The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-12-08

Appropriation of s5o0,0 to Enforce
 Anti-Trust Law-The Postal, Public
 Lands and Naturalization Frauds
 The InsuIar Possessions.
 washington, Dec. 7.-The presidents annual message. was transmitted to congress to-day. It gives the question of a supervision of corporations and combinations of corporations the chief place, opening with a discussion of the objects of the establishment of the Department of Commerce and Labor, with it's Bureau of Corporations, deal ing in the same connection with the labor unions, and asserting that the conduct of both organized capital ana organized labor shall conform to the fundamental rules of obedience to law individual freedom, and justice and fair dealing to all. In another part of the message the president urges the exten- sion of the special appropriation of Y { 41 K. $50O,O00 last February for enforcement of the Antitrust law, to cover the prosecution of all violators of the fed eraI laws, mentioning especially the postal frauds, the public land frauds, and naturalization frauds. ..s.s .
 The subject at present uppermost III the public mind, that of the Panama revolution, recognition of the republic, and new Isthmian canal treaty, is put at the end of the message In this the president gives history of the entire 1sthmian canal matter following the adjournment of congress last summer; at the outset devoting much space to the treaty of 1846 with New Granada and the engagements of the United States government hereunder with re- gard to transit across the Isthmus of Panama After narrating the cfrcum- stances attending the Panama revolu- tion and recognition of the new repub- lie, the president gives list of dis turbances on the Isthmus since 1S46, and the occasions when the United States was compelled to land troops to maintain order.
 The president then informs congress of the extraordinary request" just re- ceived, from ian eminent Colombian" proposing to guarantee new canal treaty by Colombia, in return for United States aid in asserting Colonlbia's au- tfority over Panama. The president insists that the United States govern ment would have been guilty of folly and weakness amounting to a crime against the nation, had it acted other wise than 1t did when the revolution at Panama took place. He holds that the course of events has shown that the canal cannot be built by private enter prise, or by any other nation than our own; therefore, it must be built by the United States. In a closing paragraph he submits the new canal treaty, with a statement of its provisions, the points of which have already been published.
 The president suggests that the secre- tary of the navy, the postmaster gen. eral, and the secretary of commerce and labor be associated with joint com nittee of the Senate and House for the purpose of Investigating and reporting upon legislation for the development of the American merchant marine and American commerce, and incidentally of an ocean mail service of auxiliary naval cruisers and naval reserves.
 Among the other salient features of the message are a caution regarding appropriations and fiscal legislation, on account of the disappearing Treasury surplus: an expression of satisfaction over the Alaskan boundary award; a. statement of our present treaty rela- l tions with China; recommendations for the development of Alaska, Hawaii, | Porto Rico, and the Philippines, and an assertion that the inhabitants of the last-named islands are enjoying more moral and material benefits than ever before. The customary mention is given to the work of the various de- l partments of the government. The new general staff system and military | schools of the army are recommended, | and system of promotion by merit | rather than seniority Is advocated. The president says that naval general | staf should be provided for on the lines of the army general staff. He re- | iterates his advice for continued naval |