The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 6, 1899, Page 1

VOLUME LXXXVII-NO. 6. Tall SAN FRANCISCO, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1899, PRICE FIVE CENTS. FUTURE OF THE PHILIPPINES RESTS WITH CONGRESS. O*khkkhkhkkk Ak khk kA AR A KAk kkkhhkkkkkkkkkhkkhkkhkhkhkkhkkhkhkhkkkkkkkkkkkkkx @ Thus Declares the President, Who Also Says It Does Not Seem Desirable That He Should Recom- mend at This Time a Specific Form of Government. sed. Protectorate endence prow Future of the islands in the hands of Free Cuba must be a reality. nmon law and the public be developed and strengih- v of the Treasury with more ed and provi ma S New lates necessary. r temp form of ( rary revernment maintained. We h oiding entangling all i, and the g made by the revenues sible for the Secretary to take section 3684, will be a sur not been the rev- there- Novem- in ber $2 09 of the 5 per c of ¢PROSPERITY REIGNS ¢ ¢ Increase of Our Foreign Com- o b & merce—VYear's Combined Exportsand o was H n saving in interest mports Largest in Cur History. o t $2,885,000. The success of this ‘ 1 was sufficient to induce the 0404060404 040 4$06080604@ ment to continue the offer to pur- 1ds to and including the 234 da Instant, unless the remal 0,000 called for should be the me ne for redemp- conven creased activity in industry with ity i : . 7 wttendant—a larger employment 5 I r s at higher wages—gives to the e ws oy the body of the people a larger power to ab- 2 \h by a sorb the eirculating medium. It is fur- ther true that year by year, with of land tion, the ume of agricultural pro. ducts, ¢ corn and is espe- clally noticeable at the crop harvesting and crop moving period In its earlier histogy the national bankipg act seemed to prove a reasonable avenus through which needful additions to the clren- lation could from time to time be made. Changifig conditions have apparently ren. dered it now inoperative to that end. The agricultural products were factured products we . s 2,146, being larger high margin In bond securities required, evious year. It is a note- resulting from large premiums which 2 at the only, years In all Government bonds command in the mar- sor R when the products of our Kket, or the tax on note issues, or both manufa eold abroad exceeded operating together, appear to be the in- th ad were 1898 and 1899, fluences which impair {ts public utility - 2 . sources _The attention of Congress is respect- S o , 1899, in- fully. invited to this important matter rt payment of the Aness, aggregated roeipts were $208,- interpal revenue with the view of ascertaining whether or not such reasonable modifications can be made in the national banking act as will render its service In the particulars here referred to more responsive to the the expenditures people’s needs. I again urge that na- were $700,01 caving a deficit of tional banks be authorized to organize 559 67, with a capital of $25000. o Secretary of the Treasury esti- I urgently recommend mates that the r s for the current that to support the ex- fscal year will aggregate 360,958,112, and Isting = gold standard [ the ba [} propriations and to maintain “‘the the expendit te $600.958,- Parity in value of the coins of the two metals (gold and silver) and the equal power of ev- leaving 34 rnde e fiscal year 1al revenue $100,000,000. The h of the ery dollar at all times treasury is shown b that on In the market and in Docember 1, 189, the lable cash bal- the payment of debts.” wnce was $278,004,537 T2 which $219744,- the Becretary of the W5 38 was In gold ¢ A bull The Treasury be given ad- nditions of c lence w prevail ditional power and hroughout ged with the duty brought ¢ go)d Into more general use and customs to sell United States Ipts are now almost entirely paid in bonds and to employ at coin. such other effective means as may be nec- @#08040208 04 0H0202040604@ essary to these ends. The authority should include the power to authority should include the power to sell bonds on long and short time, as conditions may require, and should pro- vide for a rate of interest lower than that fixed by the act of January 14, 1875. While there is now no commercial fright which withdraws gold from the Govern- ment, but on the contrary, such wide- spread confidence that gold seeks ' the treasury demanding paper money in ex- change, yet the very situation polnts to FINANCE. Legislation 1o Support the Existing Gold Standard-—More Power Urged for Secretary of Treasury. BOPOPOPOHOP 0#040#0#0¢ @$0P080804 04 040406060600Q The strong condition of the treasury Fhdhhh ok Ak kA ok kokh sk ko ok ok ek h ok Ak ok Ak ke ok ok ke ke g ke ok e e o ok ok ke ok e ok ok ok ok ok e ok ko ok ok e ok ok X L e he present as the mosi- fiiting time to make