Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-12-07

 tions.
 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 S25, ,O0o to pay the ex- penses thereof, commission was ap- 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. I deem it important that the commission be continued and that a sum of money be appropriated sufficient to pay the ex- penses of its further labors.
 A majority of our people desire that steps be taken in the interests of Amer ican 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, recommend that the congress direct the secretary of the navy, the postmaster general and the secretary of commerce and labor, associated with such rep resenta ton from the senate and house of representatives as the congress in its wisdom may designate, to serve as com mmtssion for the purpose of inyestf- gating and reporting to the congress at its next session what legislation is de- slrable or necessary for the develop ment of the American merchant ma rine and American commerce and incl dentally of a national ocean mail serv- ice of adequate auxiliary naval cruisers and naval reserves.
 While such a measure is desira ble 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 twentyfour knot steam CTS. Our service should equal the best. If it does not the commercial 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 carrying if 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 Hilary cruisers in time of war. The es- tabllshment 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 undesira ble immigrants shall be kept out entirely, while desirable i'm migrants are properly distributed throughout the country. At present 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 inefficiency, which formerly obtained there have been eradicated This service has just been York citizens of high standing, Messrs. Arthur V. Briesen, Lee K. 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 for administrative and legislative action. It 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- tiOn of the attorney general and the consequent prosecutions reveal con- dition of affairs calling for the imme- diate attention of the congress. For geries and perjuries of shameless and fragrant character have been perpetrat- ed not only in the dense centers of popula tion, 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- toying 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 su- 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
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