Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-12-12

efiue from customs suffer much fur
Their decrease during the fiscal year the
surplus would vanish. A large sur
plus is certainly undesirable. Two
years ago the war taxes were taken
off with the express intention OF
equalizing the governmental receipts
and expenditures. and, though the
FIRST year thereafter still showed Q
surplus, il now seems likely that a
substantial equality of revenue and
expenditure will be attained. Such he
ing the case, it is of great moment both
to exercise care and economy in APP
preparations and TO scan sharply any
change in our fiscal revenue system
which may reduce our income The
need Of strict economy in our expend-
lures is emphasized by the fact that
we cannot afford to be parsdmonious in
providing for what is essential TO our
national well being
NEEDS OF FINANCIAL SITUATION.
The integrity of our currency is be-
yond question. and under presented
ditions 1t would be unwise and urnec-
essary to attempt reconstruction Of
our entire monetary system The same
liberty should be granted the secretary
of the treasury to deposit customs re-
ceipts as is granted him in the depos-
it of receipts from ether sources. In
my message of Dec. 9, 1902. | called
attention to certain needs of the finan-
cial situation, and l again ask for
consideration Of the congress for these
questions.
/ 1.-THE president commends the work
of the international monetary confer
ence and ADVISES its continuance
A majority Of our people desire that
steps be taken in the interests of
American shipping, so that we may
once more resume our former position
in the ocean carrying trade. But hith-
erto the differences 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. 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, asso-
ciated with such representation from
the senate and house of representatives
as the congress in its wisdom may des-
ignate, to serve as commission for the
purpose of investigating and reporting
to the congress at its next session what
legislation is desirable or necessary for
the development of the American mer-
chant marine and American commerce
and incidentally of a national ocean
mail service of adequate auxiliary ma
such measure is desirable in any
event, it is especially desirable at this
time, in view Of the fact that our pres
ent governmental contract for ocean
mail with the American line will expire
in 1905. The establishment of new
lines of cargo ships to South America,
to Asia and elsewhere would be much
in the interest of our commercial ex-
pansion.
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
migrants are properly distributed
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 all
ready there. During the last two years
the immigration service at New York
has been greatly improved and the cor
ruption and inefficiency which former
ly 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 X. Frankel, Eugene A.
Philbin, Thomas w Hynes and Ralph
Trautman. Their report deals with the
whole situation at length and concludes
with certain recommendations for ad-
ministrative and legislative action. 1t
is now receiving the attention of the
secretary of commerce and labor.
NATURALIZATION FRAUDS.
The special investigation of the sub
ject of naturalization under the direc-
ton of the attorney general and the
consequent prosecutions reveal condi-
ton of affairs calling for the lmmedi-
ate attention of the congress. For
geries and perjuries OF shameless and
tlagrant character have been perpe-
trated 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