The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1911-12-14

~ "hlCh c~oncurred In the recomfnenoa-
ions MADE by the secretary OF state In
regard 70 certain needful legislation for
the control OF our interstate and foreign
traffic In opium and other menacins
sage OF December Z, 1909. in which I an
nounced that the results OF the lnterna-
tional opium commission held at Shang-
hal In February, 1909, at the invitation OF
the United States. had been laid before
this government; that the report OF that
commission showed that China was maxi
Ing remarkable progress and admirable
efforts toward the eradication OF the
opium evil; that the interested govern
ments had not permitted their CONNER
ella! interests to prevent their co-opera-
uon In this reform; and, as a result or
callateral Investigations of the opium
question In this country. I recommended
that the manufacture, sale and use or
opium In the United States should be
more vigorously controlled by legislation.
Prior to that time and In continuation
OF the policy OF this government TO Sc.
cure the cooperation OF the interested
nations. the United States proposed an
international opium conference with fnii
powers for the purpose OF clothing Will
the force OF international law the reso-
buttons adopted by the aforementioned
commission. together with their essen
tial corollories. The other powers con-
cerned cordially responded 10 the pro
posal OF this government, and I am glad
to be able to representatives
or al the power assembled in conference
- N'' NV III Nll' tlHN VI A'' '''N
Foreign Trade Relations of the United
States.
In my last annual message 7 referred
TO the tariff negotiations of the depart
ment Of state with foreign countries In
ries Of proclamations, of the minimum
tariff OF the United States TO importa-
lions from the several countries, and I
stated that. in its general operation, sec
tipD q Of the nnur toriff law had nrnypN
q guaranty OF continued commercial
peace, although there were, unfortunate
", instances where foreign governments
dealt arbitrarily with American Interests
within their jurisdiction in a manner In
furious and ineQuitable. During the past
year some instances OF discriminatory
treatment have been removed, but / re-
greet to say that there remain a few
cases Of d'fercntial treatment adverse 70
the Of the United States. While
none OF these instances now appears TO
amount to undue discrimination in the
sense Of section 2 Of the tariff law OF
August 5. 1909. they are all exceptions 10
that complete degree of equality or tar
if treatment that the department OF
state has consistently sought to obtain
for American commerce abroad.
While the double tariff feature OF the
tariff law OF 1909 has been amply JUST
fed by the results achieved in removing
examinations against American commerce,
II IS believed that the time has come for
th~ amendment OF this feature OF the law
~ such way as TO provide a graduated
~1oaDs Of meeting varying degrees OF
discriminatory treatment OF American
in foreign countries as we'll as
to protect the financial interests abroad
OF American citizens against arbitrary
and Injurious treatment on the part oil
foreign governments through either leg
~islative or administrative measures.
II would seem desirable that the maxi
mum tariff of the United States should
embrace within its purview the free list,
which IL not the case at the present time,
IN order that II might have reasonable
countries from which the importations
into the United States are confined viz
tually to articles on the free list.
The fiscal year ended June 30. 1911.
Of American trade. II was noteworthy
as marking the highest record Of exports
of American products TO foreign coun-
tries, the valuation being In excess OF
gain over the preceding year OF more
than $500, oc0. 900.
Crying Need for American Merchant
Marine.
7 need hardly reiterate the conviction
that there should speedily be built up an
American merchant marine. This is nee
esssry TO assure favorable t~ransporta-
ton facilities to our great o~cean-borne
commerce az we'll as to supplement the
navy with an adequate reserve Of ships
and men. IT would nave the economic ad.
vantage Of keeping at home part OF the
vast sums now paid foreign shipping for
CARRYING American goods. All the great
commercial nations A heavy subsidies
to their merchant marine, SO that II Ia
obvious that without some wise aid from
the congress the United States must lag
behind in the matter of merchant marine
in its present anomalous position.
Legislation to facilitate the extension
Of American banks to foreign countries is
another matter In which our Foreign
trade needs assistance.
With these factors and the c~r ntinuance
OF the foreign-service established depart
mental, diplomatic and consular) upon
the high plane where IL has been placed
by the recent REORGANIZATION this gov
would be abreast OF the times
in fostering the interests OF Its foreign
trade, and the rest must be left to the
energy and enterprise OF our business
men.
Improvement Of the Foreign Service.
The entire foreign-service organization
is being improved and developed with
especial regard TO the requirements OF
the commercial interests OF the country,
The rapid growth of our foreign trade
makes 1t of the utmost Importance that
governmental agencies. through which
that trade is to be aided and protected
should possess a high degree Of eff
cheney. No only should the foreign rep
resentatives be maintained upon a gen
erOuS scale IN SO Tar as sdldTltS ana eS-
Establishments are concerned, but the Sc
lection and advancement OF officers
should be definitely and permanently reg
ulated by law, so that the service shall
not fail to attract men of high character
and ability. The experience OF the past
few years with a partial application OF
civil service rules to the diplomatic and
consular service leaves no doubt in my
mind of the wisdom Of a wider and more
permanent extension Of those principles
to both branches Of the foreign service.
therefore again commend to the IA
vorable action OF the congress the enact
ment of a law applying to the diplomatic
and consular service the principles en-
bodied In section 1853 of the Revised Stat
utes Of the United States, in the civil
service act of January l6, 1888, and the
executive orders OF June II. 1905. and OF
November 26. 1909. In It's consideration OF
this important subject / desire TO recall
TO the attention OF the congress the very
favorable report made on the Lowden
bill for the Improvement Of the
foreign service by the foreign
affairs committee OF the house Of repre-
sentatives. Available statistics show tina,
the strictness with which the merit sys-
tenn has ben applied 10 the foreign serv-
ice during recent years and the absolute
~non-partisan selection of consuls and
diplomatic service secretaries who indeed
far from being selected with any view
to political consideration have actually
been chosen to a disproportionate extent