The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-12-29
Individual superiority and thrift.

Individual superiority and thrift.
The bureau has also made exhaustive
examinations into the legal condition
under which corporate business is car
ried on in the various states, into all
judicial decisions on the subject and
into the various systems of corporate
taxation in use l call special attention
to the report Of the chief of the bureau,
and | earnestly ask that the congress
carefully consider the report and rec
concentrations of the commissioner on
this subject.
The business Of insurance vitalIy af-
fects the great mass Of the people of
the United States and Is national and
not local in it's application. 1t involves
multitude of transactions among the
people Of the different states and be-
tween American companies and for
eign governments. l urge that the con-
gress carefully consider whether the
power of the bureau of corporations
cannot constitutioEaIly be extended to
cover interstate transactions in insur-
ance.
Rebates.
the highways Of commerce open to all
Oh equal terms. and to do this it is nec-
essaFy to put complete stop to ALI re-
bates. Whether the shipper or the rail-
road is to blame makes no difference
The rebate must be stopped, the abuses
of the private car and private terminal
track and side track systems must lie
Sfn a r:,,I, - ~,
ty-eighth congress which declares it to
be unlawful for any person or corpora
tlon TO offer. grant, give. solicit, accept
or receive any rebate, concession or
discrimination i'll respect Of the trans
portation Of any property in interstate
or foreign commerce whereby such
property shall by any device whatever
be transported at less rate than that
named in the tariffs published by the
carrier must be enforced. While l am
Of the opinion that at present it would
be undesirable if it were not impracti-
cable finally to clothe the interstate
commerce commission with general au-
thority to fix railroad rates, l do be-
iieve that as a fair security to ship
pers the commission should be vested
with the power where q given rate has
been challenged and after full hearing
found to be unreasonable to decide, sub
ject to judicial review, what shall be
reasonable rate to take its place, the
ruling of the commission to take effect
Immediately and to obtain unless and
until it is reversed by the court Of re-
view
Steamship companies engaged In In
terstatc commerce and protected in our
coastwise trade should be held to a
strict observance of the interstate COM
merce act.
[The president here discusses the
city Of Washington making numerous
recommendations looking to its better
government. He asks that laws be
passed preventing overcrowding in the
| tenement districts for the abolition of
blind alleys and the proper housing of
the poor. He also recommends changes
In the criminal code. and would have
| wife beaters corporally punished.l
Irrigation.
During the two and half years that
have elapsed since the passage of the
reclamation act rapid progress has
been made III the surveys and eXami-
nations Of the opportunities for recla-
nation in the thirteen states and three
| territories OF the arid west. Construc-
ton has already been begun Oh the lar
| gest and most important Of the irriga
ton works, and plans are being COM
pleted for works which will utilize the
funds now available.
The forest policy of the government
is just now Il subject of vivid public
! interest throughout the west and to the
people of the United States in general.
The forest reserves themselves are of
extreme value to the present as well
as to the future welfare Of all the
western public land states. They pow
erfully affect the use and disposal Of
the public lands. They are of spe-
eial Importance because they pre-
serve the water supply and the supply
of timber for domestic purposes and SO
promote settlement under the reclama-
ton act. Indeed they are essential to
the welfare of every one Of the great
interests of the west.
1 have repeatedly called attention to
the confusion which exists in govern
ment forest matters because the work
is scattered among three Independent
organizations. AS l have recommend
ed, all the ,forest work of the govern
ment should be concentrated in the de
partment of agriculture, where the
larger part of that work is already
done The Canyon Of the Colorado
should be made national park, and
the national park system should in
clude the Yosemite and as many al
california.
| Pensions.
The veterans of the civil war hav,
a claim upon the nation such as N
other body of our citizens possess. Th
pension bureau has never In its histor.
been managed in more satisfactor.
manner than is now the case.
Consular Service.
Our consular system needs improve
ment. Salaries should be substitutes
for fees. and the proper classification
grading and transfer of consular 0i
ficers should be provided. I am no
prepared to say that cOmpetltlve sys
| tenn OF examinations for appointmeE
would work we'll, but by law it shoul
be provided that consuls should b
familiar. according to places for whic
, they apply, with the French, Germa
or Spanish language and should po:
, sess acquaintance with the resources
the United States.
. 1t Is desirable to enact a proper nj
tional quarantine law.
} 1 call your attention to the gres
: extravagance in printing and bindin
? government publications and especial
to the fact that altogether too many
, these publications are printed.
2 Currency.
u Tie attention of the congress shou
be especially given to the curren'
| UuaStiou and that tho standing cOmm]