The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-11

Postoffice Department Improved
 Tn the postoffice department the ma chnery for the postal savings banks has beeh simplified and improved, and that plan for the encouragement of the post office is well begun and will inure to the benefit of the people at large and aid the fiscal operators of the govern ment In the somewhat acrimonious dis pute over the question whether maga7 zines are paying at the rate of l cent a pound for second-class mail matters that which they ought to pay to the government to reimburse 1t for actual cost, solution has been found in the appointment of a commission of three, one of whom is a justice of the supreme court, to examine the evidence and re- port to Congress.
 Finally, and the most important thing which was done in the session just closed. was the ratification of the treatry with Japan. The old treaty was about to expire in less than year. It contained clause with ref erence to the limit upon immigration which offended the sensibilities of the Japanese. The new treaty omfts this clause but goes into effect under con ditions that make certain a continu- ance of the present status under which Japan Is herself limiting the immigra- IlOn or her peOplt lllJO tHiS tOuiili and all this without the enforcing of any restrictions on our part. Thus without offending the patriotic pride of our neighbors upon the Pacific we are able to maintain an important na- tiona1 policy. It insures the continued friendship of a most progressive and powerful nation with whose develop ment we have been intimately connect ed since Commodore Peary opened her
 41t- tl,ot o1a of uncertainty which hung over the settlement of this question upon terms completely satisfactory to both coun- tries now has been removed.
 "Of course, the greatest dfsappolnt- ment of the session was the failure of the Senate to follow the lead of the House in ratifying the reciprocity agreement made with Canada. Under this reciprocity agreement the duties upon the importation of agricultural prodticts, including cereals, vegetables, fruits and live cattle from each coun- try into the other. are abolished and free trade in them between the two countries is established. In addition to that there Is free trade also in fish and in rough lumber. while there are substantial reductions in iron ore, coal, meats, flour and all secondary food products and upon a substantial range of manufactures.
 When we entered upon the negotia- tions T authorized the Secretary of State and his commissioners to offer free trade in everything, but this Can ada could not grant us, because she has a protective system and she was afraid of the competition of our better organized industries.
 South Interested
 "The south is particularly interested in the fact that vegetables and cotton seed oil are both put on the free list by the removal of rather heavy duties on both But I do not ask your sup port on the ground of any local ad- ~antage. I ask it because I regard this treaty. if adopted, as the beginning of new relation between our rapidly ourselves which will inure greatly to the benefit of both. The conditions un- der which agriculture and manufac- lures are carried on in both countries are substantially the same and the re- moval of the duties provided for in this agreement or indeed the removal of all duties between the two coun- tries if we could have 1t would violate no principle that either a. reasonable protectionist or a reasonable tariff re- former upholds.
 Canada Is at the parting of the ways. If we now reject this opportunity to bring about closer business and trade relations and insist upon the continuance of an artificial wall between the two countries of labor and production than do Kentucky and Tennesse or Georgia and Alabama-we shall throw away an opportunity for mutual benefit not likely to recur. It will be a course as blind as that which was followed by the colonies under the articles of confederation when each colony taxed the imports from every other colony. disastrous policy which was the main cause for the adoption of the present constitution and it's inter- state commerce clause.
 "As l have had occasion to say in urg- ing upon Congress the adoption of this agreement, Canada Is our good neighbor. Against her alone, all of the powerful nations of the world. we have felt under no necessity to establish a navy or fortify our frontier. For nearly hundred years, under an agreement that has attracted the admiration of all promoters of inter- national peace, we have had no battle- ships and no forts between us and her She is our natural customer: we are her natural customer. Geography and the natural laws of trade if uninterrupted by an utterly unreasonable wall would give us north and south business of large SAsehe oiu HcecSSdiHy DcutIlCldl 10 DOln. Why then should we hesitate?
 Calls Extra Session
 "Unde, my promise to use my utmost efforts to secure the ratification of this agreement by Congress I have felt 1t my duty upon the failure of the Senate to act, to call an extra session for the pur- pose of securing the ratification of the agreement. My opinion is that a majority of both houses, disregarding party lines, will seize a great national opportunity and promptly ratify the agreement be- fore proceeding to other business if it be deemed wise or necessary tS proceed to other business. 1 feel confident that a test of six months of this agreement will so vindicate the wisdom of adopting II as to remove it from political discussion thereafter. l do not regard it as mat ter of sectional interest. I believe it will lnure in a large measure to the benefit of this whole country
 T earnestly appeal to the young men of the south to take up these and other political issues from broad and liberal standpoint to eliminate from their con- sideration narrow partisanship and sec tionaliism, and to come fully into our na- tionai communion with the patriotic pur- pose of stimulating the progress of our civlliEation in every right direction. maln- taining our country's prosperity and &C., its wealth, but always in su- bordination to higher ethical standards and to the promotion of righteousness and ii1Stipa