The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-06-21


IN which lapses from honesty have been
30 few and so trihing proportionately, as
In the public service Of the United States
And when they have occurred, have not
the Offenders been relentlessly prosecuted
and sternly punished without regard 10
political or personal relations?
Have we not had an effective govern
ment? Have not the laws been enforced
Has not the slow process OF legislative
discussion upon many serious questions
been brought to practical conclusions EN-
bodied In beneficial statutes? and has not
the executive proceeded without vacilla-
ton or weakness to give these effect? Are
not the laws of the United States obeyed
at home? and does not our government
command respect and honor throughout
the world?
Have we not had a safe and conserva-
tive government? Has not property been
protected? Are not the fruits OF enter
prise and industry secure? What safe
guard OF the constitution for vested right
or individual freedom has not been scrup-
ulously observed? When has any Ameri-
can administration ever dealt more con-
siderately and wisely with questions
which might have been the cause of con-
fict with foreign powers? When have
more just settlements been reached by
peaceful means? When has any adminis-
tration welded a more powerful influence
for peace? and when have we rested more
secure in friendship with all manlSind?"
After reviewing congressional legislation
during the past four years, Mr.. Root con-
tinued:
REGULATION OF TRUSTS.
At the every election, the regulation OF
trusts had been the football OF campaign
oratory and the subject of many insincere
declarations.
1 n
taken up the subject In a practical. sensi-
ole way as business rather than politi-
cal question. saying what 1t really meant.
and doing what lay at its hand 10 be done
to accomplish effective regulation The
principles upon which the government
proceeded were stated by the president in
his message OF December. 1902.
After long consideration. congress
passed three practical statutes: on the
|11th of February. 1soa an act TO expediate
hearing In suits in enforcement OF the
Antitrust act: on the lith OF February,
1903. the act creating a new department |
of commerce and labor with bureau of |
corporations, having authority to secure |
systematic information regarding the or |
ganization and operation OF corporations |
engaged in interstate commence: and on
the 18th OF February. 1903. an act enlarg-
ing the powers OF the interstate commerce /
secret rebates in transportation charges.
which are the chieaf means by which the
trusts crush out their smaller competl-
tors.
The attorney general has gone on in
the same practical way. not TO talk about
the truGts. but to proceed against the
trusts by law for their regulation. In
separate suits IA OF the great railroads
OF the country have been restrained by In
junction from giving illegal rebates to the
favored shippers. who by means OF them
were driving out the smaller shippers and
monopolizing the grain and meat business
OF the country. The beef trust was put
under Injunction. The officers OF the rail-
roads engaged in the cotton 6rrying pool,
affecting all that great industry OF the
South, were indicted and have abandoned
their combination.
The Northern Securities company which
undertook by combining in one ownership
the capital stocks of the Northern Pacific |
and Great Northern railroads 20 end traf-
&c competition IN the Northwest. has been
destroyed by a vigorous prosecution ex-
pedited and brought 10 a speedy and eff
fective conclusion I'm the supreme court
under the act OF Feb. 1lth. 1903
PUBLIC LANDS
we have at last reached a point where
the public wealth OF farm land which has
and the problem OF utilizing the remainder
for the building OF new homes has ~be-
come OF vital importance.
The present administration has dealt
with this problem vigorously and efec-
lively. Great areas had been unlawfully
fenced in by men of large means, and the
home-buiider had been excluded Many OF
these unlawful aggressors have been
compelled 20 relinquish their booty. and
more than 1900. 600 acres OF land have been
restored 20 the public Extensive frauds
In procuring grants OF land, not for home
stsads but for speculation have been in .
vestigated and stopped. and the perpe- ,
traitors have been indicted and are being /,
actively prosecuted.
POSTAL SERVICE.
The postal service has been extended I
md improved. It's revenues have increased {
from S6oooIooo IN iS95 70 100000 in 1880 7
and n44. 1000 In 1904 In dealing with {
these vast sums, few cases OF pecula- I