The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1905-12-09
The PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Is QOb as Interesting I as we'll WIllNSh
as the one OF two years ago, but 1t
deals frankly with questions OF
present interest TO the public and
with constructive policies. Doe
thing may be said Of all Of Mr.,
R1osevelt's commuUications-that he
is usually in favor OF doing something,
For another thing, 1t may be said
thai the moral aspect Of pubic
questions usually gets more attention
from the president than the economic.
The president asks congress to pass
laws to prevent over-capitalization Of
railroads; to give the interstate
commerce commission the authority
to fix a maximum railroad freight
rate upon the complaint of a shipper,
subject to review by the courts; to
prevent railroad rebates; to put
private car lines under the supervision
Of the commission; to require the
railroads to use the Block signal
system and other safety appliances;
to limit the working hours OF railroad
employees. The president breaches
a sermon on Capital and Labor but
makes no specific recommendations Of
consequence. He discusses insurance
and urges congress to annex this
business in some way but does not
suggest the way. He announces a
stand pat tariff policy, urges economy
10 appropriations, and some sort Of
flexible currency legislation which
will insure currency expansion 10
winter and contraction in summer.
He wants a law passed to prohibit
corporation campaign contributions,
gives a long dissertation on peace
and war, and brings the Monroe
doctrine down to date.
His recommendations under the
head of Army and Navy are specific
and radical. He Insists upon
appropriations to enable The army to
be assembled from time to time for
large general manuevers for the
instruction of officers; he wants the
system Of linear promotion abolished
and the merit system adopted; he
wants the medical department of the
army entirely overhauled and greatly
improved and enlarged, One new
battleship a year, he thinks, will be
sufficient, If to this is added. the
replacing Of the old ships as fast as
they 90 out OF date. He pleads for
the torpedo boat, submarine boat
and other smaller craft Of war, in
which he thinks our navy is deficient.
He wants liberal appropriation for
target practice at sea-.
One Of the best things in the mes.
sage is the presidents treatment of
the naturalization laws and the sug-
gestions Of amendment, He also
complains Of the criminal statutes
and Of the worn out rules of criminal
procedure. He is indefinite In his
recommendations as to amendment of
the public land laws, though he says
that the present laws are bad. He
favors the ship subsidy scheme Of
building up u merchant marine
He treats the general subject of
immigration glngerly, though at
much length, and the subject of
Chinese immigration with fairness
and C~learness. lie makes specific
recommendations as to Indian leglsla-
tion rendered necessary by changed
conditions in the Indian Territory.
He makes a show Of liberality by
urging the removal Of duties upon
Philippine impOrtations except sugar
and tobacco which are about the only
things imported from the Philippines.
He wants Hawaii fortified and the
Porto Ricans enfranchised. Alaska
should have representation In
congress, he says, and the four
remaining territories Of the United
States should be admitted as two
states.
The last recommendation Of the
message Is one OF the wisest. He
wants the state department thoroughly
overhauled, the salary list adjusted,
the consuls classified, and the
representation Of this country abroad
rendered vastly more creditable and
efficient.
The message Is too sermonic and is
too evidently addressed to the people
instead Of to congress. Many Of the
subjects appear to have been dragged
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