The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-06
M'KINLEYS MES
SAGE TO CONGRESS
Continued from Page one.l
FEDERAL LEGISLATION.

President Cleveland, in his annual
message Of Dee. Z. 1Ss6-more than six
years subsequent to the enactment OF
this law-after stating the evils Of
these trust combinations, says:
Though congress mas attempted 10
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 enforce them. but simply because
the laws themselves as interpreted by
the courts. do not reach the difficulty.
II the insuficiencies Of existing laws
can be remedied by further legislation
IL should be done, the fact must be rec
ognized, however, that all federal leg
islation on this subject may fail snort
of its purpose because Of inherent Cd
stacles. and also because OF the COM
pick character Of our governmental sys-
TEN. which, while making the tederal
authority supreme within its sphere,
has carefully limited that sphere Dy
rnetes and bounds which cannot De
transgressed. The decision OF our
highest court on this precise question
renders It quite doubtful whether the
evils Of trusts and monopolies can De
adequately treated through federal &C
ton, unless they seek directly and pur-
posely to include in their objects trans
portation or intercourse between states
or between the United States and for
eign countries.
ut does not follow. however. that
this is the limit Of the remedy tnat
may be applied. Even though II may
be found that federal authority is not
broad enough to fully reacn me case:
there can be no doubt Of the power OF
the several states 10 act effectively, IN
the premises. and there should be no
reason TO doubt their willingness 10
judiclously exercise such power.
STATE LEGISLATION FAILS.
The state legislation to which Resi-
dent Cleveland looked for relief from
the evils Of trusts has failed TO accom-
plish fully that object. This is probab-
" due TO a great extent TO the fact
that different states take IiHeI.ent
views as to the proper way TO discrim-
mate between evil and injurious com
binations and those associations when
are beneficial and necessary to the
business prosperity of the country. The
great diversity Of treatment in different
states arising from this cause, and the
intimate relations of ali parts OF the
country TO each other without regard
ing state lines in the conduct of BUSH
ness, have made the enforcement OF
state laws difficult
1t is apparen that uniformity Of leg
islation upon this subject In the sew
eral states Is much to be desired. II IS
to be hoped that such uniformity, foun-
ded in a wise and just discrimination
between what is injurious and what
is useful and necessary in business OPP
erations may be obtained, and that
means may be found for the congress
within the limitations Of its constitu-
tional power so to supplement an ef-
fective code of state legislation as TO
make 4 complete system Of laws
throughout the United States adequate
to compel a general observance Of the
salutary rules 10 which 1 have re-
ferred.
The whole question is so important
and far-reaching that I am sure No
part os it will be lightly considered
but every phase Of it viii have the
studied elaboration Of the congress, re-
sulting in wise and iudicious action.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
A review Of our relations witt
foreign states is presented with such
recommendations as are deemed ap-
propriate.
The long pending boundary dispute
between the Argentine republic anC
Chile was settled In March last, by tbs
award of an arbitral commission, Dr
which The United States minister a
Buenos Ayres served as umpire.
Progress has been made toward tbs
conclusion of convention Of extradi
ton with the Argentine republic. Hay
ing been advised and consented to BY
the United States Senate and ratified
by Argentina, it only awaits the ad
1ustmsn- of some slight changes in tbs
text before exchange.
In my last annual message adyerteC
to the claim of the Austro-HungariaI
FC- dar7 MT I'LL
ing of certain Austrian and Hungar
ian subjects by the authorities Of tn
state of Pennsylvania, at Lattimer
while suppressing an unlawful tumul
of miners. September 10. 1897. In view
of the verdict of aequittal, rendered
by the court before which the sheriff
and his deputies were tried for murder
and following the established doctrin'
that the government may not be hell
accountable fo7 injuries suffered by in
dividu is at the hands of the public au
thorities while acting in the lin.
of duty in suppressing dis
turbance of the public peace. this gov
ernmen., after due consideration of tn
claim advanced by the Austro-Hun
garian government, was conStrained Il
decline liability to indemnify the suf
ferers.
1t is gratifying to be able to announcr
that the Belgian government has nit
igated The restrictions on the importa
ton of cattle from the United Statei
to which l referred in my last annua
message.
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE
Having been invited BY Belgium Il
participate in a congress, held al Brus
sesls, to revise the provisions Of tn,
general act Of July 2, 1890, for the re
preston Of the African slave trade, t,
which the United States was sigma
tory party, this government preferred
not to be represented by plenipoten
tiary, cut reserved the right of acces
sion to the result Notable changes
were made, those especially concerning
this country being in the line of thu
increased restriction Of the deleterioui
trade in spirituous liquors with the ma
tive tribes which this government hal
from the outset urgently advocated
The amended general act will be laiC
before the Senate with view to I'll
advice and consent.
Early in the year the peace Of Ro
livia was disturbed by a successful in
surrectiol. The United States minister
remained at his post, attending to thu
American interests in that quarter anC
using besides his good Offices for the
protection of the interests of British
subjects in the absence Of their ma.
tional representative On the estab
lishment Of the new government, oul
minister was directed to enter into re.
lations herewith. General Pando was