Newspaper Page Text
\MERICUS DAILY TIMES-RECORDER, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1907.
9
Thep^went b „ meilige to
gross says:
No nation baa greater resources than
ours, and i think it can be truthful."
„ said that the citizens of non™'!
sess greater energy and Industrial «|,||.
fty. In no nation are the fundamenlal
business conditions sounder than In
ours at this very moment, and tt la
foolish when such Is the case for peo
ple to hoard money Instead or keening
It In sound banks, for it Is su. l, board
tag that Is the Immediate occasion
money stringency. Moreover, as
rule, the business of our people Is con"
ducted with honesty and probity, and
this applies alike to farms and fac
tories. to railroads and banks, to all
our legitimate commercial enterprises.
In any large body of men, however,
there are certain to be some who are
dishonest, and If the conditions are
such that these men prosper or commit
their misdeeds with Impunity their
example Is a very evil thing for the
community. Where these men are
business men of grea* sagacity and of
temperament both unscrupulous and
reckless, and where the conditions are
such that they act without supervision
or control and at first without effective
check from public opinion, they delude
many Innocent people Into moktag In
vestments or embarking In kinds of
. business that are really unsound. When
the misdeeds of these successfully dis
honest men are discovered, suffering
comes not only upon -them, but upon
the Innocent whom they have misled.
It ta a painful awakening, whenever It
occurs, and naturally when It does oc
cur those who suffer are apt to forget
that the longer dt was deferred the
more painful It would be. In the effort
to punish the guilty It Is both wise and
proper to endeavor so far as possible
to minimise the distress of those who
have been misled by the guilty. Yet it
is not possible to refrain because of
such distress from striving to put an
end to the misdeeds that are the ulti
mate canses of the suffering and, as a
means to this end, where possible to
punish those responsible for them.
There may be honest differences of
opinion as to many governmental poli
cies, but surely there can be no such
differences as to the need of unflinch
ing perseverance in the' war against
successful dishonesty.
Interstate Commerce.
No small part of,the trouble that we
have comes from carrying to an ex
treme the national virtue of self reli
ance, of independence In Initiative
and action. It is wise to conserve this
virtue and to provide for Its fullest
exercise compatible with seeing that
liberty does not become a liberty to
wrong others. Unfortunately this Is
the kind of liberty that the lack of all
effective regulation Inevitably breeds.
The founders of the constitution pro
vided that the national government
should have complete and sole control
of interstate commerce. There was
then practically no Interstate bustaesa
save such as was conducted by water,
and this the national government
once proceeded to regulate in thorough
going and effective fashion. Conditions
have now so wholly changed that the
Interstate commerce by water Is Insig
nificant compared with the amount
that goes by land, and almost all big
justness concerns are now engaged In
nterstate commerce. As a result It can
but partially and Imperfectly con
rolled or regulated by the action of
ny one of the several states, such sc
ion Inevitably tending to be either
full justice. The railroads and all oth
er great corporations will do well to
recognize that this control must come.
The only question Is as to what gov
ernmental body can most wisely exer
cise It The courts will determine the
limits within which the federal author
ity can exercise It and there will still
remain ample work within each state
for the railway a commission of that
state, and the national Interstate com
merce commission will work In har
mony with the several state commis
sions, each within Its own province, to
achieve the desired end.
The Antitrust Law.
t «». tbsIsjyjt'isss.sgss:
mission whether the applicant for a
federal charter was an association or
combination within the restrictions of
the federal law. Provision should also
be made for complete publicity In all
matters affecting the public and com
plete protection to the Investing public
and the shareholders In the matter of
Issuing corporate securities. If a a In
corporation law is not deemed advisa
ble, a license act for tflg Interstate cor
porations might be enacted or a com-
Mnrpftvar I- , .. „ „ - blnatlon of the two might be tried.
