The sun., 1903-12-08

H1EhGtO DO as tie Likes WIN Hh
Property AMI Labor. So Long as lie
Does Not Infringe the Rights Of Others
Postal Frauds Referred TO AMI
Funds Asked For TO Prosecute CRATER,
SHARP Words for Reputation OF
l'annl Treaty--ThInks Promotion In the
Arm, Should BE Made for Merit Alone
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.--The annual Mes
sage Of the President was sent to Congress
a. i:.o o'clock this afternoon The text
OF theeMessage follows
60 the Senate and House o. Representatives:
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 ,.e.
&s..L % CORPORATIONS,
With a nation as with man, the most
Important things are those OF the house,
hold, aid therefore the country Is especially
10 be Congratulated on what has been ac-
compIished in the direction of providing tor
the exercise of supervision over the great
corporations and combinations of corpora
tons engaged in interstate commerce
The Congress has created the Department
of CQinmerce and Labor, including the
bureau OF Corporations. with, for the first
time. authority to secure, proper publicity
of such proceeding Of these great corpora
tions ds the, public has the right to know.
1t has provided for the expedting of suits
for the enforcement OF the Federal anti
trust law and by another law il has secured
all in la
TRANSPORTATION of their goods, thus taking
long stride forward in making effective
the. work oi the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
DEPARTING NJ or COMMERCE AND LABOR
The establishment of the Department OF
Commerce and Labor. with the bureau ol
Corporations hereunder, marks real
advance in the direction of doing all that Is
possible for the solution of the questions
yitally affecting capitalists and waSe-
workers. Tho act creating the Department
was approved on Feb. II, 1903, and two
tays later tho head of the Department
was nominated and confirmed 10y the Senate
Since then the work of organization has
been pushed a. rapidly as the initial appro-
priations permitted. and with due regard
to thoroughne~s and the broad purposes
which the Department is designed to serve
After the transfer of the various bureaus
and branches TO the Department at the
beginning OF the current fiscal year AS
provided for in the act the personnel com.
prised 2s9 employees in Washington ana
S.s36 in the country at large. The scope OF
the Departments duty and authority
embraces the commercial and industrial
interests of the nation. 1t is not designed
to restrict or control the fullest liberty OF
legitimate business action, but to secure
exact aud authentic information which will
aid the Executive in enforcing existing laws,
and which will enable the Congress to enact
additjaal legislation, II any should be
found necessary, in order to prevent tho
few from obtaining privileges at the eS-
pense of diminished opportunities for the
many
,.., BUREAU OF CORPORATIONS.
The preliminary work of the Bureau OF
Corporal ions in the Department has shown
the wisdom of its creation. Publicity in
corporate affairs win tend to do away with
ignorance. and will AFFORD facts upon which
Intelligent action may be taken: system
developing facts, the knowledge OF which
is essential to right underst anding 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 o deal squarely with their stock
holders, their competitors and the public,
has not hing to fear from such supervision.
The purpose of this bureau is not to en-
barrass or assail legitimate business, but
to aid IN bringing about better indust RAJ
condit iona condition under which there
shall he obedience to law and recognition
of public obligat ion by all corporations,
great or syall. The Depart ment of Com
merce and Labor will be not only the clear
ing house for information regarding the
l,,st troy II nf a
executive arm of the Government TO aid
in strength thening our domestic and foreign
markets, in perfecting our transportation
facilities. in building up our merchant
marine, in preventing the entrance OF ,in-
desirable immigrants, in improving com
mercial and industrial conditions and in
bringing ogeth on common ground those
necessary partners in industrial progress
capital and labor. Commerce between the
nations is stead Oily growing i'll volume, and
the tendency OF the times is toward closer
trade relations. Const ant watchfulness is
needed to secure to Americans the chance
to participate to the best advantage in for
eign trade, and we may confidently expect
that the new Depart ment will justify the
expectation Of its Great ors by the exercise
Of this watchfalness, as well as by the
husinesslike administ ration of such laws
relating to our internal affairs as are in
trusted to its care.
In enacting the laws. above enumerated
seryutive lines. Nothing revolutionary was
attempted; but common-sense and sue
cessful effort was made in the direct ion
OF seeing that corporations are so handled
ss to subserve the public good. The leg! !sla,,
ton was moderate II was characterized
throughout by the idea that we were not
attacking corporations, but endeavor-
ing to provide for doing away with any
evil in them: that we drew the line against
misconduct, not against wealth gladly
recognizing the great good done by the
capitalist who alone, or in conjunction
with his fellows does his work along proper
and legit innate lines. The purpose OF
the legislation. which purpose will un-
doubtedly be fulfilled, was to favor such
Q man when he does well, and to super
wise mis- action only to prevent him from
doing ill., Publicity can do no harm to
the honest corporal ion The only corpora
tion that has cause to dread it is the corpora.
tion which shrinks from the light, and
about the welfare Of such corporations
we need not be oversensitve. The work
Of the Department of Commerce and Labor
has been conditioned upon this theory
OF securing fair treatment alike for labor
and for capital
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