The Grit-advocate., 1905-12-08
Merchant Marine.
On the subject Of the merchant ms
rine, the message says:

force our battle line. 1t cannot but BE-
source of regret and uneasiness to US that
the lines of communication with our sister
republics of South America should be chief
ly under foreign control. 1t is not a good
thing that American merchants and manu-
facturers should have to send their goods
and letters to South America via Europe II
they wish security and dispatch Even on
the Pacific. where our ships have held their
own better than the Atlantic, our mer-
chant nag is now threatened through the lib
eral aid bestowed BY other governments on
consideration of the report with which the
Merchant Marine commission has followed
its long and careful inquiry.
Praise of the good work of the PEN
sion bureau with an acknowledge
ment of the debt the country owes
to the veterans Of the Civil war fol-
lows.
immigration.
Continuing, the message shows
clearly the necessity for checking the
steamship companies in their activity
in promoting the importation Of unde-
sirable immigrants. while pointing
out how warmly welcome is the man
of good health and moral character,
who bids fair to add value to the
community. An increase in the strin-
gency of the immigration law Is advo-
Gated.
On the subject of Chinese immigra-
tion the message urges the necessity
for courteous treatment of the Chi
nese students, business and profes-
sional men who visit this country,
while asserting unalterable opposition
to the admission of coolies or skilled
or unskilled labor from China.
Civil Service.
Some paragraphs of the message
are devoted to an elucidation of the
workings of the civil service law. Tho
assertion is made that the effects of
the law have been excellent.
Pensions for members of the Life
Saving Service are shown to be de-
sirable, and high compliment is paid
the members of the service for their
selfsacrificing devotion to- duty.
The Philippines.
Despite the series OF disasters
which have afflicted the Philippine
islands since the American occupa-
tion-the rinderpest. the locusts, and
the drought-conditions are shown to
have steadily improved and tranquil
ity is now almost universal. The Fill
ipinos are beginning to realize the
benefits Of education, and a school at
tendance of 70 per cent is the result.
Referring to trade between the islands
AID the United States, the message
says:
A a;s.Ste r. Ne. ena,.ed April Is, 1904.
suspends the Operation of the cosstwise laws
Of Of the gnItd states unon the trade between
until July l. 1906. l earnestly recommend that
this suspension be postponed until July l. 1909.
wise laws to the trnde between the United
states and the Philippines under any clrcun.
stances, because l am convinced that 1t will
Will only Interfere and be an obstacle to tho
trade between the Philippines and the United
applied. certainly it ought not to have effect
until free trade Is enjoyed between the peo-
pie of the United States and the people OF the
Philippine islands in their respective products.
| do not anticipate tat fire." trade between
the Islands and the United States will produce
iion OF the rhiippine Islands. SO primitive
are the methods of agriculture In the Philip.
pine Islands $50 SLOW Is capital in going to tho
agricultural enterprise in the islands. that II
will be many. many years before the products
upon TIE markets Of the United States. The
.foblem of labor is also formidable with
the sugar and tobacco producers In the islands.
The best friends of the Filipino people and ths
people themselves are utterly opposed to the
admission of Chinese coolie labor. Hence ths
only solution is the training of Filipino labor.
and this will take long time. The enactment
ct a law by the Congress of the United States
making provision for free trade between the
Islands and the United States. however will b.
of great Importance from a political and seuti.
mental standpoint: AID while its actual bene.
pie OF the islands. they will accept this ;.
nre OF Justice ms an Indication that the people
Pile of the Philippine islands in every way.
and especially In the agricultural development
| Of their Archipelago. 1t will aid the Fiipinos
without njurng interests In America.
Discussing the needs of Alaska, the
President recommends that the terri.
tory be given an elective delegate
who will be able to speak with au.
thority on the needs of that section
Of our country. The message con.
cludes:
Admission to Statehood.
recommend that 1adian Territory and ok,s.
Mexico and Arizona be admitted one State.
1hrr" Is no obligation upon us to treat ter
rcniencc only. binding US on the question Of
admission to statehood. Nothing has taken up
more time in the Congress during the past few
years than .hr question as to the sta atphood 10
hp granted 10 the four Territories above men.
toned and after careful consideration of all
mat has been developed in The discussions OF
mcdlately admitted as two States. There IL
/ no jus,itcation for further delay; and the sd.
visibility of making the four Territories into
two states has been clearly established.
In some of the Territories the legislative as
%uoss issue licenses eu for t"r,,s sn%nnE Tn'
| The harmful results OF which are obvious at q
glance.
The Panama Canal.
The treaty between the United States and
ta4 Republic of Panama. under which the
possible. went into effect with its ratification
u" The United States Senate on Feb. 2a 1904.
canal Of tn. ,h GnGh c.H.l Com
hat company. on April j, 1908. the commits:
sion was reorganized. and 1t now consists of
Theodore p. Shouts. chairman. Charles +. Ma
soon. BENJAMIN NJ IIarrod, Renr- Admiral Nor
ana ca % 6sMss H. Fnst 5hn
was appointed chief engineer July last.
Active work in canal construction. mainly pre-
year and a half. During that period two points
about the canal have ceased to be open to de-
vii Vii be built hi on on the Isthmus Of Panama. m 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 difhcuty, or that will prevent
the completion Of the canal within a reason
able time and at a reasonable cost This Is
virtually the unanimous testimony of the en-
gineprs who have Investigated the matter for
The government.
What is needed now and without delay Is an
appropriation by the Congress to meet the cur
rent and accrning expenses OF the commission
the Sl3s. .ooO.8 .8O8 authorized by the Spooner act
nada three yesrs sgo. II u nearly ex-
ha0sted, There is barely enough Of II remain
Ing to carry the conuission to the end of ~
yt.r. unies. the c2of6D61a shall Appropriate