The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-12-14
SITUATION SIMPLY THIS;
100 We WANT A Canal? g
Reference to Army Promotions Is
Construed as Being on the Nom
ination of General Wood.
Panama Question Fully
Dealt With

Washington, December The features
of the presidents message today were
his reference to promotions in the army
and the conditions leading up to and sur
rounding the recognition of Panama. II
is taken here by MANY that the army
reference was intended 70 have direct
Gearing on the Wood promotion when the
president says. referring to the advance
fnent of men after they leave West Point:
Mo brilliancy, no amount of hard
work, no eagerness in the perform
ance of duty, can advance him, and
no sickness or indifference that falls
short Of courtmartial offense can
retard him. Until this sytem is
changed, we cannot hope that cur Of
ficers will be of as high a grade as
we have right to expect"
IN dealing with the Panama canal. the
president says that il was simply a cues
ton Of route, and not the country to be
dealt with; and that as the route has
oeen irrevocably decided. it is only a
question as to whether a canal shall be
punt The message. in part follows:
Aut fI6SlGe0t S MESSAGE
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tsives: The country is to be congrat-
ulated on the amount of substantial
achievement which has marked the past
year both as regards our foreign and as
regards our domestic policy.
With nation with man, the most
important things are those of the house
hold, and therefore the country is espe-
eially 20 be congra tulated on what has
been accomplished in The direction of pro-
viding for the exercise of supervision over
the great corporations and combinatiors
Of corporations engaged in interstate com
merce.
Corporations.
The congress has created the department
OF commerce and labor including the bu-
reau OF corporations. with for the first
time authority to secure proper publicity
OF such proceedings Of these great cor
pOrations the public has the right TO
know. il has provided for the expediting
OF suits FOR the enforcement Of the fed
eral antitrust law; and by another law
Il has secured equal treatment to all
producers in the transportation of their
goods, thus taking long stride forward
IN making effective the work OF the In
terstate commerce commission.
Department of Commerce ard Labor.
The establishment Of the department of
commerce and labor, with the bureau OF
corporation thereunder, marks a real ad-
vanre in the direction of doing all that
Is possible for the solution of the ques-
ilQus vitality affecting capitalists and
uage-workers. The act creating the de-
partner was approved on February a.
900. and two days later the head of the
department was nominated and confirmed
by the senate. Since then The work OF
organization has been pushed as rapidly
as the initial approp rations permitted
and with due regard TO thoroughness and
The broad purposes which the department
IS designed to serve After the transfer
81 the various bureaus and branches 20
she department al the beginning of the
current fiscal YEAR. provided for IN the
act the personnel comprised 1888 en-
nlovees in Washington and $3.50 in the
country At large. The scope OF the depart
mems duty and authority embraces the
commercial and industrial interests of
the nation. 1t is not designed to restrict
f,r control the fullest liberty of legitimate
business action. but to secure exact and
aHtheutic informa ton which VIII ald the
executive in enforcing existing laws. and
which viii enable the congress TO enact
additional legislation. il any should pc
found necessary. in order TO prevent the
few from obtaining privileges al the eA-
-ense of diminished opportunities tor the
many.
Surplus Is Disappearing.
From all sources. exclusive of the postal
service. he receipts OF the government
ior the last fiscal year aggrega ted $780,
3es sra Tho expenditures for the same
Tie fiscal year being 1927 667. The In
6iratf1us are that the surplus for the