright by lowering duties. IL pos
sible, such change should. be made only
after consideration by experts, from a
business standpoint. The machinery for
such investigation can readily be sup
piled. The executive department has al
ready methods Of collecting facts,
and If congress desires additional
consideration TO that which will be given
ness experts can be appointed. n COM
mission would show what changes should
be made and how far these could go with
out also changing prosperity or upset
ting economic policy.
THE IOWA IDEA"
The cases in which the tariff can pro.
duce a monopoly are so few as to con-
SIituIe an lnCOnSiOCTdbIc IdCtOT w NIlS
question:; but Of course il in any case 1t
be found that a given rate of duty does
promote e monopoly which works i'll,
no protectionist would object to such
reduction of the duty as would equalizs
competition.
In my judgment, the tariff on anthra-
cite coal should be removed, and an
thracite put actually, where it now is
nominally, on the free list. This Would
have no effect at all ave in crises; but
in crises it might be of service to the
people,
1t would be unwise at this time to re-
construct our financial SYSTEM, the growth
of a century; but some legislation is de-
sirable. Future legislation should encour-.
age instrumentalities to supply every leg-
itimate demand in the amount and charaC-
ter of circulation; and to make all KINGS
Of money interchangeable and conVerti-
bic into gold.
l again call attention to the need Of a
proper immigration law.
How to secure fair treatment alike Tor
labor and for capital without Weakening
individual initiative and ctampirg indus
try is a problem difficult and of highest
Importance. AS business men must often
work through corporations, so 1t Is OFTEN
necessary for laboring men to federate;
Both kinds of federation, capitalistic and
labor, can do good and evil. Opposition
should be to, whatever Is bad so tar as
constitutional powers touch these mat
tefs. they should be exercised in con-
formity with the principles above set
forth.
It is hoped a secretary Of commerce
may be created with a seat in the cabl-
net. The department would be an ad-
vance toward dealing with and exereis-
ing supervision over the great corpora
tions doing interstate Business; and
with this end in view, the congress
should endow the dep artment with
large powers, which could be increased
as experience might show the need.
CUBAN RELATIONS.
/ hope soon to submit a reciprocity
treaty with Cuba. On May 20 the United
doors, and whatever affects her affects
us. Tho Plat amendment took ground
that Cuba must have closer relations with
us Than with any other power. In re-
coming part of our economic system. II
is unworthy of the greatest republic In
history, to refuse help TO a. weak sister
just entering her career: urge the
adoption of reciprocity with Cuba.
A convention with Great Britain has
been concluded, providing reciprocal ar
rangementS between the United States
and Newfoundland substantially as ne
gotiated by sMr. Blaine.
1t is matter of congratulation that the
United States and Mexico should have
been first to use the good offices OF The
Hague court, This was done last summer
with most satisfactory results In a claim
at issue,
commend to congress the Hawaiian
fire claims, the subject Of Investigation
last session.
Congress has provided that We shall
build a canal, II possible, at Panama we
can acquire good title from the French
company. Negotiations are now pending
with Colombia to secure her assent. The
canal will be of advantage to the coun-
tries of tropical America. 1t Is hoped all
these will invite commerce and improve
their conditions by recognizing that sta
bility and order are requisites of develop
ment.
No independent nation in America
need fear aggression from the United
order and discharge obligations to for.
eigners. This done, they have nothing
to dread from outside interference.
PACIFIC CABLE.
During the fall of 1901 a communication
was addressed to the secretary of state,
asking permission to lay a cable from
California to the Philippines by way of
Hawaii. Congress adjourned without any
action
Meanwhile the Commercial Pacific Ca
BILE company had prepared for laying ca
bic. 1t applied to the president for use Of
soundings taken by the L.. S. S. Nero, to
discover a route. Conditions were formu-
lated, upon which the president was Will
ing to allow access to these s~oundlngs
and to consent to the landing Of the ca
be, subject to alterations by congress-.
In Porto Rico, the prosperity of the Is
land and the wisdom with which 1t has
been governed have made 1t an example of
all that Is best in insular administration.
On July 4 peace and amnesty were pro-
mulgated in the Philippines. Some trou-
BILE has threatened with the Moros, but
with the Filipinos war has ceased. Civil
government has been introduced. Fill
pinos enjoy such rights to life, liberty and
happiness as never before. The people
enjoy a measure of self-government great
er than any other oTientals save the Jap
ancse alone. We have not gone too far,
but we have certainly gone to the limit 1t
was wise to go. To go faster would en-
tail calamity. No policy has vindicated
itself more signally than holding the
Philippines. TIL triumph of our arms, our
laws and principles, has come sooner than
expected. Too much praise cannon be
given to the army for what 1t has done
both In warfare and from IN administra-
tive standpoint in preparing the way for
civil government; and similar credit be-
longs to the civil authorities. There now
remain only $1,000 troops in the islands.
ARMY'S NEEDS.
The army has been reduced to the mini
mum allowed by law. The senior officers
are given scant chance to exercise COM
mands commensurate with their rank. A
system of ~maneuvering in bodies has be-
gun and should continue. Without such, II
Is folly to expect that in hostilities q
corps could be handled to advantage. ]
urgently call attention to the need OF
providing a general staff and the reor-
ganization of the supply Departments, pro-
posed by the secretary of war. The meas
,ure for r~eorganiZing the national guard