Gilpin observer., 1903-12-10

President Roosevelt's annual mes
sage was read to both houses of the
Fifty-eighth Congress this afternoon.
1t is as follows:
TO the Senate and House of Represen-
tuttves:
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.
Corporations.
with a nation as with a man the most
important things are those of the house
hold. and therefore thu country is espe-
ciaiiy to be congratulated on what has
been accomplished in the direction of pro-
viding for the exercise of supervision
over the great corporations and combina-
tions of corporations engaged In inter-
state commerce. The Congress has Gre
ated the Department Of Commerce and
Labor. including the Bureau OF Corpora
tions. with for the first time authority to
secure proper publicity of such proceed
tngs of these great corporations as the
public has the right to know. 1t has pro-
vided for the expediting cf suits FOR the
enforcement of the Federal antitrust
law: and by another law 1t has secured
equal treatment to all producers in the
transportation of their goods. thus taking
q long stride forward in making effective
the work OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Oepartment Of Commerce and Labor.
The establishment of the Department
Of Commerce and Labor. with the Bureau
of Corporations Hereunder. marks a real
advance In the direction of doing all that
is possible for the solution of the questions
vitality affecting capitalists and wage
workers.
Functions Of New Department.
The preliminary work OF the Bureau
OF Corporations in the department has
shown the wisdom of its creation. Pub
liclty in corporate affairs will tend to do
away with ignorance. and will afford
facts upon which intelligent action may
be taken. Systematic, intelligent inves-
tigation is already developing facts the
knowledge of which is essential to a right
understanding of the needs and duties of
the business world. The corporation
which IL honestly and fairly organized.
whose managers in the conduct OF its
business recognize their obligation to deal
squarely with their stockholders. their
competitors, and the public. has nothing
to fear from such supervision. The pur-
pose OF this bureau is not TO embarrass
or assaui legitimate business. hut to aid
in bringing about a better industrial con-
dition-a condition. under which there
shall be obedience to law and recognition
Of pGolic obligation by all corporations.
great or small. The Department of Com
merce and Labor will be not only the
clearing house for information regarding
the business transactions OF the nation
but the executive arm OF the government
to aid In strengthening our domestic and
foreign markets. In perfecting our trans
portation facilities. IN building up our
merchant marine In preventing the en-
trance OF undesirable immigrants, In i'm
proving commercial and industrial condi-
ttons. and In bringing together on COM
mon ground those necessary partners In
Industrial progress-capital and labor.
Commerce between: the nations is stead
ily growing in volume. and the tendency
Of the times is toward closer trade rela
lions. Constant watchfulness is needed
to secure to Americans the chance to par
tlcipate TO the best advantage in Foreign
trade; and we may confidently expect
that the new department will justify the
expectation OF its creators by the exer-
else 0f this watchfulness. as well as by
tho businesslike administration OF such
laws relating to our Internal affairs as
are intrusted to Its care.
In enacting the laws above enumerated
the Congress proceeded on sane and con-
servative lines. Nothing revolutionary
was attempted; but common-se and
successful effort was made in the direc-
tion OF seeing that corporations are so
handled as to subserve the public good
Tho legislation was moderate. 1t was
characterized throughout by the idea that
We were not attacking corporations. but
endeavoring to provide for doing away
with any evil In them: that we drew the
line against misconduct. not against
wealth. gladly recognizing the great go2d
done by capitalists who alone. or In
conjunction with his fellows. does his
work along proper and legitimate lines.
The purpose OF the legislation. which pur-
pose will undoubtedly be fulfilled. was to
favor such a man when he does we'll. and
to supervise his action only to prevent
him from doing Ill. Publicity can do no
harm to the honest corporation. The
only corporation that has cause to dread
Il 10 the corporation which shrlnks from
the light. and about the welfare OF such
eorporationg We need not BE- oversensitive.