adequate provislon to insure the continuance of the gold standard and of public confidence in the abilit d pur- pose of the Government to meet all its bligations in the money which the civil ized world recognizes as the best. The financial transactions of the Government ted upon a gold basis. We re- celve g when we sell United States bor 1d for t r payment = and use We are mainta money issue ing the parity of all the or coined b; We authority of the Government are doing these things with the means at hand. Happlly at the present time, we are not compell to resort to loans to supply gold. It ha heen done in past, however, and may have to be done in the future. It be- hooves us therefore to provide at once the best means to meet the emergency when it arfses, and the best means are those which are the most certain and economical. Those now a the virtue neit omy. We of the cau thorized have Jer of directness nor econ- have already eliminated one s of our financlal plight and embarrassment during the years 185, 1894, 18% and 1896. Our recelpts no equal our expenditures; deflclent reven- ues no longer create alarm. Let us re- nove the only remaining cause by con- the full and necess power. on y of the Treasury, and im- him the duty to uphold the present | standard and preserve the s of the two metals on a parity with ch other, which is the repeatedly de- red policy of the United States In this connection T repeat my former recommendations, that a portion of tife gold holdings shall be placed in a trust fund from which greenbacks shall be re- deemed upon presentation, but when once redeemed shall not thereafter be pald out except for gold 050408060 050606050505@ h » 2 MERCHANT MARINE 2 o —_ ° o Our Maritime Strength Should Be Comv 8 S mensurate With the Couniry's & b4 Industrial Achievements. 2 & & @*0902060904 0406040400049 The value of an American merchant marine to the extension of our commer- cial trade and the strengthening of our power upon the sea Invites the imme- diate action of Congress. Our national development will be one-sided and unsat- isfactory So long as the remarkable growth of our inland Industries remains unaccompanied by progress on the seas. There is no lack of constitutional author- ity for legislation which shall give to the country maritime strength commensur- ate with its industrial achievements and with its rank among the nations of the earth. The past year has recorded exceptional activity In our shipyards and the prom- ises of continual prosperity in ship- building are abundant. Advanced legislation for the protection of our seamen has been en- acted. Our coast trade, under regulations wise. Iy framed at the begin- ning of the Government and since, shows results for the past fiscal year unequaled in our rec- ords, or those of any other power. We shall fail to realize our op- portunities, however, if we complacently regard only matters at home and blind ourselves to the necessity of secur- ing our share in the valuable carrying trade of the world. Last vear American vessels transported a smaller share of our exports and im- ports than during any former year in all our history, and the measure of our de- pendence upon forelgn shipping was painfully manifested to our people. Without any choice of our own, but from necessity, the departments of the Gov- ernment charged with military and naval operations In the East and West Indies, had to obtaln from foreign flags mer- PREJIDENT MEKINLEY.. ) & chant vessels essental for those tions. The other great nations have not hesi- tated to adopt the required means to de- velop their shipping as a factor in na- tional defense and as one of the surest and speediest means of obtalning for their producers a share in forelgn mar- kets. Like vigilance and effort on o part cannot fail to improve our situation, which is regarded with humiliation at home and with surprise abroad. Even the seeming sacrifices, which at the be- ginning may be involved, will be offset later by more than equivalent gains. The expense is as nothing compared to the advantage to be achieved. The re- establishment of our merchant marine involves in a large measure our contin- :d industrial progress and the exten- slon of our commercial triumphs. I am satisfied the judgment of the country fa- vors the policy of aid to our merchant marine, which will broaden our com- merce and markets and upbuild our sea- carrying capaclty for the products of ag- riculture and manufacture, ' and which, with the increase of ~our. navy, mean more work .and wages to our country- men, as well as a safeguard to American interests in every part of the world. 9%0408060404 0804080600046 @ opita- 4 - 3 TRUSTS. 