The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-07


full economy wherever possible will
alone prevent our income from falling
below the point required in order to
meet our genuine needs.
Needs of Financial Situation.
The integrity of our currency is be-
yond question, and under present con-
ditiOnS it would be unWiSe and unpec-
essary to attempt a 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 deposit
of receipts from other sources. In my
message Of December 2, 1902 called
attention to certain needs of the ffnan-
cial situation, and I again ask the con-
sideration of the congress for these
questions.
During the last session of the con-
gress, at the suggestion of joint note
from the Republic of Mexico and the
imperial government of China, and in
harmony with an act Of the congress
appropriating $4,000 to pay the ex-
penses thereof, a commission was ap-
pointed to confer with the principal
European countries in the hope that
some plan might be devised whereby
a fixed rate of exchange could be as
sured between the gold standard coun-
tries and the silver standard countries.
This commission has filed its prelimi-
nary report, which has been made pub
lie. deem it important that the COM
mission be continued, and that sum of
money be appropriated 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 Amer
loan shipping, so that we may once
Saore resume our former position in the
ocean carrying trade. But hitherto the
differences of opinion as to the proper
szfethod Of reaching this end have been
so wide that it has proved impossible
to fha adnr1ffnr1 Of
lar scheme. Having in view these facts,
i recommend that the congress direct
the secretary of the navy, the post
master general and the secretary of
commerce and labor, associated with
such a representation from the senate
and house Of representatives as the
congress in its wisdom may designate,
10 serve as a commission for the pur-
pose of investigating and reporting to
the congress at its next session what
legislation is desirable or necessary for
the development of the American ner-
chant marine and American commerce,
and incidentally of a national ocean
mail service of adequate auxiliary ma
val 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 pres
ent governmental contract for ocean
mail with the American Line will ex-
pire in 1905. Our ocean mail act was
passed in 1891. In 1895 our 20-knot
TRANSATLANTIC Ildll line was equal TO
any foreign line. Since then the Ger
mans have put on 23-knOt steamers,
and the British have contracted for "a
knot steamers. Our service should
equal the best. If it does not, the COM
mercial public will abandon it. If we
are to 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 car
rrfnnr If MnronUoT lfraC of
ships are of even more Importance than
fast mail lines; save so far as the lat
ter can be depended upon to furnish
swift auxiliary cruisers in time of war.
The establishment of new lines of cargo
ships to South America, to Asia, and
elsewhere would be much in the inter
est of our commercial expansion.
immigration.
We can not 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 immigrants
are properly distributed throughout the
country At present some districts
which need immigrants have none; and
in others, where the population is al
ready congested, immigrants come in
such numbers as to depress the condi-
tions of life for those already there.
During the last two years the immigra-
ton service at New York has been
greatly improved, and the corruption
and inefficiency which formerly obtain
ed there have been eradicated. This
service has Just been investigated by
a committee of New York citizens of
high standing, Messrs. Arthur V. Brie-
sen, Lee K. Frankel, Eugene A. Phil
bin, Thomas w. Hynes, and Ralph
Trautman. Their report deals with the
whole situation at length, and concludes
with certain recommendations for adj
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
9ect 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. Forger-
Hagrant character have been perpe-
trated, not only in the dense eenters of
population, but throughout the coun-
try; 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-
5oying the benefits of the same through
the grossest frauds It 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 OF
poison the sources of our national char
acter and strength at the fountain. il
the privilege is claimed and exercised
without right, and by means of fraud
and corruption. The body polite can
not be sound and healthy If many of its
constituent members claim their stand
ing through the prostitution of the high
right and calling of citizenship. II
should mean something to become q
citizen of the United States; and in the
process no loophole whatever should be
left open to fraud
The methods by which these frauds
now under full investigation with view
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