The independent., 1903-12-10

1eaturc-lt is SnOrIer Cndn many Ol
these public domuments; but, cover
ing some sixteen to eighteen columns
of The Independent, we do not think
it necessary to publish it in full.
Contrary to good newspaper usage,
as the Lincoln Daily Star points out,
the. president discusses the Panama
question last, whereas, if he "had been
a newspaper man he would have up
ended the message, to use technical
story the lead"
The president begins his message
with a history of the legislation ere
ating the department of commerce and
labor, the preliminary work done by
that department, with few precepts
thrown in for good measure. The lat
ter recalls forcibly his past references
to the desirability of "deeds' rather
than words"
with a nation as with man"
says the president, "the most import
ant things are those of the household,
and therefore the country is especial
ly to be congratulated on what has
been accomplished in the direction OF
providing for the exercise of supervi-
sion over the great corporations and
combinations of corporations engaged
in interstate commerce. The congress
has created the department OF COM
merce 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 enforcement
of the federal antitrust law; and by
another law it has secured equal treat
ment to all producers in the transpor-
tation of their goods, thus taking a
long stride forward in making ef-
fective the work of the interstate
commerce commission"
The establishment of the depart
ment of commerce and labor, Presi-
dent Roosevelt declares, is not de-
signed to restrict or control the full
est liberty Of legitimate business ac-
ton, but to secure exact and authen-
tic information which will enable 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
privileges at the expenses of dimin-
ished opportunities Of the many. But
he carefully refrains from mention
ing the absolute refusal of the Stand
ard Oil trust to furnish the "eXact and
authentic information which the de-
partment asked.
Adam Smith, the father Of political
economy, believed that each individual
best promoted the public welfare by
pursuing his own interests; and his
doctrine of ''laissez faire" required
government to "let alone" and keep
hands off'-or to use favorite ex-
preston of Mark Hanna, TO keep on
letting well enough alone'-and per-
nit the various individuals to attend
to their own affairs while government
attended to its. Could he but see the
modern application of his doctrines, 1t
were enough to make him turn over in
his grave! Instead of ''laissez faire,'
interference with private affairs at ev-
cry turn-and all because private per-
sons are permitted to engage In GER
tam DuSluesStS WHICH arc ny tHtli Ha~
ture essentially public and which
should be owned by the public and OPP
Grated by the government at cost of
service.
But President Roosevelt expects TO
solve the problem by supervision
that superylses the little fellows and
lets the big ones enjoy ''laissez falre"
To their hearts content. At least his
"deeds" bear thia Interpretation. His
words" however. say;
''In enacting the laws above enum-
Grated the congress proceeded on sane
and conservative lines. Nothing rev.
olmtionary was attempted: but n com
nonsense and successful effort was
made In the direction OF seeing that
corporations are so handled as o.
subArrye The public good. The iegls-
iatlon was moderate. II was charac-
terixed throughout hy the idea that
We we're not attacking corporations.
but endeayorlng 10 provide for doing |
away with any evil In them; that we
drew the line against misconduct not |