The Holly chieftain., 1904-12-09


than Is now the case
Postal Service.
In the Postofice Department the seTv-
I'VE has increased In efficiency. and CON
ditions as TO revenue and expenditure
continue satisfactory. The Increase Of
revenue during the year was s955S lsl-l0,
or 6.9 per cent the tota, receipts amount
ing to si43.GS2 624.3i. The expenditures
were s152. .S6s 1870 an increase of about
8 per cent over the previous year being
thus sSSI9, SO in excess OF the cur
rent revenue. Included In these eNpendi-
lures was a total appropriation of Sl2,-
$50, 6,62I.S5 for the continuation and extern
sion of the rural free delivery service,
which was an increase Of S+,s02. 23T 35
over the amount expended for this pur-
pose in the preceding fiscal year. Large
this expenditure has been the beneti-
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 LIST of October, 1904, show
that on that date there were 27l3S rural
routes established, serving approximately
1 900. 900 Of people in rural districts re-
mote from postoffices. and that there
were pending at that time 1853 petitions
for the establishment Of new rural routes
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
expatriaton 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. l recommend that an examination
be made into the subjects Of citizenship,
expatriation, and protection of Ameri-
cans abroad. with view to appropriate
legislation.
Currency.
The attention OF the Congress should
be especially given to the currency ques-
tion, 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 busi-
ness world for bettering the system; 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.
especially commend to your immedi-
ate attention the encouragement Of our
merchant marine by appropriate legisla-
ton.
Tariff.
On The tariff l 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
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
ernment 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 a dis
tinction between the man whose parents
| came to this country and the man whose
ancestors came to 1t several generations
| back Is mere absurdity. Good Ameri-
| 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
- .i.,l,. LII.
| citizenship Of this country should not be
debased. 1t is vital that we should keep
| high the standard OF we'll 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
| wage-worker.
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 a few states
by state laws having special application.
There should be a comprehensive revision
Of the naturalization laws
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
laratons 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-
fends or excuses corruption and 1t would
seem to follow that none would oppose
vigorous measures to eradicate 1t.
recommend the enactment of n law dl-
rected against bribery and corruption in
Federal elections. The details Of such a
Ia No fol, laft To ha Ityis
tion OF the Congress, but it should go
as far as under the Constitution It is
possible to go. and should include severe
penalties against him who gives or re-
ceives a bribe intended to influence his
act or opinion as an elector; and provi-