Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
Dilates Upon the Prosperity of the
Country.
TRUST EVIL MUST BE DEALT WITH
Must Not, However, ImperiI Ir,dustrial
Progression by Indiscriminate Tar
if Revision, but Should Regulate
Combinations by National Statute.

Washington, D. c., Dec. 2.-"The
tariff is subject that stands apart
from The trusts is the declaration Of
PRESIDENT Theodore Roosevelt in his
message transmitted today to the sec
ond session of the fifty-seventh con-
gress Concerning the present great
prosperity in the United States and
the regulation of the trusts the Presi- :
dent says: This industrial develop
ment must not be checked, but side by
SIDE with it should go such progressive
regulation as will diminish the evils
Inc message is noted for it's breyity.
1t succlnctly says in the present era OF
industrial development the plain peo-
pie are better off than they ever were
before. The message shows The deep
earnestness with which the President
views important public questions; how
ANXIOUS he is to continue prosperity
ana ut the sane time get rid of those
commercial barnacles which have fas.
tened themselves to the ship of indus
trial progress.
Resume OF the Document.
After briefly referring to the prosneropa
condition of the country and the ca,ises
timn OF the President tlkes UP the ques-
views it. gigantic corporations are m eyi
dent development of modern inilustrialisn.
state ssnhpsrxison is ineffective and control
Is recommended that a reasonable. effect
I'VE anu antitrust law be passed.
The Tariff
The . tariff is a subject that stands apart
would not be affected by any change in
the t,. To remove the tariff as a
punitive nm,d T.; measure directed against trusts
weaker competitors. 1t is exceedingly de-
srahle that the protective tariff system
s sho"d not no be ,dant or tqt there
therein. Great prosperity in this country
has HI; always come under protective tariff.
inc country cannot prosper under fitful
tariff changes at short intervals.
Some schedules. however. should lie read
lnstS,d Ia The hest manner in which this
agreements and not by direct legislation.
Tariff Commission.
Where. reciprocal agreements are not
practicable then schedules may be lowered
outright. But this is Il grave matter and
| can best be done hy careful consideration
| by n tariff commission composed of ex-
Hard Coal on Free List.
Hard coal should he placed on the free
list. where it is practically MT the present
| time. This would have no effect eycept in
| 4 crisis when it would be of service to
| the people
/ Financial Legislation.
! It would he unwise to undertake TO re-
construct the country's financial, system
| but some changes are needed. Future leg
| islation should he with the view of en-
| conraging the use Of such Observation-Disclosures
| as wilt AUTOMATICALLY supply every legiti-
mate demand of productive industries ana
| of commerce. not only in the amount but
in the q, chnracter of circulation; and Of
and Mt the will of the holder. convertible
i into the established gold standard.
immigration Law Needed.
4 The need of proper Immigration law is
apparent. Attention is called to a former
message on the subject
Labor Problems.
Exactly as business men find it necessary
to combine so do wage earn o, deem 4 t
have become important factors in modern
Industrial life Each must refrain from in
terfering with the rights of the other Both
must be guaranteed liberty and the right
to do with his property or the product of
his labor so long as he does not infringe
upon the rights of others. SO far as the
constitutional power of the government is
concerned it will exercise that power in
relation to disputes between capital and
labor in conformity with the principles
enunciatcd in this message.
Department of Commerce.
,, A department of commerce Is recommend
cd. The bill for this purpose before the
senate should be enacted into law.
Cuban Reciprocity.
The President hopes soon to submit 4
reciprocity treaty with Cuba. The island
is in a sense Il part of our international
political system. This makes ii necessary
to give it some of the benefits of our eco
nomic system. Not to recognize the need
of the island is Shortsighted and unworthy
of this great nation.
International Arbitration.
The United States has been the first coun-
try to use the good offices of the Hague
tribunal for the settlement Of a dispute.
1t is to be hoped that this action will serve
. as a precedent for others
n The Canal.
l. Congress has wisely provided that an
j, isthmian canal shall he constructed. The
Il work should he begun in Il manner that
j. the change in administrations will not
. Pacific Gable.
a Within few months an all-Americar
!. private line between the Pacific coast and
u the Chinese empire via Honolulu and the
= ly this disposes of the cable problem which
: has been confronting congress-
:, Philippine Policy indicated.
: We have gone to the limit in granting
$ rights of liberty and self government tt
49,. Continued ON page 12.)