The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-12-11

/
The Merchant Marine.
A majority OF our people desire that
steps be taken tn 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 y has proved impossible 70 secure the
adoption OF any particular scheme Hay-
| ing In view these facts l recommend ii AZ
the congress direct the secretary OF the
navy, the postmaster general and the sec
rotary OF commerce and labor. associated
with such representation from tho sem
ate and house OF representatives as the
congress in its wisdom may designate. 10
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
| or the American merchant marine and
American commerce and incidentally Of a
national ocean mai. service OF ADEQUATE
auxiliary naval cruisers and naval reserves
WhiIe such a measure Is desirable in any
event. II IS especially desirable at this time
/ In View OF the fact that our present gov.
ernmental contract for ocean mail with the
American line VIII expire In 1880. Our ocean
mail act was passed In 1891. In 1895 our
20-knot transatlantic mall line was equal
10 any foreign line. Since then the Ger
mans have put on 23-knot steamers, and
| the British have contracted for 2i-knot
steamers. Oar service should equal m
best. IL II does not: the commercial pub
! lie will abandon II. II we are to stay In the
business IL ought TO be with a full und err
standing % the advantages to the country
on one hand. and on the other with exact
knowlecge OF the cost and proper met DDS
| OF carrying IL on Moreover lines OF cargo
! ships are OF even more importance than
fast mail lines; save so far as the latter
can De depended upon TO furnish swift
auxiliary cruisers in time of war The es-
adjustment OF new lines Of cargo ships 10
South America. TO Asia. and elsewhere
would be much in the interest OF our COM
merc.al expansion
linn = ration
We cannot have too much immigration
OF the right Kind. and should have
none at all Of the wrong kind. The need
is 10 devise some system by which unde-
sirable immigrants shall be kept out en-
tirely. while desirable Immigrants are
properly distributed throughout the coun-
try. AT present some districts which
need immigrants have none. and in 9TH
ers. where the population is already con-
gested' immigrants come IN such numbers
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
~ obtained there have been eradicated
This service has just been investigated
by a committee Of New York citizens OF
nigh standing Messrs Arthur " Briesen.
Lee X. Frankel Eugene A. Philbin
Thomas w Hynes and Ralph Trautman
Their report deals with the whole stu
alton at length. and concludes with GER
tain recommendation 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 condition of af
fairs calling for the immediate attention
OF congress. Forger.es and perjur.es OF
shameless and fragrant character have
been perpetrated. not only in the dense
centers of population. but throughout the
In ~ 10y
doubt that very many so-calied citizens
OF the United States have no title what
ever 70 that right. and are asserting and
enjoying the benefits OF the same through
the grossest frauds IL is never to be
forgotten that citizenship is. TO quote the
words recently used by the supreme
court of the United States. an ines
tinabe heritage" whether il proceeds
from birth within the country or is Cb-
tanned by naturalization. and we poison
the sources OF our national character and
strength ~ the fountain. IL the privilege
Is claimed and exercised without right.
and by means of fraud and corruption.
The body polite cannot be sound and
healthy II many OF its constituent mem
bers claim their standing through the
prostitution of the high right and calling
of citizenship. IL 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
anC made a presentment which states the
situation briefly and forcibly and contains
Important suggestions for the ccnsidera-
included as an appendix to the report of the
attorney general.
Government Department Frauds.
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. recon-
mended special appropriation for the
better enforcement OF the anti-trust Ia
N no o. M nd ed
the direction OF the attorney general Ac-
cordingly tby the legislative. executive and
1903. % Stat. s4, scD. the congress appro.
priated. for the purpose OF enforcing the
various feteral trust and interstate COM
merce, laws. the sum Of 100000. 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. now recommend as a matter OF
the utmost Importance and urgency, the
extension OF the purposes OF this appro-
priation. 50 that II 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-
getions have shown a depiorabie 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. Ii Is hardly necessary
TO urge the importance OF recovering these
dishonest acquisitions. stolen from the peo-
pie. and of promptly and duly punishing
the offenders. l speak in another part OF
this message OF the widespread crimes by
which the sacred right OF citizenship 10
falsely asserted and that ''inestmable
heritage perverted TO base ends. BY sim
liar means-that is. through frauds, forger-
les and perjuries, and by shameless briber-
ien-the laws relating 10 the proper con-
duct OF the public service I'm general and
TO the due administration OF the post office
department have been notoriously violated,
and many indictments have been found.
and the consequent prosecutions are In
course OF hearing or on the eve thereof.
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 instrumentaiities 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 immediate
use for all such purposes. to be expended
under the direction OF the attorney general.
New Extradition Treaties Needed.
Steps have been taken by the state de-
partfnent looking to the making OF
bribery an extraditablc offcnse with for
align mowers The need OF more effective |