The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1905-12-07

OF course the only complete remedy
for this condition must be found in
an aroused public conscience, higher
sense Of ethical conduct in the COM
munlty at large, and especially among
business men and in the great pro-
fession Of the law, and in the growth
OF spirit which condemns all dis
honesty, whether in rich man or ii
poor man, whether It takes the shape
OF bribery or Of blackmail But much
can be done by legislation which is
not only drastic but practical.
The Revenues.
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 to
the business world certain to attend
any serious change in these methods
render such change inadvisable unless
for grave reason. It is not possible
to lay down any general rule by
which to determine the moment when
the reasons for will outweigh those
against such change. Much must
depend, not merely on the needs, but
on the desires, of the people as a
whole; for needs and desires are not
necessarily Identical. OF course no
change can be made on lines benefi-
clal to, or desired by, one section
or one State only. There must be
something like general agreement
among the citizens Of the several
States, as represented in the Con-
gress, that the change is needed and
desired in the interest of the people as
whole; and there should then be
a sincere, intelligent, and disinter-
ested effort to make it in such shape
as will combine, SO far as possible,
the maximum Of good to the people
at large with the minimum of neces-
sary diregard for the special interests
OF localities or classes. But in time of
peace the revenue must on the av-
erage, taking a series Of years to-
gether, equal the expenditures or else
the revenues must be increased. Last
year there was deficit. Unless our
expenditures can be kept within the
revenues then our revenue laws must
be readjusted.
Economy in Expenditures.
earnestly recommend to the Con-
gress the need Of economy and to
this end Of rigid scrutiny of appro-
priations. As examples merely, I call
your attention to one of two specific
matters. All unnecessary Offices
should be abolished. The Commits
sioner Of the General Land Office
recommends the adjustment Of the Of
fee Of receiver of public moneys for
United States land offices.
Yet, in speaking of economy, / must
In no wise be understood as advo-
eating the false economy which is in
the end the worst extravaganza. To
cut down on the Navy, for instance,
would be crime against the Nation.
To fail to push forward all work on
the Panama Canal would be as great
folly.
At various times / have instituted
Investigations into the organization
and conduct of the business Of the
Executive Departments. While none
of these inquiries have yet progressed
far enough to warrant final conclu-
sions, they have already confirmed
and emphasized the general imres-
sion that the organization of the De-
partments is often faulty in princi-
pie and wasteful in results, while
many Of their business methods are
artiquidated and inefficient. There
is every reason why our executive
governmental machinery should be at
least as we'll planned, economical, and
efficient as the best machinery of the
great business organizations, which
at present is not the case.
Monroe Doctrine.
One OF the most effective instru-
ments for peace is the Monroe Doe
trine as it has been and is being grad
ually developed by this Nation and
accepted by other nations. No other
policy could have been as efficient
in promoting peace in the Western
Hemisphere and in giving to each ma
ton thereon the chance to develop
along it's own lines. Ii we had refused
to apply the Doctrine to changing
conditions it would now be complete
ly outworn, would not meet any Of the
needs Of the present day, and indeed
would probably by this time have
sunk into complete oblivion. It is
useful at home, and is meeting with
recognition abroad because we have
adapted our application Of it to meet
the growing and changing needs of
our Hemisphere. When we announce
a policy, such as the Monroe Doc
trine, we thereby commit ourselves
to the consequences of the policy, and
those consequences from time to time
alter. It is out Of the question to
claim right and yet shirk the re-
sponsibility for it's exercise. Not on