Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1920-07-14
STATEMENT BY
SENATOR e. ID. SMITH.
CONTINUED from Second Page.)

might be taken In the disposition of
the cotton. Shortly after the passage
Of this resolution l had passed an
other authorizing and instructing the
State Department to require our dip
lomatic and consular representatives
abroad to ascertain and report the
needs for American cotton in their
several countries. l have pending
bill to create commission In tho
interest Of agriculture and to study
market conditions in foreign coun-
tries for the benefit Of the farmer,
representatives of the farming inter-
ests of the country.
This Is very incomplete and par
tial review Of my activities in behalf
Of the agricultural interests in this
country. have not mentioned the
committee work which have accom-
plished in the Agricultural Commit
tee.
l have endeavored to meet my re-
sponsibtlity to every other interest.
During the war I was elected Chair
man Of the Interstate Commerce
Committee and had charge Of the
tremendously important Legislation
affecting the transportation systems
Of this country during the war. L
also had charge Of the legislation
which gave the President control of
the telegraph and telephone lines
Of this country. During the'period of
government control, realizing the
enormous handicap the South was
working under in the discriminatory
rates between the Southern and the
Northern ports, l devoted every en-
ergy to having readjustment of
these rates made and the South put
on an equal basis with the North.
This readjustment was made. / de-
voted the same effort to have the i'm
port and export rates similarly ad-
justed. This was also accomplished.
With the expansion Of our merchant
marine and the expansion Of our for
eign trade, particularly with Central
and South America, the South will
and already has commenced to great
ly increase her export and import
trade, with its consequent prosperity.
One of the most essential things
for the proper development of this
country is good roads. While rank
ing member Of the Postoffice and
Post Roads Committee, I collaborat-
ed with other Senators in securing
the passage Of the Good Roads Act.
This act authorizes the government
to cooperate with the States in the
construction Of permanent highways.
The solution Of our transportation
problem will be largely solved when
we have permanent highway systems
throughout the country. The con-
Ven1ence, comfort and prosperity of
the farmer Is largely dependent up
on the construction of good roads,
while the benefits to the cities and
towns is obvious.
While Chairman of the Immigra-
tion Committee I managed and Sc
cured the passage of the Smith-Bur.
nett immigration Law in the Senate,
restricting the influx Of undesirables
into this country. I believed then,
and believe now, that there Is no
greater menace to our government
and our institutions than the unions
trolled influx Of undesirable aliens
into our country.
The period Of readjustment Is now
upon us, and the burden Of 'taxat ton |
Will necessarily for a long time be
heavy; but I believe that it should
be 80 adjusted as to encourage and !
not discourage the progress and de-
Velopment of our wealth-producing
sarily more or less crude and imper-
feet because Of the urgent necessity
OF meeting an imperative emergency.
But the emergency Is now passed,
and 1t is the duty of Congress to ad-
dress Itself to this problem and so
adjust the burden of taxation that It
shall be fairly and justly distributed.
The revenue should be derived from
SUCH sources as will least burden
those upon whom the prosperity and
development Of this country depend.
have steadfastly supported the
Democratic administration since the
time Of It's inauguration. do not
believe that any administration in
the history Of American legislation
has done more to put into practical
effect the genuine doctrines of DEM
ocracy than has the present Demo-
cratic administration. If reelected
to the Senate shall continue to do
what have done in the past-work
for and support those constructive
measures that will bring substantial
prosperity and comfort to the people.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENT READ