Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12

MESSAGE

lows:
The country is to be congratulated on
the amount of substantial achievement
which has marked the past year. both
as regards our foreign and as regards
our domestic policy.
The preliminary work of the bureau of
corporations in the department OF COM
merce and labor has shown the wisdom
of its creation. Publicity I'm corporate
affairs will tend to do away with Igno-
rance and will afford facts upon which
intelligent action can be taken. System
'.tic. intelligent investigation is already
developing facts the knowledge Df which
is essential to a right understanding of
the needs and duties of the business
world.
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy of the national
government, so far as IL has the power is
to hold in check the INSCRIPTIONS man
whether employer or employee but to re-
tuSe to weaken individual initiative or
TO hamper or cramp the Industrial devel-
opment OF the country. We recognize
that this is era of federation and COM
bination. in which great capitalistic cor
poratons and labor unions have become
factors of tremendous Importance I'm all
Industrial centers. Hearty recognition Is
given the far reaching, beneficient work
which has been accomplished through
both corporations and unions. and the line
as between corporations. as between diff
ferent unions, is drawn as IL is between
different individuals-that is. IL is drawn
on conduct, the effort being to treat both
organized capital and organized labor
alike, asking nothing save that the inter-
est of each shall be brought into har-
mony with the interest of the general
public and that the conduct of each shall
conform to the fundamental rules of
obedience to law, of Individual freedom
! and of Justice and fair dealing toward ALL
Whenever either corporation, labor union
or individual disregards the law or acts
in q spirit of arbitrary and tyrannous in
reference with the rights of others.
whether corporations or individuals. then
where the federal government has turis-
dction IL will see to II that the miscon-
duct is stopped paying not the slightest
heed to the position or power of the cor
poration, the union or the individual but
only to one vital fact - the question
whether or not the conduct of the indi-
vtdual or aggregate of individuals is II.
accordance with the law Of the land.
Every man must he guaranteed his lib
erty 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
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 39e, ga. The expenditures for the
same period were $5O6. 099 n0T. the surplus
for the fiscal year being So. 297.6e7. 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 S9.000.000 less than
the receipts from the same source for
n corresponding period last year. Should
this decrease continue at the same ratio
throughout the fiscal year the sur plus
will be reduced approximately $50 900, 900.
The Integrity of our currency is beyond
question. and under present conditions IL
would be unwise and unnecessary to at
tempt a reconstruction OF our entire
monetary 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
December 2, 1902. I called attention to
certain needs of the financial situation,
and I again ask for consideration OF the
congress for these questions.
Crhe president commends the work of
the international monetary conference
and advises It's continuance.)
We cannot have too much immigration
of the right kind. and we should have
none at all OF the wrong kind. The need
is to devise some system by which unde-
sirable immigrants shall be kept out en-
tfrely, while desirable immigrants are
properly distributed throughout the coun-
try. At present some districts which need
immigrants have none, and In others
where the population is already conEest-
ed. immigrants come I'm such numbers as
TO depress the conditions OF life for those
already there. During the last two years
the immigration service at New York has
been greatly improved and the corrup-
4 ton and iuefficiency which formerly OBJ
| tained there have been eradicated.
Naturalization Frauds.
! Inc special investigation of the subject
1 OF naturalization under the direction of
the encouragement and the subsequent
prosecutions reveal a condition of affairs
calling for the immediate attention of
A., congress. Forgeries and perjuries OF
/ shameless and fragrant character have
been perpetrated not only In the dense
| centers OF population, but throughout the
| country, and ii is established beyond
doubt that very many so-called citizens
of the United States have no title what
| ever to that right and are asserting and
enjoying the benefits of the same through
the grossest frauds. 1t is never TO be
forgotten that citizenship is, to quote the
words recently used by the supreme
court OF the United States an ''inestima-
bic heritage" whether IL proceeds from
birth within the country or is obtained
by naturalization. And we poison the
sources of our national character and
strength at the fountain If the privilege
is claimed and exercised without right
and by means OF fraud and corruption.
| Public Land and Postal Frauds.
| In my last annual message, in connec-
ton with the subject of the due reeula-
ton OF combinations of capital which are
or may become injurious to the public I
recommended a special appropriation for
the better enforcement of the antitrust
law as it now stands. to be expended I'M
1 der the direction of the attorney general
| According the congress appropriated
for the purpose of enforcing the various
federal trust and interstate commerce
laws the sum of $500 900. / now recon-
mend, as a matter of the utmost import
ance and urgency, the extension of the
purpose. so that It may be available, I'M
der the direction of the attorney general
and until used, fof the due enforcement
of the laws of the United States in gen.
eral and especially of the civil and crimi.
! nal laws relating to public lands and the
laws relating to postal crimes and Of
lenses and the subject of naturalization
Recent Investigations have shown a de-
plorable state of affairs in these three
matters of vital concern.
Need For Treaties Making Bribery
Extraditable.
steps have been taken by the state de-
partment looking to the making of brib-
cry an eXtraditable offense with foreign
powers. The need of more effective
treaties covering this crime is manifest.
1t should be the policy of the United
States to leave no place on earth where
corrupt man fleeing from this country
can rest in peace.
(The president here recapitulates the
details of the imbroglio between Euro
pean powers and Venezuela and the ref