Catoctin clarion., 1903-12-10
President Roosevelt Sends
His Annual RecOnlmen=
dationS to Congress.
.FAVORS MERCHANT MARINE
An Exhaustive Review of the Panama
Canal Question.

Highly Praises the Work of the New De-
partment of Commerce and Labor
Publicity VIII Curb Unfair Corpora
tions-Proper Attitude Toward Labor
"A Request For An Appropriation to
Prosecute Those Guilty of Postal, Land
Ofice and naturalization Frauds.
To the Senate and House of Rcpresen-
tatives;
The country is to be congratulated
on the amount of substantial achieve
ment which has marked the past year
both rs regards our foreign and as re-
CARDS our domestic policy.
With Il nation as with a man the
most important things are those of the
household. and therefore the country
is especially to be congratulated OF
that has been accomplished in the di-
rcction of providing for the exercise of
cNPSi ISi'ii o'Nl tlt Sltdt wi
and combinations Of corporations en-
gagged in Interstate commerce. The
Congress has created the Department
CT 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.
COMMERCE. AND LABOR.
The establishment of the Department
of Commerce and Labor. with the Blu
reau of Corporations thereunder marks
real advance in the direction of doing
all that is possible for the solution of
the questions vitality affecting capital
lists and wagc-workcrS. The scope OF
the Departments duty and authority
embraces the commercial and indus
trial interests of the Nation. 1t is not
designed to restrict or control the full
est liberty of Legitimate business ac-
tion, but to secure exact and authentic
information which viii aid the Eyecu-
tive in enforcing existing laws. and
which will enable the Congress to enact
additional legislation. if any should be
found necessary. in order to prevent
the few from obtaining privileges at
the expense of diminished opportuni-
ties for the many.
BUREAU OF CORPORATIONS.
The preliminary work of the Bureau
of Corporations in the Department has
shown the wisdom of its creation. Sys-
tcmatic, intelligent investigation is al
ready developing facts the knowledge
OF which is essential to II right under
standing of the needs and duties Of
the business world. The corporation
which is honestly and fairly organized.
whose managers in the conduct Cf its
business recognize their obligation to
deal squarely with their stockholders.
their competitors and the public, has
nothing to fear from such supervision.
OBJECTS OF TIE DEPARTMENT.
The Department of Commerce and
Labor will be not only the clearing
house for information regarding the
business transactions of the Nation.
but the executive arm of the Govern
ment to aid in strengthening our do
nestle and foreign markets, in perfect
ing our transportation facilities, in
u' oul IlluIllt, Ill
preventing the entrance of undesirable
immigrants, in improving commercial
and industrial conditions. and in bring
ing together on common ground lose
necessary partners in industrial prog
reSs-caDital and labor. Commerce be-
tween the nations is steadily yrG'..ing
in volume. and the tendency Of the
times is toward closer trade "e!ations.
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
The consistent policy of the National
Government. so far rs it has the power.
is to hold in check the unscrupulous
man. whether employer or employe;
hut to refuse to weaken individual in
itiativc or to hamper or cramp the in
duStral 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 tre-
mendouS Importance in all industrial
centres. Hearty recognition is given the
far-reaching. beneticent work which
has been accomplished through both
corporations and unions. and the line
as between different corporations, as
between unions. is drawn as ii is be-
tween different individuals. Every
man must be guaranteed his liberty
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 law and no man is be-
low il; nor do we ask any mans per-
mission when we require him to obey
it. obedience to the law is demanded
as right: not asked as favor.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
Next the President takes up fiscal
matters. and says that the indications
are that the surplus for the present
fiscal year will be very small, If indeed
there be any surplus. From July to
November the receipts from customs
were. approximately, S9,000OOO less
than the receipts from the same source
for a corresponding portion of last year.
Should this decrease continue at the
same ratio throughout the fiscal year
the surplus would he reduced by. ap-
proxmately, S30.000000, Should the
revenue from customs suffer much fur
ther decrease during the fiscal year the
surrIus would vanish. A large surplus
is certainly undesirable. Two years
ago the war taxes were taken off with
the express intention of eQualizing the
Cove c"nment receipts and expenditures.
and though the first year thereafter
still showed a surplus. 1t now seems
likely that n substantial equality or
revenue and expenditure VIII be at'