The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-04

OF the whole people the nation sl'ouia'
without interfering with the power oil
the States in the matter itself, also as
sumo power of supervision and reguis1-
ton over all corporations doing an inter
state business. He believes that a Ia"
can be framed which will enable inc
National Government to exercise control
along the lines indicated, but adds that
If in the judgment Of Congress that poaS
lacks the Constitutional power to enact
such a law, then Constitutional amend.
rncnt should be submitted to confer the
power
In this connection he recommends that
there be created a Cabinet officer to be
known as Secretary of Commerce ana
Industry. as provided in the bill intro-
duced at the last session Of Congress
The President pays a high tribute TO
the workingman recommends that ne
be protected by the tariff and regards 1t
as necessary to re-enact Immediately the.
law excluding Chinese laborers and to
strengthen it wherever necessary IN or
der to make its enforcement entirely Ell
fective He has a kind word to say Tor.
labor organizations and thinks that they
ought to be encouraged
He makes short work Of the tariff cues
ton, saying that nothing could be more
unwisc than to disturb the business in
tcrests of the country by any general
tariff change at this time. He believes
in reciprocity, but says that this must be
treated "as the handmaiden of pro-
tection''
The President thinks that the condi-
ton Of the American merchant marine is
such as ito call for immediate remedial
action by Congress. He speaks OF the
necessity of carrying Oh American trace
in American ships and concludes by say
ing that the American merchant marine
should be restored to the nation. He does
not mention the word subsidy, but it is
implied
OF course, he is in favor of maintain
ing tho gold standard, but he thinks that
scmo changes in the currency system
are necessary IN many respects. says
he. The national banking law furnishes
sufficient liberty for tho proper exercise
of the banking function; but there seems
to be need of better safeguards against
the deranging influences Of commercial
crises and financial panics. Moreover,
the currency of the country should be
made responsive TO the demands of our
domestic trade and commerce." The
President does not recommend any spe-'
cific legislation on this point
Coming to speak of the railroads Of
the country, he calls attention to the
complaint that established rates are not
maintained; that rebates and similar de-
vices are habitually resorted to; that
these preferences are usually in favor
OF the large shipper; that they drive out
of business the smaller competitor; that
while many rates are too low, many 9th
crs are excessive; and that gross prefer
ences are made affecting both localities
and commodities. Upon the other hand, he
adds, the railways assert that the law
by it's very, terms tends to produce many
of these illegal practices by deprlvlns
carriers of that right of concerted action
which they claim is necessary to estao-
lish and maintain non-discriminatinS
ra ties.
He thinks that the interstate commerce
law should be amended, that the Gov
crnment should see to it that all shippers
are treated alike, at the same time not
forgetting that "our railways are the ar
teries through which the commercial life
blood of the nation flows. and that moth
ing could be more foolish than the en-
act,nent of legislation which would I'M
necessarily interfere with the develop
nent and operation of these commercial
agencies
The President thinks that the Govern
,nent should do everything in its power
to promote agriculture, and says that
certain of the forest reserves should be
made preserves for the wild forest crea-
lures Tho President is a true huntsman.
He thinks also that the Government
should lend its aid to irrigation in certain
dry regions OF tho West with view to
the development Of agriculture in those
sections
Speaking Of Cuba, he says such pro.
gress has been made there toward put
ting the independent government of the
island upon a firm footing that before the
present session Of the Congress closes
this will be an accomplished fact Cuba
will then start as her own mistress; and
to the beautiful queen of the Antilles,
as she unfolds this new page of her des-
tiny. we extend our heartiest greetings
and good wishes He believes in reel
procity with Cuba, and earnestly asks
the attention of Congress to the Wis
dom, indeed to the vital need, of provid-
ing for q substantial reduction in the
tariff duties on Cuban imports into the
United States.
AS for the Philippines, he says that eve
hope to make our administration of the