The Elbert County tribune., 1903-12-10

ga-es the law or acts in a spirit of arbI-
trary and tyrannous interference with
the rights of others. whether corpora
uons or individuals. then where the
Federal Government has Jurisdiction. IL
Will see to II that the misconduct is
stopped. paying not the slightest heed to
the position or power OF the corporation
the union or the Individual, but only TO
one vital fact-that Is. the question wheth-
er or not the conduct OF the Individual
or aggregate of individuals Is in ac-
cordance with the law OF the land. Every
man must be guaranteed his liberty and
his right to do he likes with his prop-
erty or his labor so long as he does not
infringe the rights OF others. No man Is
above the law and no man is below IL;
nor do we ask any mans permission when
we require him to obey 1t. Obedience TO
the law is demanded as right not asked
as a favor
Receipts and Expenditures.
From all sources. exclusive OF the pos
tai service the receipts of the govern
ment for the last fiscal year aggregated
$500. .s96.64 The expenditures for tho
same period were $500 099. .017 the surplus
for the fiscal year being s5i. .297G67 The
indications are that the surplus for the
present fiscal year will be very small IL
indeed there be any surplus From July
to November the receipts from customs
were, approximately, nine million dollars
less than the receipts from the same
source for corresponding portion OF last
year. Should this decrease continue at
the same ratio throughout the fiscal
year, the surplus would be reduced by
approximately. thirty million dollars
Should the revenue from customs suffer
much further decrease during the fiscal
year the surplus would vanish. A large
surplus is certainly undesirable. Two
years ago the war taxes were taken off
with tho express intention Of equnlizing
the government receipts and expenditures,
and though the first year thereafter still
showed a surplus, 1t now seems likely
that n substantial equality OF revenue
and expenditure will be attained. Such
being the case 1t is OF great moment both
TO exercise care and economy in appro-
priations, and to scan sharply any change
In our fiscal revenue system which may
reduce our income. The need of strict
economy In our expenditures ia empha-
sized by the fact that we can not AFFORD
to be parsmonious in providing for what
Is essential to our national well-belng.
Careful economy wherever possible Will
alone prevent our income from falling
below the point required in order to meet
our genuine needs.
Needs of Financial Situation.
The integrity OF our currency is beyond
question. and under present conditions II
would be unwise and unnecessary to at
tempt n reconstruction of our entire mon
6tary system. The same liberty should
be granted the Secretary of the Treasury
to deposit customs receipts as is granted
him in the deposit OF receipts from other
sources. In my message of Dec. 2. 1909.
l called attention to certain needs of the
financial situation. and l again ask the
consideration Of the Congress for these
questions.
Gold and Silver Standard.
During the last session OF the Congress
at the suggestion Of Joint note from
the Republic of Mexico and the Imperial
Government OF China, and in harmony
with n he
Ing $4,000 TO pay the expenses thereof.
a commission was appointed to confer
with the principal European countries in
the hope that some plan might be devised
whereby fixed rate of exchange could
be assured between the gold-standard
countries and the silver-standard coun-
tries. This commission has filed its pre-
liminary report. which has been made
public: l deem It important that the
commission be continued. and that sum
Of money be appropriated sufficient to
pay the expenses OF Its further labors.
With regards to the improvement of
the American merchant marine the
President recommends that the Con-
gress direct the Secretary OF the
Navy, the Postmaster-General, and the
Secretary of Commerce and Labor as
sociated with such a representation
from the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives as the Congress in its wis
dom may designate. to serve as a com
mission for the purpose OF investigat-
ing and reporting to the Congress at
its next session what legislation is de-
sirable or necessary for the develop
ment of the American merchant ma
rine and American commerce. and in
cidentally OF national ocean mail
service of adequate auxiliary naval
cruisers and navel reserves.
On the subject of immigration the
message calls attention to the report
of a committee of New York citizens
OF high standing. Messrs. Arthur "
Vriesen, Lee X. Frankel. Eugene A.
Philbin. Thomas w. Hynes, and Ralph
Trautman. which deals with tho whole
situation at length. and concludes with
certain recommendations for adminis-
trative and legislative action. 1t is
now receiving the attention OF the
Secretary of Commerce and Labor
The message continues:
Antitrust Laws.
On the subject of the antitrust
measures which have been dealt with
by the Congress the President says:
In my last annual message. in connec-
tion with the subject of the due regula-
tion of combinations of capital which
are or may become Injurious to the pub
lie. recommended special appropria-