? . 3ud * ment - there I The supervision established might be
•d- should be additional legislation looking analogous to that now exercised over
of to the proper control of the great busl- national twnu. At least the anti-
“’“r engaged In Interstate trust“rt .up“emfnted ^
r Zlw t °?’" erCl !!J r pec “ c prohibition, of the method
no l«s ta™ r^h pra8p ? rty which experience has shown have been
restore b“‘ of “°* “rvlce enabling monopolls-
I have renentMtr? pnb tC ' tie combinations to crush out competl-
i nave repeatedly said In messages to t lon. ■
^fl^X a .hnwn* e I h , er !; ®f P “® ““ The real owners of a corporation
t n]y . the unwto - should be compelled to do business In
dom but the futility of endeavoring to their own name. The right to bold
U^ero ^. a rr.„r, e m. 00mblna, ‘ 0n l' 8t0ck ,n otber corporations should here-
‘‘“T “ re SOCh “tter be denied to Interstate corpora-
but taeritom, nu “ , “/h tlons - unl “ 8 00 «P p f°'al by the proper
business ns if * m I £° vernineilt officials, and a prerequisite
of liw iSdVtail Ml . H ‘i* ?° r,d . to 8Uch approval should be the listing
an to Ml n° ** ,° SJ* w,tb the government of all owners and
1,11 corporations, to all big stockholders, both by the corporation
Du“^!nd D, to to h 8 *° d ,T?J° ownln 8 «uch stock and by tberorpora-
put an end to combinations of labor. *i„„ i„ - . i
Comorotinn l8bor ' tlon In which such stock Is owned,
corporation and labor uulon alike have I
come to stay. Each If properly man- I Lessons of Recent Crisis,
aged Is a source of good and not evil. I To confer upon the national govern-
Whenever In either there Is evil It ®ent In connection with the amend
Bhould be promptly held to account, ment I advocate In the antitrust law
but tt should receive hearty encourage-1 Power of supervision over big business
ment so long as It Is properly managed. I concerns engaged in Interstate com-
It Is profoundly Immoral to put or I merce would benefit them as It has
keep on the statute books a law noml- benefited the national banks. In the
nally In the Interest of public morality I recent business crisis It is noteworthy
that really puts a premium upon pub-1 that the Institutions which failed were
lie Immorality by undertaking to for-1 Institutions which were not under the
bid honest men from doing what must I supervision and control of the national
be done under modern business condi-1 government Those which were under
tlons so that the law Itself provides national control stood the test
that its own infraction must be the National control of the kind above
condition precedent upon business sue- I advocated would be to the benefit of
cess. To aim at the accomplishment every well managed railway. From
of too much usually means the accom-1 the standpoint of the public there is
pllshment of too little and often the do- need for additional tracks, additional
tag of positive damage. I terminals and Improvements In the ac-
Yet we must also remember that i and ,,
even tho wisest legislation on the sub- „t r | T0 ( 0 breal- un not merelv nri™/ I P eDl!, ture of money. Then the stipn-
lect can only accomplish a certain I Kt h I laHo “ should be made that no party
amount No legislation can by any £nttta taml Jbe cMrfTw^ campa1 ^ -
which our whoJe dvltotion stonr '
in unity against the results of specula* I o nr h n
tive folly any more than it can guaran- ^ ^ “ta o“ tZ onZ tZt
tee an Individual against tho results of I i inf . nrnn n«;nT<i fnr ioMcIom i
srs sxizxxsz jr - «■ •* •***»<£
wealthy men or men who pose as such
or are unscrupulously or foolishly eager I Enforcement of the Law.
to become such Indulge In reckless A few years ag6 there was^oud com- , „ . , _
speculation, especially If It Is accom- P |alnt 0,81 ‘he law could not bo In- gh P M b- lI v L
puled by dishonesty, they Jeopardise ^"d against wealthy offenders There Thtra^Smid^TTi' lull v.w
not only their own future, but the fu- ,s no complaint now. The courso * , f, relat , l ' ely
turo of all their Innocent fellow clti- of ,ho department of justice during tho " 1<?
sens, for they expose the whole busl- » a8 ‘ roars has been such ns to £? ar my » sh^ to 1 t ''T P
| c I make it evident that no m n n .m. I arIn > In slla I , ° ,0 ‘X- effective lo
treasury should accept more than a
fixed amount from any individual sub
scriber or donor, ani the necessary
publicity for receipts and expendltnres
could without difficulty bo provided.
The Army.
