The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-07
rHr pnEsrnENvs mEssAGE.

ing conditions in the Philippines, stat
ing reasons why it wouldn't be advis-
able to give the Filipinos their indie
pendence at this time. 1t contains
10000 or more words, and deals with
each department of the government
and with subjects which are recon-
| mended for legislation. 1t is interest
ing for what the President says about
matters that are not usually present
ed in presidential messages, such as
the need of reforms in our cities, child
labor, better protection for the travel
ing public and additional liability of
| corporations for injuries sustained by
their employees in the line of their du-
ties.
The President makes it clear that
| while he is friendly to labor unions,
he favors the open shop. He doesn't
see, however, how the general govern
ment can interfere iii labor troubles
to a greater extent than it does now
to bring about a settlement of them or
| for the preservation of the peace as
long as the primary control of the
police power remains in the states.
When there is such interference the
! circumstances must be altogether ex-
treme. He is satisfied, however, that
the liability of employers for damages
when their employees are injured should
be greater than it is, and, therefore,
he recommends that a commission be
appointed to study the entire question
of employers liability with the view
of extending the provisions of a great
and constitutional law to all employ
ment within the scope of the govern
ment.
What he says in respect to safety on
railroads will be fully appreciated.
There have been so many railway ac-
cidents within the last few months
that any steps in the direction of pre-
venting such accidents will be APP
proved. The percentage of accidents
on European railroads is small COM
pared with that on railroads of this
country. Most of the accidents on our
railroads are due to carelessness. in
efficiency or incompetency of employees.
The Presidents opinion is that the
railways should be required to employ
only frst-class men; that they should
not keep them on continuous duty
long enough to impair their efficiency
and that drastic punishment should be
melted out to employees who under such
circumstances are responsible for acct
dents.
The President also discusses freight
rates, freight rate determinations and
rebates. He admits that this is a diff
cult question to handle, and says that
he isn't prepared to recommend that
the Interstate Commerce Commission
be given authority to fix rates. but
thinks that, when a rate is challenged
the commission should have power to
fix the maximum rate, subject to jul
dicial revision. 1t is probable that the
whole question of interstate freight
rates will come before Congress at an
early day. There is so much discrimi-
nation, such big rebates in favor of
large shippers and so many evasions
found dissatisfaction with the rail-
roads and their freight rate methods.
The President doesn't discuss the
trust question at as great length as
might be expected, in view of the part
that question played in the presiden-
tial campaign. In discussing it, how
ever, he takes occasion to make it
clear that he had no respect whatever
for the position the Democratic cam
didate for President took on that ques-
to attempt to deal with abuses in
great corporations by state action. He
says he can't be patient with the ar
gument that such matters should be
left to the states. In his opinion, the
national government alone can deal
with these great corporations. He ad-
mits that these corporations are neces-
sary, but they must be managed with
due regard to the public welfare. They
must come out in to open. state
more than they are given. In future
publicity, not secrecy, will win. An in
teresting feature of the message is
the recommendation that the Bureau of
Corporations be extended to cover in
surance companies. No doubt those
who have invested in life insurance
would approve legislation of this kind
There is no doubt plenty of room
for reform in our cities. The Presi-
dent wants Congress to make WASH
ington a model city-a model for other
American cities. In this connection
he expresses his views freely in favor
of better care Of children and of the
severest kind Of child-labor and fac
tory-inspection laws. In this connec-
ton he says it is desirable that mar
ried women shouldn't work in factories.
He SAYS further:
1.-The prime duty of the man is to
work, to be the bread winner; the
prime duty of the woman is to be the
mother, the housewife. All questions
of tariff and finance sink into utter
] insignifcance when compared with the
tremendous, the vital Importance of
| trying to shape conditions so that
these two duties of the man and of
! the woman can be fulfilled under
reasonably favorable circumstances.
II race does not have plenty of
children, or If the children do not
grow up, or IL when they grow up
they are unhealthy in body and stunt
| ed or vicious in mind. then that race