Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-12-03

evils. There Is 9 widespread convic-
tion In the minds OF the American peo-
pie that the great corporations known
as trusts are In certain of their features
and tendencies huriful to the general
welfare. This springs from no spirit Of
envy or upchsritsbleness, nor lack of
pride In the great industrial achieve
menls that have placed this country at
the head OF the nations struggling for
commercial supremacy. IL Is no limita-
ton upon property rights or freedom
OF contract to require tsat when men
receive from government the privilege
of doing business under corporate form,
which frees them from individual re-
sponsibility, aud enables them to call
into their enterprises the capital OF the
the public, they shall do 90 upon abso-
lutely truthful representations as to the
value OF the property 10 which the capt.
tai lie to be invested, Corporations en-
gagged In interstate commerce should be
regulated II they are found to exercise
q license working to the public Injury.
Great corporations exist only because
they are created and saleguarded by
our institutions; and 1t IL therefore our
right and our duty TO see that they
work In harmony with these iDstilu-
tons. The first essential iu determin-
ing how to deal with the great fndue-
trial combinations Ia knowledge Of the
facts-publicily. In the interest Of the
public, the government should have the
right to inspect and examine the work
ings Of the greet corporations engaged
10 interstate business. What further
remedies are needed in the way OF gov.
ermental regulation, or taxation, CAP
only be determined after publicity bss
been obtained, by process Of law, and
in the course Of administration. The
first requisite Is knowledge, full and
omplete-knowledge which may be
made public to the world"
Further on the President says
when the constitution was adopted no
human wisdom could foretell the sweep
ing changes, alike 10 industrial and po-
litical conditions, which we're to take
place by the beginning OF the twentieth
century. At that time Ii was accepted
az matter of course that the several
States were the proper authorities to
regulate, 90 far as was then necessary,
be comparatively Insignificant and
strictly localized corporate bodies
OF tho day. The conditions are now
, wholly different and wholly different
action is called for. I believe that
law can be framed which will enable the
national government to exercise con
troll along the lines above indicated;
probing by the experience gained
through the passage and administration
of the interstate commerce act. III,
however, the Judgment OF the Congress
is that it lacks the constitutional power
TO pass such an act, then constitution
al amendment should be submitted to
confer the power. There should be
created q Cabinet officer, to be Known
as Secretary of Commerce and Indus-
tries, az provided in the bill introduced
ct the last session of the Congress. Ii
should be his province to deal with
commerce In It's broadcast sense; includ
ing among many other things whatever
concerns labor and all matters affecting
the great business corporations and
our merchant marine"
The President then passes on to the
farming interests and the wsge-workers
and views conditions alphabetically from
republican ct ,ndpoint, and says: mot
only must our labor be protected by the
tariff, but 1t should also be protected so
far as it Is possible from the presence 10
this country Of any laborers brought
over by contract, or OF those who, COM
ing freely, yet represent standard OF
living 80 depressed, that they can under
sell our men In the labor market and
drag them to o lower level. regard
IL as necessary, With this end In view,
to re-ensct Immediately the law ex-
Guiding Chinese laborers andto strength
en- 1t wherever necessary in order to
make Its enforcement entirely etfec-
tive"
Some suggestions as to the amend.
ments to the present immigration laws
are made by the President, after which
be passes on to the tariff, and says:
"There Ia q general acquiesoenoe 10
our present tariff system % national
policy. The first requisite to our pros
perity is the continuity and stability OF
this economic policy. Nothing could
be more unwise than to disturb the
business interests OF the country by any
general tariff change at this time"
Reciprocity" the President says,
''must be treated as the handmaiden of
protection. Our first duty is to see that
the protection granted by the tariff 10
every case where 1t Ia needed i5 main
tanned. and that reciprocity be sought
for so far as 1t can safely be
done without injury to our home indus.
tries. Just how far this Is mnst be de.
termined according to the individual
case, remembering always that every
application OF our tariff policy to meet
our shifting national needs must be
conditioned upon the cardinal fact that
the duties must never be reduced below
the point that will cover the difference
between the labor cost here and abroad.
The well.being of the wage.worker is a
prime consideration OF our entire policy
OF economic legislation. Subject to this
proviso of the proper protection neces-
sary to our industrial well. being at
home, the principle OF reciprocity must
command our hearty support"
Mr.. Roosevelt reviews the shipping
interests OF the country and asks i'm
mediate remedial action by Congress
in order that the merchant marine may
assume proportions commensurate with
the couDtry's growth and that the
United States may not he compelled to
rely upon foreign VESSELS to transport
its products.
In his reference to monetary affairs
the President says: 1.-THE act Of March
IA, 1900. intend unequivocally to es-
lablish gold as the standard money
and to maintain at o parity Herewith