The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-06-16

trade, yet during the forty-fve years
of its existence has served wise and
5benetlcent purpose.
The recent panic called the atten-
ton Of congress TO the necessity of
further legislation, and measure has
been passed providing for an emer-
gency currency of $500, 100000 to be
issued under certain conditions and
limitations, an authorization, it is be-
lieyed, which will prevent the recur-
renee of any such disaster as befe1l
the country last fall The secretary
of the treasury has already taken the
necessary steps to give effect to this
Legislation, and banking associations
are already forming to avail them-
selves of the benefits of this act It
lis doubtful if the provisions of this
act will ever be invoked, as the ability
to supply $500,00O,O0O additional cur
jrency whenever needed will of itself
| have a tendency to make its issuance
unnecessary.
In the meantime, however, the Re
publican party is not Indifferent to
the necessity Of further and com
lprehenslve revision of Our monetary
land banking system, and to that end
the congress Justclosed authorized the
creation of monetary commission,
composed Of 10 members of the two
houses of congress, clothed with pow
er to inquire into and report to. con
gress at the earliest date. practicable
what changes are necessary or desir-
able in the monetary system of the
United States or in the law relating
to banking and currency, and for this
purpose they are authorized to sit
during the sessions or recess Of con-
gress, at such times and places as
they may deem desirable, to send for
persons and papers, to administer
oaths, to summons and compel the at
tendance of witnesses, experts and
other assistants as shall be necessary
to carry out the purpose for which
said commission was created and to
make such Investigations and examin-
ations in this or other countries of the
subjects committed to their charge
as they shall deem necessary.
This commission has already or
gained and entered upon its 1abors
and will diligently prosecute its du-.
ties with the hope of formulating a
monetary system that will meet every
legitimate business need and promote
the prosperity Of all of our people +
But in the broader field of the
worlds drama, where the nations are
actors, our country has taken con
spicuous and commanding part. Hav-.
ing become a world power, Our in.
fuence is worldwide and always ex-.
erted in the interest Of peace and the
betterment of mankind. When the
dispute between Germany and France:
regarding the right of control in Mo
rocco threatened to involve all Eu-
rope in war, the active influence of the
United States, both directly and
through its representative at the
conference at Algeciras, was potent.
factor in bringing about a peaceful
solution
The participation of the United
States in the pan-American conference
at Rio de Janeiro in August, 1906, and
the visit OF Secretary Root to that
conference and to all the principal
maritime countries of South America
where he was received with universal
acclaim, put an end to the suspicion
and distrust with which the growing
power Of the United States was re-
garded by the Latin-American races
and began a new era of friendship
and sympathy between all the Arneri-
can republics. This has been aug
mented by the seeretary's visit to
Mexico as the guest Of the Mexican
republic in October, 1907, and by the
visit Of our feet to the chief maritime
republics Of South America and by
the enlarged and greater development
|of the work Of the international
Union of American Republics for the
dissemination Of knowledge and the
cultivation of trade and friendly rela-s
tons between the different American
countries, for which all the republics:
IRE now uniting in the erection of a
sDlendid building in the city Of Wash
need of help without requiring proof
of disability incurred In service in.
the line of duty, and the act of Feb.
g, 1907, granting pensions to, all
the civil war and in the Mexican war.
are measures Of Justice and generos-s
ity unexanapied in the annals Of a
grateful people. The total numberso Of.
pensioners on the rolls is now slight
ly in excess of 100000, and the aver.
age amount paid out in pensions in,
month is nearly IS million dollars,
and in 1907, $138,155, 412 were paid to,
pensioners.
During the past four years the
post-oftice department has continued
its benefcent work in the interest Of
all the people until on the 1st of
April, 1908, free rural delivery was
in operation on 39,037 routes from
16,SO3 postoh1ces. Complete rural
service has been established in 793
counties, saving $9,5ooOoo in the dis
continuance of postofhces and in
every way carrying the blessings Of
the free delivery system to our rural
population and thus promotino the
happiness and contentment of the
people.
81 1t is to be regretted that a measure
to provide for the carrying of our
mails to the orient and the South
American countries in American ships
should have failed, but its passage
in the near future is confidently ex-
pected. The confession was made by
Mr.. Root on his return from the
South American countries that "dur-
ing the past summer I entered all the
great ports of the southern continent,
and | saw only one ship besides the
cruiser that carried me flying the
American flag"
This humiliating condition should
stimulate the American people to re-
neWed and determined effort to re-
establish a merchant marine until we
are able to carry American mails and
American merchandise under the Am