Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-12-06
rec. sus,se. Il currency l.s,.l.tlen. and

rect subject 81 currency legislation. and
says:
I again urge on the congress the need
0f immediate attention b this matter
We need Q greater elasticity In our cur
rsncy; provided. Of course. that we recos-
nfze the even greater need Of q safe and
secure currency. There must always be
the most rgid examination BY the na-
tonal authorities. Provision should be
made for an emergency currency. The
emergency issue should, Of course, be
made with an effective guaranty, and up
on conditions carefully prescribed by the
government. Such emergency issue must
be based on adequate securities approved
by the government, and must be issued
under q heavy tax. This would permit
currency being issued when the demand
for II was urgent, while securing Its re-
tirement as the demand fell on. II is
worth investigating to determine whether
officers and directors OF national banks
should ever be allowed to loan to them
selves. Trust companies should be sub
ject to the same supervision as banks;
legislation to this effect should be en-
acted for the District Of Columbia and
the territories.
yet we must also remember that even
the wisest legislation on the subject can
only accomplish a certain amount. No
legislation can by any possibility guar
antee the business community against the
results Of speculative folly any more than
1t can guarantee an individual against the
results of his extravaganza When an in
dividual mortgages his house to buy an
automobile he invites disaster; and when
wealthy men, or men who pose as such.
or are unscrupulously or foolishly eager
to become such, indulge in reckless spec
ulation-especially If it is accompanied by
dishonesty-they jeopardize not only their
own future but the future Of all their in
nocent fellOw-citizens, for they expose
the whole business community to panic
and distress"
He advises against any general tariff
legislation this session Of congress, and
says:
In country Of such phenomenal
growth as ours II is probably well tina.
every dozen years or so the tariff laws
should be carefully scrutinized so as to
see that no excessive or improper bene-
fits are conferred thereby, that proper
revenue Is provided, and that our
foreign trade is encouraged. There
must always be as a minimum
q tariff which will not only al
low for the collection Of an ample rev.
enue but which will at least make
good the difference in cost Of production
here and abroad that is, the difference in
the labor cost here and abroad, for the
well-being Of the wage-worker must ever
be cardinal point Of American policy.
The question should be approached pure
ly from a business standpoint both the
time and the manner Of the change being
such as to arouse the minimum Of agi-
tation and disturbance in the business
world, and to give the least play for
selfish and fractional motives. The sole
consideration should be to see that the
sum total Of changes represent the pub
lie good. This means that the subject
cannot with wisdom be dealt with in the
year preceding presidential election, be-
cause as a matter of fact experience has
conclusively shown that at such a time
II Is impossible to get men to treat II from
the standpoint Of the public good. In nv
Judgment the wise time to deal with the
matter Is Immediately after such cleo
ton"
He asks for the repeal Of the tariff on
paper and wood pulp
He reviews and enlarges upon his pre-
vious recommendations for the enact
ment OF federal inheritance and income
tax laws.
Attention is called to the prosecution of
wealthy offenders against the national
laws, and in this connection he asks that
the laws under which these prosecutions
are brought be strengthened and made
IA