The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-12-10
THE MESSAGE
President Roosevelt Shows Our
Nation S Greatness
POINTS OUT WEAK SPOTS
Touches Upon Naturalization
Frauds and Postal Scandals
Progress of Army and Navy
Canal Treaty With Panama

Progress of Army and Navy
Canal Treaty With Panama
Washington, Dec. THE presidents
message has been transmitted to con-
gress. Its principal features are as
follows:
The country is to be congratulated
on the amount of substantial achieve
ment which has marked the past year
both as regards our foreign and as re-
CARDS our domestic policy.
With a nation AS " ith a man the
most important things are those of the
household, and therefore the country
is especially to be concentrated on
what has been accomplished in the di.
rection of providing for the exercise of
supervision over the great corporate tons
and combinations of corporation en-
gagged in interstate commerce.
Hearty recognition is given the far
reaching, beneticent work which has
been accomplished through both cor
porations and unions, and the line as
between different corporations, as be-
tween different unions, is drawn as it
is between different individuals-that
Is, it is drawn on conduct, the effort
being to treat both organized capital
and organized labor alike, asking moth
ing save that the interest of each shall
be brought INTO harmony with the in
terest 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 JUS
tice and fair dealing toward all
From all sources, exclusive of the
postal service. the receipts of the gov,
eminent for the last fiscal year cggre-
gated $560,396,674. The expenditures
for the same period were $500, 099,007.
the surplus for the fiscal year being
$54. 297 ,667. The indications are that
the surplusAfor the present fiscal year
will be very small if indeed there be
any surplus.
| recommended that the congress di-
rect the secretary of the navy, the post
master general and the secretary of
commerce aud labor associated with
representation from the senate
and the house of representatives, TO
serve as commission for the pur-
pose of investigating and reporting to
the congress at its next session what
legislation is desirable or necessary for
the development of the American mer-
chant marine and the American com
merce and incidentally of national
ocean mail service of adequate auxiliary
naval cruisers and naval reserves.
We cannot have too much immigra-
tion of the right kind, and we should
have none at all of the wrong kind
The need Is to devise some system by
which undesirable immigrants shall be
kept out entirely, while desirable i'm
migrants are properly distributed
throughout the country.
The special investigation of the sub
Ject of naturalization under the direC-
ton of the attorney general and the
consequent prosecutions reveal condi-
tiOn of affairs calling for the immcdi.
ate attention Of the congress. For
geries and perjuries of shameless and
fragrant character have been perpe-
trated not only In the dense centres Of
population, but throughout the country.
Through frauds fOrgeries and per-
turies and by shameless briberies the
laws relating to the proper conduct of
the public service in general and to the
due administration of the postoffice
department have been notCriously VIC
lated, and many indictments have been
round. and the consequent prosecutions
are in course of hearing or on the eve
thereof That the government may
De prepared to enforce promptly and
with the greatest effect the due pen
alties for such violations of law, and
TO this end may be furnished with sufti-
cient instrumentalities and competent
legal assistance for the Investigation
and trials which will be necessary at
many different points of the country. |
urge upon the congress the necessity
of making an appropriation available
for immediate use for all such pur-
poses, TO he expended under the direc-
ton of the attorney general.
Steps have beer taken by the state
department looking to the making of
bribery an extraditable offense with
foreign powers. The need of more eff
fectlve treaties covering this crime is
manifest. The exposures and prosecu-
tons of official corruption in st. Louis
and other cities and states have re-
suited in number of givers and tax.
ers OF brides becoming fugitives in for
eign lands.
After unavalling attempts to reach an
understanding on the Alaskan bound
airy question through joint high com
mission, followed by prolonged negotia-
tons, conducted in an amicable spirit,
n convention between the United States
and Great Britain was signed Jan. "a.
1903, providing for an examination of
the subject by Il Ilixed tribunal of six
members, three on side, with a view
to its final disposition. On Oct 20 IA