Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1903-12-10

MESSAGE

WASHINGTON. ID. c., Dec. THE
regular session of congress convened
At l 80 today Because of the death
OF Philadelphia member, on which
appropriate action was taken at the
opening of the session, the reading OF
the presidents message was not reach
ed until nearly o'clock The read
ing of the document elected much in
terest both on part of the members and
the througs of listeners in the gal
leries.
The message of President Roosevelt
to the new congress is a report of what
has transpirod in governmental affairs
daring the last year.
The principal recommendations of
the President are as follows
No attempt to reconstruct our mono
tary system. but the same liberty
should be granted to the secretary of
the treasury to deposit customs re-
ceipts as is granted him in the deposit
OF receipts from other sources.
Legislation for the promotion of our
merchant marine.
Appropriations for the investigation
Of naturalization frauds. postal frauds
and government land frauds
Treaties making bribery Al extradi-
table otfense.
The appointment of members OF
joint boundary commission to lay
down the Alaska boundary line.
The exemption of private property
at sea from capture by belhgerent
powers.
Legislation for good roads
Recognition and support foI the St
Louis and Portland expositions.
The passage OF laws for the develop
meut OF the internal resources of
Alaska and for the protection OF its
salmon fisheries.
The building Of lighthouses in Ha,
waIi.
The revision of public land laws.
Further legislation for the irriga-
tion OF arid lands and the protection
Of forests.
Reciprocal legislation with other
countries for the granting OF patents
TO foreigners.
Prompt heed to the education of
children in the Indian territory.
The enlargement of the law providing
safety appliances on railroads.
The extension OF the civil service
rules.
Continued viRor in the upbuilding
of the navy and the establishment of
a naval base in the Philippines.
The approval by the senate OF the
Isthmian canal treaty with the Re
public of Panama.
To the subject of the Panama canal
the President devotes about one third
Of the entire message, reviewing the
relations OF this government with the
governments of New Grenada and its
successor Colombia, from the signing
OF the treaty of 1916 down 20 the pres
ent day. The story of the revolution
i'm Panama. the establishment of the
new republic and its prompt recogni-
tion by the United States government
is succinctly told.
Under such circumstances, says
the President, the government Of the
United States would have been guilty
of folly and weakness, amounting III
their sum to a crime against the Ma
tion, had it acted otherwise than il
lid, when the revolution of November
3 last took place in Panama
The President is strong III his ex-
preston on the subject OF capital and
labor Probably no portion of his
message Will attract more attention
than these few sentences:
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 on the
rights of others No man is above the
law, and no man is below il; nor do
we ask any mans permission when we
require him to obey 1t. Obedience TO
the law is demanded as a right; not
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