Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-03-04

once. Having assured to other coun
tries by treaty the protection of oul
laws for such OF their subjects OF
citizens as we permit to come within
our jurisdiction. we now leave to q
state or a city, not under the contro
Of the federal government, a 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 pusillanimous position tc
make definite engagements to protect
aliens and then to excuse the failure
to perform those engagements by an
explanation that the duty to keeI
them is in states or cities, not within
our control. If we would promise, we
must put ourselves in a position tc
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 tC
the risk of 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 cor is of the national govern
ment.
Monetary and Banking Laws.
One of the reforms to be carried
out during the incoming administra
ton 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 tc
increase the embarrassments of q
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 q
public interest. We may hope thai
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
! nave greater expansion of currency
with little regard to provisions for its
Immediate redemption or ultimate Sc
curity. There is no subject of eco
nomic discussion so intricate and sc
likely to evoke differing views anG
dogmatic statements as this one. The
commission in studying the general in
fuence of currency on business anC
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 a proper
postal savings bank bill 1t will no
be unwise' or excessive paternalism
The promise to repay by the govern
ment will furnish an inducement t.
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 thu
absolute security which makes thu
proposed scheme of governmerI guar
anty of deposits so alluring w1thou
its pernicious results.
sincerely hope that the incomin.
congress will be alive. as it should be
to the importance OF our foreign trad,
and of encouraging it in every wa.
feasible. The possibility of increas
ing this trade in the orient in tn,
Philippines and in South America ar,
known to everyone who has given tn,
matter attention.
The importance which the depart
ment of agriculture and of commerce,
and labor may play in Kidding tn
markets Of Europe of prohibitions ant
determinations against the importa
ton of our products is fully under
stood, and 1t is hoped that the use o
the maximum and minimum featur
of our tariff law to be soon passe,
will be effective to remove many o
those restrictions.
The Panama Canal.
The Panama canal will have a mos
important bearing upon the trade be
tween the eastern and the far westerl
sections of our country, and will great
ly increase the facilities for transpol
tation between the eastern and wes
ern seaboard, and may possibly revt
lutionize the transcontinental rate
with respect to bulky merchandise.
will also have a most beneficial effec
to increase the trade between the cas-
ern seaboard of the United States an
the western coast of South Americ;
and, indeed, with some of the in
: portant ports on the east coast c
South America reached by rail fror
. the west coast The work on tn
canal is making most satisfactor
: progress. The type Of the canal as
lock canal was fixed by congress afte
: a full consideration of the conflictin
reports of the majority and minorit
of the consulting board, and after tn
recommendation of the war depar
ment and the executive upon thos
reports. Recent suggestion that SOM
1 thing had occurred on the isthmus [
e make the lock type of the canal les
Y feasible than 1t was supposed to b
, when the reports were made and tn
4 policy determined on, led to a visit
l the isthmus of board OF competer
e engineers to examine the Gatun dai
e and locks which are the key of tn
+ lock type. The report OF that boar
+ shows that nothing has occurred