The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-12-08

which have already been acted upon
by the house of representatives the
bill which seeks to extend greater
freedom of combination to those en-
gagged in promoting the foreign com
morce of the country than is now
thought by some to be legal under the
terms of the laws against monopoly,
the hill amending the present organic
law OF Puerto Rico: and the bill pro-
posing a more thorough and systemar-
ic regulation Of the expenditure OF
money in elections. commonly called
the corrupt practices act. | need no,
labor my advice that these measures
be enacted into law. Their urgency
lies IN the manifest circumstances
which render their adoption at this
time not only opportune but neces-
sary. Even delay would seriously
jeopardize the interests Of the country
and of the government
Immediate passage Of the bill u
regulate the expenditure of money lii
elections may seem to be less neces-
sary than the immediate enactment OF
the other measures to which refer:
because at least two years will elapse
before another election in which FED
eral offices are to be filled; but 1t
would greatly relieve the public mind
if this important matter were dealt
with while the circumstances and the
dangers to the public morals of the
,, present campaign funds stand clear
under recent observation, and the
methods of expenditure can be franz:
ly studied in the light Of present ea-
I perience; and delay would have the
j further very serious disadvantage or
postponing action until another elec-
ton was at hand and some special OBJ
ject connected with 1t might be
thought to be in the mind of those
who urged it. Action can be taken
now with facts for guidance and with
out suspicion OF partisan purpose.
| For Foreign Trade.
Il shall not argue at length the
desirability Of giving freer hand il:
the matter Of combined and concerteH
effort to those who shall undertake
the essential enterprise of building up
our export trade. That enterprise
will presently, will Immediately as
sumo. has indeed already assumed, a
ma aenitude unprecedented in our eX-
| hoy
instrumentalities for its prosecution;
it is deemed to be doubtful whether
thev could be created upon an ade-
quate scale under our present laws.
We should clear away all legal o.
staclps and create basis OF undoubt-
ed law for it which will give freedom
! without permitting unregulated IL
cense. The thing must be done now,
because the opportunity is here and
may escape us if we hesitate or delay.
"The argument for the proposed
amendments of the organic law OF
Puerto Rico is brief and conclusive.
The present laws governing the island
and regulating the rights and priv
ileges of its people are not just. We
have created expectations Of extended
privilege whic1, We have not satisfied.
There is uneasiness among the people
of the island and even suspicious
doubt with regard to OR intentions
concerning them which the adoption
Of the pending measure would hap
pily remove We do not doubt what
we wish to "a in any essential par
ticular. w. ought to do it at once.
"At the last session of the congress
a bill vas passed by the senate which
provides for the promotion of educa-
tional and industrial education which
is of vital importance to the whole
country because it concerns a matter
too long neglected upon which the
thorough industrial preparation of the
country for the critical years OF eco
nomic development Immediately
ahead of us in very large measure de-
pends. May I not urge its early and
favorable consideration by the fouse
of representative and its early enact
ment into law? It contains plans
which affect all interests and all parts
of the country and l am sure that
/ there is no legislation now pending
before the congress whose passage the
country awaits with more thoughtful