Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-12-14


the growth Of a spirit which condemns
all dishonesty, whether in rich man or
In poor man, whether II takes the shape
of bribery or of blackmail. But much
a be done by legislation which is not
only drastic, but practical. There Ia
need of a far stricter and more uni
form regulation of the vast insurance
interests of this country. The United
States should in this respect follow the
policy of other nations by providing
adequate national supervision OF com
mercial interests which are clearly ma
tional In character.
l repeat my previous recommends
ton that the congress should consider
whether the federal government has
any power or owes any duty with re-
spect to domestic transactions in in
surance of an interstate character.
That state supervision has proved in
adequate is generally conceded.
The Revenues
There is more need OF . liability than
OF the attempt to attain m ideal per-
lection In the methods OF raising rev.
enue, and the shock and strain to the
business world certain to attend any
serious change In theE methods rem
der such change iHadvisable unless for
grave reason. 1t Is not possible to lay
down any general rule by which to de-
termine the moment when the reasons
for will outweigh the reasons against
such q change. No change ear be
made on ines beneficial to or desired
by one section or one state only. There
must be something like a general agree
ment among the. citizens of the several
states that the change is needed and
desired I'm the interest Of the people al a
whole, and there should then be a sin
cere, Intelligent and disinterested eff
fort to make II In such shape as will
combine, so far ms possible, the maxi
mum Of good to the people at large
with the minimum Of necessary disre-
gard for the special interests Of locali-
ties or classes, but In time Of peace
the revenue must, ON the average,
taking a series Of years together, equal
the expenditures or else the revenues
must be increased. Last year there
was a deficit. Unless our expenditures
can be kept within the revenues then
our revenue laws must be r~eadjusted.
1t Is impossible to outline what shape
such a readjustment should take, for
1t Is as yet too early to say whether
there will be need for It. 1t should be
considered whether 1t is not desirable
that the tariff laws should provide for
applying as against or In favor of any
other nation maximum end minimum
tariff rates established by the congress,
so as to secure a certain reciprocity OF
treatment between other nations and
ourselves.
In Expenditures.
I earnestly recommend to the con-
gress the need OF economy and, to this
end. OF a rigid scrutiny Of appropria-
tons. All unnecessary offices should
be abolished. In the public printing
also a large saving Of money can be
made. There Is a constantly growing
tendency to publish masses Of unim-
portant information at which no human
being ever looks.
Yet, In speaking Of economy, l must
In nowise be understood as advocating
the false economy which Is In the end
the worst extravaganza. To cut down
In the navy would be a crime against
the nation. To fail to push forward all
work on the Panama canal would be
as great a folly.
Currency.
Every consideration of prudence de-
mands the addition Of The element OF
| oIo oficjfy RI n,Yr c,.rrapov cvefom Tho
evil does not consist In an inadequate
volume Of money, but In the rigidity
Of this volume, which does not respond
as 1t should to the varying needs OF
communities and of seasons Imitation
must be avoided, but some provision
should be made that will insure q
larger volume of money during tie fall
and winter months than In the less ac-
tive seasons Of the year. so that the
currency will contract against specula-
ton and will expand for the needs Of
Legitimate business. At present the
treasury department Is at irregularly
recurring intervals obliged In the inter-
est Of the business world-that Is. In
the interests Of the American public
TO try to avert financial crises by pro-
viding a remedy which should be pro-
vided by congressional action.
Basiness Methods In Departments.
At various times l have instituted In
vestigations into the organization and
conduct Of the business Of the execu-
tive departments. While none of these
Inquiries have yet progressed far
enough to warrant final conclusions.
they have already confirmed and en-
phaslzed the general impression that
the organization Of the departments Is
,ften faulty in principle and wasteful
h results. while many Of their business
methods are Anticipated and inefficient
recommend that the congress consider
this subject.
Federal Elections.
In my last annual message l said:
"The power of the government to
Protect the integrity Of the elections Of
IA own officials In Inherent and has