The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-07
Mr. Roosevelt Submits Annual
Communication to Congress.
COngratulates Country on Sub
stantial Achievements of Year.
LONG STRIDE MADE
In Rendering Effective Work of
Interstate Commission.
Fair Treatment for Labor and
Capital Is Sought.
THE ISTHMIAN CANAL.
Much Space Devoted TO Re-
view of Negotiations
En Reference to Tariff or Ship
Subsidy Legislation.
Currency Laws Should Not Be
Greatly Disturbed.
THE ISTHMIAN CANAL.
Much Space Devoted TO a Re-
view of Negotiations
In Reference to Tariff or Ship
Subsidy Legislation.
Currency Laws Should Not Be
Greatly Disturbed.

Washington, Dec. THE annual mes
sage of the President was submitted to
Congress today. 1t is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Represen-
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 direction
of providing for the exercise of super
vision over the great corporations and
combinations of corporations engaged
in interstate commerce. The congress
has created the department of COM
merce and labor, including the bureau
of corporations, with for the first time
authority to secure proper publicity of
such proceedings of these great corpo-
rations as the public has the right to
know. 1t has provided for the expe-
diting of suits for the enforcement of
the federal antitrust law; and by an
other law it has secured equal treat
ment to all producers in the transpor-
tation of their goods. thus taking a
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 the bu-
reau of corporations hereunder marks
a real advance in the direction of doing
all that is possible for the solution of
the questions vitality affecting capital
lists and wage-workers. The act cre-
ating the department was approved on
February IA. 1903. and two days later
the head of the department was nomi-
mated and confirmed by the senate.
Since then the work of organization
has been pushed as rapidly as the
initial appropriations permitted, and
with due regard to thoroughness and
the broad purposes which tho 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 1,2S9 employees in Washing
ton and $3.50 in the country at large.
The scope of the departments duty
and authority embraces the CONNER
cial and industrial interests of the ma
ton. 1t is not designed to restrict or
control the fullest liberty of legitimate
business action, but to secure exact
and authentic information which will
aid the executive in enforcing existing
laws, and which will enable the con-
gress to enact additional legislation, if
any should be found necessary, in or
der TO prevent the few from obtaining
privileges at the expense of diminished
opportunities 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
to do away with ignorance, and win
afford facts upon which intelligent
action may be taken. Systematic in
teligent investigation is already de-
veloping facts the knowledge of which
is essential to right understanding
OF the needs and duties of the business
world. The corporation which is hon
estly and fairly organized, whose man
ayers in the conduct of it's business
recognize their obligation to deal
sauarely with their stockholders their
competitors, and the public has MOTH
ing to fear from such supervision. The
purpose of this bureau is not to en-
barrass or assail legitimate business
put to aid in bringing about better
industrial condition. condition under
which there shall be obedience to law
and recognition of public Obligation Inv
all corporations, great or small The
department of commerce and labor
viii 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
elsn markets, in perfecting our trans
portatlon facilities, 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 part
ners IN industrial progress-capital and
tapor- Commerce between the nations
IS steadily growing in volume, and the
tenoency of the times is toward closer
sraoe relations. Constant watchfulness
Is needed to secure to Americans the
cnance TO participate to the best ad-
vantage in foreign trade; and we may
conuoently expect that the new depart
ment will Justify the expectation of its
creators by the exercise of this watch
1ulness, as well as by the businesslike
administration of such laws relating to
our internal affairs as are intrusted to
its care.
In enacting the laws above enumerat-
81 the congress proceeded on sane and