The Somerset reporter., 1906-12-06

to this plan. national banks should be
permitted to issue a specified proper
ton of their capital In notes of given
kind, the issue to be taxed at so high
rate as to drive the notes back when
not wanted in legitimate trade. This
plan would not permit the Issue of
| currency to give banks additional prof
Its, but to meet the emergency present
ed by times of stringency.
do not say that this Is the right sys-
tenn. | only advance 1t to emphasize
my belief that there Is need for the
adoption of some system which shall
be automatic and open to all sound
banks so as to avoid all possibility of
discrimination and fayoritism.
The law should be amended so as
specifically to provide that the funds
derived from customs duties may be
treated by the secretary of the treas
ury as he treats funds obtained under
the internal revenue laws. There
should be a considerable increase in
bills of small denominations. Permls.
sion should be given banks, If necessa.
ry under settled restrictions. to retire
their circulation to larger amount
than three millions a month.
Our Outlying Possessions.
| most earnestly hope that the bill to
provide a lower tariff for or else abso-
lutte free trade in Philippine products
will become a law No harm will come
20 4 nd 10
there will be some small but real mate
rial benefit to the Filipinos, the main
benefit will come by the showing made
as to our purpose to do all In our power
for their welfare
Porto Rican Affairs
American citizenship should be con-
ferred on the citizens of Porto Rico.
The harbor of San Juan, In Porto Rico,
should be dredged and improved. The
expenses of the federal court of Porto
Rico should be met from the federal
treasury.
The needs Of Hawaii are peculiar.
Every aid should be given the islands,
and our efforts should be unceasing to
Clbl' lllIiii uiOiiB iLC llHtS vi u COiu-
munity of small freeholders, not of
great planters with cody titled es-
tates.
Alaska.
Alaskas needs have been partially
met, but there must be a complete re-
organization of the governmental sys-
TEN, as | have before indicated to you.
7 cIy al -
Our fellow citizens who dwell on the
shores of Puget sound with character
istic energy are arranging to hold In
Seattle the Alaska Y ukon-Pacifc ex-
position. This exposition In its pur-
poses and scope should appeal not only
to the people Of the Pacific slope, but
to the people of the United States at
large.
Rights of Aliens.
Not only must we treat all nations
fairly, but we must treat with justice
and good will all immigrants who come
here under the law. Whether they are
Catholic or Protestant. Jew or gentle.
whether they come from England or
Germany. Russia, Japan or Italy, mat
ters nothing All we have a right to
question is the mans conduct. If he
Is honest and upright in his dealings
with his neighbor and with the state,
then he Is entitled to respect and good
treatment. Especially do we need to
remember our duty to the stranger
within our gates. 1t is the sure mark
of low civilization, a low morality, to
abuse or discriminate against or Ia any
way humlliate such stranger who has
come here lawfully and who Is con
Quoting himself properly. To remem
Der this Is incumbent on every Amer
lean citizen, and 1t is of course pecul-
iarly incumbent on every government
official, whether of the nation or OF
the several states.
| am prompted to say this by the
attitude of hostility here and there as
sumed toward the Japanese In this
country This hostility is sporadic and
is limited to very few places. Never
theless 1t Is most discredltable to us
as people. and it may be fraught
with the gravest consequences to the
nation.
| ask fair treatment for the japanese
as | would ask fair treatment for Ger
mans or Englishmen, Frenchmen, Rus
SLAMS or Italians. | ask 1t as due to
humanity and civilization. | ask it as
due to ourselves, because we must act
uprlghtly toward all men. recon-
mend to the congress that an act be
passed specifically providing for the
naturalization Of japanese who come
here intending to become American cit
liens. One Of the great embarrass-
ments attending the performance of
our international obligations is the
fact that the statutes of the United
States are entirely inadequate. They
fail to give to the national government
sufficiently ample power, through Unit
ed States courts and by the use of the
army and navy, to protect aliens In the
rights secured to them under solemn
treaties which are the law of the land.
l therefore earnestly recommend that
the criminal and civil statutes of the