The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-03-05

either of prohibitory clauses in our
treaties and statutes or Of strict I'D
ministrative regulation secured by dip
lomatic negotiations. l sincerely hope
that we may continue to minimize the
evils likely to arise from such immi-
grafton without unnecessary friction
and by mutual concessions between
self respecting governments. Mean
time we must take every precaution to
prevent or, failing that, to punish out
bursts of race feeling among our peo-
pie against foreigners Of whatever M.
tionality who have by our grant
treaty right to pursue lawful business
here and to be protected against law
less assault or injury.
This leads me to point out serious
defect In the present federal jurisdic-
tion which ought to be remedied at
once. Having assured to other coun-
tries by treaty the protection Of our
laws for such of their subjects or citi-
zens as we permit to come within our
Jurisdiction we now leave to state
or city not under the control of the
federal government the duty of per-
forming our international obligations
In this respect. BY proper legislation
we may and ought to place in the
hands of the federal executive the
means Of enforcing the treaty rights Of
such aliens in the courts of the federal
! government. 1t puts our government
IL pusillanimous position to make
definite engagements to protect aliens
and then to excuse the failure to per-
form those engagements by an expla-
nation that the duty to keep them is in
states or cities not within our control.
If we would promise, we must put
ourselves in position to perform our
promise. We cannot permit the possi-
BILE failure of justice due to local preju-
dice in any state or municipal govern
ment to expose us to the risk of war
which might be avoided If federal
Jurisdiction was asserted by suitable
legislation by congress and carried out
by proper proceedings instituted by
the executive in the courts Of the ma
tional government.
Monetary Laws Need Change.
One of the reforms to be carried out
during the incoming administration is
a change Of our monetary and banking
laws so as to secure greater elasticity
in the forms of currency available for
trade and to prevent the limitations of
law from operating to increase the en-
barrassments of a financial panic. The
monetary commission lately appointed
Is giving full consideration to existing
conditions and to all proposed RENE
dies and will doubtless suggest one that
will meet the requirements of business
and of public interest. We may hope
that the report will embody neither the
narrow view Of those who believe that
the sole purpose of the new system
should be to secure large return on
banking capital nor of those who would
have greater expansion Of currency
with little regard to provisions for its
immediate redemption or ultimate Sc
curity. There is no subject of ecOnom-
ic discussion so intricate and so likely
to evoke differing views and dogmatic
statements as this one. The commits
sion In studying the general influence
of currency on business and Of busl-
ness on currency have wisely extend
ed their investigations in European
banking and monetary methods. The
information that they have derived
from such experts as they have found
abroad will undoubtedly be found
helpful in the solution of the difficult
problem they have in hand.
r Favors Postal Savings Banks.
The incoming congress should
promptly fulfill the promise of the Re
publican platform and pass a proper
postal savings bank bill. 1t will not
be unwise or excessive paternalism.
The promise to repay by the govern
ment will furnish an inducement to
savings deposits which private enter
prise cannot supply and at such low
rate of interest as not to withdraw
custom from existing banks. 1t will
substantially increase the funds avail
able for investment as capital In use
full enterprises. 1t will furnish the
absolute security which makes the
proposed scheme Of government guar
anty of deposits so alluring without
its pernicious results.
Ship Subsidies Advocated.
1 sincerely hope that the incoming
congress will be alive, as 1t should be,
to the Importance of our foreign trade
and Of encouraging it in every way
feasible. The possibility of increasing
this trade in the orient, in the Philip
pines and in South America is known
to every one who has given the matter
attention The direct effect of free
trade between this country and the
Philippines will be marked upon our
sale Of cottons, agricultural machinery
and other manufactures. The necessi-
ty of the establishment of direct lines
Of steamers between North and South
America has been brought to the at
tentlon of congress by my predecessor
and by Mr.. Root before and after his
noteworthy visit to that continent, and
l sincerely hope that congress may be
induced to see the wisdom Of q tenta-
tive effort to establish such lines by
the use of mail subsidies.
The Importance which the depart
ment of agriculture and Of commerce
and labor may play in rldding the
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