The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1903-12-12
HIS ANNUAL MESSAGE
President Roosevelt's Communities
ton to National Law Makers.
SUBJECTS OF IMPORTANCE

Control of the Trusts-Frauds of Va
rious Klads-The Isthmian Canal
aud Panama ResoIation-The Mer-
chant Marlne-our Insular Posses-
sions-Fercisn Relations.
President Rooseveit's annual message TO
congress deals largely with a few impor-
tant questions, leaving those OF minor m
terest 10 the annual reports Of the eaecu-
tive department heads.
The first subject to receive attention at
the hands of the president Is that OF the
trusts in connection with the operations
of the department. Of commerce and labor
and The bureau of corporations. OF the
results which this bureau Will accomplish
he says.
The preliminary work Of the bureau of
corporations In the department has shown
the wisdom OF It's creation. Publicity In
corporate affairs Will tend TO do away with
Ignorance. and will AFFORD facts upon which
intelligent action may be taken. system
attic. intelligent investigation is already de-
Neloping facts the knowledge of which In
essential TO right understanding OF the
needs and duties OF the business world
The corporation which IL honestly and
fairly organized whose managers In the
conduct of its business recognize their
obligation TO deal sanarely with theif
stockholders. their competitors and the
supervision. The purpose OF this bureau
is not TO embarrass or assail legitimate
business. but TO aid In bringing about
under which there shall be obedience 10
law and recognition of public obligation
by all corporations, great or small.
Capital and Labor.
On the subject OF capital and labor the
president says:
THE consistent policy OF the national
government, so far as IL has the power,
Is to hold In check the INSCRIPTIONS man.
whether employer or employee, but 10 re-
fuse to weaken individual initiative or to
hamper or cramp the industrial develop
meni of the country. We recognize that
this is an era OF federation and combina-
tion, In which great capiialistic corpora
tions and labor unions have become fac
tors Of tremendous importance in all in
dustrial centers Hearty recognition is
given the far-reaching, benefeent work
which has been accomplished through both
corporations and unions, and the line eu
between different corporations, as between
different unions, is dra@n as II Ia between
on conduct. the fort being to treat both
organized capital and organized labor
alike; asking nothing save that the inter-
est of each shall be brought into harmony
with the interest of the general public, and
that the conduct OF each shall conform to
the fundamental rules of obedience TO
law. OF individual freedom. and Of justice
and fair dealing towards all. Whenever
either corporation, labor union. or indyid-
nal dsregards the law or acts In n spirit
Of arbitrary or tyrannops intefference with
or individuals. then where the federal gov
ernment has Jurisdiction. II Will see to II
that the misconduct Is stopped. paying
not the slightest heed TO the position or
power Of the corporation. the union OF the
individual. but only TO one vital fact-that
Is, the question whether or not the conduct
OF the individual or aggregate or iDdiyid-
uals Is In accordance with the law of the
land. Every man must be guaranteed his
liberty and his right 10 do as he likes with
his property or his labor, SO long as he does
not infringe the rights Of others No man
is above the law and no man Is below II: /:
nor DO we ask any man permission when
we require him 10 obey II Obedience to
the law Is demanded as right; not asked
rs favor"
The Merchant Marine.
The president does not believe that any
financial legislation is needed or advisable
at this time. On the subject OF the mer-
chant marine be asks that commission
consisting Of the Secretary of the navy,
postmaster general and secretary Of com
merce and labor be appointed to investI-
gate It's needs and report 70 congress de-
sirable legislation. He believes In stop
ping undesirable immigration. but makes
no specific recommendations He refers
to the naturalization frauds being perpe-
trated In the large cities especially, and
asks that way be found TO stop them.
He recommends that appropriations made
for the purpose Of enabling the attorney
general to prosecute the violations Of the
antitrust laws be extended 10 include all
violations OF national laws, including nat
uralization frauds. the postal and public
land frauds.
lie refers to steps now being taken by
the state department for making bribery
an extraditable offense, and In connection
with this the president says
THE exposures and prosecutions OF ON
cial corruption In ST. Louis. Mo. and other
cities and states have resulted In num-
ber Of givers and takers Of brlbes becoming
fugitives In foreign lands. Bribery has
heretofore, as the necessity for It has not
arisen While there may have been as
much official corruption In former yeara,
there has been more developed and brought
to light in the immediate past than IN the
preceding century Of our countrys history.
II should be the policy OF the United STATES
rupt man fleeing from this country can
rest In peace There Is no reason why
bribery should not be included in all trea-
ties as extradltabie."
The Alaskan boundary.
In connection with the Alaskan boundary
decision the president reviews the history
Of the case leading up 10 the appointment
OF the tribunal, It's sessions and decision,
prcnounces the result entirely satisfac-
tory, and says.
The result is satisfactory In every way
1t is of great material advantage to
cur people in the far northwest. II has re-
moved from the field Of discussion and
possible danger question liable 70 be-
come more acutely accentuated with each
passing year. Finally. IL has furnished
signal proof Of the fairness and good
win with which two friendly nations can
approach and determine issues involving
national sovereignty and by their ma
ture Incapable Of submission to third
power for adjudication.
THE award ie self-cxecuting on The Vital
points To make IL effective az regards
the others. II only remains for the TWO
governments TO appoint. each on Its own
behalf, one or more scientific experts, who
shall. with all convenient speed, proceed
together 10 lay down the boundary line
in accordance With the decision Of the ma
Jority OF the tribunal. ! recommend that
the congress make adequate provision for
the appointment. compensation and ex-
psenses OF the members 10 serve on this
joint boundary commission on the part OF
the United States"
review Of the Venezuelan case IL given
and It's amicable adjustment through the
efforts % this country, and the statement
made that the adjustment b. arbitration
OF this dispute has materially helped the
cause of international arbitration. He says
our relations with Turkey are friendly
and claims against that government are In
process Of adjustment. He calls attention
10 the signing OF new commercial treaty
with China on October which should give
TO our commerce an impetus In that en-
pire, though he says the full measure OF
development cannot be looked for until the
present abnormal conditions are settled.
He strongly ADVOCATES the extension Of
the rural free delivery system as rapidly
as possible. He recommends government
assistance for the Louisiana Purchase and
Lewis and Clark expositlons. and such leg
ialafIon as viii tend 70 the fuller Develop
ment Of Alaska, especially in regard 70 the
fnsuIar Possessions.
In connection with our insuiar posses
eions he recommends an appropriation for
the buii<fuR Of liRhffousea In Hawaii nd