Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-12-12

wac read at cnce.
Tho House.
The usual committee appointed to
notify the president that the house
was In session, and later the assistant
! secretary to Secretary Barnes appear
ed with the message which was read
20 the house.
To the Senate and House OF Represen.
a tatives:
The country is TO be congratulated
on ths amount of substantial achieve
n ment which has marked the past year
both an regards our foreign and IA re.
CARDS our domestic policy.
A. Corporations.
with a nation as with a man the
most important things are those OF
the household. and therefore the coun.
b try is especially to be congratulate
on what has been accomplished In the
= direction ca providing for the exercise
OF supervision over the great corpora
tons and combinations OF corpora.
tons engaged ir interstate commerce.
The congress has created the depart
ment OF commerce aad labor, includ-
ing the bureau OF corporations, with
for the first time authority TO secure
proper publicity OF such proceedings
OF these great corporations as tho
pubic has the right to know. IL has
provided for the expediting OF suits
A for the enforcement OF the federal
antitrust Jaw; and by another law II
has secured equal treatment to all
producers In the transportation OF
their goods, thus taking long stride
Il forward In making effective the work
y OF the Interstate commerce commits
sion.
\ Department OF Commerce and Labor.
The establishment OF the depart
\ ment Of commerce and labor. with the
bureau of corporations Hereunder
marks a real advance In the direction
OF doing al that Is possible for the
Y solution OF the questions vitality affect
ing capitalists and wageworkers. The
act creating the department was ap
proved on February IA, 1903, and two
days later the head OF the department
was nominated and confirmed by the
\ senate Since then the work OF organ
ization has been pushed as rapidly
a. the initial appropriations permit
ted, and with Que regard to thorough
mes and the troad purposes which
the department IL designed to serve
After the transfer OF the various bu
reuas and br inches TO the department
at the beginning OF the current nsca
year, as provided for In the act the
personnel comprised 1889 employees
In Washington and 1886 In tn, coun
try at large. The scope OF the depar
ment's duty and authority embraces
the commercial and industrial inter
- IL io faatRnaf
to restrict or control the fullest lib
erty of legitimate business action. bu
20 secure exact and authentic infor
nation which vital aid the executive
In enforcing existing laws. and which
will enable the congress TO enact ad
ditional legislation. II any should b.
found necessary, in order TO proven
the few Il ON obtaining privileges a
tho expense OF diminished opportuni
tiee for the many
Bureau OF Corporations.
The preliminary work OF the oureaI
OF corporations In the department ha
shown the wisdom of It's creation
Publiclty In corporate AFFAIRS will ten
10 do away with ignorance. and vii
AFFORD facts upon which intelligen
action may be taken. Systematic, IN
tel,igent investigation Is already de
velop'ng ffcts the knowledge OF whicl
In essential 10 right understanding
OF the needs and duties OF the bus
ueas world. The corporation which
honestly and fairly organized, who's
managers In the conduct OF its bus
ness recognize their obligation 10 dea
squarely with their stockholders, thel
competitors, and the public, has notf
ipg to fear from such supervision. IN
purpose OF tnis bureau Ia not TO en-
barrass or assail legitimate business
but TO aid In bringing about bette
Industrial condition. condition VI
der which there shall be obedienc
to law and recognition OF public obi
cation by all corporations, great O
small. The department OF commerce
and labor will be not only the clearin
house for Information regarding IN
business transactions OF the natio
hut the executive arm OF the covers
ment to aid N strengthening our al
nestle and foreign markets. In pc
fecting our transportation faciltle
in building up our merchant marin'
in preventing the entrance or una
sirable immigrants, In lmproVln
commercial and industrial condition
and in bringing together on commo
ground those necessary partners
Industrial progress-capital and laho
Commerce between the nations
> steadily growing in volume, and IN
tendency of the times IL toward close
trade relations. Constant watchfu
ness is needed TO secure to Amer
cans the chance to participate to u
best advantage In foreign trade; an
We may confidently expect that u
new department will justify the expe
tation OF It's creators by the exerci'
OF this watchfulness. as well as !
the buslness-like administration
such laws relating to our internal a
fairs as are intrusted TO It's care.
In enacting the laws above enume
ated the congress proceeded on sar
and conservative lines. Nothing re
olutionary was attempted: but col
nonsense and successful EFFORT WI
made In the direction OF seeing tn
corporations are so handled as 10 SD
serve the public good. The legislatit
was moderate. II was characterize
throughout by the Idea that we we
NOT attacking corporations. but Q
deavoring TO provide for doing avn
with any evil In them; that we DIRE
the line against misconduct, .,