Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-12-12

supervision of great corporations, etc.
can be obtained by the enactment OF
law by the congress.
The immediate and most pressing
need so far us Legislation is concerned
IL the enactment into law of some
scheme to secure to the agents OF the
government such supervision and resu'
lation of the rates charged by the rail-
roads of the country engaged in inter
state traffic as shall summarily and Ell
fectively prevent the imposition OF un'
Just or unreasonable rates. 1t must
include putting complete stop to re-
bates in every shape and form.
In my judgment. the most important
provision which such law should con-
tain is that comforting upon some COM
petent administrative body the power
to decide upon the case being brought
before it, this decision to go into effect
within reasonable time and to obtain
from thence onward, subject to review
by the courts.
All private car lines. industrial roads,
refrigerator charges and the like
should be expressly put under the SUI
pervision of the interstate commerce
commission or some similar body so
far as rates and agreements practical
ly affecting rates are concerned. re-
bate in icing charges or III mileage or IN
division of the rate for refrigerating
charges is just as pernicious as re-
bate in any other way.
There should be publicity Of the &C.
counts of common carriers. Only In
this way can violations or evasions OF
the law be surely detected.
hope that an employers liability
law will be prepared and enacted as
speedily as possible.
The remedy Is to regulate the pro-
cedure In issuing injunctions In labor
disputes is by requiring the judge to
give due notice to the adverse parties
before granting the writ. the hearing
to be ex parte II the adverse party does
not appear at the time and place Or
dered. What is due notice must depend
uDOn Tue luCtS vi TIC vase.
recommend an investigation by the
department of commerce and labor OF
general labor conditions, especial at
tention to be paid to the conditions OF
child labor and child labor legislation
In the several states.
The department Of commerce and la
Dor should also make thorough inves-
tIgation of the conditions Of women in
Industry. Over 100000 American wo-
mer are now engaged In gainful occu-
patlons. yet there Is an almost complete
dearth Of data upon which to base any
Trustworthy conclusions as regards
subject as important as 1t Is vast and
complicated. The introduction Of wo-
men In industry Is working change
and disturbance in the domestic and
social life of the nation. The decrease
In marriage. and especially In the birth
rate. has been coincident with it.
Recent events have emphasized the
Importance Of an early and exhaustive
consideration Of the insurance question.
to see whether 1t Is not possible to fur
nish better safeguards than the several
states have been able to furnish against
corruption of the fragrant kind which
has been exposed.
1t is impossible to outline what shape
a readjustment Of the revenues should
take. for 1t Is as yet too early to say
whether there will be need for It. 1t
should be considered whether it Is not
desirable that the tariff laws should
provide for applying as against or In
favor of any other nations maximum
and minimum tariff rates established
by the congress. so as to secure Il GER
tain reciprocity Of treatment between
other nations and ourselves.
earnestly recommend to the con-
gress the need Of economy and. to this
end. of rigid scrutiny of appropriations.
Every consideration Of prudence de-
mands the addition Of the element Of
elasticity to our currency system. In
hation must be avoided. but some pro-
vision should be made that will insure
larger volume OF money during the
fall and winter months than in the less
active seasons Of the year, so that the
currency will contract against specula-
ton and will expand for the needs Of
legitimate business.
1.-THE president repeats his recon-
mendatiOn In his last annual message
regarding federal elections
This government will do everything
In Its power to secure the success Of
The Hague conference TO the end that
substantial progress may be made in
the cause Of international peace, justice
and good will.
We must as a nation make 1t EVIL
dent that we do not intend to treat the
Monroe doctrine In any shape or way
as an excuse for ACKNOWLEDGMENT OH our.
part at the expense Of the republics to
the south. But We must make it evil
dent that We do not intend to permit 1t
to be used by any nation on this CONT
nent as shield to protect it from the
consequences of Its own misdeeds
against foreign nations.
Santo Domingo has now made an ap
peal to us, and not only every principle
Of wisdom, but every generous instinct
within us, bids us respond to the ap-
peal. The conditions In SantO Do
mingo have for number Of years
grown from bad to worse until year
ago all society was on the verge Of dis
solution. Under the course taken by us
stability and order and all the benefits
Of peace are at last coming to SantO
Domingo. danger Of foreign interven-
ton has been suspended. and there Is at
last prospect that all creditors will
get justice. no more and no less.
I do not believe that any army In the
world has better average of enlisted
man or better type Of junior officer,
but the army should be trained to act
effectively In mass. Provision
should be made by sufficient appropria-
tons for maneuvers Of q practical
kind, for the promotion Of exceptional
~ meritorious men over the heads Of |
their comrades and for the retirement |
Of all men who have reached a given
age without getting beyond Q Owen
rank.