The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-12-08
PRESIDENTS ANNUAL
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS

U
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
Continued from page 2.
marily the seaboard states, such as
Maine, Louisiana and Washington; but
what benefits part Of our people In the
end benefits all; just as government
aid to irrigation and forestry In the
west is really of benefit, not only tn
the Rocky mountain states, but to all
our country. If it prove impracticabie
to enact a law for the encouragement
of shipping generally, then at least
nroyision should be made for better
with South America,
notably for fast mail lines to the chlel
South American ports. 1t Is d1scred-
table to us that our business people
for lack of direct communication IN
the shape of lines of steamers Win
South America, should In that great
continent be at a disadvantage COM
nared tn the business people OF Europe.
Currency Law.
especially call your attention to
the second subject, the condition OF
our currency laws. The national bank
act has able served great purpose IN
aiding the enormous business devel'
opment of the country; and within ten
years there has been an increase in
circulation per capita from $21.41 to
$33.OS. For several years evidence
has been accommodating that additional
legislation is needed. The recurrence
of each crop season emphasizes the
defects of the present laws. There
must soon be a revision OF them, be-
cause to leave them as they are means
to incur liability of business disaster.
JnsuIar Possessions.
most earnestly hope that the bill
to provide lower tariff for or else alb
solute free trade in Philippine prod
ucts will become a law. No harm will
come to any American industry; and
while there will be some small but
real material benefit to the Filipinos,
the main benefit will come by the
showing made as to our purpose to 90
all in our power for their welfare.
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
expense of the federal court of Porto
Rico should be met from the federal
treasury. The administration Of the
affairs of Porto Rico, together with
those of the Philippines, Hawaii. and
our other insular possessions, should
all be directed under one executive
by preference the depart
ment of state or the department OF
war.
The needs of Hawaii are peculiar;
every aid should be given the islands;
and our efforts should be unceasing to
develop them along the lines Of COM
munity of small freeholders, not of
great planters with coolie-tilled es-
tates. Situated as the territory Is,
in the middle of the Pacific, there are
duties imposed upon this small COM
munity which do not fall in like de-
gree or manner upon any other Amer
lean community. This warrants our
treating it differently from the way
in which we treat territories contigu-
GUS to or surrounded by sister terri
tories or other states, and justifes
the setting aside of q portion of our
revenues to be expended for educa-
tional and internal improvements
therein. Hawaii is now making an ef-
fort to secure immigration fit in the
end to assume the duties and burdens
of full American citizenship, and when
ever the leaders in the various indus
tries of those islands finally adopt our
ideals and heartily join our admins
tration in endeavoringto develop a
middle class of substantial citizens, q
way will then be found to deal with
the commercial and Industrial prob
lens which now appear to them so
serious. The best Americanism is
that which aims for stability and per-
manency of prosperous citizenship,
rather than immediate returns on large
masses of capital.
The AMP. Exposition.
Alaska's needs have been partially
met, but there must be a complete
reorganization of the governmental
system, as have before indicated to
you. ask your especial attention to
this. Our fellow citizens who dwell
on the shores of Puget sound with
characteristic energy are arranging to
hold in Seattle the Alaska ukon-Pa-
cific exposition. It's special aims in
clude the upbuilding of Alaska and the
of American commerce
on the Pacific ocean. This exposition.
in its purposes and scope, should ap-
peal not only to the people of the Pa!
cific slope, but to the people Of the
United States at large. Alaska since
it was bought has yielded to the gov
eminent $11,000,000 Of revenue, and
has produced nearly $500 100000 in
gold, furs and fish. When properly
developed it will become in large de-
gree a land of homes The countries
bordering the the Pacific ocean have q
population more numerous than that
of all the countries Of Europe; their
annual foreign commerce amounts to
over $4,000, 900 900, Of which the share
of the United States is some 500 600
600. II this trade were thoroughly un-
derstood and pushed by our manufac-
turers and producers, the industries
not only Of the Pacific slope, but OF
all our country. and particularly OF
eur cotton GfoNing states, would be
greatly benefited. OF course, in order
to get those benefits, we must treat
fairly the countries with which We