Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-12-09
REGULAR SES-
SION OPENED
President Roosevelt Sends to Con
.gress Annual Review of condi.
tons at Home and Abroad.
CANAL TREATY is READY
Recommends Creation of Commits
sions for Study Of Changes in Ex-
istins Land Laws.


convened today in regular session and
listened to the reading Of the presi-
dents annual message to congress. The
special session robbed the day Of
many interesting features incident to
a new congress. The house having
organized four weeks ago, the cere-
mony of the opening day compris-
ed merely the roll call to develop the
presence of a quorum and the custo-
mary notifications to the president
and to the senate.
No reference was made to the spec
ial session.
More than an hour and half were
consumed in the reading of the presi
dents message. at the conclusion OF
which there was general applause on
the Republican side of the chamber.
A considerable amount OF routine
matters necessary to facilitate the
work of the committees was transact
ed prior to the reception of the mes
sage. The house adjourned at $3.50
O'Clock out of respect to Henry Burk
(Pa.), a member who died Saturday.
Washington, Dec THE senate to-
day closed the extraordinary session
and entered on the duties of the reg.
ular session, but the transition was
so natural as to be scarcely notice
able. The unusual features were the
close of the called session by an an
nouncement from the chair, and the
offering of two prayers in the senate
within a half hour of each other. The
business transacted consisted of the
reading of the presidents message
and the beginning of the discussion
on the Cuban reciprocity bill.
The following is a resume of the
presidents message:
Much has been accomplished in the
past year in the direction OF exercis-
ing supervision over great corpora
tions. Publicity has been provided
for, suits for the enforcement of the
antitrust law have been expedited,
and equal treatment of all producers
in the transportation of their goods
has been secured by law. The
preliminary work of the bureau OF cor
porations has shown the wisdom OF
its creation. The functions of the new
department of commerce are briefly
summarized in the message.
Hearty recognition has been given
to the far-reaching, beneficial work
done by both corporations and unions,
and "the line as between diherent cor
porations, as between different unions,
is drawn as 1t is between different in
dividuals; that is, it Is drawn on con-
duct, the effort being to treat both or
ganized capital and organized labor
alike; asking nothing save that the
interest of each shall be brought into
harmony with the interest Of the gen.
eral public. and that the conduct OF
each shall conform to the fundamen'
tai rules of obedience to law, of indi'
vidual freedom, and of justice and fair
dealing toward all"
The surplus of the fiscal year was
$54,297,667.
Continuation of the commission to
devise a plan for fixing a rate OF eX-
change is advised.
Appointment of a commission to In
yestigate conditions in our ocean-car-
rying trade and to report to congress
is suggested.
Some system for excluding unde-
sirable Immigrants, and for distribut.
ing desirable immigrants properly
throughout the country Is necessary.
AT present some districts which need
immigrants have none; and In others,
where the population is already con-
gested, immigrants come In such num-
bers as to depress the conditions OF
life for those already there"
Evidence unearthed of naturaliza-
ton frauds reveals condition calling
for the immediate attention OF con-
gress. 1T should mean something to
become a citizen of the United States,
and in the process no loophole wnat-
ever should be left open to fraud.
Extension of the appropriation for
enforcement of the antitrust laws
should be extended so 1t will be ad.
yisable also for enforcement OF other
laws. including the land laws and
those governing the postal depart
ment.. Bribery should be made
an extraditable offense.
Proceedings In the Alaskan bound
ary matter and the growth OF Alaska
are referred to.
The cause of international arbitra-
ton has materially advanced.
Private property at sea should be
exempt from destruction by beiliger-
ents.
Our relations with Turkey remain
friendly. The signing OF the
new commercial treaty with China
is a cause for satisfaction. Cost
of our consular service has been very
greatly reduced.
Rural free delivery is being rapid
ly extended. II emphasizes further
the need of good roads.
Congress should continue to help
the Louisiana and Lewis and Clarke
expositions.
The Philippines should be knit
closer to us by tariff arrangements"
"The condition of the islanders
is in material things far better than
ever before, while their government
al, intellectual and moral advance has
kept pace with their material advance.
No one people ever benefited another
people more than We have benefited
the Filipinos by taking possession OF
the islands"
The public land laws must be re-
vised. The home builder must be
protected and the lands held for him
especially. "The work Of rec