The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1903-12-10

The Merchant Marine.
A majority of our people desire that
steps be taken in the interests of Amer
lean shipping, so that We may once more
resume our former position in the ocean
carrying trade. But hitherto the differ
ences of opinion as to the proper method
Of reaching this end have been SO wide
that 1t has proved impossible to secure the
adoption Of any particular scheme. Hav-
ing in view these facts, ! recommend that
the congress direct the secretary of the
navy, the postmaster general and the Sec
rotary of commerce and labor, associated
with such a representation from the SEN
ate and house Of representatives as the
serve as a commission for the purpose of
investigating and reporting to the congress
at it's next session what legislation is de-
sirable or necessary for the development
of the American merchant marine and
American commerce, and incidentally of a
auxiliary naval cruisers and naval reserves.
While such a measure is desirable in any
event, 1t Is especially desirable at this time,
in view of the fact that our present gov
ernmental contract for ocean mail with the
American line willsexpire in 1905. Our ocean
mail act was passed in 1891. In 1895 our
to any foreign line. Since then the Ger
mans have put on 23-knot steamers. and
the British have contracted for 24-knot
best. If it does not the commercial pub
lie will abandon it. If we are to stay in the
business 1t ought. to- be with a full under
on one hand, and on the other with exact
knowledge of the cost and proper methods
Of carrying it on. Moreover lines Of cargo
fast mail lines; save so far as the latter
can be depended upon to furnish swift
auxiliary cruisers in time of war. The es-
South America, to Asia, and elsewhere
would be much in the interest of our COM
mercial expansion.
immigration.
We cannot have too much immigration
Of the right kind. and we should have
none at all of the wrong kind. The need
Is to devise some system by which unde-
sirable immigrants shall be kept out en-
properly distributed throughout the coun-
try. At present some districts which
need immigrants have none: and in 9TH
ers,, where the population. is already con-
gested1 immigrants come in such numbers
as to depress the conditions of life for
those already. there. :, During the last
York has been greatly improved. and the
corruption and inefficiency which former
ly obtained there have been eradicated
by committee of New York citizens Of
nigh standing. Messrs. Arthur v. Briesen,
Lee K. Frankel, Eugene A. Philbin.
Their report deals with the whole stu
alton at length. and concludes with GER
tain recommendations for administrative
and legislative action: 1t is now receiv:.
commerce and labor.
Naturalization Frauds.
The special investigation of the subject
of naturalization under the direction of
prosecutions. reveal a condition of af-
fairs calling for the immediate attention
OF congress. Forgeries and perjuries of
shameless and fragrant character have
been perpetrated. not only in the dense
centers of popula ton, but throughout the
country; and it is established beyond
doubt that very many So-called citizens
of the United States have no title what
ever to that right and are asserting and
enjoying the benefits of the same through
fne aHas is to the be
words r. recently f5t used BY the
Unable heritage" whether it proceeds
from birth within the country, or is OBJ
tanned by naturalization: and we poison
the sources of our national character and
strength at the fountain, If the privilege
and by means of fraud and corruption.
The body polite cannot be sound and
healthy If many of it's constituent men,
bers claim their standing. through the
prostitution of the high right and calling
of citizenship. 1t should mean something
to become citizen of the United States;
and in the process no loophole whatever
should be left open to fraud.
The federal grand jury lately in session
in New York city dealt with this subject
situation briefly and forcibly and contains
important suggestions for the ccnsidera-
ton Of the congress. This presentment is
included as an appendix to the report of the
attorney general.
Government Department Frauds.
In my last annual message, in connection
with the subject of the due regulation of
combinations of capital which are or may
become injurious to the public, recon-
mended a special appropriation for the
better enforcement of the antitrust law
as 1t now stands, to be expended under
4 he frno ton, Of Io 80
cordingly (by the legislative, executive and
1908, 81 Stat, s54, 500. the congress appr o.
various federal trust and interstate com
merce laws, the sum of $50O,OOO, to be ex-
pended under the direction of the attorney
sci and agents in the department Of justice
to conduct proceedings and prosecutions
under said laws in the courts of the United
States. l now recommend, as a matter of
the utmost Importance and urgency, the
extension of the purposes of this appro-
priation, so that 1T may be available, under
until used, for the due enforcement of the
laws of the United States in general and
especially of the civil and criminal laws
relating to public lands and the laws relat-
ing to postal crimes and offenses and the
subject of naturalization. Recent investi-
cations have shown deplorable state of
Germ. By various frauds and by forgeries
and perjuries, thousands Of acres of the
public domain, embracing lands Of differ
ent character and extending through vari-
Gus sections of the country, have been dis
honestly acquired. 1t Is hardly necessary
to urge the importance of recovering these
dishonest acquisitions, stolen from the peo-
pie, and of promptly and duly furnishing
the offenders. I speak in another part Of
this message of the widespread crimes by
which the sacred right of citizenship Is
falsely asserted and that 'inestimable
heritage perverted to base ends. BY SIM
liar means-that is. through frauds, forger-
les and perjuries, and by shameless briber-
ies-the laws relating to the proper con-
duct of the public service in general and
to the due administration of the post office
department have been VIGOROUSLY violated,
and many indictments have been found,
and the consequent prosecutions are in
For the reasons thus indicated, and so that
the government may be prepared to- en-
force promptly and with the greatest effect
the due penalties for such violations of law,
and to this end may be furnished with
sufficient instrumentalities and competent
legal assistance for the Investigations and
trials which will be necessary at many
the congress the necessity Of making the
said appropriation available for immediate
use for all such purposes, to be expended ,
under the direction of the attorney general.
New Extradition Treaties Needed.
Steps have been taken by the state de-
partment looking to the making of
bribery an extradftable offense with for
eign powers. The need Of more effective
treaties covering this crime is manifest: !
cial corruption in st. Louis. Mo-. and |
other cities and states have resulted in
a number of givers and takers of brides
becoming fugitiveS in foreign lands