Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-06

ment Of American commerce Is mer-
chant marine All maritime and COM
mercial nations recognize the Importance
Of this factor. The greatest conner
foster their merchant marine. Perhaps
nowhere Is the need for rapid and d.
rect mail, passenger and freight COM
munication quite SO urgent as between
the United States and Latin America:
We can secure in no other quarter OF
the world such immediate BENEFITS IN
friendship and commerce as would now
from the establishment OF direct INES
Of communication with the countries OF
Latin America adequate to meet the
requirements of a rapidly increasing
APPRECIATION of the reciprocal depend
ence Of the countries Of the western
hemisphere upon each others products,
sympathies and assistance.
Canal Without Ships.
7 alluded to this most important sub
iect in my last annual message; 1t mas
often been before you. and l need not
recapitulate the reasons for it's recon-
taken the completion Of the Panama
canal will find this the only great com
mercial nation unable to avail IN IN
ternational maritime business or TINS
great contribution to the means OF the
worlds commercial intercourse.
Quite aside from the commercial as.
meet unless we create a merchant
marine where can we 1nd the seaIaInis
population necessary as natural naVai
reserve. and where could we ma. IN
case NJ war. the transports and sub
sidiary7 vessels without which naNal
feet is arms without a booy: ror
many reasons I can not 100 stronsly
urge upon the Congress the passase
of a measure by mail subsidy or other
subvention adequate to guarantee tne
establishment and rapid development oi
an American merchant marine, -.
restora ton of the American nag 70 l.s
ancient place upon the seas ~, 1nder
such aid ought only to be gwen ul eH;
Conditions of publicity of each penenci,
ary's business and accounts winch wouiu
show that the aid received was neeuSu :,
to maintain the trade ana was Piopei'
used for that purpose: ,,..r-
course it becomes incumbent upon me 10
reneat more emphatically than ever the
recommendation which l mace IN my
inan1ural address that Congress shaii at
once give to the courts OF tne r;.,oa
states jurisdiction to punish as a crime
the violation of the rights OF aliens Sc
c,red nv treaty with the United States:
in order that the general government Oh
the United States shall be aoie' wneii
called upon by a friendly nation. 10 re-
deem it's solemn promise by treaty to Sc
cure to the citizens or subjects OF that
nation resident in the United States 1ree-
dom from violence and due process OF
law in respect to their life. liberty ana
property.
sons strongly commend to the favorable
action OF the Congress the enactment OF
law APPLYING to the diplomatic and
consular service the principles embodied IN
section 1888 of the Revised Statutes or
fine United States in the civil service act
or January 10, 1888. and the executive
orders of June q, 1906. and OF Novem-
Der 26, 1909.
Consular Civil Service System.
The excellent results which have at
tended the partial application OF civil
service principles to the diplomatic and
consular services are an earnest OF the
benefit to be wrought by wider ana
more permanent extension OF those pr,h-
ciples to both branches of the foreign
service The marked improvement in the
consular service during the four years
since the principles Of the civil service
act were applied to that service in a
limited way, and the good results aireaoy
noticeable from a similar application OF
civil service principles to the diplomatic
service a year ago, convince me that the
enactment into law OF the general pr1n-
ciples of the existing executive reguia-
tions could not fall to enect further I'M
provement Of both branches OF the foreign
service offering as 1t would, by Its as
surance of permanency of tenure and
promotion on merit. an inducement for
the entry of capable young men into the
service and an incentive to those already
in to put forth their best efforts to attain
and maintain that degree Of efficiency
which the interests of our International
relations and commerce demand.
During many years past appeals have
been made from time to time to Congress
in favor of government ownership of en-
bassy and legation premises abroad. The
arguments in favor Of such ownership
have been many and oft repeated and are
well known to the Congress. The ac-
QUESTION by the government Of suitable
residences and Offices for its diplomatic
officers. especially In the capitals of the
Latin-American states and of Europe, is
SO important and necessary to an i'm
proved diplomatic service that l have no
hesitation in urging upon the Congress
the passage of some measure similar to
that favorably reported by the House
committee on foreign affairs on February
IA. 1910 report No. 438). that would au-
thorize the gradual and annual acquisition
of premises for diplomatic use.
The work Of the diplomatic service is
devoid of craftsmanship; its importance
should appeal to every American citizen
and should receive the generous consid-
Grafton Of the Congress.