The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-12-23
President Roosevelt Sends
His Annual RecOmmen=
dations to Congress.
FAyORS MERCHANT MARINE
On E,::laustive Review of the Panama
Canal Question.

partment of Commerce and Labor
Publicity Will Curb Unfair Corpora
tions-Proper Attitude Toward Labor
"A Request For an Appropriation to
Prosecute Those Guilty of Postal, Land
Office and Naturalization Frauds.
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 astregards our foreign and as re-
CARDS our domestic policy.
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 oE
:3hat has been accomplished in the di-
rection Of providing for the exercise Of
supervision over the great corporations
and combinations Of corporations en-
gagged in interstate commerce. Tile
Congress has created the Department
cf Commerce and Labor, including the
Bureau Of Corporations, with for the
first time authority to secure proper
publicity of such proceedings of these
great corporations as the public has
the right to know.
COMMERCE AND LABOR.
The esta blishment of the Department
of Commerce and Labor, with the Bu-
reau of Corporations Hereunder, marks
:. real advance in the direction Of doing
all that is possible for the solution Of
the questions :ritally affecting capital
lists and wage-workers. The scope Of
the Departments duty and authority
embraces the commercial and indus
trial interests Of the Nation. 1t is not
designed to restrict or control the full
est liberty of legitimate business ac-
ton, but to secure exact and authentic
information which will aid the EXecu-
tive in enforcing existing laws, and
which will enable the Congress to enact
additional legislation, If any should be
found necessary. in order to prevent
the few from obtaining privileges at
the expense Of diminished opportuni-
ties for the many.
BUREAU OF CORPORATIONS.
The preliminary work Of the Bureau
of Corporations in the Department has
shown the wisdom of it's creation. Sys-
tematic. intelligent investigation is al
ready developing facts the knowledge
Of which is essential to a right under
standing of the needs and duties Of
the business world. The corporation
which is honestly'and fairly organized.
whose managers in the conduct Of it's
business recognize their obligation to
deal squarely with their stockholders,
their competitors and the public. has
nothing to fear from such supervision.
OBJECTS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
The Department of Commerce and
Labor will be not only the clearing
house for information regarding the
business transactions of the Nation,
but the executive arm Of the Govern
ment to aid in strengthening our do
mestic and foreign markets. in perfect
ing our transportation facilities, in
building up our. merchant marine, in
preventing the entrance Of undesirable
immigrants. in improving commercial
and industrial conditions, and in bring
ing together ontcpmmon ground those
necessary partners in industrial prog
ress-capital and labor. Commerce be-
tween the nations is steadily growing
in volume, and the tendency of the
times is toward closer trade relations.
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
The consistent policy Of the National
Government, so far as it has the power,
is to hold in check the unscrupulous
man. whether employer or employe;
but to refuse to weaken individual in
itiative or to hamper or cramp the in
dustrial development of the country.
We recognize that this is an era of
federation and combination, in which
great capitalistic corporations and la
Dor unions have become factors Of tre-
mendous Importance in all Industrial
centres. Hearty recognition is given the
far-reaching, beneficent work which
has been accomplished: through both
corporations and unions, and the line
rs between different corporations, as
between unions. is drawn as it is be-
tween different individuals. 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-
low it; nor do we ask any mans per-
mission when we require him to obey
it. Obedience to the law is demanded
as a right; not asked as favor.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
Next the President takes ND fiscal
matters. and says that the indica tons
are that the surplus for the present
fiscal year will be very small, if indeed
there be any surplus. From July to
November the receipts from customs
were. approximately, S9.0000OO less
than the receipts from the same source
for corresponding portion of last year.
Should this decrease continue at the
same ratio throughout the fiscal year
the surplus would be reduced by, .ap-
proximately, S30.G00,000. Should the
revenue from customs suffer much fur
ther decrease during the fiscal year tine
surplus would vanish. A large surplus
is certainly undesirable. Two years
ago the war taxes were taken off with
the express intention Of equalizing the
Government receipts and expenditures,
and though the first year thereafter
still showed surplus. it now seems
likely that n substantial equality of
revenue and expenditure will. be- at
tained. Such being the case it is of
great moment both to exercise care and
economy in appropriations. and to scan
sharply any change in our fiscal rev.
enue system which may reduce our in.
come.
FINANCIAL SITUATION.
The integrity of our currency is be-
; !ond question. and under. present con
ditions it would be unwise and I'm,
necessary to attempt a reconstruction