Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1903-12-11

ican shipping, so that we may once more
carrying trade. But hitherto the diner
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-
ing in view these facts, | recommend that
the congress direct the secretary of the
navy, the postmaster general and the sec
retary of commerce and labor, associated
with such representation from the SEN
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
sirable or necessary for the development
of the American merchant marine and
American commerce, and incidentally of
national ocean mail service of adequate
auxiliary naval cruisers and naval reserves.
While such measure Is desirable in any
event, 1t is especially desirable at this time
in view of the fact that our present gov,
ernmental contract for ocean mail with the
American line will expire in 1906. Our ocean
2O-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
steamers. Our service should equal the
best. If it does not. the commercial pub
lie will abandon it, II we are to stay in the
business it ought to be with a full under
standing of the advantages to the country
on one hand, and on the other with exact
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
woul6 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
is to devise some system by which unde-
srable immigrants shall be kept out en-
ttrely. 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-
as to depress the conditions of life for
those already there. During the last
| two years the immigration service at New
corruption and inefficiency which former
! ly obtained there have been eradicated.
This service has Just been investigated
| nigh standing, Messrs. Arthur V. Briesen,
Lee X. Trankel, Eugene, A.. Philb!n,
! Thomas w. Hynes and Ralph Trautman.
! Their report deals with the whole situ-
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 condition of af
| fairs calling for the immediate attention
/ OF congress. Forgeries and perjur!es of
! shameless and fragrant character have
| been perpetrated, not only in the dense
centers of population but throughout the
| country; and 1t is established beyond
! dc bit that very many so-called citizens
of the United States have no title what
! ever 10 that right, and are asserting and
| enjoying the benefits OF the same through
/ the grossest frauds 1t is never to be
! forgotten that citizenship is, to quote the
Word words of recently fF used BY the supreme
timabie heritage" whether it proceeds
| from birth within the country or is OBJ
! tanned by naturalization: and we poison
4 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 its constituent men,
/ hcrs 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-
| tion of the congress. This presentment is
| 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 antitrust law
the direction of the attorney general. Ac-
cordinSiy (by the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation act OF February 25,
1903 32 Stat, S5i, 800 the congress appro-
priated, for the purpose of enforcing the
various federal trust and interstate com
| merce laws the sum of $500, ,OOO 10 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, a matter of
the utmost Importance and urgency. the
| extension of the purposes of taiS appro-
| priation, SO that 1t may be available under
the direction of the attorney general, and
laws of the United States in general and
especially of the civil and criminal laws
relating to public lands and the laws relat-
| subject OF naturalization. Recent investi-
| cations have shown deplorable state of
| affairs in these three matters of vital con-
Germ. BY various frauds and by forgeres
and perJuries. thousands of acres of the
| public domain, embracing lands of differ
ent character and extending through var-
! Gus sections of the country, have been dis
| honestly acquired 1t Is hardly necessary
| to urge the Importance of recovering these
/ 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 'lnestimabie
! heritage" perverted to base ends. By sim
liar mears-that is. through frauds, forger-
! les and perjuries and hy shameless briber-
| ies-the laws relating to the propsr con-
duct of yhe public service in, 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 go 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 instrumentalit!es and competent
| legal assistance for the Investigations and
trials which will be necessary at many
! 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 ExtrRdition Treaties Needed.
Steps have been taken by the state de-
partment looking to the making of
| bribery an extraditable offense with for
eign powers. The need of more effective
treaties covering this crime Is manifest.