The president recommends legisla
tion to Increase the number of officers
in tbe army, especially In tbc medical
drastic or else too lax and In cither
Ineffective for purposes of justice,
nly the national government can lu
loroughgotag fashion Exercise the
reded control. This does not mean
t there should be any extension of
dcral authority, for such authority
ready exists under the constitution
amplest and moat far reaching form,
it does mean that there should be
extension of federal activity. This
not advocating centralization. It Is
rely looking facts ta tho face and
firing that centralization ta business
already come and cunot be avoid-
or undone and that tbe public at
can only protect Itaelf from cer-
erll effects of this bustaesa cen
izatlon by providing better methoda
tbe exercise of control through tbe
ority already centralized ta tbe
onal government by tbe constltu-
Itself. There must be no belt ta
healthy constructive course of ac-
which this nation baa elected to
ue and has steadily pursued dur-
he last six years, as shown both
a legislation of'tbe congress and
nlmtalstration of the law by tba
rtment of justice,
ational License For Railroads,
i most vital need la in connection
the railroads. As to these, ta my
nent, there should now be either
ional Incorporation act or a law
dug railway companies to engage
terstate commerce upon certain
tlons. Tbe law should be so
«l as to give to tbe Interstate
eree commission power to pass
the future Issue of aecurlties,
ample means should be provided
>ble the commission whenever ta
Igmont It Is necessary to make a
tal valuation of any railroad. ""
td ta my message to the congress
r ago, railroads should be given
to enter Into agreements sub-
i these agreements being made
In minute detail and to tbe con-
'f tbe Interstate commerce com-
n being first obtained. Until
Uonsl government assumes prop-
trol of Interstate commerce In
erdse of the authority It already
» It will be Impossible either
to or to get from the railroads
pealed, but it should be made both “ ,e and 8peedy transportation facilt-
more efficient and more ta harmony t ! e * are even more necessary than
with actual conditions, it should be f heap transportation. Therefore there
so amended as to forbid only the kind 18 the tavestment of money
of combination which does harm to tbe wp J cl1 w111 P r0T| de for all these things
general public, such amendment to be wh ! le at ,be “f 6 tlme securing as far
accompanied by or to be an Incident of “ te pa88lb ' e better wtt Ees and shorter
a grant of snpcrvlsory power to tbe han ,™ t F r tbelr employees. Therefore,
government over these big con rerns * hUe “ost be Just and reasona-
engaged ta Interstate business. This ! e ^ atlon ® f . ”***•"“ »honld be
should be accompanied by proT | g | on the first to protest against any arbltra-
for the compulsory publication of ac- £ aDd unthinking movement to cut
counts and the subjection of books and th© fullest and
papfere to the inspection of the gov-1 ““f c«rettfi oonslderaMon of all tater-
ernment officials. A beginning has al- ®*ts concerned and of tbe actnal needs
ready been made for sneb supervision I °! the * 9? y a special body
by the establishment of the bureau of of “ cn act,n8 .i° r “ e ““tional govern-
corporations ment under « n tbority conferred upon It
The antitrust law should not prohibit J* tbe «>»«"»» «» competent to pass
combinations that do no Injustice to J u ^ ment J® 0 * 1 * matter -
tbe public, .till less those the existence ™°*f Wb0 f ‘.to
of which Is on tbe whole of benefit *^ d ?
to the public. But even If this feature
of the law were abolished there would _ ba ° bbi d»ct, 1, °t of the
remain as an eqnally objectionable fea- P ™ J*? J?*
ture the difficulty and delay now tad-
dent to Its enforcement. Tbc govern-
ment must now submit to Irksome and t
Sou o/rou f m f^^iato ^ ^e meaT tas^Son
decision of the court, upon proceeding. Uw wag cven mon vlolenUy aggllUedi
community to panic nnd distress. make . il evident that no man stands I t , m . of , ,
* X. I above the law that mt mhumMm « a |* un * w P*mL The president recom-
Can't Revise Tariff Now. I so wealthv that It cannot lie heM to ■ I mends severe examination of ottl.-ers
Thla country to definitely committed count.' Everything that can £ done ^ pr °“° Uon up to tho rank of major.
