The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1903-12-10
Says the Department Of Commerce and
I Labor viii Go Far Towards SoIv.
ing the Trust Problem.
Calls Attention to Undesirable immigration.
Asks for More Stringent RatursIza.
ton Laws and Enforcement
Wants Commission to Investigate
Needs of Merchant MRrine-Post
once 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 and as regards our
domestic policy.
important things are those Of the house
hold, and therefore the country Is espe-
cially to be congratulated on what has
been accomplished in the direction Of pro-
.Yiding for the exercise of supervision over
the great corporations and combinations
of corporations engaged in interstate COM
merce. The congress has created the de-
partment of commerce and labor, includ-
ing the bureau of corporations, with for the
first time authority to secure proper pub
licity of such proceedings Of these great
corporations as the public has the right
to know. 1t has provided for the expedite
Ing Of suits for the enforcement of the fed
eral antitrust law: and by another law
1t 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
commerce commission.
Bureau OF Corporations.
The preliminary work of the bureau
shown the wisdom of its creation. Pub
licIty in corporate affairs win tend to do
away with ignorance, and will afford
facts upon which intelligent action may
be taken. Systematic, Intelligent inves-
tigation is already developing facts the
knowledge of which is essential to a right
understanding OF the needs and duties
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-
barrass or assail legitimate business, but
TO aid in bringing about better indus
trial conditions 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 information
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 watchfulness
is needed to secure to Americans the
chance to participate to the best advan-
IDENTIFY expect that the new department
will justify the expectation of its Gre
ators by the exercise of this watchful-
ness, as well as by the businesslike ad-
mipistration of such laws relating to our
internal affairs as are intrusted to its
care.
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy of the national gov
eminent, SO far as 1t has the power, is to
hold in check the interruptions man,
whether employer or empIoye; but to re-
fuse to weaken individual initiatiye 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 capitalist. corpora
tons and labor unions have become factors
OF tremendous importance in all Industrial
eenters. Hearty recognition is given the
far-reaching, benefcent 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 II Is between. dinerent
duct, the effort being to treat both organ
lied capital and organized labor alike ask
ing nothing save that the interests OF eaeh
shall be brought into harmony with the
interests of the general public, and that
thS 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 spirit OF ar
bitrary and tyrannous interference with
or individuals, then where the federal gov
eminent has jurisdiction, II viii see TO II
Inat the misconduct Is stopped, paying uot
the slightest heed to the position or power
OF the corporation, the union or the indl-
Yidual, but only to one vital fact-that Is,
the question whether or not the conduct
OF the individual or aggregate OF indiyid-.
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-
low It: nor do we ask any mans permits
sion when we require him to obey It, Obe-
dience TO the law Is demanded as right;
not asked as a favor.
Receipts and Expenditures.
From all sources, exclusive of the post
al service, the receipts Of the government
The expenditures for the same period
were $500, O9s.on, the surplus for the fiscal
wear being $5l.297 ,667. The indications
are that the surplus for the present fiscal
year win be very 5pail. 4, indeed, there
Der the receipts from customs were. APP
proxImately. 99,000,000 less than the re-
ceipts from the same source for corre-
spending portion of last year. Should
this decrease continue at the same ratio
would be reduced by. approximately.
s30,O00O00. Should the revenue from GUS
toms suffer much further decrease dur
ing the fiscal year, the surplus would
vanish.
Financial Legislation Not Needed.
The integrity OF our currency is be-
yond question, and under present condi-
tons It would be unwise and unnecessary
20 attempt a reconstruction OF our en-
tire monetary system The same lib
erty should be granted the secretary OF
the treasury TO deposit customsA re-
receipts from other sources. In my mes
Il