The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1905-12-08
Congress carefully consider whether the DOW

Congress carefully consider whether the pow
er OF the Bureau Of Corporations cannot con-
stitntionally be extended to cover Interstate
/ transactions In insurance" Recent events
have emphasized the Importance OF an early
and exhaustive consideration Of this Ques-
: ton. 10 see whether it is not possible to fur
Nish better safeguards than the several
states have been able to furnish against cor
rupton OF the fragrant kind which has been
exposed.
The Revenues.
Touching the question of tariff and
revenue the views Of the President are
as follows:
There Is more need OF stability than OF
the attempt to attain an ideal perfection in
the methods OF raising revenue; and the
shock and strain 10 the business world GER
tain to attend any serious change in these
methods render such change inadvisabEc un-
less for grave reason. 1t is not possible to
/ lay down any general rule by which 10 de-
, ttrmine the moment when the reasons for
Will outweigh the reasons against such
Change. Much must depend. not merely on
the needs, but on the desires. OF the people
| as whole; for needs and desires are not nee
essarily Identical. OF course no change can
be made on lines beneficial to, or desired
by one section Of one state only There must
be something like general agreement among
the citizens OF the several states. as repre-
sented in the Congress, that the change is
needed and desired in the interest OF the
people as whole; and there should then be
a sincere. intelligent, and dlSinterested effort
to make ii in such shape as will combine. so
far as possible. the maximum OF good to he
people at large with the minimum OF neces-
! sary disregard for the special interests OF
localities or classes. But in time OF peace
the revenue must on the average, taking
series Of years together, equal the expendl-
lures or else the revenues must be increased.
I ,I1s, i.G l't,In on
pendttures can be kept within the revenues
then our revenue laws must be readjusttd.
| 1t Is AS yet too early 10 attempt To outline
! what shape such readjustment should take,
for 1t is as yet too early to say whether
| there will be need for it. II should be con-
sidered whether it is not desirable that the
( tariff laws should provide for applying as
against or in favoc OF any other nation maxi
mum and minimum tariff rates established by
the Congress. as to secure a certain reci-
prorty OF treatment between other nations
and ourselves. Having N view even larger
considerations 81 policy than those OF
purely economic nature, it would, In my
| judgment. be well TO endeavOr TO bring about
closer commercial connections with the other
people or TINS continent. | am happy to be
abe to announce to you that Russia now
treats us on the most-tavored nation basis.
Economy in Expenditures.
The necessity for economy and a
rigid scrutiny of appropriations IS
made manifest. with this proviso:
Yet, In speaking of economy. | must in no
| wise be understood as advocating the false
economy which is in the end the worst eX-
travagance. To cut down on the navy for
instance, would be n crime against the ma
| ton. To fail to push forward all work on
| tie Panama canal would be as great A folly
Currency.
The currency question is dealt with
as follows:
Every consideration Of prudence demands
| the addition OF the element OF elasticity 10
our currency system, The evil does LOT con-
| sst In an adequate volume Of money but in
| the rgdity of this volume, which does not
respond as II should to the varying needs Of
| communities and OF seasons. Imitation must
| be avoided: but some provision should be
made that will insure a 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
| speculation. and will expand for the needs
OF legitimate business. At present the Treas.
| ury department is at irregularly recurring in
| tervas obliged. in the interest OF the bust
| ness w0rld--that is, in the interests Of the
| American public-to try to avert financial
| crises by providing a remedy which should
| be provided by Congressional action.
Federal Elections.
On the subject of federal elections,
the President says:
1.-THE power OF the government to protect
| the integrity Of the elections OF its own Of
| fcials is inherent and has been recognized
and affirmed by repeated declarations Of the
| Supreme court. There is no enemy OF free
| government more dangerous and none so in
! sdous as the corruption of the electorate.
| M defends cOrruDtiOn and
! 1t would seem to follow that none would OPP
| pose vigorous measures TO eradicate it.
recommend the enactment Of a law directed
| against bribery and corruption In federal
elections. The details OF such law may be
safely left TO the wise discretion of the Con-
| gress. bat it should go as far as under the
constitution 1t Is possible to go, and should
| include severe penalties against him VINO
| gives or receives a bride intended to infu-
ence his act or opinion as an elector: and
provisions for the publication not only OF
the expenditures for nominations and cleo
lions Of all candidates, but also of all con-
tributions received and expenditures made by
political committees
| ! desire TO repeat this recommendation. In
political campaigns in country as large
and p0pulouS as ours II Is inevitable that
there should be much expense of an entirely
legitimate kind. This, OF course. means that
many contributions, and some OF them of
large size, must be made. and, as a matter
OF fact. in any Big political contest such con-
trbutions are always made to both sides. 1t
Is entirely proper both to give and receive
them, unless there is an improper motive
connected with either gift or reception. II
they are eytorted by any kind Of pressure
or promise, express or implied direct or in
direct, in the way OF favor or immunity. then
the giving or receiving becomes not only i'm.
proper but criminal. 1t will undoubtedly be
difficult as a matter OF practical detail to
shape an act which shall guard with reason
able certainty against such misconduct, but
II 1t is possible to secure by law the full and
verified publication in detail OF all the sums
contributed TO and expended by the candi-
dates or committees Of any political parties
the result cannot but be wholesome All con-
tributions by corporations to any political
committee or for any political purpose should
be forbidden BY Law, directors should not
be permitted to use stockholders money for
such purposes; and, moreover, prohibition
of this kind would be. as far as it went an
effective method OF stopping the evils aimed
at in corrupt practices acts Not only should
both the national and the several state Iegis-
latures forbid any officer OF corporation
from using the money Of the corporation In
or about any election, but they should also
forbid such use OF money in connections with
any legislation save by the employment OF
counsel in public manner for distinctly legal
services.
The position Of the United States
with regard to The Hague confer.
ence IS clearly shown. the desire of
the United States for continuance of
the worlds peace being made appar-
ent and the necessity for strength to