The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-12-06
ROOSEVELT TO CONGRESS.

ROOSEVELT TO CONGRESS.
President Roosevelts message is
longer than usual this year, perhaps
Tor the reason that his Sermons are
spun out 10 a greater length. The
president, as the country has long
since learned, likes nothing better than
the sound of his own preaching. He
must have enjoyed writing the message
read before congress yesterday far
more than the lawmakers enjoyed
hearing it. The document contains lit
Gle that vas not long since discounted.
1t was practically certain. for exam
pie, that Mr.. Roosevelt would again
dodge the question of tariff revision.
He does mention the tariff. though in
cidentally, in the course of a discus
sion of government revenues and the
necessity for keeping the expenditures
Of the nation within the national in
come. After calling attention TO the
fact that there was a deficit in the last
fiscal year, he says;
1t should be considered whether il is
not desirable that the tariff laws should
provide for applying as against or in IA
vor of any other nation, maximum and
minimum tariff rates established by the
congress so as to secure a certain reci-
prOciCy of treatment between other ma
tons and ourselves"
That is absolutely the only reference
10 the tariff in the message, and it
viii be seen that the executive fails 20
make any definite recommendation
whatever. Mr.. Roosevelt roars US "as
gently as any sucking dove" in this
regard. And he abundantly iustifies
the statement of Mr.. Whitney of Mas
sachusetts, a statement to which the
president entered strenuous objections.
that believers in tariff revision can
have no hope Of help from his quarter.
The message begins with a preach
ment Oh the evils OF envying those who
have accumulated more than the ordi-
nary share OF the goods of this world.
Then the subject of corporations is
taken up. And again Mr.. Roosevelt
roars like a sucking dove. He let's it
the passage of reasonable laws pro-
yiding for the regulation of corpora
tons. he is not opposed, on general
principles. to great combinations OF
capital. The keynote Of his trite cor
poration talk is sounded when he says:
What is needed is not sweeping pro-
hibition OF every arrangement good or
bad. which may tend TO restrict compe-
tition. but such adequate supervision
and regulation as win prevent any re-
suiction of competition from being TO
the detrimont Of the public-as we'll as
such supervision and regulation as win
prevent other abuses in no way con-
nected with restriction Of competition"
-
On the subject of rate legislation Mr..
Roosevelt has a great deal to say. He
would have passed a law Ito secure 10
the agents Of the government such SUI
pervisiou and regulation of the rates
charged BY the railroads Of the country
engaged in interstate traffic as shall
summarily and effectively prevent the
imposition OF unjust or unreasonable
rates. 1t must include putting q stop
10 rebates in every shape and form"
The president adds that this power
should be used with moderation, eau
ton and self-resraiut; but il should
exist. so that it can be effectively eX-
ercised when the need arises
In cases where the commission finds
that q favored shipper is being given
"a specially low rate the president be-
Iicves the authorities should have the
power 10 establish that rate as the
maximum Tor all shippers. He would
provide serious pains and penalties for
railroads that failed 10 enforce with
ptomptness ths findings OF the commits
sion. All private car lines, in the opin-
ION of Mr.. Roosevelt, should be specih-
cally placed under the supervision OF
the railroad commission. ana he goes so
far as TO favor a government inspec-
lion OF the books Of railroad companies
when circumstances seem to warrant
such action.
Toward the close Of his rate-making
talk Mr.. Roosevelt declares that he is
not unfriendIy 10 the railroads. lie says
The legislation he proposes is net only
I'm the interest Of the public. but in the
interest % the honest railroad man and
the honest shipper alike It is clear,
however. from the tone of the message,
that AIr. Roosevelt win listen TO no
compromise talk on the rate question.
l. there is anything in indications every
ounce Of his influence viii be used -
secure the passage Of most drastic
law.
- =
Following the railroad rate discussion
is a not particularly important O; n
tcresting essay on labor, ana then
comes the question of life Insurance.
lie says. 1T has been only too clear
" shown that certain of The men a nc
head Of these large insurance corpo-
rations take but small note OF the eth
ical distinctions between honesty and
dishonesty. they draw tbs .iae only
THIS side Of what may boz cdt'.l !aw-
honesty the kind OF honesty racessary
in order 20 avoid falling into the
clutches Of the law"
Mr.. Roosevelt believes il should lie
possible to establish sy5-e.n Of fsd-
eraI supervision of life insurance, il
having been shown that state super
vision r. inadeeuate. lie Eegld have
this Supervision extend, and propegiy