The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-12-09

plicitly acknowledged in the last treaty
between the two countries. But We
must treat the Chinese student traveller.
and business man in a spirit Of the
oroadest Justice and courtesy IL We ex-
pect similar treatment to Be accorded
to our own people OF similar rank who
60 TO China Much trouble has come
curing our id the past summer from the organ
which has been started in China. The
main FACTOR in producing this boycott
mas Deen the resentment felt by the
by all the Chinese leaders. against the
narshness OF our law toward educated
Cinnamon Of the professional and busi-
ness classes.
This government has the friendliest
feeiing for China and desires China 8
weli-being. We cordially sympathize
with the announced purpose to stand
TOT the integrity Of China. Such an at
| titude tends to the peace OF the world.
ALASKA.
1 earnestly advocate the adoption Of
legislation which will explicitly confer
american citizenship on all citizens Of
Porto Rico.
I earnestly ask that Alaska be given
an elective delegate. Some person should
De chosen who can speak with authority
of the needs Of the territory. The gov
| Of railroad from the Gulf of Alaska
| to the Yukon river, in American terrf3
| tory. l should prefer that the delegate
was made elective, but if this is NOT
deemed wise. then make him appointive.
| The natural resources of Alaska are
great: Some Of the chief needs Of the
peculiarly energetic, self-reliant, ana
Alaska were set forth in my last mes
| sage. l also earnestly ask your atten-
ton to the needs of the Alaskan In
dians. All Indians who are competent
can citizenship It is, for instance. a
gross and indefensible wrong to deny
to such hard-working, Identifying In
dams as the Metlakahtlas the right to
obtain licenses as captains, pilots and
engineers, the right to enter mining
claims. and to profit by the homestead
lied, and are competent and entitled to
l"be put on the same basis with the white
men about them.
| The Philippine Islands.
The income of the Philippine govern
4 ment has necessarily been reduced by
reason Of the business and agricultural
| depression in the islands, and the gov
eminent has been obliged to exercise
great economy to cut down it's expenses,
to reduce salaries, and in every way to
avoid a deficit 1t has adopted an inter-
nal revenue law, imposing taxes on ci-
gars, cigarettes. and distilled liquors.
| anu dbOllSnluS the Ola spanish 1nOuS-
trial taxes. The law has not operated
as smoothly as was hoped, and although
its principle is undoubtedly correct, it
may need amendments for the purpose
of reconciling the people to it's provis-
I ions. The income derived from 1T has
partly made up for the reduction in
I customs revenue.
/ A year from next April the first legis-
latiye assembly for the islands will be
held. On the sanity and self-restraint OF
this body much will depend SO far as
the future self-goyernment of the is
l lands is concerned.
i The most encouraging feature of the
1 whole situation has been the very great
interest taken by the common people
the number Of enrolled students in the
public schools. The increase was from
100000 to half a million pupils The
average attendance is about 20 per cent.
The only limit upon the number of pu-
pills seems to be the capacity of the
government to furnish teachers and
SchoolhOuSeS.
The agricultural conditions of the is
lands enforce more strongly than ever
the argument in favor of reducing the
tariff on the products of the philippine
islands entering the United States.
earnestly recommend that the tariff now
imposed by the Dingley bill upon the
products of the Philippine islands be
entirely removed, except the tariff on
sugar and tobacco, and that that tariff
be reduced to 25 per cent Of the present
rates under the Dingley Act that after
l.,
and sugar produced in the Philippine is
lands be entirely removed and that free
trade between the islands and the United
States in the products of each country
then be provided for by law.
Merchant Marine.
To the spread of our trade in peace
and the defense Of our flag in war a
great and prosperous merchant marine
is Indispensable We should have ships
of our own and seamen of our own to
1C IN fro
and in case. of need to reinforce our bat
tie line. 1t can not but be a source OF
regret and uneasiness to us that the
lines of communication with our sister
. republics of South America should be
chiefly under foreign control 1t is not
a good thing that American merchants
their goods and letters to South America
vie Europe if they wish security and
dispatch. Even on the Pacific where our
ships have held their own better ae tn n non on
threatened through the liberal AR pc
slowed by other governments on their
own steam lines.
Panama Canal.
The point which remains unsettled is
the question Of type, whether the canal
shall be one of several Jocks above sea
level, or at sea level with single tide
lock. On this point I hope to lay Pc
fore the congress at an early day the
findings of the Advisory Board y, OF
American and European Engineers, that
at my invitation have been considering
the subject, together with the report OF
the commission thereon; and such COM
ments thereon or recommendations in
reference thereto as may seem necessary
What is needed now and without delay
is an appropriation by the congress to
meet the current and accruing expenses
of the commission. The first appropria-
tion of s1O000,0OO, out of the $135,o00,-
600 authorized by the Spooner act, was
made three years ago. 1t is nearly ex-
hausted. There is barely enough of It
remaining to carry the commission 70
the end Of the year. Unless the con-
gress shall appropriate before that time
q all work must cease.
DEFINITION or CRATER.