Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1903-12-11
THE MESSAGE
TO CONGRESS-
President RooseveIt'S Annual
Communication to the
National Legislators
The lsthmian Canal and the Pan.
anna Revolution Are Given
Lengthy Consideration
Says the Department Of Commerce and
Labor Will Go Far Towards Solv.
ing the Trust Problem.
Calls Attention to Undesirable Immisratlon..
Asks for More Stringent Naturaliza.
tion Laws and Enforcement
Wants Commission to Investigate
Needs of Merchant Marine-Post
Office md Public Land Frauds
-Our Foreign Relations,
Says the Department Of Commerce and
Labor Will Go Far Towards Solv.
ing the Trust Problem.
Calls Attention to Undesirable immigration.
Asks for More Stringent Naturalza.
tion Laws and Enforcement
Wants Commissfon to Investigate
Needs of Merchant Marine-Post
Office and Public Land Frauds
Our Foreign Relations,
TO the Senate and House of Representa-
tiVas.

TO the Senate and House of Representa-
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 regards our
domestic policy.
With nation as with a man the most
important things are those of the house
hold, and therefore the country is espe-
cially to be congratulated on what has
been accomplished in the direction of pro-
Niding for the exercise of supervision over
the great corporations and combinations
of corporations engaged in interstate COM
merce, The congress has created the de-
partment of commerce and labor, nclud-
ing the bureau of corporations, with for the
first time authority to secure proper pub
licity of such proceedings OF these great
corporations as the public has the right
ing of suits for the enforcement of the fed
eral antitrust law: and by another law
ducers in tho transportation of their goods,
thus taking long stride forward in maxi
ing effective the work of the interstate
commerce commission.
Bureau of Corporations.
The preliminary work of the bureau
of corporations in the department has
shown the wisdom of its creation. Pub
licity in corporate affairs VIII tend to do
away with ignorance, and Will afford
facts upon which intelligent action may
be taken. Systematic, intelligent inves-
knowledge of which is essential to a right
understanding of the needs and duties
of the business world. The corporation
which is 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 pubic. has
nothing to fear from such supervision
The purpose of this bureau is not to en-
barrass or assail legitimate business, but
to aid in bringing about better indus
trial condition-a condition under which
there shall be obedience to law and rec
ogniton Of public obligation by all cor
porations, great or small, The depart
ment 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
government to aid in strengthening our
domestic and foreign markets, in perfect
ing our transportation facilities, in build
Ing up our merchant marine, in prevent
ing the entrance of undesirable immi-
grants. in improving commercial and in
dWstrial conditions, and in bringing toget ther
on common ground those necessary part
ners in industrial progress-capital and
is steadily growing in volume, and the
tendency of the times is toward closer
trade relations. Constant watchfulness
is needed to secure to Americans the
chance to participate to the best advan-
tage in foreign trade; and we may conf
IDENTITY expect that the new department
ators by the exercise of this watchful-
ness, as well as by the businesslike ad-
1nlnlStTallOn OF SuCH laws relating TO our
internal affairs as are intrusted to it's
care.
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy of the national gov
hold in check the unscrupulous man,
whether employer or empsoye; but to re-
fuse to weaken individual initiative or TO
hamper or cramp the industrial develop
ment OF the country. We recognize that
this is an era of federation and ccmbina-
tion, in which great capitalistic corpora
a ~ % f! n N
of tremendous Importance in all industrial
renters. Hearty recognition is given the
1ar-reaching. bene1cent work which has
been accomplished through both corpora
tions and unions, and the line as between
different corporations, as between different
unions, is drawn as ii is between different
individuals; that is, 1t is drawn on con-
duct. the effort being to treat both organ
lied capital and organized labor alike ask
ing nothing save that the interests of each
shall be brought into harmony with the
interests or the general public and that
fundamental rules of obedience to law. of
individual freedom. and OF justice and
fair dealing towards all. Whenever either
corporation labor union or Individual dis
regards the law or acts In a spirit CT ar
bitrary and tyrannous interference with
the rights or others. whether corporations
or individuals. then where the federal gov
ernment has jurisdiction, 1t will see to ii
that the misconduct is stopped. paying not
the slightest heed to the position or power
of the corpor{''on the union or the ndi-
vidual, but oniy to one vital fact-that Is
the question Whether or not the conduct
of the individual or aggregate of individ-
uals 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 property or his labor, so long
he does not infringe the rights of others
No man Is above the law and no man is be-
low It; nor do We ask any mans permits
sion when We require him to obey 1t. Obe-
dience to the law Is demanded as a right;
not asked as a favor
Receipts and Expenditures.
From all sources. exclusive of the post
al service, the receipts of the government
for the last fiscal year aggregated $3.50, ,S06 GA
The expenditures for the same period
were s5066, 9,0o7. the surplus for the fiscal
year being s54,2o7667. The indications
year will be very small If, indeed. there
be any surplus. From July to Novem-
ber the receipts from customs were, ap
proximately, 50, 900 less than the re-
ceipts from the same source for corre-
spending portion of last year Should
this decrease continue at the same ratio
throughout the fiscal year, the surplus
would be reduced ~, approximately,
ing the fiscal year, the surplus would
vanish
Financial Legislation Not Needed.
The integrity of our currency is be-
yond question, and under present condi-
tions II would be unwise and unnecessary
TO attempt reconstruction of our en-
erty should be granted the secretary of
the treasury to deposit customs re-
:eipts as Is granted him in the deposit of
receipts from other sources. In my mes