2 o _— o & Question Is Important and Far-Reach- & & ing, and Wise and Judiclous o 3 Action Must Be Taken. o & & 990504080406 060404080806@ Combinations of capital organized into trusts to control the conditions of trade among our citizens, to stifle competition, limit production and determine the prices of products used and consumed by -the people, are justly provoking public dis- cussion”and should early claim the atten- tion of the Congress. The Industrial commission, created by the act of Congress of June 18, 1868, has been engaged In extended hearings upon the disputed questions Involved in the subject of combination in restraint of trade and competition. They have not yet completed thelr Investigation of this subject and the conclusions and recom- mendations at which they may arrive are undetermined. The subject is one giving rise to many divergent views as to the nature and va riety or cause and extent of the injuries to the public, which may arise from large combinations concentrating more or less numerous enterprises and establishments, which previously to the formation of the combination were carried on separately. It is universally conceded that combin- ations which engross or control the mar- ket of any particular kind of merchan- dise or commodity necessary to the gen- eral community by suppressing natural and ordinary competition, whereby prices are unduly enhanced to the general con- sumer, are obnoxious not only to the common law, but also as to the public welfare. There must be a remedy for the evils involved in such organizations. If the present law can be extended more certainly to control or check these mon- opolies or trusts, it should be done with- out delay. Whatever power Congress possesses over this most important sub- ject should be promptly ascertained and asserted. President Harrison, in ‘his annual mes- sage of December 3, 189, says: “Earnest attention should be given by Congress to a consideration of the ques- tion how far the restraint of those com- binations of capital commonly, called “Trusts’ is matter of Federal jurisdic- tion. When organized, as they often are, to crush out all healthy competition and to monopolize the production or sale of an article of commerce and general ne- cessity they are dangerous conspiracies against the public good and they should be made the subject of prohibitory and even penal legislation.” An act to protect trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopo- lies was passed by Congress on the sec- ond of July, 18%0. The prévisions of this statute are comprehensive and stringent. It declares every contract’or combinatfon in the form of a.trust.or otherwise or & [Fpopepevvpvsepeevpegegugvepvpvgpvpvveppv e R B R R R R R R R R kbt St itk ks ¥ conspiracy in the restraiut commerce among the ot several trade or person such contract or engages in any such combination or conspiracy and provides a punishment by fine or im- prisonment. It invests the several Cir- cuit Courts of the -United States with jurisdiction to prevent and restrain vio- lations of the act, an. makes it the duty of the several United States District , under the direction of the Attor- v General, to institute proceedings in ) prevent and restrain such vio- It further confers upon any per- son or corporation damaged by reason of anything forbidden or declared to be unlawful by the act the power to sue therefor in any Cirenit Court of the United States with- out respect to the amount in controve: and to recover threefold the damages him sustained and the costs of the suit, including reasonable attorney fees. It will be perceived that the act is aimed at every kind of combination in the nature )f a trust or monopoly in restrain of in- terstate or international commerce. The prosecution by the United States of offenses under the act of 18% has been Y frequently resorted to in the Fedes courts and notable efforts in the re straint of interstate commerce, such as the Trans-Missourl Freight Association and the Joint Trafic Association, have been successfully opposed and sup- pressed. President Cleveland, in his annual mes- sage of December 7, 18%—more than six years subsequent to the enactment of this law—after stating the evils of these trust combinations, says: “Though Congress has attempted to deal with this matter by legislation, the laws passed for that purpose thus far have proved ineffective, not because of any lack of disposition or attempt to en- force them, but simply because the laws themselves as interpreted by the courts do not reach the difficulty. If the insuffi- clencies of the existing laws can be rem- edied by further legislation, it should be done. - The fact must be recognized, how- ever, that all Federal legislation on this stbject may fall short of its purpose be- cause of inherent