. the protective syatem. and gny ef- under ' ute exIsTlug law and with ta! Fr ° m tbat poInt 1’con.otIoM should be
fort to uproot It could not but cauae clIstlng gtate of publto opinion which pDreIr by 8elecUon - lra a i'- a ^ of the
widespread Industrial disaster. 1° I soprofoundly Influences both thci'miri-i rcccn t Physical test of army oillcers
other words, the principle of the pres : an d juries. Ims l^en done but theTw, wltb : empb ?f!. c ap P rob,l(ion and recom-
ent tarifflaw could net with wtedom LVmXiu! e r.tr^J^r'^ ^ !l bIU c<iUaU ^’ ,h * pa -'
be changed. But In a country of such should be mado more d^nito^so that °® C P rs and mcn ot nrD| y- navy,
phenomenal growth as ours It to prob- no honcst man can ^ , ed jMsSL* “f 18 ® corps and revenue cutter serv-
ably well that every dozen years or so to break tIjem nml *00-
ttalMd l ao la «Tt ,h0Uld fh e r Car0f0Uy8C | rn ^^ wrong ao er can be readily punished. - Tho N«vy.
tinlzed so a. to see that no excessive Moreover, there must be-tho nubile Concem,n £ ‘he navy the president
or Improper benefits are conferred I opinion back of the laws or tho invvs says:
thereby, that irroper revenue to tirovld- themselves will be of no avail. The I In lny l ud B ment - we should this
ed and that our foreign trade to cn-11wo great evils ta the execution of our ycar P rov t do for four battleships. But
couraged. There must always be as a [crimtaaMaws today are scntlmontalltv * 3 ldJe t0 WM tattleshlj* unless, In
minimum a tariff which will not only l.nd technicality. For the latter tho add ^ on to providing the men and the
allow for tbe collection of an ample a medy murt come frem the hands o? meaus for thorough training, we pro-
b “‘" blcb r 1U at . 1e ? 8t thel^totarreXrourtoand “elaw! yldo th o -nxlltorie. for them-unles,
good the difference in cost of prodne- lyers. The other must depend for Its '1° P rovldo <l° cks . the coaling stations,
tlon here and abroad—that to, the dlf- I curo upon tb e gradual growth of a tbo coI1Icra n:ltl supply ships that they
ference In the labor cost here and I sound public opinion which shall Insist I nccd ’ ^ ° aro extremely deficient In
abroad, for the well being of the wage- that regard for tho law and the dc- coaling stations and docks on the I*a-
66 a S. rdlll,U ^?. ,Dt taands of reason shall control all other f 100 ’ a ? d tbls ^oflclency should not
J? Pottcy- Tbe question I influences and emotiont In tbe jury 11?*® 1 *** POft^tted to exist Plenty
abonld be approached purely from a box. Both of these evils must ho re- of torpedo boats and destroyers should
business standpoint, both the time and moved or public discontent with tho 1,0 bullt ' Both on tbe Atlantic and Ba
the manner of the change being such criminal tow will continue coasts fortifications of the best
as to arouse the minimum of agitation . I typo should bo provided for nlL our
and disturbance ta the business world | injunctions. | greatest barbora.
