The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-08

from other sources. IN my message
December 2, 1902, l called attention tt
certain needs of the financial situation
and I again ask the consideration Of thu
Congress for these questions.
CONFERENCE BETWEEN GOLD
STANDARD AND SILVER
STANDARD COUNTRIES.
During the last session of the Congress
at the suggestion Of a joint note from
the Republic of Mexico and the Imperla
Government of China, and in harmony
with an act of the Congress appropratlng
$25, 900 to pay the expenses thereof, com
mission was appointed to confer with the
principal European countries In the hope
that some plan might be devised whereby
a fixed rate of exchange could be assured
between the gold standard countries and
the silver standard countries. This com
mission has filed its preliminary report,
which has been made public. / deem 1T
important that the commission be con-
tinued, and that sum of money be ap-
propriated sufficient to pay the expenses
Of its further labors.
MERCHANT MARINE.
A majority of our people desire that
steps be taken in the interests of Ameri-
can 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 it has proved impossible to secure the
adoption of any particular scheme. Hav-
ling in view these facts, l recommend that
the Congress direct the Secretary of the
Navy, the Postmaster General, and the
1 To- nd NJ
ciated with such a representation from
the Senate and House of Representatives
as the Congress in its wisdom may deslg-
nate. to serve as a 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 mall
service of adequate auxiliary naval cruls-
ers 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 government
contract for ocean mail with the American
Line will expire in 1905. Our ocean mail
act was passed in 1891. In 1895 our 90
knot Transatlantic mail line was equal
to any foreign line Since then the Ger
mans have put on 23-knot steamers, and
the British have contracted for 24-knot
,teamers. Cur service should equal the
hest. If it does not. the commercial pub
lie will abandon it. If we are to stay IN
the business it ought to be with the full
understanding Of the advantage to the
country on one hand and on the other
with exact knowledge of the cost and
proper methods of carrying it on. More
over, lines of cargo ships are of even
more Importance than fast mail lines;
save so far as the latter can be depend
ed upon to furnish swift auxiliary cruisers
in time of war. The establishment OF
new lines of cargo ships to South Amerl-
ca, to Asia, and elsewhere would be much
in the interest of our commercial ex
.ansion.
IMMIGRATION.
We cannot have too much immigration
of the right kind, and we should have
none at all of the wrong kind. The neeC
is to devise some system by which unde
sirab bic immigrants shall be kept out en-
tirely, while desirable immigrants are
properly distributed throughout the coun
try. AT present some districts which neeC
immigrants have none; and in others
where the population is already congested
immigrants come in such numbers as tt
depress the conditions of life for those al
ready there During the last two year.
the immigration service at New York ha:
been greatly improved, and the corruption
and inefficiency which formerly obtained
there have been eradicated The service
has just been investigated by a committee
of New York citizens of high standing
X
Frankel, Eugene A. Phibin, Thomas w
Hynes, and Ralph Trautman. Their re
port deals with the whole situation a.
length, and concludes with certain recon-
mendations for administrative and legis
lative action. 1t is now receiving the at
tention of the Secretary of Commerce ant
Labor.
NATURALIZATION FRAUDS.
The special investigation of the subject
of naturalization under the direction OF the
Attorney General, and the consequen
prosecutions, reveal a condition of affair!
calling for the immediate attention OF The
Congress ForgerieS and perfumes o
shameless and fragrant character have
been perpetrated, 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 thu
United States have no title whatever tt
that right, and are asserting and enjoying
tie benefits of the same through thu
grossest frauds. 1t is never to be forgot
ten that citizenship is, to quote the word
recently used by the Supreme Court of thu
United States, an 'inestimable heritage,
whether it proceeds from birth within TIT
country or is obtained by naturalization
and we poison the sources of our natlona
character and strength at the fountain, i
the privilege is claimed and exercised with
out right, and by means of fraud and cor
rupton. The body polite can not be $
sound and healthy if many of its const,
tuent members claim their standing
through the prostitution of the high RICH
and calling of citizenship 1t should NEAR
something to become a citizen of thu
United States; and in the process no loop
hole whatever should be left open tx
/, fraud
The method by which these frauds-nov
/, under full investigation with view t.
melting out punishment and providing ade
uuate remedes-are perpetrated, includes
. ions of ppocpdI1re bv yVhicl