The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1903-12-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Washington, Dec. THE presidents
message has been transmitted to con.
gress, Its principal features are as fol.
lows:
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 re.
cards our domestic policy.
With nation as with a man the
most important things are those of the
household, and therefore the country
Is especially to be congratulated on
what has been accomplished in the di
rectfon Of providing for the exercise OF
supervision over the great corporations
and combinations of corporations en-.
gagged In interstate commerce. The
congress has created the department.
9 of commerce and labor including the
bureau Of corporations. with for the
first time authority to secure proper
publicity Of such proceedings Of these
great corporations as the public has
the right to know. 1t has provided for
the expediting of suits for the enforce
ment of the federal antitrust law, and
oy another law 1t has secured equal
treatment to all producers in the trans
portation of their goods, thus taking
IN long stride forward in making effec
tive the work of the interstate com.
merce commission.
! The preliminary work of the bureau
OF corporations In the department OF
labor has shown the wisdom of its ere
alton. Publicity in corporate affairs
Will tend to do away with ignorance
and will afford facts upon which intel
ligept action may be taken. Systemat
ic, Intelligent investigation is already
Seyeloping facts the knowledge OF
which is essential to right under
standing Of the needs and duties OF
the business world. The corporation
which is honestly and fairly organ
lied, whose managers in the conduct
OF Its business recognize their obliga
ton to deal squarely with their stock
holders, their competitors and the pub
lic has nothing to fear from such su
pervision, The purpose Of this bureau
MOTTO embarrass or assail legitimate
business, but to aid in bringing about
better industrial conditions condi
ton under which there shall be obedt
ence to law and recognition of public
obligation by all corporations, great OF
small. The department Of commerce
and labor will be not only the ciearina
house for information regarding the
business transactions of the nation, bui
the executive arm of the government
to aid In strengthening our domesti,
and foreign markets. in perfecting oul
transportation facilities. in building u,
our merchant marine. in preventing tn,
entrance of undesirable immigrants, IL
Improving commercial and industrial
conditions and in bringing together OF
common ground those necessary part
ners in industrial progress-capital and
labor.
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy of the nationaI
government, SO far as 1t has the power
Is to hold in check the unscrupulou.
man, whether employer or employee bu
TO refuse to weaken individual initia
tive or to hamper or cramp the indus
".
recognize that this is an era of fedora
Ion and combination, in which grea;
apitalistic corporations and labor un
ons have become, factors of tremendous
Importance In all industrial centers
Hearty recognition is given the fan
reaching, benefieent work which has
been accomplished through both cor
porationss. and UNIONS, and the line a.
between different corporations, as be
tween different unions, is drawn as II
is between different individuals-tha
is, 1t is drawn. on conduct, the effort
being to treat both organized capita
and organized labor alike, asking moth
ing save that the interest of each shall
be brought into harmony with the in
terest Of the general public and that
the conduct of each shall conform to
the fundamental rules of obedience tc
law, Of individual freedom and of jus
tice and fair dealing toward all. When
ever either corporation, labor union OF
individual disregards the law or acts
in spirit Of arbitrary and tyrannous
Interference with the rights of others,
whether corporations or individuals,
then where the federal government has
jurisdiction 1t 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 In
dividual. but only to one vital fact
that is, the question whether or moi
the conduct of the individual or aggre-
gate OF individuals 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 prop
erty or his labor SO long as he does
not infringe the rights Of others.
0overnment Receipts and Expend-
ftures.
! From all sources. exclusive Of the
postal service, the receipts of the gov
ernment for the last fiscal year aggre-
gated $500. .396.074. The expenditures
for the same period were $506. 6.O99. .007,
the surplus for the fiscal year being
s54.297. .667. The indications are that
the surplus for the present fiscal year