nnu to give the least play for selfish "*• “uuse m me granting Until ,
nnd factional motives. Olio sole con- f, la ^ unct,0n8 ln ]abor disputes con- than at present it should never be snllt
sldorntlon should be to see that tho I ‘ lnu o tOMcnr, nnd tho resentment in i nto detachments so far apartthat they
sum total of changes represents the ‘i 10 . “ Iada of those who fee! that their conld not ta event of emergency to-
public good. This means tbat the sub- r ® bts ar ® lae lnTadcd aDd their lib- speedily united. Our coast line to on
Ject cannot with wisdom be dealt with crt ^ “ actI 9“ , and of “Pooch unwar- the Pacific jnst as much as on the Kt-
ta the year preceding a presidential J® 1 "®™* retrained continues Hkcwtoo lantlc. Tho batUo fleet should now
Not Repeal, but Amendment. I tMl tandling of the railroads, and all election, because as a matter of fact *° gT0 , w -. lruch ot ‘he attack on the and then be moved to tho Pacific Just
Tbe antitrust law should not be re- “I? 88 rapldl * 88 P° , * lble - Ample, experience baa conclusively shown that I * 00em °f Injunction to I as at other times it should be kept ta
- »neh a time It to impoealble to get b ?* 1 «*> the Atlantic. WbtaOeiMmiton cans;
men to treat It from the standpoint of ‘ 0 4 express tho belief that for ls bufit the transit of the battle fleet
the public good. In my Judgment.tbe |® ome t ot . Jt thc f° 13 warrant This ques* I from one ocean to tbo other will be
wise time to deal with the matter is | ®“ e of ^ me „ , 1 m jf or : comparatively easy. Until it Is built
With ’it r nrtS dea 1 « arnM tly hope that tho battle fleet
to to , Itimntiff to , T r fc # « rb wffl be thus shifted between the two
ttta ultimately to demand some form oceans every ycar or two. The battle
lnstitMed, and even a favorable do
and the same men who now denounco
zrjrzu: ■•*■*.* «■« aa «on.i govc™.
Moreover, to attempt to control these
corporations by Itwsulta means to Im
pose upon both tbe department of
Justice and tbs courts an impossible
burden. It to not feasible to carry on
more than a limited number of such
suits. Sucb a law to be really effec-
ment ta seeking to oversee and control
the workings of Interstate common car
riers and business concerns then as
serted tbat we were "discrediting and
ruining a great American Industry.”
Two years have not elapsed, and al
ready It has become evident that tbe
live must of couree be administered ^t benefit tbe law confers upon tbe
by an executive body_and not merely
by means of lawsuits. Tbe deelgn
should be to prevent tbe abuses inci
dent to the creation of unhealthy and
improper combinations Instead of welt
ing until they are ta existence and
then attempting to destroy them by
civil or criminal proceedings.
Law 8hould Be Explicit
A combination should not be tolerat
ed if It abuse tbo power acquired by
combination to the public detriment
No corporation or association of any
kind should be permitted to engage ta
foreign or Interstate commerce tbat la
formed for the purpose of or whose
operations create a-monopoly or gen
eral control of tbe production, salo or
distribution of any one or more of tbe
prime necessities of life or articles of
general use and necessity. Such com
binations are against public policy.
They violate tbe common law. Tbo
doors of tbo courts are dosed to those
who are parties to them, aud I believe
tbe congress can close tbo channels of
Interstate commerce against them for
Its protection. The law should make
Its prohibitions and permissions as
clear and definite na possible, leaving
tho least possible room for arbitrary
action or allegation of sucb action on
tbe part of tbe executive or of diver
gent Interpretations by the courts.
Among tbe points to be aimed at
should be the prohibition of unhealthy
competition, aneb aa by rendering serv
ice at an actual loss for tbe purpose of
crushing out competition, tbc proven
tlon of Inflation of capital and tbe pro
hibition of a-Corporation's making ex
clusive trade with Itself a condition of
having any trade with Itself. Itcason-
able agreements between or combina
tions of corporations should be per
mitted provided they are first submit
ted to and approved by some appro
priate government body.
Congress’ Powtr.
Tbe congress has the power to char
ter corporations to engage in Interstate
and foreign commerce, and a general
law can bo enacted under tbe provl-
public to accompanied by an equal ben
efit to tbe reputable packing establish
ments. Tbo latter are better off under
the law than they were without it
Tbe benefit to Interstate common car
riers and business concerns from tbe
legislation I advocate would be equal
ly marked.
Pure Food Law.
Incidentally ta tbe passage of the
pure food law tbe action of tho vari
ous state food and dairy commission
er* showed ta striking fashion how
much good for tho whole people results
from the hearty cooperation of the
federal and atate officials ta securing
a given reform. It to primarily to the
action of these state commissioners
that we owe the enactment of this
law, for they aroused the people, first
to demand the enactment and enforce
ment of state laws on the subject and
then tho enactment of the federal la'
without which the state law* were
largely Ineffective. There must be the
closest cooperation between the na
tlonal and atate governments ta ad
ministering these laws.
Currency Legislation Needed.'
