Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-24
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Forecast of Recommendations
to Congress.
A TARIFF COMMISSION
A PERMANENT NoN-PARTISAN
BODY TO BE RECOMMENDED.
Legislation for the Control of the
Trusts to Be Advised-Other
Subjects to Be Treated.
| TARIFF COMMISSION

next December. 1t will be his second mes
sage to that body and it will probably be
far more important than his first, both to
the country and to him. In his first mes
sage he did not go much beyond recon-
mending the carrying out Of many inipor-
tant things that had been sanctioned by
his predecessor. In his coming message
President Roosevelt will discuss number
of questions that require recommendations
original with him and bearing upon his
future and upon the future of his party
Foremost in Importance of thase will be the
tariff and trust questions. The President
will discuss them separately because he
holds, with other republican leaders that
the tariff is not responsible for the trusts
The Presidents main recommendation as
to dealing with the tariff will, it IS under
stood be for the establishment Of perma-
nent tariff commission, IS far as possible
non-partsan, unprejudced body that will
at once take up consideration OF all facts
connected with the tariff with a view to
wise recommendation to Congress for
changes here and there. The President will
not take radical attitude as to the adjust
ment OF the tariff He will favor tariff
changes, but will say that Congress- with
out the assistance of a trained body like a
commission, cannot take up with wisdom
ana justice the changes that are needed
and must be made. The President will point
readjustment of tariff schedules by influ-
enceS for or against such changes that
greatly hinder that untrammeled considcra-
uon which Congress itself would prefer to
give. BY receiving facts and figures from
an expert body, however, Congress would
be In position to act without a number of
long hearings and the usual hullyburly ac-
companying the intention to make changes
On the Trust Question.
On the trust question the President will
follow the line of his recent speeches to
considerable extent. He will recommend
that safe and judicious legislation be at
tempted by Congress for the regulation and
control Of trusts, but will likewise take
the position that pending the enactment OF
laws that may be of assistance considera-
ton may be gone into of the question Of a
constitutional amendment giving thorough
federal control Of these mighty institutions
The President believes that the govern
ment should go slowly in matter of such
vital concern as this, but holds that with
serious and earnest thought a way will be
found that will meet all proper require
ments and not interfere with the smooth
running of financial affairs throughout the
country. 1t Is understood that Attorney
General Knox Is engaged in the prepara-
tfOn of measure that will go before Con-
gress supplementing laws in existence for
the control of the trusts and that the
president may make specific recomme1-
w,
taking the position that 1t is good legal
step and within the limits of the Con-
stitution. 1t is well known that Mr.. Knox
will not prepare any measure that he does
not think Will really abate the trust nui-
sance. and there is much to look forward
to in this direction, 1t is limited on good au-
thority.
Publicity to Be Again Recommended.
With other things In connection with
remedial legislation for the trust danger
the President will again recommend pub
licity of the business of all corporations.
He holds, and has held for years, that the
trusts are a source Of evil through their
ability to water their stocks and to create
fictitious conditions that will open up dan
ger to the entire business of the country.
In their ability to carry on dangerous work
without the general pubic being apprised
of the conditions surrounding them the
President holds that they are hurtful TO
the general welfare. The President takes
the position that to show the difference be-
tween sound business enterprises ana those
more or less open to suspicion the govern
ment ought to have the right to inspect ard
examine the workings of the corporations
engaged in interstate commerce. Publicity
will reveal the facts that what further
remedies needed may be determined.
Without these facts the trusts may force
legislation that will bring trouble upon
those not needing punishment as well as
tuOse lHdl 20 UeSu correction ana SUPER
vision.
The coal strike and the Presidents action
to bring about settlement will be dis
cussed In the message, but the President
will withhold his writing of that portion
until the last. in view of a possible report
early in December by the commission that
is going to take up the question Should
the commission not be ready to report by
that time, the President will probably re-
serve any pointed discussion of labor and
capital questions until the report has been
received. He could then transmit this re-
port to Congress in a special message ac-
companied by his own recommendations.
Reciprocity and Statehood.
The President will push, and most vigor-
ously, his ideas for reciprocity with Cuba,
and will insist that no further time should
be lost in carrying out the understanding
with the little republic south of this coun-
try.
Statehood for the territories will be ener-
getically recommended by the President,
who expects that something will be done at
the iSSSent Session OF Congress in that
direction. In fact, the friends of statehood
secured the assistance of the President at
the close of the last session, and obtained
from certain senators assurance that the
statehood bills should receive full consid-
Grafton.
Conditions in the Philippines. Porto Rico
and Hawaii will make a chapter in the
message. and an interesting The
President will treat at length of conditions
in the Philippines and of progress in the
development of good government He will
point out that the islands are making head
way in all directions. and that with the
exception of one section peace prevails The
people he will point out becoming more
contented each day, and there are constant
ly fewer evidences of dissatisfaction with
American control.
The Isthmian Canal Status.
The President will discuss with much in
terest the subject of an isthman canal.
not with a view to making a recommenda-
tion. but with view to informing Con-
gress as to the developments in the dfrec-
tion of selecting and acquiring route for
the canal. The President. In writing on
this subject. will have before him the re-
port of Attorney General Knox on the legal
status of the Panama Canal Company He
will also have before him the negotiations
with Colombia. relative to certain rights
desired by this country prior to any possi-