Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-08
THE MESSAGE.
Full Text Of Presidents Recommendations
to 5Sth Congress.

to prevent him from doing ill. Pub
Icity can do no harm to the honest
corpora ton. The only corporation that
has cause to dread it is the corporation
which shrinks from the light, and
about the welfare of such corporations
we need not be oversensitive. 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 it has the power,
is to hold in check the INSCRIPTIONS
man, whether employer or employee,
but to refuse to weaken individual
initiative or to hamper or cramp the
industrial development Of the country.
We recognize that this is an era of
federation and combination, in which
great capitalistic corporations and la
Dor unions have become factors Of ire
mendous importance in all industrial
centers. Hearty recognition is given
the far reaching, benefcent work
which has been accomplished through
both corporations and unions, and the
line as between different corporations,
as between different unions, is drawn
as it is between different individuals
that is, it is drawn ON conductive eff
fort being to treat both organized CAPT
tai and organized labor alike, asking
nothing save that the interest of each
shall he brought into harmony with the
interest 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.
Whenever either corporation, labor
union or individual disregards the law
or acts in spirit of arbitrary and
tyrannous interference with the rights
of others, whether corporations or indi-
viduals, then where the federal gov
eminent has jurisdiction it will see to
it that the misconduct is stopped, pay
ing not the slightest heed to the posi-
ton or power of the corporation, the
union or the individual, but only to one
vital fact-that is, the question wheth-
er or not the conduct of the individual
or aggregate of individuals is in ac-
cordance with the law of the land. Ev-
cry man must be guaranteed his liber-
ty and his right to do as he likes with
his property or his labor SO long as he
does not infringe the rights of others.
No man is above the Jaw, and no man
Is below it, nor do We ask any mans
permission when we require him to
obey it, Obedience to the law is de-
manded as right, not asked as a favor.
We have cause as nation to be
thankful for the steps that have been
SO successfully taken to put these prin
ciples into effect. The progress has
been by evolution, not by revolution.
Nothing radical has been done; the ac
ton has been both moderate and resO-
lutte; therefore the work will stand.
There shall be no backward step. If
in the working of the laws it proves
desirable that they shall at any point
be expanded or amplitied, the amend
ment can be made as its desirability is
shown. Meanwhile they are being adj
ministercd with judgment, but with
insistence upon obedience to them, and
their need has been emphasized in sig
nal fashion by the events Of the past
year.
Government Receipts and Expenditures
From all sources, exclusive of the
postal service, the receipts Of the gov
eminent for the last fiscal year aggre-
gated SOCIOLOGICAL. The expenditures
for the same period were $50G,O99,0O7.
the surplus for the fiscal year being
S54 ,297 ,G67 The indications are that
the surplus for the present fiscal year
will be very small. if indeed there lie
any surplus. From July to November
the receipts from customs were approx
imately 100000 less than the receipts
from the same source for correspond
ing portion of last year. Should this
decrease continue at the same ratio
throughout the fiscal year the surplus
would be reduced by approximately
$3O,O0OOOO. Should the revenue from
customs suffer much further decrease
during the fiscal year the surplus would
vanish A large surplus is certainly
undesirable. Two years ago the war
taxes We're taken off with the express
intention Of equalizing the government
al receipts and expenditures, and,
though the first year thereafter still
showed a surplus, it now seems likely
that substantial equality of revenue
and expenditure will be attained.
Such being the case, it is of great
moment both to exercise care and econ
omy in appropriations and to scan
sharply any change in our fiscal reve-
nue. system which may reduce our in
come. The need of strict economy in
our expenditures is emphasized by the
fact that we cannot afford to be parsi-
monious in providing for what is essen
tial to our national well being. Careful
economy wherever possible will alone
prevent our income from falling below
the point required in order to meet our
genuine needs.
Needs Of Financial Situation.
The integrity of our currency is be-
yond question, and under present con-
ditions it would be unwise and unnec-