1 again urge on tbe congress the
need of Immediate attention to this
matter. We need a greater elasticity
ta our currency, provided of course
that we recognize the even greater
need of a safe and secure currency.
Prevision should be made f«r an
emergency currency. The emergency
Issue should of course ta made with
an effective guarantee and upon condi
tions carefully proscribed by the gov
ernment. Bucb emergency Issue must
lie based on adequate securities ap
proved by tho government end must be
Issued under a heavy tax. This would
permit currency being Issued when the.
demand for It was urgent, while secur
ing Us retirement as the demand fell
off. It Is worth Investigating to de
termine whether officers nnd directors
of national banks
lowed to loan to
Immediately after such election.
Income Tax and Inheritance Tax.
When onr tax laws are revised the
question of an Income tax and an In
heritance tax abonld receive the care
ful attention of out legislators, ln
my judgment, -..both of these taxes
should be' part of ourksystem of fed
eral taxation. I speak dlffldeatly about
tbe Income tax because one scheme for
an Income tax was declared unconsti
tutional by the supreme court, while ta
addition It to a difficult tax to admin-
later In Its practical working, and great
care would bare to be evercifed to see
that it was not evaded by the very
mcn whom It was most desirable to
have taxed. Nevertheless a graduated
Income tax of tbe proper type would
be a desirable feature of federal taxa
tion, and It to to be hoped that one
may be devised which the supreme
court will declare constitutional.
The Inheritance tax, however, to
a far better method of taxation. Tho
government has the absolute right to
decide aa to the terms upon which a
man shall receive a bequest from an
other, and this point in the devolotion
of property Is especially appropriate
for the Imposition of a tax. Laws Im
posing sucb'taxes have repeatedly been
placed upon the national statute books
and as repeatedly declared constitu
tional by tba courts, and these laws
contained tbe progressive principle—
tbat to. after a certain amonnt to reach
ed tbe bequest or jsUt In Ufo or death
to Increasingly burdened and tbe rata
of taxation to Increased ta proportion
to the remoteness of blood of the man
receiving the bcqnest These principles
are recognized already ta the leading
civilized nations of the world.
nr ltw-ioi.ti™ -—-- : oviy jear or iwo. me Dattlc
of legislative action. It would bo most fleet ls about starting by the strait ot
Mmlt”n^ a> iL^? f r ra M***”* 11 -to visit the'raclflc coast
w JLm ? many boacst aad Sixteen battleships are going under the
tonf d !!n« C ^ ZCnii t0 ! eC 0111 lbcy commandof Bear Admiral Evans, while
J regarding our courts eight armored crulaera and two other
to fh. ® a ™ C8Uy com ®end battleships will meet him ln San Fran-
nttontlon of the congress this cl sco, whither certain torpedo destroy-
vto!d whtoh Ul wnMimtoTh y T y h®,*?®’ ® rs are also golD8r - No floet Of such
vised which will limit tho abnso of ta- size has ever made such a voyage, and
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.
Junctions and protect those rights
which from time to timo It unwarrant
ably invades. Moreover, discontent ls
often expressed with tho use of the
process of Injunction by the courts,
not only ta labor disputes, but where
state laws are concerned. I refrain
from discussion of this question as I
am informed that it will soon receive
the consideration of the supreme court
The process of Injunction to an es
sential adjunct of the court's doing Its
work well, and ns preventive measures
are always better than remedial the
wise use of this process to from every
standpoint commendable. But where
It to recklessly or unnecessarily used
tho abuse should be consnrcd, above
all by the very men who are properly
anxious to prevent any effort to shear
the courts of this neccssaty power.
The court's decision must ta final. Tbo
protest to only against tho conduct of
Individual Judges ta needlessly antici
pating such final derision or ln the
tyrannical use of what to nominally a
temporary Injunction to accomplish
what to ta fact a permanent decision.
The president urges the passage ot a
model employers’ liability act for the
District of Columbia and the territories
to encourage corporations to treat In
jured wageworkers better. Ho em
phatically Indorses the eight hour day.
