The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-12-10
ROOSEVELT'S
FIRST WORDS
TOCONGRESS
Continued from page ~

Ger, to be known as Secretary of Com
merce and Industries, as provided in the
bill introduced at the last session of con-
gress II should be his province to deal
with commerce in its broadcast sense, in
GLIDING among many other things, what
ever concerns labor and all matters af-
fecting the great business corporations
and our merchant marine
Taking up the matter of labor the pres
ident says every effort must be bent to
the maintenance of the high standard of
American labor. and the protection of
the laborer not only through the tariff.
but against the coming In of laborers I'M
der contract. and adds:
'Or of those who, coming freely, yet
represent a standard of living so depress-
ed that they can undersell our men in
the labor market and drag them to a
lower level l regard 1t as necessary,
with this end in view, re re-enact i'm
mediately the law excluding Chinese la
borers and to strengthen 1t wherever
necessary in order to make its enforce
ment entirely effective"
He recommends national acton which
will render effective the efforts of tho
states to do away with convict labor
competition. for the eight hour day, for
the protection of women and children
who are employed, and for the provision
that all government work shall be done
under fair" conditions. He commends
labor organizations, and says there must
be protection for all. Upon the subject
OF Immigration. he says in part:
Our present immigration laws are I'M
satisfactory. We need every honest and
efficient immigrant fitted to become an
American citizen. every immigrant who
comes here to stay, who brings here
strong body. a stout heart, good head
and a resolute purpose to do his duty
well In every way and to bring up his
children as law-abiding and God fearing
members OF the community. First. we
should aim to exclude absolutely not
only all persons who are known to be be-
levers In anarchistic principles, but also
all persons who are of low moral ton
dency or of unsavory reputation.
The second object of proper immigra-
ton law ought to be to secure by a care
full and not merely perfunctory educa-
tonal test some intelligent capacity to
appreciate American Institutions and act
saneiy as American citizens.
Finally, all persons should be excluded
who are below certain standard of
economic fitness to enter our industrial
field as competitors with American labor
The protective policy, the president
says, has general acquescence, and il
would be unwise to disturb business in
terests by tariff changes. The president
advocates reciprocity. where the products
vi the country no longer neec the sup
port once given but says there should be
nothing done which would affect labor
or home industries. He advocates the
treaties in so far as they will promote
good feeling and furnish wider markets
In relation to the merchant marine the
message calls attention to the inequali-
ties of the rates of pay of American
seamea and foreigners and the expense
or running the ships. as well as the fact
that the competing carriers are subsidiz-
ed and urges action which will remedy
the inequalities.
The president commends the act fixing
the gold standard, and recommends fur
ther legislation tending to strengthen the
credit OF the country, to safeguard
against financial crises and To make the
currency responsive to the demands of
trade. As to the revenues which are now
in excess OF demands upon them, there
is recommendation that the Secretary
of the Treasury's suggestion should he
followed. Economy Is advised strongly. I
Amendment to the Interstate Com
merce law, so that rates should be ua-
der governmental supervision. is urged