Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Washington, Dec. THE PRESIDENT
message has been transmitted to con
gress. Its principal features are as fol
lows:
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 n nation as with a man the
most important things are those of the
household. and therefore the country
il especially to be congratulated OH
what has been accomplished In the Oil
rection of providing for the exercise OF
supervision over the great corporations
and combinations of corporations en-
gagged In interstate commerce. The
congress has created the department
of commerce and labor, including the
bureau of corporations, with for the
first time authority to secure proper
publicity of such proceedings of these
great corporations as the public has
the right to know. 1t has provided for
the expediting of suits for the enforce
ment of the federal antitrust law, and
by another law 1t has secured equal
treatment 20 all producers in the trans
nortation Of their goods thus taking
long stride forward in making effec-
live the work of the interstate com
lnerce commission.
The preliminary work of the bureau
Of corporations in the department of
labor has shown the wisdom of its Gre
alton. Publicity in corporate affairs
viii tend TO do away with ignorance
aud will afford facts upon which intel
lgenl action may be taken. Systemat-
H.. intelligent investigation is already
developing facts the knowledge of
y hich IS essential 10 right under
Standing OF the needs and duties Of
fhe business world. The corporation
Which Is honestly and fairly organ
j.el. whose managers in the conduct
al It's business recognize their obliga-
ton 70 deal sGuarely with their stock
holders their competitors and the pub
DE-. has nothing TO fear from such ST..
Icryision. The purpose OF this bureau
j not "a emilrrass or assail legitimate
business Tut TO aid in bringing about
q better industrial conditional cOndi
I ou under which there shall be obedi
tAce TO law and recognition Of public
obligation by all corpora ions. great or
small The department. Of commerce
and labor viii be not ou'y the clearing
Louise for Information regarding the
business transactions of the nation, but
the executive arm Of the government
10 aid in strengthening our domestic
and forcigD markets. in perfecting our
transportation facilities. in building up
orr merchant marine, in preventing the
entrance of undesirable immigrants, in
improving commercial and industrial
conditions and in bringing together on
common ground those necessary part
ners in Industrial progress-capital and
labor.
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy Of the national
government, so far as it has the power.
is to hold in check the unscrupulous
man, whether employer or employee. but
10 refuse to weaken individual initla-
tive or to hamper or cramp the indus
trial development of the country. We
recognize that this is an era of fedora
ton and combination, in which great
capitallstic corporations and labor un.
ions have become factors of tremendous
importance in all Industrial centers.
Hearty recognition is given the far
reaching, bene1cent 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 II
Is between different Northumberland |
Is. II 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. When |
ever 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 individuals,
then where the federal government has
jurisdiction it will see 10 1t that the /
is stopped, paying not the
slightest heed to the position or power
OF the corporation. the union or the in
dividual, but only TO one vital fact
that is. the question whether or not
the conduct of the individual or aggre-
gate of individuals is in accordance
with the law of the land. Every man
must be guaranteed his liberty and his
right TO do as he likes with his prop
erty or his labor so long as he does
not infringe the rights of others.
Receipts and Expend-
itures.
From all sources, exclusive of the
postal service, the receipts Of the gov
eminent for the last fiscal year aggre-
gated 5000, 396,6T4. The expenditures
FOR the same period were $500. O99.OO7.
The surplus for the fiscal year being