The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1905-12-09
December 9, 1905


ing into the clutches of the law.
"There is more need of stability than
of the attempt to attain an ideal per-
lection in the methods of raising rev.
enue; and the shock and strain to the
business world certain to attend any
serious change in these methods render
such a change inadvisable unless for
grave reason. 1t is not possible to lay
down any general rule by which to de-
termine the moment when the reasons
for will outweigh the reasons against
such change. 1t is as yet too
early to attempt to outline what shape
such REIMBURSEMENT should take, for
it is as yet too early to say whether
there will be need for it. It should
be considered whether it is not desir-
able that the tariff laws should provide
for applying as against or in favor of
any other nation maximum and mini
! mum tariff rates established by the Con-
gress, so as to secure certain reciprOci-
ty of treatment between other nations
and ourselves.
"Our navy must, relatively to the ma
vies OF other nations, always be of
greater size than our army. We have
most wisely continued for number of
years to build up our navy, and it has
now reached fairly high standard of
efficiency. This standard of efficiency
must not only be maintained but in
creased. 1t does not seem to me neces-
sary, however, that the navy should
at least in the immediate future-be
increased beyond the present number of
units.
THE question of immigration is of vi
tai interest to this country. In the year
ended June 80, 1905, there came to the
United States 100000 alien immi-
grants. las said in my last mess
age to the Congress, we cannot have too
much immigration of the right sort, and
we should have none whatever of the
wrong sort.
$50 long as the finances of the nation
are kept upon an honest basis no other
question of internal economy with which
Congress has the power to deal begins
to approach in Importance the matter
OF endeavoring to secure proper indus
trial conditions under which the indi-
viduals-and especially the great cor
porations-doing an interstate business
are to act. 1t is generally useless
to try to prohibit all restraint on com.
petition, whether this restrain be rea.
sOnable or unreasonable; and where it is
not useless it is generally hurtful.
"In my judgment, the most important
provision which such law (regulat-
ing railroad rates) should contain is
that comforting upon some competent ad.
ministrative body the power to decide,
upon the case being brought before it,
whether a given rate prescribed by
railroad is reasonable and just, and If it
Is found to be unreasonable and unjust,
then, after full investigation of the com.
plant, to prescribe the limit of rate
beyond which it shall not be lawful to
go-the maximum reasonable rate, as
1t IS commonly called-this decision to
90 into effect within a reasonable time
and to obtain from thence onward, sub.
Ject to review by the courts.
II Two points about the Panama canal
nave ceased to be open to debate. First,
the question of route; the canal will be
quit on the lsthmus of Panama. Sec
ond, the question of feasibility; there
are no physical obstacles on this route
that American engineering skill will not
be able to overcome without serious diff
Guilty, or that will prevent the compile
tlon OF the canal within a reasonable
time and at reasonable cost.
l "The point which remains unsettled is
the question of type, whether the canal
shall be one of several locks above sea
level, or at sea level with a single tide
iock' On this point I hope to lay be-
lore Congress at an early day the find
lngs OF the Advisory Board of Ameri-
can and European Engineers, that at