The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-12-11
THE MESSAGE
TO CONGRESS-
President Roosevelt's Annual
Communication to the
National Legislators
The lsthmian Canal and the Pan.
anna Revolution Are Given
Lengthy Consideration
Says the Department of Commerce and
Labor Will Go Far Towards SoIv.
ing the Trust Problem.
Calls Attention to Undesirable Immisration...
Asks for More Stringent Naturaliza.
ton Laws and Enforcement
Wants Commission to Investigate
Needs of Merchant Mnrine-Post
Office and Public Land frauds
Our Foreign Relations.
Says the Department of Commerce and
Labor Will Go Far Towards SoIv.
ing the Trust Problem.
Calls Attention to Undesirable Immisration...
Asks for More Stringent Naturaliza.
ton Laws and Enforcement
Wants Commission to Investigate
Needs of Merchant Mnrine-Post
Office and PubHc Land Frauds
Our Foreign Relations.
no The senate and House Of Representa-

To the Senate and House of Representa-
tives:
The country is to be congratulated
ment which has marked the past year both
as regards our foreign and as regards our
domestic policy.
With a nation as with a man the most
i1nportant Things are those of the house
hold, and therefore the country is espe-
been accomplished in the direction of pro-
viding for the exercise Of supervision over
the great corporations and combinations
nerce. The congress has created the de-
rartment of and labor, includ-
ing the bureau of corporations, with for the
first time authority to secure proper pub
Lefty of such proceedings of these great
corporations as the public MAS the right
to know: It has provided for the expedit-
Ing OF suits for the enforcement of the fed
sral antt-trust law: and by another law
X has secured equal treatment to all pro-
thus taking a long stride forward in MAX
ing effective the work of the interstate
commerce commission. y
Bureau of Corporations.
The preliminary work of the bureau
Of corporations in the department has
shown the wisdom of it's creation. Pub
licity in corporate affairs will tend to do
facts upon which intelligent action may
be Systematic, intelligent hives
tigation is already developing facts the
hliC lCoSe L WIG Is eSStIlldI 10 a rlRIC
understanding of the needs and duties
which is honestly and fairly, organized,
business recognize their obligation to
deal squarely with their stockholders,
nothine competitors M TITO ro and The the public, has
The purpose of this bureau is not to en-
barrass or assail legitimate business, but
trial condition. condition under which
there shall be obedience to law and rec
ognition of public obligation by all cor
ment of commerce and labor Will be not
only the clearing house for information
regarding the business transactions 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
sners in industrial progress-capital and
labor. Commerce between the nations
L dtsaally Of sf tRs tima ln y yola aoMsra and d,o the
trade relations. Constant watchfulness
Is needed to secure to Americans the
: chance. to participate to the best advan-
tase-:a eora.s1=traas and We MAJ conf
IDENTIFY expect that the new department
will justify the expectation Of its Gre
ness, as well as by the businesslike adj
ministration of such laws relating to. our
internal afralrs as are intrusted to it's
care.
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy of the national gov
eminent, SO far as it has the power, is to
hold in check the INSCRIPTIONS man,
Wnether employer or employe; but to re-
Fuse to weaken Individual Initiative or to
hamper. or cramp the industrial Develop
mem, ,beI i Of f. the :. country oe We recognize that
ton, in which great capitalistic corpora
tons and labor unions have become factors
~ n Z plY ~ q N n nyt cA i'm ~ orfo - - H. = 4 I-.5 a =
%centers. Hearty recognition is given the
far-reaching. beneticent work which has
been accomplished through both corpora
tions and unions. and the line as between
dlfferent corporations, as between different
unions, is drawn as it is between different
duct, the effort being to treat both organ
ized capital and Experimentation alike; ask
Ing nothing save that the interests of each
interests of the general public. and that
the conduct of each shall conform to the
fundamental rules of obedience to law, of
fair dealing towards all. Whenever either
corporation, labor union or individual dis
regards the law or acts in a spirit of ar
bitrary and yrannou interference with
the rights of others, whether corporations
or individuals. then where the federal gov
that the misconduct is stopped. paving not
the slightest heed to the position or power
Of the corporation. the union or the indi-
vidual, but only to one vital fact-thatis,
the question whether or not the conduct
of the individual or aggregate of individ-
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 1t; nor do we ask any mans permis-
sion when we require him to obey It. Obe-
dtence to the law Is demanded as a right;
not asked as a favor.
Receipts and Expenditures.
From all sources, exclusive of the POSE
.7sss*;ss, the receipts OF the government
Io OF the last hscalyearaggregated $3.50, Ss6,674
We're s506,O99,0W the surplus for the fiscal
year being $54. 297. 667. indications
are that the surplus for the present fiscal
year Will be very small, II, indeed, there
be any surplus. From July to Noyem-
her the receipts from customs were. ap-
ceipts from the same source for a CORE
spending portion of last year. Should
this decrease continue at the same ratio
throughout the fiscal year, the s,Irplils
would be reduced by, approximately
10000, COO. 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-
lions It would be unwis and unnecessary
) TO attempt q reconstruction of our en-
tire monetary system. The same lib
erty should be granted the secretary of
the treasury to deposit customs re-
%ceipts ass granted him In the deposit of
YTeceipts from other sources. In my mes-