The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1903-12-10
TIE COUNTRY IS PROSPEROUS.
Suggestions Touching Upon Our
Public PoIicy-The Departments
The Isthmian Canal and Treaty
with Panama-Other natters.
Introduction.

Introduction.
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tatiyes:
The country is to be congratulated
on the amount of substantial achieve
ment which has marked the past year
both rs regards our foreign and as re-
CARDS our domestic policy.
Corporations.
With nation as with q man the
most important things arc those of the
household, and therefore the country
IS especially TO be congratulated on
what has been accomplished in the di-
rcction of providing for the exercise OF
supervision over the great corporations /
and combinations OF corporations Gu
gagged IN interstate commerce. The .
Congress has created the Department /
Of Commerce and Labor, including the |
Bureau of Corporations, with for the
lrSt time authority to secure proper
publicity Of such proceedings OF these
great corporations as the public has
ghe right to- know. 1t has provided Tor
the expCditing 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
long stride forward in making effective
the work OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Department. of Commerce and Labor.
The establishment Of the Department
OF Commerce and Labor, with Lne
Bureau Of Corporations hereunder.
marks real advance in the direction
of doing all that is possible for the So
luton of the questions vitality afectlng
capitalists and wage-workers. The act
creating the Department was approved
on February II, 1903, and two days
later the head of the Department was
nominated and confirmed by the sen
ate. Since then the work of organila-
tCu has been pushed as rapidly as the
initial appropriations permitted, and
with due regard to thOroughness and
the broad purposes which the Depart
ment is designed to serve. After the
transfer of the various bureaus anu
branches to the Department at the be-
ginning Of the current fiscal year, as
provided for in the act, the persOnneI
comprised $50 employees in Washing
ton and 1856 in the country at large
The scope of the Departments duty
and authority embraces the commercla
and industrial interests OF the Natlon
II Is not designed to restrict or contro
the fullest liberty Of legitimate Dusl
ness action, but to secure exact and au
thentic information which Will ala IN
Executive in enforcing existing laws
and which will enable the Congress U
enact additional legislation, IL an
should be found necessary, IN orueI u
prevent the few from obtaining PRIV
lcges at the expense of diminished Oh
portunities for the many.
Bureau Of Corporations.
The preliminary work Of the Burea
of CorporatiOns in the Department ha
shown the wisdom of its creator
Publicity in corporate affairs will ten
TO do away with ignorance, and WI
afford facts upon which intelligent a.
tion may be taken. Systematic, hte
Iigent investigation is already develol
ing facts the knowledge Of when is e
sential to right understanding OF u
needs and duties Of the business worl
The corporation which is honestly al
fairly organized whose managers
the conduct of its business recogni
their obligation to deal squarely wi
their stockholders. their competitor
and the public, has nothing to fe
of this Bureau is not to embarrass
assail legitimate business, but to aid
bringing about a better Industrial co
dition-a condition under which the
shall be obedience to law and recogl
tion of public obligation by all corpol
tions, great or small. The DEPARTING
of Commerce and Labor Will be l
only the clearing house for informant
regarding the business TRANSACTIONS
the Nation but the executive arm
the Government to aid in strengtn'
ing our domestic and foreign marke
In perfecting our transportation Ia
l!ties, in building up our merch'
marine. in preventing the entrance
undesirable immigrants, IN lmpIoV
commercial and industrial condltlO
and in bringing together on comm
ground those necessary partners IN
dustrial progress-capital and lat
Commerce between the nations
steadily growing in volume, and
tendency of the times is toward clc
trade relations Constant Watch
ness is needed to secure to Amerlc
the chance to participate to the
advantage in foreign trade; ana
many confidently expect that the
Department will justify the expectd
Of it's creators by the exercise OF
watchfulness, as we'll as by the o
nesslike administration or such
relating to our internal affairs as
intrusted to it's care.
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy of the Maui
Government. so far as 1t has the pc
is to hold in check the unscrupu
man, whether employer or emplo
but to refuse to weaken individual
tiative or to hamper or cramp thf
dustrial development OF the coul
We recognize that this is an era OF
Grafton and combination, In "
great capitalistic corporations an.
Dor unions have become factors OF
mendous Importance in all INDUS
centers. Hearty recognition is give
far-reaching, benefcent work "
has been accomplished through
corporations and unions, and the
as between different corporations,
tween unions is drawn as 1t is pet
different individuals; that is.
drawn on conduct, the effort Deii
NQnit4l