The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-12-10
THE COUNTRY IS PROSPEROUS.
Suggestions Touching Upon Our
Public PoIicy-The Departments
The Isthm;an Canal and Treaty
With Panama-Other Tatters.
introduction.

To the Senate and House OF hepFesen-
tatives:
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.
Corporations.
With a nation as with a man the
most important things are those OF the
household, and therefore the country
Is especially to be congratulated on
what has been accomplished in the dl-
yection 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 mas
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 it has secured equal
treatment to all producers in the trans
portation of their goods, thus taking a
long stride forward in making effective
tbe work of the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Department CT Commerce and Labor.
The establishment Of the Department
of Commerce and Labor, with tne
Bureau of Corporations Hereunder.
marks a real advance in the direction
OF doing all that is possible for the So
luton OF the questions vitally affecting
capitalisls and wage-workers. The act
creating the Department was approved
on February IA, 1903. and two days
later the head Of the Department was
nominated and confirmed by the sea-
ate. Since then the work Of organlza-
ton has been pushed as rapidly as the
initial appropriations permitted, anu
with due regard to thoroughnesS ana
the broad purposes which the Depart
ment is designed to serve. After the
transfer of the various bureaus and
branches to the Department at the be-
ginning OF the current fiscal year, as
provided for in the act, the personnel
comprised 1880 employees in Washing
ten and 1856 in the country at large.
The scope Of the Departments duty
and authority embraces the commercial
and industrial interests Of the Nation.
II Is not designed to restrict or control
the fullest liberty of legitimate busi-
ness action, but to secure exact and au-
thentic information which will aid the
Executive in enforcing existing laws,
o1oh1n tho CNn GROSS m
enact additional legislation, If any
should be found necessary, in order 10
prevent the few from obtaining privl-
leges at the expense Of diminished op-
portunities for the many.
Bureau Of Corporations.
The preliminary work of the Bureau
OF Corporations in the Department has
shown the wisdom of its creation.
Publicity in corporate affairs will tend
10 do away with ignorance, and will
afford facts upon which intelligent &C
ton may be taken. Systematic. intel
ligent investigation is already develop
ing facts the knowledge of which is es-
sential to 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 public, has nothing to fear
from such supervision. The purpose
OF this Bureau Is not to embarrass or
assail legitimate business. but to aid in
bringing about a better industrial con-
dition-a condition under which there
shall be obedience to law and recogni-
ton of public obligation by all corpora
tions, great or small. 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 Government to aid in strengthen
ing our domestic and foreign markets,
In perfecting our transportation facl-
lities, in building up our merchant
marine, in preventing the entrance OF
undesirable immigrants, in improving
commercial and industrial conditions,
and in bringing together on common
ground those necessary partners IN In
dustrial rogress-capital and labor.
Commerce between the nations Is
steadily growing in volume, and the
tendency of the times is toward closer
trade relations. Constant watchful-
ness is needed to secure to Americans
the chance to participate to the best
advantage in foreign trade; and we
many confidently expect that the new
Department will justify the expectation
of its creators by the exercise of this
yatchfulness, as we'll as by the busi-
nesslike administration of such laws
relating to our internal affairs as are
intrusted to its care.
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy Of the National
: Government, so far as it has the power
Is to hold in check the INSCRIPTIONS
man, whether employer or employee;
hut to refuse to weaken individual ini-
tiative or to hamper or cramp the in
dustrial development of the country.
We recognize that this is an era of fed
Grafton and combination. in which
great capitalistic corporations and Ia
Dor unions have become factors OF tre-
mendous importance in all industrial
centers. Hearty recognition is given the
far-reaching, benefcent work which