The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-07
The Presidents Message.

The Presidents Message.
president Roosevelts message Is WIZ
lengthy. but, like most OF the papers 'nae
come from his hand, it is entertaining a'''
suggestive. lIetells the people lranh's
,bat the expenses OF government arc NJ
crcnsiny, ana that the prosperity tiiroush
vh;cn the country is passing 5ustiiies
,lese increased expenditures. lie oevo'es
large section OF his message to inc a's-
russjon or the question. Of capitai se''u
labor. calling attention Especially 70 .''e
fnct thar 1t IS very difficult for tho gov
crnmentto lesslnte on these subjects be-
ca,,se Of the reserved rights OF the states
,ro comedies ,l,at laboring men have the
right to organize but says that "hcl' any
.hor nnion seeks improper ends or seeks
81 proper ends by Improper means, all goou
citizens, and mere especially al honoi-
able pullic servants, should oppose tho
wronrdoinr as resolutely us they would
,,pnose the wrongdoing OF any great cor
poratiop. "Of course" says the 1'fesl-
dent In this connection, ANY vio!ence
brutality or corruption should not Tor
one nement be tolerated. There Is no op-
lection to employees Of the government
forming or belonging to unions; but ti1e
government can neither discriminate for
nor discriminate against non-unlon men
who are in its employment or VINO SEEK
10 hA employed under It. Moreover, II IS
a very grave improprioty for government
employes TO band themselves together Tor
the purpose Of extorting improperly high
salaries from the government. Especially
is4th!s true OF those within the classil1ed
service. ,rh, letter carriers, both n1uni-
cipal and rural, are, as a whole, an ex-
celent body OF public servants.
Speaking OF corporations, he says that
they should be required to use all pre-
cautionary measures to protect their en-
ployes from accident. He calls attention
10 the ever-increaslns casualty list upon
our railroads, saying that it IS q matter
OF grave public concern, ana urgently
calls for action by Congress. F1e advo-
Gates the enactment Of a law requiring
tho adoption OF the block signal system
on the railroads and all other safety ap-
plances. Above all else, he says we
must strive to keep the highways OF COM
,nerce open to all on equal terms, and 10
do this it is necessary to put complete
sion 70 all rebates. EIe does not believe
that the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion should havcAthe power to fix rates,
but does believe that. 1t should be vested
With tho power, where q given ratio has
II been challenged, ana after full hearing
found TO be unreasonable, to decide, sub
ject TO "A judicial review, what shall DC
/, casonnble rate to take its place. the
ruling Of the commission to take effect
Immediately, and TO obtain unless sanc
I until it is reversed by the court OF re-
yiew. He holds that the government mus
In increasing degree supervise and rcsu
late the workings of the railways ENGAGE
IN Interstate commerce, and that sucl
Increasing supervision is the only altarnu
tive 10 an Increase of the present eVlls
ON the one hand, or Il still moro rnulcu
policy, on the other. In his Judgment
,h,. most important legislative act nov
needed as, regards tho regulation OF cor
porations Is an act to confer on the Inter
stute Commerce Commission the powe
10 revise rates and regulations. the revise
rate at once to go into effect and TO sta
in effect unless and until the court of re
yAerv rercrses it.
lIe urges Congress carefully to considc
whetlic.. tho power OF the bureau c
extended 10 cover interstate transaction
in insurance.
In discussing the government or Wasl
ington city, lie rsters to the overcrowGiI
Of cities and the enormous death rate thu
overcrowding brings, anu that stcl
should be taken in Washington TO prove,
ii. lie wants the children well locke
after saying that no Christian and ciyi
lied community can afford to show
happy go-iucky lack of concern for u
youth OF to-day, for, II so, the communal
will have 10 pay a terrible penalty
financial burden ana social degradatic
in the tomorrow. lie declares that the
should be severe child labor and facto
inspection laws, Tho President fur,h
says that married women should not No
In factories; that tho prime duty OF Il
man Is 10 work, and 70 be the brea
winner; Willie tlts prime duty of Il
woman Is to be the mother the hous
WIFE. ..AlF questions of tarf an
finance" SAYS ne. sink into utter insi
niiicancr when compared With The II
pSndors the vital. Importance Of tryi
10 shape conditions so that these I,
Duties of the man and of the woman g
lie fulfilled under reasonable ar1 faW
able circumstances. II 4 iace docs i
have plenty q eh!las.e 81 i lhs e!l