The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-12-06
PresidentCommunicatesW tes With
Congress on Subjects of
National Interest.
WAR, TRUSTS AND MONEY


Revolt Must BE Put Down-Rpmedy
For tho Monopoly Evil-Gold Stand.
ard Favor-d-Partitiom of Samoa.
Hobart's Death, E,c.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-The president
today transmitted to congress his an.
nual message, as follows:
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives:
At the threshold of your deliberations
you are called to mourn with your coun.
trymen the death of Vice President Ho.
bart. who passed from tais life ON the
morning of November 2lst, last. His
great soul now rests in eternal peace.
His private life was pure and elevated,
while his public career was ever distin.
guished BY largo capacity. stainless in.
tegrity and exalted motives. He has
been removed from the high Office which
he honored and dignified, but his lofty
character. his devotion to duty, his hon.
esty Of purpose and noble virtues re.
main with us as o priceless legacy and
example.
The Ffsy.sixth congress convenes in
its first regular session with the country
In condition OF unusual prosperity. of
universal good will among the people at
home and in relations Of peace and
friendship with every government of
the world. Our foreign commerce has
shown groat increase in volume and
value. The combined imports and ex.
ports for the year are the largest ever
shown By . single year in all our his.
tory. Our exports for 1899 alone ex.
ceeded BY more than $l. 600. 600. 600 our
imports and exports combined in 1870.
The imports per capita are ~ per cont
less than in 1870, while the exports per
capita are % per cent more than in 1870,
showing the enlarged capacity of the
United States to satisfy the wants of its
own increasing population, as we'll rs to
contribute to those Of the peoples OF
other nations.
Question Of Trusts.
Combinations of capital organized
into trusts to control the conditions of
trade among our citiz,ns, to stifie com.
petition, limit production and determine
the prices Of products used and con.
sumed by the people. Gre justly royok.
ing public discussion and should early
claim the attention of che congress.
The industrial commission created bv
the act Of congress of June Is, 1905. has
been engaged in extended hearings upon
the disputed questions involved in the
subject Of combinations in restraint of
trade and competition. They have not
yet completed their Investigations of
this subject and the conclusion and
recommendations at which they NAV
arrive are undetermine The subject
10 one giving rise to many DIVERGENT
views a. to the nature and variety or
cause and extent of the injuries to the
public which may result from large
combinations concentrating more or
less numerous enterprises and establish.
ments which previously to the forma.
tion Of the combination were carried
separately.
It Is universally conceded that combi.
nations which engross or control the
market OF any particular kind of mer.
chandise or commodity necessary to the
general community. by suppressing nat.
urai and ordinary competition, whereby
prices are unduly enhanced to the gem.
eral consumer, are obn oxious not only
to the common law, but also to the pub.
lie welfare. There must be n remedy
for the evils involved in such organiza.
tions. Ii the present law can be ex-
tended more certainly TO control or
check these monopolies or trusts, it
should be done without delay. What.
ever power the congress possesses over
this most important subject should be
promptly ascerrained ard asserted.
1t 10 apparent that uniformity Of leg.
islation upon this subject in the several
states IL much to be desired. Is is to be
hoped that such uniformity founded in
. wise and just discrimination between
what 10 injurious and what il useful
and necessary in business operations
may bs obtained and that means NAV
be found for the congress within the
limitations Of it's constitutional power
% ~ to supplement an effective code of
state legislation 80 to make q plete
system OF laws thxoughoue the United
States adequate to compel Q general OBJ.
seryance OF the salutary rules to which
have referred.
The whole question is Do important
and farreaching chat an sure no part
Of 1t will be lightly considered. but
every phase OF is will have the studied
celebration Of congress resulting in
wise and judicious action.
The Nicaragum Canal.
The Nicaragua canal commission.
which had been engaged upon the work
OF examination and survey for q route
across Nicaragua, having COM pleted its
la 6ors and made its reports, was dis.
solved OH May 81. aud OH June 10 new
commission. known as the isthmian
canal commission. was organized under
the terms OF the act approved March 3,
1899. for the purpose of examining the
American isthmus with view to de.
termining the most practicable and
feasible route for ship canal across
that isthmus. with its probable cost and
other essential details.
This commission. under the presi.
dencv OF Rear Admiral John q. Wal.
ker, U. 5. N. retired. entered prom pity
upon the work intrusted to it and Is
now carrying on examinations in Mica.