Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-12-11
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
EMPHASIS LAID ON OUR COURSE
WITH REFERENCE TO PANAMA.
Action to Prevent Land Frauds Asked
Better Enforcement Of Antitrust Laws
urded.

Action to Prevent Land Frauds Asked
Better Enforcement Of Antitrust Laws
Urged.
President Roosevelt devotes nearly a
fourth of his message. transmitted to
Congress Monday, to a compact and pow
erful justification of his action on the
Panama Canal matter. He shows from
the words of Cass and Seward that the
United States has always considered its
guaranty of the neutrality of the Isthmus
to apply only against possible attacks
upon 1t by foreign Powers. Giving a par
tial list of revolutionary outbreaks on the
Isthmus- numbering SO in the 81 years
since the treaty of 1S46-thc President
shows that only by virtue of our strict
adherence to our treaty obligations has
it been possible for Colombian sovereignty
over the lsthmus to exist. He says that
the l1ay-llerran treaty was entered into
at the urgent desire of Colombia, and its
terms made almost dangerously generous
out of consideration for the sensibilities
of that government
When laid before the Colombian senate
this treaty was unanimously rejected
and the hopelessnCss of ever obtaining a
reasonable treaty was made evident. In
this Columbia refused the first chance
she has ever had to repay us for
a half century of service, while
at the same time throwing aside
inCstimahle gaia for herself The
Colombia since the revolution of Nov 3.
shows that that government had and
refused to use its power to ratify the
treaty Passing to the Panama reVolu-
ton the President justities the recog-
milton of the new republic, and submits
the new treaty.
He says that the question is now one of
canal or no canal and points out that
the new treaty is vastly more favorable
to this country than that ratified 10y the
Senate last year OF the whole policy of
this government since Nov 3, he says:
Under such circumstances the govern
ment of the United States would have
been guilty of folly and weakness amount
ing in their sum to a crime if it had act
ed otherwise IL did" In comment ON
other features of the nations affairs. the
President asks a liberal appropriation for
the enforcement of the antitrust laws.
and for the general prosecution of offend
ers against the government, particularly
in the postal and land frauds tIe speaks
strongly of the need of keeping both
labor and capital combinations within
the bounds marked by the public interest,
and states strongly his belief in the right
of the worker to dispose of his labor in
any lawful method he may choose
The President comments on the pre-
liminary work Of the bureau of corpora 70
tons, i'm the department Of commerce and
labor. and points out that IT plans only to
secure the just enforcement of the laws
leaving the honest corporation nothing To
fear from its operations. The new de-
partment. he says, will he "A clearing
house of information, and "A new exec
utive arm of the government in bringing
al 10,
and serving the industrial and CONNER
cial progress of the country.
Looking toward the reViVinE of Oui
merchant marine. he recommends a com
mission which shall consider the whole
problem and suggest remedies. He
speaks emphatically Of the alarming
frauds" in the allotment of the public
lands. and advises a reimbursement Of the
laws. urging also that in the reclamation
projects with which these frauds ar,
largely connected, care should be taken
to apportion the irrigated lands only tc
home builders. The need of a sharp wal
on naturalization frauds is strongly pre-
scented.
The Alaska award is made subject OF
congratulation. Reviewing the Nenez-
uean question, the President declares
its reference to The Hague a matter OF
great value to the worlds peace. The
exemption of private property at sea
from capture in time Of war is urged as
a greatly needed extension of internaton-
al justice and fair dealing. In view OF
the very small surplus probable for the
next fiscal year, he recommends great
care in the avoidance of needless appro-
priations, so that essential matters may
be properly provided for.
At present he thinks an attempt to re-
construct our monetary system unwise
in this connection he renews certain rec
concentrations made in his message OF
last year. The work of the international
monetary commission should be continued
he believes, and he advises a further APP
preparation for the continuance of its
labors. Speaking strongly of the base
ness of bribery. the President says that
steps have been taken to put this crime
in the list of eXtraditable offences Mex
leo has already provided for this by
treaty. The new commercial treaty Will
China is declared to put our eastern bus
mess relations on a better footing than
they have ever before had. The present
disturbed state of Manchuria delays the
great trade development which the Pres
ident declares will ultimately follow as
the result OF the treaty. In this con
nection he notes that the cost of the con
sular service was reduced last year.
The only direct reference to the post
office department is contained in a state
ment OF the value of rural free delivery
and the farmer more alert and in touch
with the times. 1t is praised as means
of arresting the excessive draining of the
young into cities. No reference is made
to the postal frauds Aid is asked fol
| the Louisiana and Lewis and Clark eX-
| positions. The resources of Alaska are
extoled, and the President makes many
recommendations for the improvement o
| the territory. Hawaii is declared to neeC
| lighthouses; and its governor, he says
! should have free power of removing OF
| suspending officials without interference
! by the legislature. OF the Philippines
! the President notes steady progress, anC
advises the revision of present tariff re
| lations.
The elimination of partisan politics
| from the insular government is giveI
credit for the fortunate development o
affairs in the islands. Congress is asked
to consider legislation for the suppress
| sion of the cotton boil weevil. Attention II
called to the widespread illiteracy in thu
Indian Territory, due to lack of schools
| in the elimination of partisan interests
the appointment of eX-army officers ant
bonded superintendent as Indian agent
| has worked well
The President praises the work of tn
pension bureau in dsposng of old claims
and says that it will probably be up witt
current work by the end of the fisca
year. The extension of the civil servic
rules and appointments made under Their
| iS noted as n matter for cOngratula tiOn