The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-12-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Washington, Dec. Tile presidents
message has been transmitted 10 con-
gress Its principal features are as fol-
/ lows:
The country is TO Doe 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. with a man the
most important things are those of the
household. aud therefore the country
is especially 90 be congratulated on
what has been accomplished in the di-
rcction of providing for tine 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 60 secure proper
publicity of such proceedings Of these
I great corporations as the public has
the right To- know. 10 has provided for
/ the eNpeditiug of suits for the enforce
/ ment of the federal antitrust law, and
by another law it has secured equal
treatment TO all producers ilf the trans.
portauon of their goods, thus taking
I a lOnC stride forward in making efec-
tive the work of the interstate COM
mcrce commission.
The preliminary work OF the bureau
Il corporations i'm the department Of
labor has shown the wisdom OF its ere
ton Publicity JIM corporate affairs
win tend 10 do away with ignorance
and viii afford facts upon which intel
Hgcnt action may be taken. Systcmat-
ic. INTEL gent Investigation is already
developing facts the knowledge Of
which is essential 60 a right under
standing OF the needs and duties Of
the business world. The corporation
which is honestly and fairly organ
led. whose managers I'm the conduct
II its business recognize their Oblga-
ton 10 deal sQuarcly with their stock
holders their competitors ami the pub
lie. has nothing To- fear from such SUI
perviSiou. The purpose OF this bureau
is not 10 omDarraSs or asSaii legitimate
| business. but TO aid i'm bringing about
a better industrial condition. cOndi-
ton under which there shall be obcdi-
cnce TO law and recognition of public
obligation by all corporations, great or
small The department of commerce
and labor Will Dee not only the clearing
| house for Information regarding the
business transactions of tle nation. but
the executive arm of the government
to aid in Strengthening our domestic
and foreign markets. in perfectinS our
transportation facilities. i'm building up
our merchant marine in preventing the
entrance Of undesirable immigrants in
! improving commercial and industrial
conditions and i'm bringing together on
common ground those necessary part
ners in Industrial progress capital and
labor.
Capital aud Labor.
The consistent policy of the national
government so far as il has the power.
is 10 hold i'm check The INSCRIPTIONS
man. whether employer or employee. but
to refuse TO weaken individual initia-
| tive or 90 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
capitalstic corporations ana labor I'M
| ions have become factors of tremendous
importance i'm an Industrial ceuters.
Hearty recognition is given The far
reaching. benehcent 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 MS il
is between different inliyiduals-th
is. it is drawn on conduct the effort
being 10 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
| tie fundamental rules Of obedience 20
law. Of individual freedom and Of jus
| tee and fair dealing toward all When
ever either corporation. labor union or
| individual disregards the law or acts
in a 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 It that the
misconduct is stopped paying not the
slightest heed 10 the position or power
| Of the corporation. the union or the in
dlvidual but only TO one vital fact
that is. the question whether or not
the conduct of the individual or agge-
/ gate Of individuals is in accordance
win the law of the land. Every man
must be guaranteed his liberty and his
right 10 do as he likes with his prop
erty or his labor so long as be does
not infringe the rights Of others.
Government Receipts and Expend-
ifures.
From all sources, exclusive Of the
postal service, the receipts Of the gov
eminent for the last fiscal year aggre-
gated S5G0,3J6G74. The expenditures
for the same period were SJ06099O0I
the surplus for the fiscal year being
| S54 297 GG7. 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, APP
] sD no.
receipts from the same source for
corresponding portion last year. Should
this decrease continue at the same "a
ito throughout the fiscal year the sur
| plus would be reduced by. approx
mately, S3OOO0OO0. Should the rev.
enue from customs suffer much fur
Their decrease during the fiscal year the
surplus wOuld vanish \ large sur
plus is certainly undesirable. Two