Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-12-12
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President Roosevelt Sends
His Annual ReC0mmen=
dations to Congress.
TAVORS MERCHANT MARINE
An Exhaustive Review of the .oanama
Canal Question.


tions-Proper Attitude Toward Labor
"A Request For an Appropriation to
Prosecute Those Guilty Of Postal, Land
ONCE and Naturalization Frauds.
TO the Senate and House of Reprcsen
tatives:
The country is to be congratulated
'On the amount of substantial achieve
ment which has marked the past yeal
both as regards our foreign and as re-
yards our domestic policy.
With a nation as with a man the
most important things are those Of the
household, and therefore the country
is especially to be congratulated or
E.hat has been accomplished in the di.
Tection of providing for the exercise OF
supervision over the great corpora lions
and combinations of corporations ell.
gagged in interstate commerce. The
Congress has created the Department
of Commerce and Labor, including the
Bureau of Corporations, with for the
1irSt time authority to secure proper
publicity of such proceedings of these
great corporations as the public has
the right to know.
COMMERCE. AND LABOR.
The establishment of the Department
Df Commerce and Labor. with the Blu.
Teau of Corporations hereunder, marks
{. real advance in the direction of doing
all that is possible for the solution OF
the questions vitality affecting capital
lists and wage-wOrkers. The scope OF
% orsfpn I1,rfv
embraces the commercial and indus
trial interests of the Nation. 1t is no,
designed to restrict or control the full
est liberty of legitimate business &C
zion, but to secure exact and authentic
information which will aid the Execu
tive i'll enforcing existing laws. and
which will enable the Congress to enact
additional legislation. if any should be
aound necessary, in order to prevent
the few from obtaining privileges al
ahe expense of diminished opportunt
ties for the many.
BUREAU OF CORPORATIONS.
The preliminary work of the Bureau
bf Corporations in the Department has
shown the wisdom Of its creation. Sys.
tematic. intelligent investigation is al
ready developing facts the knowledge
standing of the needs and duties OF
the business world. The corporation
which is honestly and fairly organized
whose managers in the conduct of its
business recognize their obligation tc
deal squarely with their stockholders,
their competitors and the public. has
nothing to fear from such supervision.
OBJECTS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
The Department of Commerce and
Labor will be not only the clearing
house for information regarding the
business transactions of the Nation,
but the executive arm of the Govern.
1nent to aid in strengthening our do.
mestic and foreign markets, in perfect.
ing our transportation facilities, in
building up our merchant marine, in
preventing the entrance of undesirable
immigrants. in improving commercial
and industrial conditions. and in bring.
ing together on common ground those
necessary partners in industrial prog.
ress-capital and labor. Commerce be,
tween the nations is steadily growing
in volume, and the tendency of the
times is toward closer trade relations
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
The consistent policy of the National
Government. SO far as it has the power
is to hold in check the unscrupulous
man, whether employer or employee
but to refuse to weaken individual in.
Stiative or to hamper or cramp the in.
dustrial development of the country
We recognize that this is an era OF
federation and combination, in which
great capitalistic corporations and la
Dor unions have become factors of ire
mendOuS Importance in all industrial;
centres. Hearty recognition is given the
far-reaching. beneficent work which
has been accomplished through both
corporations and unions. and the line
rs between different corporations, as
between unions. is drawn as it is he.
tween different individuals. Every
man must be guaranteed his liberty
and his right to do as he likes with his
property or his labor. so long as he does
not infringe the rights of others. Nc
man is above the law and no man is he
low it; nor do we ask any mans per
mission when we require him to obey
1t. Obedience to the law is demanded
ms a right: not asked AS a favor.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
Next the President takes up fisca
matters. and says that the indications:
are that the surplus for the presem
fiscal year will be very small. if indeed
there be any surplus. From July t,
November the receipts from custOm
Mere, approximately. S9.O00O0O less
than the receipts from the same sourc,
for corresponding portion of last year
Should this decrease continue at th
same ratio throughout the fiscal veal
the surplus would he reduced by, an
proximately, $30.O00.OOO. Should thu
revenue from customs suffer much fur
t1er decrease during the fiscal year the
surplus would vanish. A large surplus
in certainly undesirable. Two years
ago the war taxes were taken off will
the express intention of equalizing the
Government receipts and expenditures
and though the first year thereafte,
still showed surplus. it now seem:
likely that substantial equality O,
revenue and expenditure will be at
tanned. Such being the case it is oil
great moment both to exercise care anc
economy in appropriations. and to scar
b. sharply any change in our fiscal rev.
enile system which may reduce our in
come.
FINANCIAL SITUATION.
he integrity of our currency is be
question, and under present con
it would be unwise and I'LL
~ to- attempt Il reconstruction
'ntire monetary system. The
ETY. should be granted the Sec
q Treasury to deposit Gus
MS is granted him in tho