obstacles and also be- cause of the complex character of our governmental system, which, while mak- ing the Federal authority supreme within its sphere, has carefully limited that sphere by metes and bounds which can- not be transgressed. The decision ‘of our highest court on this precise question renders it quite doubtful whether the evils of trusts and monopolies can be adequately treated through Federal ac- tion unless they seek directly and pur- posely to include in thelr objects trans- portation or intercourse between States or between the United States and foreign countries. “It does not follow, however, that this is the limit of the remedy that may be applied. Even though it may be found that Federal authority is not broad enough to fully reach the case, there can be no reason to doubt the power of the several States to act effectively in the prem- ises, and there should be no reason to doubt their willingness to ju- diclously exercise such power."" The State legislation to which President Cleveland looked for re- Uef from the evil of] trusts has failed to ac-! complish fully that ob- ject. This is probably due to a great extent to the fact that differ- ent States take differ- ent views as to the proper way to discrim- inate between evil and injurious combinations and assoclations which are beneficlal and necg general act of July 2, 18%, for the repres- those essary to the business prosperity of the country. The great diversity of treat- ment in different States arising from this cause and the intimate relations of all parts of the country to each other with- out regarding. State lines in the conduct of business have made the enforcement of State laws difficult. It is apparent that uniformity of legis- lation upon this subject in the several Many Topics of Interest to the Nation Treated and Numerous Recommendations Made by Mc- Kinley in His Message to the Fifty-Sixth Congress. N e o BRIEF VIEWS OF IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. 7 ¥ HE President says: 1 €T The Philippine Is are ours by ry title of law and equity. If we desert them we fling () ¢ them a golden apple of discord among the al powers, ¢ mo one of which would permit another to seize them unquestioned resolution The pledge contained m the joint adopted by ) s by which the United States disclaimed any disposition or intention to exercise sov creignty, jl(r[xdu', on or control over Cuba, except for pacification thercof, and asserted its determina- tion when that was accomplished to leave the gove got control of the island to its people, is of the highest honorable cb- ¢ ligation, and must be sacredly kept. 4 Confer full and necessary poteer upon the Secretary of the Treasur 'y to uphold the pr sent gold standard and preserve the ( ¢ coins of the two metals on a parity with each other, which is the : ) declared policy of the United S'tates. ) Whate: s possesses over this most impor- tant subject (the trusts) should be promptly ascertained and as- 5 serted. The judgment of the country favors the policy of aid to our () hich = hant marine, iil broaden our commerce and markets. The fundamental requirement for the people of our new pos- A sessions is education. Care miuts be exercised that changes bemot ) made too abruptly, and that the racial peculiarities of the inhab- itants shall be given due weight. o Soocacaaacoe States Is much to desired It is to be hoped that such uniformity founded fn a wise and just discrimination between what Is injurlous and what is useful and necessary in business operations may be obtained and that means may be found for the Congress within the limita- tions of its cqpstitutional power so to supplement an effective code of State leg- islation as to make a complete system of D T T T < ernment has from the urgen advocated. The amended general act w be laid before the Senate, with a view its advice and consent BOLIVIA. Early In the year the peace of Bolivia was disturbed by a’successful insurre. tion. The United States Minister remair outset 1 to law throughout the United States to com- ©d at his post, the n pel a general observance of the salu- Interests in th: and tary rules to which I have referred, sides his good offices for the protection of The whole question is so important and far-reaching that I am sure no part of it will be lightly considered, but every phase of it will have the studied deliber- ation of Congress, resulting in wise and judicious actfon. the interests of the British subjects, in the absence of their national representa tive. On the establishment of the new government our Minister was directed to enter into relations therewith. Ge Pando was elected President of B« on October 2. Our representative has been instry to use all permissible