The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-08
(By the Associated Press.)


Washington, Dec. 7-President Roose-
velt's message to Congress, which was
read in both Houses Of that body today,
touched briefly upon variety Of ques-
tions of the day and may be looked upon
as in the main very conservative doc
ument. Brevity, however, is departed
from in the handling of the secession of
Panama and the canal question involved
therein. This matter is treated at length.
The text of the document follows:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tive:
The country is to be congratulated on
the amount of substantial achievement
which has marked the past year, both as
regards our foreign and as regards our do
nestle policy.
CORPORATIONS
With nation as with man the mos
impoltan things are those of the house
hold and therefore the country is especial
ly to be congratulated on what has beer
accomplished in the direction of providing
for the exercise of supervisor over the
great corporations and combinations OF
corporations engaged in interstate COM
rnerce The Congress has created the De-
partmcnt of Commerce and Labor, includ-
ing 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 enforcement Of
bo ont; frtIct lou Ixv
er law it has secured equal treatment to
al producers in the transportation of their
goods, thus taking long stride forward
in making effective the work of the Inter
state Commerce Commission.
DEPARTMENT. OF COMMERCE AND
LABOR.
The establishment of the Department OF
Commerce and Labor with the Bureau of
Corporations hereunder, marks a real ad-
vance in the direction of doing all That is
possible for the solution Of the questions
vitally affecting capitalists and wage
workers. The act creating the department
was approved on February IA, 1903, and
two days late the head of the department
was nominated and confirmed by the Sen
ate Since then the work of organization
has been pushed as rapidly as the initial
appropriations permitted, and with due re-
gard to thoroughness and the broad pur-
poses which the department is designed
10 serve After the transfer Of the various
bureaus and branches of the department
at the beginning of the current fiscal year,
as provided for in the act, the personnel
comprised 1899 employees in Washington
and S,S36 in the country at large The
scope of the departments duty and au-
thority embraces the commercial and in
dustrial interests of the nation. It is not
designed to restrict or control the fullest
liberty of legitimate business action, but
to secure exact and authentic information
which will aid the executive in enforcing
existing laws, and which will enable the
Congress to enact additional legislation. if
any should be found necessary, in order
to prevent the few from obtaining privi-
leges at the expense of diminished oppor-
tunities for the many.
BUREAU OF CORPORATIONS.
The preliminary work of the Bureau Of
Corporations in the Department has shown
the wisdom OF It's creation Publicity in
corporate affairs will tend to do away with
ignorance, and will afford facts upon which
intelligent action may be taken Syste-
matte, intelligent investigation is already
developing facts, the knowledge of which
IS essential to right understanding Of the
needs and duties of the business world
The corporation, which is honestly and
fairly organized, whose managers in the
conduct of its business recognize their
obligations to deal squarely with their
stockholders, their competitors, and the
public, has nothing to fear from such su
pervision. The purpose Of this bureau
IS not to eInbarrass or assail legitimate
business, but to aid in bringing about
better industrial condition. condition
under which there shall be obedience to
law and recognition of public obligation
by all corporations great or small. The
Department of Commerce and Labor VIII
be not only the clearing .souse for intorma-
tion regarding the business transactions q
the nation. but the excessive arm of the
government to aid in STRENGTHENING our 40
mestic and foreign markets. IN perfeetlng
Continued on Second Page.l