The president urges the states to
fight tbe child and woman labor evlL
Ho says:
Tbe national government has as an
ultimate resort for control ot child la
bor the use of the Interstate commerce
danse to prevent the products of child
labor from entering Into Interstate com
merce. Bat before using this It ought
certainly to enact model lawn on the
subject for the territories under Its
own Immediate control.
Presidtntlal Campaign Expenses.
Under onr form of government vot
ing to not merely a right, but a duty,
and, moreover, a fundamental and nec
essary doty If a man to to be a good
dtlzen. It to well to provide that cor
porations stall not contribute to presi
dential or national campaigns and, fur
thermore, to provide for the publica
tion of both contributions and expendi
ture*. Thera to, however, always dan
ger ta tows of this kind, which from
their very nature are difficult of .en
forcement. the danger being lest they
bo obeyed only by tho honcst and dis
obeyed by tbe nnscrnpnlous, so as to
act only as a penalty upon honest men.
Moreover, no such law would hamper
an unscrupulous man of unlimited
means from buying his own way into
office. There is a very radical meas-
lt will be of very great educational Use
to all engaged ta it Tbe only way by
which to teach officers and mcn how
to handle the fleet so as to meet every
possible strata and emergency ta time
of war is Jo have them practice under
similar conditions ln tlmo of pence.
The president recommends the In
creased pay for both officers and enlist
ed mcn and advises promotion by se
lection above the grade of lieutenant
commander.
Foreign Affairs.
Tn foreign affairs, tho president says,
this country's steady policy la to be
have toward other nations as a strong
and self respecting man should behave
toward tho other men with whom he
ls brought Into contact In other words,
our aim ls disinterestedly to help other
nations where such help can bo wisely
given without tbe appearance of med
dling with what docs not concern os,
to bo careful to act as a good neighbor
and at the samo time ta good natnred
fashion to make It evident that we do
not Intend to be Imposed upon.
Tho president refers at length to The
Hague peace conference. He believes
It accomplished much good work.
Postal Savings Banks.
The president says on postal affairs:
I cqpnmend to the favorable consid
eration ot the congress a postal sav
ings bank system as recommended by
tho postmaster general. Timid deposi
tors have withdrawn their savings for
the time being from national banks,
trust companies and savings banks, in
dividuals have boarded their cash
and the workingmen their earnings, all
of which money has been withheld
and kept ln hiding or ta the safe de
posit box to the detriment of prosper
ity. Through the agency of the postal
savings banks such money would be
restored to the channels of trade, to
tbe mutual benefit of capital and labor.
I further commend to the congress
the consideration of the postmaster
general’s recommendation for an ex
tension of the parcel post, especially
on the rural routes. It would tie a
most desirable thing to put the fourth
class postmasters ta the classified serv
ice.
Other recommendations are:
Deepening of. tbe inland waterways,
especially of the Mississippi river sys
tem, to make them great national high
ways.
The repeal of the tariff on forest
products, especially the duty on wood
pulp.
Tho amendment of the public land
laws to make them more effective
To Tax Nonresidents Higher.
The tax should If possible be made
to hear more heavily upon those resid
ing without the country than within tt
A heavy progressive tax upon a very
uld ever be al- ■ large fortune la in no way auch a tax
ms^lves. Trust | upon thrift or Industry at a like tax
companies should be subject to the would be on a small fortune
slons ot which existing corporations fio'^'tn'fhu^'ir ^ lo f " banks. Legtsla- Vfe have not tbe (lightest sympathy i nTtin^grea
could take out federal charters and !!° ^nia‘iri!s'*5*'!®’* f ° r | wlUl •“-’‘•“•tfc Idea which
new federa. corporation, could be J| ° f L ° ,Umbla aDd ‘ b ' H ZX*-**"'
' ' ' toa * <rtr
ure which would, I believe, work a ; against land grabbers and more favor-
. I able to bon* fide settlers.
Retention of the government's title
to public coal and otber mineral lands.
^Extension of the national forest re-
Citizenship for the
substantial Improvement ln onr sys
tem of conducting a campaign, al
though I an: wet! aware that It will
take some time for people so to famil
iarize tbeinselrea with such a proposal
aa to be willing to consider
tlon. The need for
campaign fund*
greet provided ai
local self
Encouragement
particularly