The Tupelo journal., 1903-12-11
THE MESSAGE
TO CONGRESS
President RooseveIt's Annual
Communication to the
National Legislators
The Isthmian Canal and the Pan.
anna Revolution Are Given
Lengthy Consideration
Says the Department Of Commerce and
Labor Will Go Far Towards Solv.
ing the Trust Problem.
Calls Attention to Undesirable immigration.
Asks for Moro Stringent Naturaliza.
ton Laws and Enforcement
Wants Commission to Investigate
Needs of Merchant Marine-Post
Office and Public Land Frauds
Our Foreign Relations.
Says the Department of Commerce and
Labor Will Go Far Towards Solv.
ing the Trust Problem.
Calls Attention to Undesirable immigration.
Asks for Moro Stringent Naturaliza.
ton Laws and Enforcement
Wants Commission to Investigate
Needs of Merchant M~arine-Post
Office and Public Land Frauds
Our Foreign Relations.
To the Senate and House of Representa-

To the Senate and House of Representa-
tiVeS:
The country is to be congratulated
on the amount of substantial achieve
ment which has marked the past year both
As regards our foreign aud as regards our
domestic policy.
With a nation as with a man the most
important things are those of the house
hold. and therefore the country is espe-
Cially 10 be congratulated on what has
been accomplished in the direction of pro-
Nl2iug for the exercise Of supervision over
the great corporations and combinations
of corporations engaged in interstate COM
merte. The congress has created the de-
partmtnt of and labor. includ-
ing the bureau of corporations, with for the
first time authority to secure proper pub
liclty Of such proceedings of these great
corporations as the public has the right
10 know. 1t has provided for the expedit-
ing O. suits for the enforcement of the fed
eral antitrust law: and by another law
il has secured equal treatment TO all pro-
ducers in the transportation of their goods,
thus taking a long stride forward in max
ing effective the work OF the interstate
commission.
Bureau of Corporations.
The preliminary work of the bureau
Of corporations in the department has
shown the wisdom of its creation. Pub
LEFTY in corporate affairs will tend to do
facts upon which intelligent action may
be taken. Systematic. intelligent inves-
tigatiUn is already developing facts the
knowledge of which is essential to a right
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 en-
harrass or assail legitimate business, but
to aid in bringin about a better indus
trial condltion-a condition under which
there shall be obedience to law and rec
ognition of public obligation by all cor
porations, great or small. The depart
ment of commerce and labor will be not
only the clearing house for m
regarding the business transactions of the
nation. but the executive arm of the
government to aid in strengthening our
domestic and foreign markets. in perfect
ing our transportation facilities, in build
ing up our merchant marine, in prevent
ing the entrance of undesirable immi-
grants, in improving commercial and in
dustrial conditions. and in bringing together
on common ground those necessary part
ners IN Industrial progress-capital and
labor. Commerce between the nations
is steadily growing in volume, and the
tendency of the times is toward closer
trade relations. Constant WatchfulceSs
is needed to secure to Americans the
chance to participate to the best advan-
tage in foreign trade; and we may confi-
IDENTIFY expect that the new department
'AfN Jh-NAIS IN NAPSNbol VI u ere
ators by the exercise of this watchful-
ness. as well as by the b~usinesslike ad-
ministration of such laws relating to our
internal affairs as are Entrusted to its
care.
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy of the national gov
eminent. so far as it has the power, is TO
hold in check the INSCRIPTIONS man,
whether employer or employee; but to re-
fuse 10 weake individual initiative or to
hamper or cramp the industrial develop
ment OF the country. We recognize that
this is an era of federation and combina-
ton. in which great capitalistic corpora
lions and labor unions have become factors
OF tremendous Importance in all industrial
Centers. Hearty recognition is given the
1ar-reaching beneficent work which has
been accomplished through both corpora
lions and unions, and the line as between
different corporations, as between different
unions. IS drawn as it is between different
indiVid uals; that is, it is drawn on con-
duct, the effort being to treat both organ
3zet capital and organized labor alike; ask
ing nothing save that the interests of each
Shali be brought into harmony with the
interests 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 individual dis
regards the law or acts in a spirit of ar
abitrary and tyrannous interference with
abe rights of others, whether corporations
or individuals. then where the federal gov
SlltIllNIil IdS liSulCllOI, IL Will see 10 IL
that the misconduct is stopped, paying not
the slightest heed to the position or power
OF the corporation, the union or the indi-
Vidual. but only to one vital fact-that is
the question whether or not the conduct
of the individual or aggregate of individ-
uals is IN accordance with the law of the
land, Every man must be guaranteed
his liberty and his right to 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 be-
InxF - NM 10 vrn ClI nnxr ranrat, ar-1s
sion when we require him to obey it. ODE
dience 20 the law is demanded as a right;
not asked as a favor.
Receipts and Expenditures.
From all sources, exclusive of the post
al service, the receipts of the government
for the last fiscal year aggregated $3.50, 1896, 674.
The expenditures for the same period
were $500. 099. 007, the surplus for the fiscal
year being $54. 297, 667: The indications
are that the surplus for the present fiscal
year will be very small, If, indeed. there
be any surplus. From July to NoYem-
Der the receipts from customs were, APP
~proximately, 5000, 600 less than the re-
ceipts from the same source for a CORE
spending portion of last year. Should
this decrease continue at the same ratio
throughout the fiscal year, the surplus
$50, 600, 600. Should the revenue from Gus
toms suffer much further decrease dur
ing the fiscal year, the surplus would
vanish.
FINANCIAL LcSlSIaIIOn MOI Neeucu.
The integrity of our currency is be-
yond question, and under present condi-
,tions it would be unwise and unnecessary
ITO attempt a reconstruction of our en-
tire monetary system. The same lib
erty should be granted the secretary OF
the treasury to deposit customs re-
ceipts as is granted him in the deposit Of
receipts from other sources. In my mes
sage of December 2. 1902, / called atten-
tion to certain needs of the financial sit
uation, and l again ask the considera.
tion of the congress for these questions
The Merchant Marine.
A majority of our people desire that
steps be taken in the interests of Amer
lean shipping, so that We may once more
resume our former position in the ocean
CARRYING trade. But hitherto the differ
ences OF opinion as to the proper method
of reaching this end ave been SO wide
rhat it has proved impossible to secure the
adoption of any particular scheme. Hav-
ing in view these facts, l recommend that
Fhe congress direct the secretary of the
navy, the postmaster general and the Sec
rotary of commerce and labor, associated
with such a representation from the sen.
ate and house of representatives as the
congress in Its wisdom may designate, &c
serve as a commission for the purpose Of
investigating and reporting to the congress
at it's next session what legislation is de-
sirable or necessary for the development