Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-08


imperial government of China, and in
harmony with an act of the congress
appropriating $4,000 to pay the eX-
penses thereof, commission was APP
pointed to confer with the principal
European countries in the hope that
some plan might be devised whereby
fixed rate of exchange could be assured
between the gold standard countries
and the silver standard countries. This
commission has filed its preliminary re-
port. which has been made public. l
deem it important that the commission
be continued and that 4 sum of money
be appropriated sufficient 10 pay the ex-
penses of its further labors.
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
differences Of opinion as to the proper
method of reaching this end have been
so wide that it has proved impossible
to secure the adoption of any particular
scheme. Having in view these facts, l
recommend that the congress direct the
secretary of the navy, the postmaster
general and the secretary of commerce
and labor, associated with such a rep
resentation from the senate and house
of representatives as the congress in its
wisdom may designate, to serve as Il
commission for the purpose of investi-
eating and reporting to the congress mt
its next session what legislation is de-
sirable or necessary for the develop
ment of the American merchant ma
| rine and American commerce and Incl
dentally of national ocean mail serv-
ice of adequate auxiliary naval cruisers
and naval reserves.
While such a measure is desirable in
any event, it is especially desirable at
this time in view of the fact that our
present governmental contract for
ocean mail with the American line
will expire in 1905. Our ocean mail
act was passed in 1891. In 1895 our
twenty knot transatlantic mail line was
equal to any foreign line. Since then
the Germans have put on twenty-three
knot steamers, and the British have
contracted for twenty-four knot steam
ers. Our service should equal the
best. If it does not the commercial
public will abandon it. If we are 10
stay in the business it ought to be with
a full understanding of the advantages
to the country on one hand, and on the
other with exact knowledge of the cost
and proper methods of carrying it on.
Moreover, lines of cargo ships are of
even more Importance than fast mail
lines, save so far as the latter can be
depended upon to furnish swift aux
iliary cruisers in time of war. The es-
Enlistment of new lines of cargo ships
to South America. to Asia and else
where would be much in the interest
of our commercial expansion.
immigration.
We cannot have too much immigra-
ton Of the right kind, and we should
have none at all of the wrong kind.
The need is to devise some system by
which undesirable immigrants shall be
kept out entirely, while desirable i'm
ulC plOpSlIy
throughout the country. At present
some districts which need immigrants
have none, and in others, where the
population is already congested, immi-
grants come in such numbers as to de-
press the conditions of life for those
already there. During the last two
years the immigration service at New
York has been greatly improved, and
the corruption and inefliciency which
formerly obtained there have been
eradicated. This service has just been
investigated by committee of New
York citizens of high standing, Messrs.
Arthur V. Briesen, Lee *. Frankel, Eu
gene A. Philbin, Thomas w. Hynes
and Ralph Trautman. Their report
deals with the whole situation at
length and concludes with certain rec
concentrations for administrative and
legislative action. 1t is now receiving
the attention of the secretary of COM
merce and labor.
The special investigation of the sub
ject of naturalization under the direc-
ton of the attorney general and the
consequent prosecutions reveal a con-
dition of affairs calling for the imme-
date attention of the congress. For
geries and perjuries of shameless and
fragrant character have been perpetrat-
ed not only in the dense centers of
population, but throughout the country,
and it is established beyond doubt
that very many so called citizens of the
United States have no title whatever
to that right and are asserting and en-
joying the benefits of the same through
the grossest frauds. 1t is never to be
forgotten that citizenship is, to quote
the words recently used by the SUI
preme court of the United States, an
''inestimable heritage" whether it pro-
ceeds from birth within the country or
is obtained by naturalization, and we
poison the sources of our national
character and strength at the fountain
if the privilege is claimed and eXer-
cised without right and by means of
fraud and corruption. The body polite
cannot be sound and healthy if many
of its constituent members claim their
standing through the prostitution of