The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1903-12-11

| uation, and l again ask the considera-
| ton of the congress for these questions.
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, 1 recommend that
the congress direct the secretary of the
navy, the postmaster general and the sec
rotary of commerce and labor associated
with such representation from the sem
ate and house of representatives as the
congress in its wisdom may designate, to
serve as a commission for the purpose of
investigating and reporting to the congress
at its next session what legislation is de-
sirable or necessary for the development
American commerce. and incidentally of a
national ocean mail service of adequate
auxiliary naval cruisers and naval reserves
While such measure is desirable in any
event, it is especially desirable at this time
in view of the fact that our present gov
ernmental contract for ocean mail with the
mail act was passed in 1891. In 1895 our
to any foreign line. Since then the Ger
the British have contracted for A-knot
steamers. Our service should equal the
best. If it does not. the commercial pub
business it ought to be with full under
standing 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
auxiliary cruisers in time of war. The es-
tablishment of new lines of cargo ships to
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
sirable immigrants shall be kept out en-
tirely, while desirable immigrants are
properly distributed throughout the coun-
try. At present some districts which
ers, where the population is already con-
gested, immigrants come in such numbers
as to depress 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 inefficiency which former
This service has just been investigated
by committee of New York citizens of
nigh standing. Messrs. Arthur ". Briesen,
Thomas W. Hynes and Ralph kaufman n.
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-
ing the attention of the secretary of
commerce and labor
Naturalization Frauds.
The special investigation of the subject
of naturalization under the direction of
the attorney general, and the consequent
prosecutions, reveal a condition of af-
fairs calling for the immediate attention
of congress. Forgeres and perjuries of
shameless and fragrant character have
been perpetrated. not only in the dense
centers of population, but throughout the
country; and it rs 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
forgotten that citizenship is, to quote the
court of the United States. an lines
Unable heritage" whether it proceeds
tanned by naturalization: and we poison
the sources of our national character and
strength at the fountain If the privilege
is claimed and exercised without right,
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 a 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
and made presentment which states the
important suggestions for the considera-
ton of the congress. This presentment is
included as an appendix to the report of the
attorney general.
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, l recon-
mo Tod ntn1 to-,
better enforcement of the antitrust law
as it now stands, to be expended under
the direction of the attorney general. Ac-
cordingly (by the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation act of February rs,
1903, 80 Stat, 1884, 90D, the congress appro-
priated, for the purpose of enforcing the
merce laws, the sum of s5OO,00O to be ex-
pended under the direction of the attorney
general in the employment of special coun-
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 matter of
the utmost Importance and urgency, the
extension of the purposes of this appro-
priation, so that 1t may be available under
the direction of the attorney general, and
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 a deplorable state of
affairs in these three matters of vital con-
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. l 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 havebeen 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
different points of the country, urge upon
the congress the necessity of making the
said appropriation available for imme date
use for all such purposes, to be expended
New ExtrnditiOn Treaties Needed.
Steps have been taken by the state de-
partment looking to the making of
eign powers. The need of more effective
ties covering this prinna iC