Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-06

they apply. with the French. German
or Spanish language and should pos
sess acquaintance with the resources
OF the United States
National Gallery Of Art.
The collection of objects of art con-
templated in section 1856 of the Re
vised Statutes should be designated
and established as national gallery OF
art, and the Smithsonian institution
should be authorized to accept any al.
ditiOns to said collection that may be
received by gift. bequest or devise.
National Quarantine Law.
1t is desirable to enact a proper ma.
tional quarantine law. 1t is most un-
desirable that state should on its
own initiative enforce quarantine regu-
lations which are i'm effect restric-
ton upon interstate and international
commerce. The question should prop
erly be assumed by the government
alone. The surgeon general of the ma
tional public health and marine hos
pital service has repeatedly and con-
vincingly set forth the need for such
legislation.
ExtraVasance In Printing.
/ call your attention to the great ex-
travagance in printing and binding
government publications and especially
to the fact that altogether too many
Of these publications are printed. There
Is q constant tendency to increase their
number and their volume. 1t is an I'M
derstatement to say that no apprecia-
bic harm would be caused by. and sub
stantial benefit would accrue from, de-
creasing the amount of printing now
done by at least One-half. Probably
the great majority of the government
reports and the like now printed are
never read at all, and. furthermore, the
printing of much of the material con-
tanned in many of the remaining ones
serves no useful purpose whatever.
Currency.
The attention of the congress should
be especially given to the currency
question and that the standing commit
tees on the matter in the two houses
charged with the duty take up the mat
ter of our currency and see whether it
is not possible to secure an agreement
system. The committees should con-
slider the question of the retirement of
the greenbacks and the problem of Sc
curing in our currency such elasticity as
is consistent with safety. Every silver
dollar should be made by law redeem
able in gold at the option of the holder.
Merchant Marine.
I especially commend to your imme-
date attention the encouragement of
our merchant marine by appropriate
Oriental Markets.
The growing Importance of the orient
as q field for American exports drew
from my predecessor, President Nc
Kinley, an urgent request for its spe-
cial consideration by the congress. In
bis message of 1898 he stated:
I'm this relation. as showing the pc |
culiar volume and value of our trade |
with China and the peculiarly favora-
BILE conditions which exist for their
in the normal course of |
trade, l refer to the communication
addressed to the speaker of the house |
Of representatives by the secretary of |
The treasury on the 18th of last June,
with its accompanying letter of the
secretary of state, recommending an |
for commission to
study the Industrial and commercial
conditions in the Chinese empire and
% report as to the opportunities for
Ind the obstacles to the enlargement
# markets in China for the raw prod
u 90. !
states. Action was not taken thereon
Turing the last session. l cordially |
urge that the recommendation receive
It your hands the consideration which
is Importance and timeliness merit"
In his annual message of 1899 he
gain called attention to this recon-
nendation, quoting it. and stated fur
her:
II now renew this recommendation,
8 the Importance of the subject has
teadily grown since it was first sub
1ftted to you, and no time should be
)st in studying for ourselves the re-
ources of this great field for Ameri-
an trade and enterprise"
The Importance of securing proper
and data with "a view to ,
ne enlargement of our trade with Asia 1
undiminished. Our consular repre-
entatiyes in China have strongly
rged a place for permanent display
American products in some promi-
ent trade center of that empire under
overnment control and management
3 an effective means OF advancing our
xpOrt trade therein. l call the atten- :
on of the congress to the desirabiiity
carrying out these suggestions. .
immigration and Naturalization.
In dealing with the questions of i'm O
igration and naturalization it is in r
spensabIe to keep certain facts ever 8
fore the minds of those who share I'm =
lacting the laws. First and foremost | c
t us remember that the question Of h
ing good American has nothing q
hatever to do with mans birth y
ace any more than it has to do with Z
s creed. In every generation from
e time this government was founded q