Mexico Missouri message., 1909-03-11


II may well be submitted TO the seri- |
Gus consideration Of congress whether |
the deepening and control Of the chan |
mel Of q great river system, like that |
Of the Ohio or Of the Mississippi, when |
definite and practical plans for the
enterprise have been approved and
determined upon, should not be pro
vided for In the same way.
For Army and Navy.
Then. too, there are expenditures
Of government absolutely necessary II
our country 10 to maintain its proper
place among the nations OF the world.
and is 20 exercise its proper influence
In defense Of its own trade interests,
In the maintenance OF traditional
American policy against the colonial
ton Of European monarchles In this
hemisphere, and In the promotion OF
peace and international morality.
refer to the cost Of maintaining .
proper army. n proper navy and suit
able Notifications upon the mainland
OF the United States and In its depend
encies.
We should have an army so organ
lied, and so ofiicered. as to be capable
in time OF emergency in cooperation
with the national militia, and under
the provisions Of q proper national
voluAteer law, rapidly to expand into
a force sufficient to resist all probable
invasion from abroad and to furnish
q respectable expeditionary force. II
necessary, In the maintenance of our
- NaFhN lob
bears the name Of President Monroe.
Our Notifications are yet in state
of only partial completeness and the
number of men to man them is insufn-
cient. What has been said Of the army
may be affirmed In even q more en-
phatic way of the navy. A modern
navy cannot DO improvisesd. II must
be built and In existence when the
emergency arises which calls for its
use and operation.
Aslatle immigration.
The admission OF Asiatic immi-
grants who cannot be amalgamated
with our population has been made
the subject either of prohibitory
clauses In our treaties and statutes,
or of strict administrative regulation
secured by diplomatic negotiation.
sincerely hope that we may continue
| to minimize the evils likely to arise
from such immigration without I'M
necessary friction and by mutual con-
cessions between self.respecting gov
ernments. Meantime, we must take
every precaution to prevent, or. fail
ing that, to punish outbursts Of race
feeling among our people against for
eigners Of whatever nationality who
have by our grant treaty right 10
pursue lawful business here and to be
protected against lawless assault or
injury.
This leads me TO point out a serious
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 q
state or a city, not under the control
OF the federal government. a duty OF
performing our international obliga-
lions 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. II puts our govern
ment In n pusillanimous position to
! make definite engagements 10 protect
aliens and then to excuse the failure
J to perform those engagements by an
J explanation that the duty to keep
them Is in states or cities, not within
our control.
, Monetary Lawn Need Change.
, One of the reforms TO be carried
out during the incoming administra
ton is q 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 q
increase the endorsements 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 o.
|. public interest. We may hope tina
| the report will enIbody neither the mar
: row view Of those who believe that the
; sole purpose OF the new system should
4 be to secure q large return on bank
r ing capital or OF those who woult
!, have greater expansion of currenc!
}, with little regard to provisions for IL
? immediate redemption or ultimate Sc
a curity. There ia no subject OF eco
a nomic discussion so intricate and 81
b likely TO evoke different views ant
Q dogmatic statements as this one. Thu
+ commission in studying the general in
Q huence OF currency on business apI
a Of business on currency, have wisel!
/ extended their investigation In Euro
8 pean banking and monetary methods
Q The incoming congress ahoul
|, promptly fulnll the promise OF the Re