River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-12-10
Says the Department of Commerce and
Labor Will Go Far Towards Soly.
ing the Trust Problem.
Calls Attention to Undesirable immigration.
Asks for More Stringent NaturaIiza.
ton Laws and Enforcement
Wants Commission to Investigate
Needs of Merchant Mnrine-POst
Office and Public Land Frauds
Our Foreign Relations.
To the Senate and House of Representa-

To the Senate and House of Representa-
The country is to be congratulated
ment which has marked the past year both
as regards our foreign and as regards our
domestic policy.
With a nation as with man the most
important things are those of the house
hold and therefore the country Is espe-
ciaIly to be congratulated on what has
been accomplished in the direction of pro-
vidng for the exercise Of supervision over
the great corporations and combinations
of corporations engaged in interstate com
merce. The congress has created the de-
partment of commerce and labor, lnclud-
ing the bureau OF corporations with lor the
first time authority to secure proper pub
licity of such proceedings of these great
corporations as the public has the right
10 know. 1t has provided for the exped1t-
ing OF suits for the enforcement of the fed
eral antitrust law; and by another law
it has secured equal treatment to all pro-
ducers in the transportation of their goods,
thus taking long stride forward in maxi
ing effective the work of the interstate
commerce commission.
Bureau of Corporations.
The preliminary work of the bureau
of corporations in the department has
shown the wisdom Of it's creation. Pub
away with ignorance, and will afford
facts upon which intelligent action may
be taken. Systematic, intelligent inves-
tigation is already developing facts the
knowledge of which is essential to a right
understanding 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 to
deal squarely with their stockholders,
their competitors, and the public, has
nothing to fear from such supervision.
The purpose of this bureau is not to en-
barrass assail legitimate business, but
to aid in bringing about better indus
trial conditional condition under which
there shall be obedience to law and rec
n Dublic obligation
porations, great or small. The depart
lqent 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
government to aid in strengthening our
domestic and foreign markets, in perfect
ing our transportation facilities, in build
Ing up our merchant marine, in prevent
ing the entrance of undesirable immi-
grants in improving commercial and in
dustrial conditions, and in bringing together
on common ground those necessary part
ners in industrial progress-capital and
labor. Commerce between the nations
is steadily growing in volume, and the
trade relations Constant watchfulEess
is needed to secure to Americans the
chance to participate to the best advan-
tage in foreign trade; and we may conf
IDENTIFY expect that the department
will justify the expectation of it's
ators by the exercise of this watchful-
ness as well as by the businessiike adj
ministraton of such laws relating to our
internal affairs as are intrusted to it's
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy of the national gov
eminent so far as it has the power, is to
hold in check the INSCRIPTIONS man,
whether employer employee; but to re-
fuse to weaken Individual initiative or to
hamper or cramp the industrial develop
ment of the country. We recognize that
this is an era of federation and combina-
ton, in which great capitalistic corpora
tions and labor unions have become factors
of tremendous Importance in all industrial
centers. Hearty recognition is given the
far-reaching, benehcent work which has
been accomplished through both corpora
tons and unions, and the line as between
different corporations, as between different
unions, is drawn as il is between different
individuals; that is, it is drawn on COM
duct, the effort being to treat both organ
lied capital and organized labor alike; ask
ing nothing save that the interests of each
shall be brought into harmony with the
interests 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 towards all. Whenever either
corporation, labor union or Individual dis
regards the law or acts In spirit OF ar
bitrary and tyrannous interference with
the rights of Others whether corporations
individuals, then where the federal gov
eminent has Jurisdiction. it will see to it
that the misconduct is stopped, paying not
the slightest heed to the position or power
of the corporation, the union or the indl-
vidual, but only to one vital fact-that is,
the question whether or not the &C nduct
of the individual or aggregate of individ-
uals is in accordance with the law of the
lana. Every man must be guaranteed
his liberty and his right to do as he likes
with his property or his labor, so long
he does not infringe the rights of others.
Ne man is above the law and no man is be-
low it; nor do we ask any mans permits
sion when we require him to obey it, Obe-
dience 10 the law is demanded as right;
not asked as a favor.
Receipts and Expenditures.
From all sources, exclusive of the post
al service the receipts of the government
for the last fiscalyear aggregated $3.50 1896, 674.
were $506, 099, COZ, the surplus for the fiscal
year being $54.297,667. The indications
year viii be very small if. indeed. there
be any surplus. From July to Novem-
Der the receipts from customs were. APP
proximately, 100000 less than the re-
ceipts from the same source for a CORE
spending portion of last year. Should
this decrease continue at the same ratio
throughout the fiscal year, the surplus
would be reduced by, approximately.
$50. 100000. Should the revenue from Gus
ing the fiscal year. the surplus would
vanish.
Financial Legislation Not Needed.
The integrity of our currency is be-
yond question, and under present ,condi-
tons it would be unwise and unnecessary
to attempt a reconstruction of our en-
tire monetary system. The same lib
erty should be granted the secretary of
the treasury to deposit customs re-
ceipts as is granted him in the deposit of
receipts from other sources. In my mes
sage of December ?. 1902. I called atten-
ton to certain needs of the financial sit
uation and 1 again ask the considera-
ton of the congress for these questions.
The Merchant Marine.
majority of our people desire that
steps be taken in the interests OF Amer
lean shipping, so that we may once more
resume our former position in the ocean
carrying trade. But hitherto the differ
ences of opinion as to the proper method
OF reaching this end have been so wide
that it has proved impossible to secure the
adoption of any particular scheme. HAY
ing in view these facts, recommend that
the congress direct the secretary of the
navy the postmaster general and the sec
rotary of commerce and labor, associated
with such representation from the SEN
ate and house of representatives the
congress in its wisdom may designate, TO
serve as a com omission for the purpose of
investigating and reporting to the congress
al its next session what legislation is de-
4irabie or necessary for the development