Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-12-07
PRESIDENT ROOSEvELT'S MESSAGE.

sf comniefce and labor, with the Du- reau of corporations hereunder, marks a real advance in the direction of doing all that is possible for the solution of the questions vitally affecting capital ists and wageworkers. The act creat- ing the department was approved on Feb. IA, 1908, and two days later the head of the department was nominated and confirmed by the senate Since then the work of organization has been pushed as rapidly as the initial appro- prfations permitted and with due re- gard to thoroughness and the broad purposes which the department is de signed to serve. After the transfer of the various bureaus and branches to the department at the beginning of the current fiscal year, as provided for in the act, the personnel comprised 1,2S9 employees in Washington and 8,S36 in the country at large. The scope of the departments duty and authority em- braces the commercial and industrial interests of the nation. It is not de- signed to restrict or control the fullest liberty of legitimate business action, but to secure exact and authentic 1nfor- nation which will aid the executive in enforcing existing laws and which will enable the congress to enact additional legislation, if any should be found nee essary, in order to prevent the few from obtaining privileges at the expense of diminished opportunities for the many.
 The preliminary work of the bureau of corporations in the department has shown the wisdom of it's creation. Pub licity 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 right understanding of the needs and duties of the business world. The cor poration which is honestly and fairly organized, whose managers in the con- duct of its business recognize their ob- ligation to deal squarely with their stockholders, their competitors and the public, has nothing te fear from such supervision. The purpose of this bu- reau is not to embarrass or assail legiti- mate business, but to aid in bringing about a better industrial condition, a condition under which there shall be obedience to law and recognition of public obligation by all corporations, great or small.
 FUNCTIONS OF NEW DEPART
 MENT.
 The department of commerce and la bor will be not only the clearing house for information regarding the business transactions of the nation but the ex- ecutive arm of the government to aid in strengthening our domestic and for eign markets, in perfecting our trans portation facilities, in, building up our merchant marine, in preventing the en- trance 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. Commerce between the nations 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 con fdently expect that the new depart ment. will justify the expectation of it's creators by the exercise of this watch fllness as well as flY the husinesslike
 Continued on Page S.)