The Springfield herald., 1904-12-09

managed In a more satisfactory manner
than Is now the case.
Postal Service.
In the Postoffice Department ths serv
i've has Increased In efficiency. ana con-
ditions as to revenue and expenditure
continue satisfactory. The increase of
revenue during the year was 1858. ] 81. 10.
or 60 per cent. the total receipts amount
ing t6.yf143 49,. .G24Sk The expenditures
were ai52. .362.Ii676. an; increase OF about
psE.tent over the ,preyioussxeqr. being
thus IS. .919. .4g2. SO In excess 6f the Cur
rent revenue. Included in these expendf-
tiIres. Vas total appropriation of $io.-
95e.637 IS for the continuation End extern
sion OF the rural free delivery service,
which was an increase Of n.902. .237.35
over tho amount expended for thts pur-
pose in the preceding fiscal year. Large
as this expenditure has been the benef-
cent, results attained In extenS'nss the
free distribution OF malls to the residents
OF rural districts have justified the wis
dom of the outlay. Statistics brought
down to the LIST of October. 1901. show
that on that date there were 27.l3S rural
routes established. serving approximately
l2. 900. 900 Of people In rural districts re-
mote from postoffices. and that there
were pending at that time $3.50 petitions
for the establishment Of new rural routes.
Unquestionably some part. OF the general
increase in receipts is duo to the in
creased postal facilities which the rural
service has afforded. The revenues have
also, been aided greatly by amendments
In the classiflca tion Of mall matter. and
the curtuitment OF abuses of the second
class mailing privilege. The average In
ereaHe In the volume OF mall matter for
Tho period beginning with 1902 and end
ing June. 1906 tthat portion for 1905 be-
I'M ma I'd ia q
pared with 2546 per cent for the period
Immediately preceding. and ls 81 for the
fonr-year period Immediately preceding
that.
The message here points ont the
need for improvement In our consular
system advises the creation of ma
tional art gallery and suggests the
enactment of a national quarantine
law.
Laws Concerning cItixenshlp.
Not only are the laws relating to nat
uralization now defective. but those re-
latIng to citizenship OF the United States
ought also to be made the subject Of
scientific inquiry with view to prob
uble further Legislation. BY what acts
expatriation may be assumed to have
been accomplished. how long an Amer
tcan citizen may reside Abroad and re-
ceive the protection of our passport
whether any degree of protection should
be extended to one who has made the
declaration of intentionyto become a citi-
ecu Of the United States but has not
cured naturalization. are questions of
serious import. involving personal rights
and often producing friction between this
government and foreign governments.
Yet upon these questions our laws are
silent. recommend that an eramina tlon
be- made Into the subjects of citizenship.
expatrintIon. and protection of Ameri-
80 nHs xa.ttt a 1.f..xa tn irf
legislation.
The attention of the Congress should
be especially given to the currency ques-
tiou. and that the standing committees
'pptthe matter In the two houses charged
With the duty. take up the matter Of our
currency and sec whether II Is not pos
sibIe TO secure an agreement In the bust
ness world for bettering the aysten: the
committees should consider the question
Of the retirement of the Rreenbaeks .ond
tho problem of securing In nmr currency
snch, elasticity as, Is consistent with safe !.
ty. Every silver dollar should be made
by, law redeemable In gold ut the option
of tlle holder. - 20 % :: b..
II 10 .Merchant Marine.
I cSpeciallr commend to your i'm mcdi-
ate attention the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF our
ton. ;-':1' ~
On the tarln l shalt communicate with
You later
Immigration and Naturalization.
. In dealing With the questions of immi-
grafton Fand naturalization it Is indis-
pcnsnble to keep eortain facts ever be-
fore the minds of those who share in en-
acting. the laws. First and foremost. let
.ns remember that the question Of being
n good American has nothing whatever
to do with a mans birthplace any more
In "a m yr,th rrcA In
every gcnein tIon from the time this gov
ernment was founded men of foreign
birth have stood in the very foremost
rank Of good citizenship. and that not
merely II one hut in every field Of Amer
lean activity; while TO try to draw dis
came I'd this country and the man whose
ancestors came TO 1t several generations
hack is n mere absnrdity. Good Amrrt
canisIn Is matter of heart. OF conscl,
rnce. OF lofty aspiration OF sound com
mon scnse. but not of birthplace. or OF
creed, . '- StN,l
There is no danger of having too many
Immigrants of the right kind But the
citizenship of this country should not be
dehased II Is vital that We should keep
high the standard of. well-beinE among
our wage workers, and therefore we
should not admit nrasscs of men whose
standards of living and whose personal
customs and habits are such that they
tend 10 lower the level of tho American
wage worker: and above all we should
,.nt admit any man of unworthy type.
any man concerning whom we can say
that he VIII himself be a bad citizen. or
that Ills children and grandchildren Will
dctract from instead Of adding to the
sum OF the good citizenship of the couH.
ny Similarly We should take the great
est care about nIturafizatihn r'e:''
Under the Constitution. ii is In the
power of the Congress'Hto establish a
uniform rule of naturalization" and
numerous laws have from time 10 time
been enacted for that purpose. which
have been supplemented in few states
by state laws having special application.
There shonld be 2 comprehensive revision
OF tic naturalization laws The courts
having power to nafuraiZe should be
definitely named by national authority;
the testimony upon which naturnlizat tion
may be conferred should pc definitely pre-
scribed publication of impending natural
ization applica ticns should be required in
advance OF their. hearing in court the
form and wording of all certificates issued
should be uniform throughout the coun-
try. and tlIe courts should be required to
make returns To the Secretary of State
at stated periods Of all naturaiizations
conferred. =. .-...,
Protection Of Elections.
The power OF the government to pro-
tect the Integrity 'of the elections OF its
own. officials is inherent and has been
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