The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1909-03-05

defect in the present federal jurisdic-
ton 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
citizens as we permit to come within
our jurisdiction, we now leave to a
state or a city, not under the control
of the federal government, duty of
performing our international obliga-
tons in this respect. By proper legis-
lation 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 fed
eral government. 1t puts our govern
ment in a pusillanimous position to
make definite engagements to protect
aliens and then to excuse the failure
to perform those engagements by an
explanation 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 per-
NIT the possible failure of justice due
to local prejudice in any state or mu-
nicipal government to expose us to
the risk of a war which might be
avoided if federal jurisdiction was as
serted by suitable legislation by con-
gress and carried out by proper pro-
ceedings instituted by the executive,
in the courts of the national govern
ment.
Monetary and Banking Laws.
One of the reforms to be carried
out during the incoming administra-
ton Is 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 embarrassments of
financial panic. The monetary COM
mission lately appointed is giving full
consideration to existing conditions
and to all proposed remedies, 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 mar
row view of those who believe that the
sole purpose of the new system should
be to secure large return on bank
ing capital or of those who would
have greater expansion of currency
with little regard to provisions for it's
immediate redemption or ultimate Sc
curity. There is no subject Of eco
nomic discussion so intricate and so
likely to evoke differing views and
dogmatic statements as this one. The
commission in studying the general in
fiuence of currency on business and
OF business on currency, have wisely
extended their investigation in Euro
pean banking and monetary methods.
Urges Postal Savings Banks.
The incoming congress should
promptly fulfill the promise of the Re-
publican platform and pass 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 a low
rate of interest as not to withdraw
custom from existing banks. It 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 governmet guar
anty of deposits so alluring without
its DerniciOuS results
I sincerely hope that the incoming
congress will be alive, as it should be,
to the Importance of our foreign trade
and of encouraging it in every way
feasible. The possibility of increas-
ing this trade in the orient, in the
Philippines and in South America are
known to everyone who has given the
matter attention.
The importance which the depart
ment of agriculture and Of commerce
and labor may play in Kidding the
markets of Europe of prohibitions and
determinations against the importa-
ton of our products is fully under
stood, and it is hoped that the use of
the maximum and minimum feature
of our tariff law, to be soon passed
will be effective to remove many Of
those restrictions.
The Panama Canal.
The Panama canal will have a most
important bearing upon the trade be-
tween the eastern and the far western
sections of our country, and will great
ly increase the facilities for transpor-
tation between the eastern and west
ern seaboard, and may possibly revo-
lutionize the transcontinental rates
with respect to bulky merchandise. 1t
will also have most beneficial effect
to increase the trade between the east
ern seaboard Of the United States and
the western coast of South America,
and, indeed, with some of the i'm
portant ports on the east coast of
South America reached by rail from
the west coast. The work on the
canal is making most satisfactory
progress. The type of the canal as a
lock canal was fixed by congress after
a full consideration of the conflicting
reports of the majority and minority
of the consulting board, and after the
recommendation of the war depart
ment and the executive upon those
reports. Recent suggestion that some
thing had occurred on the isthmus to
make the lock type of the canal less
feasible than it was supposed to be
when the reports were made and the
policy determined on, led to visit to
the isthmus of board of competent
onninoorc to examine the Gafl1n dam