Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1904-12-15

managed in more satisfactory manner
than is now. the case.
Postal Service.
In the Pcstoffice Department the serv-
i've has increased in efficiency and con-
ditions as to revenue and expenditure
continue satisfactory The increase OF
revenue during the year was $9.35S, 1S1.10.
or 60 per cent. the total receipts amount
ing to s143. 1882, 624.34. The expenditures
were $152,362, 1870, an increase OF about
9 per cent over the previous year, being
thus sS,979, 492.36 in excess of the cur
rent revenue. Included in these expendi-
lures was total appropriation of s12,-
$50. 637.S5 for the continuation and extern
sion of the rural free delivery service,
which was an increase of s4,902, 1886
over the amount expended for this pur-
pose in the preceding fiscal year. Large
as this expenditure has been the benefi-
cent results attained in extending the
free distribution of mails to the residents
of rural districts have justified the wis.,
dom of the outlay. Statistics brought
down to the 1st of October 1904 show
that on that date there We're 27,1SS rural
routes established, serving approximately
mote from postofices, and that there
| were pending at that time 1853 petitions
for the establishment of new rural routes
Unquestionably some part Of the general
increase in receipts is due to the in
| creased postal facilities which the rural
service has afforded. The revenues have
also been aided greatly by amendments
| in the classification OF mail matter, and
| the curtailment of abuses of the second
ri iyil
| crease in the volume of mail matter for
the period beginning with 1902 and end
ing June. 1905 Chat portion for 1905 be-
ing estimated), is 40.47 per cent, as COM
pared with 25.46 per cent for the period
| Immediately preceding, and 1892 for the
four-year period Immediately preceding
| that.
The message here points out the
need for improvement in our consular
system, advises the creation of a ma
tional art gallery and suggests the
| enactment of a national quarantine
law.
Laws Concerning Citizenship.
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
able further legislation. BY what acts
eXpatriation may be assumed to have
been accomplished, how long an Amer
lean 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 intention to become a citi-
zen Of the United States but has not Sc
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. I recommend that an examination
be made into the subjects Of citizenship.
expatriation. and protection of Ameri-
cans abroad, with a view to appropriate
legislation.
Currency.
The attention of the Congress should
be especially given to the currency ques-
ton, and that the standing committees
on the matter in the two houses charged
with the duty, take up the matter Of our
currency and see whether 1t Is not pos
sible to secure an agreement in the busl
ness world for lettering the systems the
committees should consider the question
of the retirement Of the greenbacks and
the problem of securing in our currency
such elasticity as is consistent with safe
ty. Every silver dollar should be made
by law redeemable in gold at the option
Of the holder.
Merchant Marine.
I especially commend to your immedi-
ate attention the encouragement OF our
merchant marine by appropriate legisla-
ton.
Tariff.
On the tariff shall communicate with
you later.
immigration and Naturalization.
In dealing with the questions of immi-
grafton and naturalization it is inds-
pensable to keep certain facts ever be-
fore the minds of those who share in en-
acting the laws. First and foremost, let
US remember that the question of being
a good American has nothing whatever
to do with a mans birthplace any more
than it has to do with his creed In
every generation from the time this gov
eminent was founded men of foreign
birth have stood in the very foremost
rank Of good citizenship, and that not
merely in one but in every field of Amer
lean activity: while to try to draw dis
tinction between the man whose parents
came to this country and the man whose
| ancestors came to it several generations
back Is a mere absurdity. Good Amer-
canism Is a matter Of heart, of consci-
ence, of lofty aspiration, of sound COM
mon sense. but not Of birthplace or Of
creed.
There is no danger Of having too many
immigrants of the right kind. But the
citizenship of this country should not be
| debased. 1t is vital that we should keep
high the standard Of well-being among
our wage-workers, and therefore we
should not admit masses Of men whose
standards Of living and whose personal
| customs and habits are such that they
tend to lower the level of the American
| Oh all
not admit any man Of an unworthy type,
any man concerning whom we can say
that he will himself be bad citizen. or
that his children and grandchildren will
! detract from instead of adding to the
sum of the good citizenship Of the coun-
try. Similarly we should take the great
| est care about naturalization.
Under the Constitution it is in the
power of the Congress ito establish a
| uniform rule of naturalization" and
| numerous laws have from time to time
| been enacted for that purpose. which
| have been supplemented in few states
| by state laws having special application.
There should be a comprehensive revision
| of the naturalization laws The courts
| having power to naturaliZe should be
| definitely named by national authority;
| the testimony upon which naturalizat ton
| may be conferred should be definitely pre-
scribed: publication of impending natural
| ization applications 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 the courts should be required to
make returns to the Secretary Of State
at stated periods OF all naturalizations
| 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
| recognized and affirmed by repeated dec
larations of the Supreme court There
Is no enemy of free government more
dangerous and none so insidious as the
corruption Of the electorate. No one de-
fepds or excrses and n would