Gilpin observer., 1903-12-10

Tne work or the Department OF Com
merce and Labor has been conditioned
upon this theory, of securing fair treat
ment alike for labor and for capital.
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 re-
fuse to weaken individual initiative or
to hamper or cramp the industrial devel-
opment of the country. We recognize
that this is an era of freedom and COM
bination. in which great capitalstic cor
porations and labor unions have become
factors of tremendous importance in all
industrial centers. Hearty recognition Is
given the far-reaching. beneficent work
which has been accomplished through
both corporations and unions. and the
line as between different corporations,
as between different unions Is drawn as
1t Is between different Individuals; that
is. IT is drawn on conduct, the effort be-
ing to treat both organized capital and
organized labor alike: asking nothing
save the interest of each shall be brought
into harmony with the interest 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 corpora
tion, labor union. or individual disre-
garcs the law or acts in spirit of arbi-
trary and tyrannous interference with
the rights of others. whether corpora
tions or individuals. then where the
Federal Government has Jurisdiction it
will see to it that the misconduct is
stopped. paying not the slightest heed to
the position or power OF the corporation,
the union or the Individual. but only to
one vital fact-that is, the question wheth-
er or not the conduct of the individual
or aggregate of individuals is in ac-
cordance with the law of the land. Every
man must be guaranteed his liberty and
his right to do as he likes with his prop
erty or his labor. long as he does not
infringe the rights of others. No man Is
above the law and no man is below 1t;
nor do we ask any mans permission when
we require him to obey 1t. Obedience to
the law Is demanded as "a right; not asked
as a favor.
Receipts and Expenditures.
From all sources. exclusive of the pos
tai service. the receipts of the govern
ment for the last fiscal year aggregated
$3.50 ,396.674. The expenditures for the
same period were $500. 9OO7. 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, II
indeed there be any surplus. From July
to November the receipts from customs
were. approximately. nine million dollars
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,
approximately. thirty million dollars.
Should the revenue from customs suffer
much further decrease during the fiscal
year. the surplus would vanish. A large
surplus Is certainly undesirable. Two
years ago the war taxes were taken on
with the express intention of equalizing
the government receipts and expenditures.
and though the first year thereafter still
showed surplus. II now seems likely
that substantial equality of revenue
and expenditure will be attained. Such
being the case It is OF great moment both
to exercise care and economy in appro-
priations. and to scan sharply any Change
In our fiscal revenue system which may
reduce our income. The need OF strict
economy, In our expenditures IL empha.
sized by the fact that we can not afford
to be parsimonious In providing for what
Is essential to our national well-being.
Careful economy wherever possible will
alone prevent our income from falling
below the point required In order to meet
our genuine needs.
Needs Of Financial Situation.
The integrity of our currency is beyond
question. and under present conditions II
would be unwise nnd unnecessary to at-
tempt reconstruction OF our entire mon
etary system. The same liberty should
be granted the Secretary of the Treasury
to deposit customs receipts us Is granted
him in the deposit OF receipts from other
sources. In my message of Dec. 2, 1902,
/ called attention to certain needs Of the
financial situation. and i again ask the
consideration OF the Congress for these
questions.
Gold and silver Standard.
During the last session OF the Congress,
at the suggestion OF n joint note from
the Republic OF Mexico and the Imperial
Government OF China. and in harmony
with an act OF the Congress appropriate.
Ing $4,000 to pay the expenses thereof,
a commission was appointed to confer
with the principal European countries In
the hope that some plan might bs. deviaed