The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-12-03

closed to the persons whose interests
were affected The use of detectives,
though often necessary, tends toward
abuse and should be carefully guard
ed Under our practice as l found 1t
to exist in the case the abuse had be-
come gross and discreditabe Under
1t instead of seeking information as to
the market value Of merchandise from
the well known and respected men,
bers Of the commercial community in
the country Of it's production secret
statements were obtained from inform
ers and discharged employees and bust
ness rivals, and upon this kind OF Sc
cret evidence the values of imported
goods We're frequently raised and heavy
| penalties were frequently imposed upon
! importers, who were never permitted
to know what the evidence was and
who never had an opportunity to meet
it. 1t is quite probable that this sys-
| tenn tended toward an increase of the
duties collected upon imported goods.
but l conceive it to be a violation of
| law to exact more duties than the law
provides, just as it is a violation to adj
| nit goods upon the payment of less
| than the legal rate OF duty. This prac-
tice was repugnant to the spirit Of
i American law and to American sense
/ of justice. In the Judgment Of. the
most competent experts of the treas
/ ury department and the department Of
commerce and labor it was wholly I'M
necessary for the due collection of the
| customs revenues. and the attempt to
/ defend it merely illustrates the demon
! alization which naturally follows from
(! long continued course Of reliance
upon such methods. accordingly
caused the regulations governing this
branch Of the customs service to be
/! modified SO that values are determined
1 upon hearing in which all the par
ties interested have an opportunity to
s! be heard and to know the evidence
/ against them. Moreover, our treasury
agents are accredited to the govern
ment of the country in which they
seek information and. in Germany re-
ceiye the assistance of the quasi Off
! cial chambers of commerce in deter
! mining the actual market value Of
goods in accordance With what I am
advised to be the true construction Of
the law.
These changes Of regulations We're
adapted to the removal of such mani
fest abuses that l have not felt that
| they ought to be confined to our rela-
lions with Germany, and I have ex-
tended their operation to all other
countries which have expressed a de-
sire to enter into similar administrative
relations.
China.
I ask for authority to reform the
agreement with China under which the
indemnity of 1900 was fixed by remit
ting and cancelling the obligation of
China for the payment of all that part
Of the stipulated indemnity which is
IN excess Of the sum Of 81, 655, 4G2 50
and interest at per cent After the
rescue Of the foreign legations in Pc
king during the Boxer troubles in 1900
the powers required from China the
payment Of equitable indemnities to
the several nations, and the final p-otto-
col under which the troops were viii
drawn, signed at Picking Sept. Z, 1901.
fixed the amount of this indemnity al
lOtted to the United States at over 500
100000, and China paid up to and in
Guiding the LIST day Of June last little
over $6.O0O,O0O. 1t was the first inter-
ton of this government at the proper
/ time when ell claims had been pre-
sented and all expenses ascertained as
fully as possible to revise the estimates
and account and as proof of sincere
friendship for China voluntarily to re-
4 lease that country from its legal liza.
bility for all payments in excess of the
sum which should prove to be neces-
sary for actual indemnity to the Unit
4 ed States and its citizens.
Chinese Students.
I This nation should help in every
practicable way In the education Of
the Chinese people. so that the vast
and populous empire Of China may
gradually adapt itself to modern con-
dttions. One way of doing this is by
promoting the coming Of Chinese stu
dents to this country and making 1t at
tractfve to them to take courses at our
universities and higher educational in
situations. Our educators should. so
far as possible, take concerted action
toward this end
ROOTS VISIT TO MEXICO.
Evidences Of Our Cordial Relations With