friendly endeave to Induce the nment of Bolivia amend @?0409040404 040604040404 @ gFOREIGN RELATIONS? Gove o t aws $o as - @ legal status to the non-Catholic O Presentation of an Exhaustive Review o marriages of aliens within its b4 i { @ tion and strong hopes are entertal ° of the Situatlon, With Various Ap- Q that the Bolivian law in this regard will ° ,propriate Recommendations. o be brought, as was that of Peru some 9 o vears ago, into harmony with the general practice of modern States. BRAZIL. A convention of extradition with Bra- zil, signed May 14, has been ratified @90$0$04040404040 »060404@ A review of our relations with foreign States is presented with such recommen- datfons as are deemed appropriate. The long pending boundary dispute be- tween the Argentine Republic and Chile by the Braz n isla .. was settled in March last by the award During the past summer two national of an arbitration commission, on which ships of the United States have visited the United States Minister at Buenos Brazilian ports on a friendly mis a Ayres served as um- have b ceived. tre. . o "Pm:r e th \\Iln;:?xg.fi\n up. the made toward the con- Amasecs River gave rie clusion of a convention A sy Rl of extradition with the oy wony < e [ comn fusion in obtaining p mission to visit t terfor and make veys in the general terest of navigation incident Argentine Republic. Having been advised and consented to by the United States Senate and ratified by Argen- tina, it only awalts the ready adjustment in adjustment of some harmony with the close slight changes in_the relations of amity text before exchange. which this Government .has always AUSTRO-HUNGARY sought to cultivate with the commonwealths of In my last annual the Westgrn Continent. message I adverted to e Glaim of the Austro-Hungarian coLomBld. Government for indemnity for the kill- ing of certaln Austrian and Hungarian subjects by the authorities of the State of Pennsylvania at Lattimer, while sup- pressing an unlawful tumult of mine: September 10, 1897. In view of the ver- dict of aequittal rendered by the court before which the Sheriff and his deputies were tried for murder and following the established doctrine that the Govern- ment may not be held accountable for injuries suffered by individuals at the hands of the public authorities while act- ing In the line of duty in suppressing dis- turbance of the public peace, this Gov- ernment, after due consideration of the claim advanced by the Austro-Hungarian Gov- ernment, was constrain- ed to decline liability to indemnify the sufferers. The claim growing out of the selzure of the American-owned newspaper, the Panama Star and Herald, by the author- ities of Colombia, has been settled, ai a controversy of several by years, an agreement assessing at $30,000 the indem nity to be pald by the Colomblan G ernment. in three installments of $10.000 each. The goodwill of Colombia toward our country has been testified anew b the cordial extension of facilities to Nicaraguan Canal Commission in approaching Investigation of the F ama Canal and other projected ro across the Isthmus of Darien. Toward the end of October an Insurrectionary disturbance developed In the republic. This movement has not attained any decisive result still in progress. DENMARK Discussion of the questions ralsed by the action of Denmark in imposing re- strictions on the importation of American meat has continued with substantial re- sult In our favor. SAN DOMINGO. thus and is BELGIUM. It is gratifying to be able to announce that the ' Belgian Govern- ment has mitigated the restrictions on the im- portation of cattle from the United States to which I referred in my 1 annual message. aving been invited by Beiglum to partici- pate in a congress held at Brussels to revise the provisions of the The neighboring Santo Domingo, has scene of a revolution, period of tranquillity. killing of President Heureaux in July last, and culminated in the relinquish- ment by the succeeding Vice President of the reilns of government to the insur- The first act of the Provisiona! d, Republic of lately been the tollowing a long It began with the sion of the African slave trade, to which the United States was a signatory party, this Government preferred not to be rep- resented by a plenipotentiary, but re- served the right of accession to the re- gents. sult. Notable changes were made, those Government was the calling of a Presi- especially referring to this country being dential and constituent election. Juan in the line of increased restriction of the Isidro Jiminez, having been elected deleterious trade in spirituous liquors President, was inaugurated on the l4th with the native tribes, which this Gov- of November. Relations have been ea-