Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1905-12-08
TIE PRESIDENT's MEssA or.

ably the most important legislation advo
Gated by the Chief Magistrate relates TO the
regulation of railroad rates. The Presidents
attitude now is practically what it was at
tue Last session of the Fifty-eighth Congress.
Mr.. Roosevelt emphatically disavows thai
he is an extremist so far as the regulation Of
corporations by the Federal Government is
cDncerned. He recognizes that the corpo
rations have well defined rights, and be in.
sists that they should be protected In the
enjoyment of all the rights granted TO then
by the law But Federal supervision, 10 his
view, would be best for the corporations en-
gagged 10 interstate commerce, as well as betl
for the public Hence he renews his rec.
ommendation in former messages that Con
gress should consider seriously the advisa
bility Of legislation to bring all interstate
commerce corporations under direct Fed
eral supervision and control.
10 discussing the necessity for Govern.
ment supervision Of interstate transporta.
ton the President recognizes the diff1culties
Of the legislation he suggests and the neec
of cautious and temperate action In securint
it. The purpose Of that legislation, be states
should be to secure 10 the agents Of the Gov
eminent such regulation of the rates charged
by the railroads of the country engaged il
Interstate traffic as shall "summarily and ell
fectively prevent the imposition OF unjus
or unreasonable rates." and put "complet
stop TO rebates in every shape and form"
In the Presidents judgment, the most i'm.
portant provision which the proposed legis
lation should contain is that comforting upon
some administrative body (either the pres.
ent Interstate Commerce Commission or
recognized commisslon) the power TO de.
eide, upon the case being brought before 1t,
whether given rate prescribed by rail.
road is reasonable and just. II it is found to
be unreasonable and unjust, then the ad.
illustrative body, after careful investiga
ton Of the complaint, shall have the power
to prescribe the limit Of rate beyond which
II shall not be lawful to go-the maximum
reasonable rate. This decision shall go into
effect within a reasonable time and will con-
tinue in effect subject to the review Of the
courts. The President would place under
the supervision Of the sdmi nistrative body
all private car lines, industrial roads and re
irigerator and elevator charges. He suggests
that, under certain conditions, agreements
among railroads In the nature of pooling
might be advantageous to the public as
we'll as to the railroads, but he would not
grant this privilege to the railroads until the
power Of the Government 10 fl maximum
rate has been established by Congress.
The President relterates his views on the
relations between labor and capital and the
obligations which both owe to the public.
He does not approve the demand that the
courts be deprived Of their power to issue
injunctions 10 labor disputes. "Such special
limitation of the equity powers oil thecourts,' y
he declares, "would be unwise." The Pres
ident suggests as remedy for possible mis-
use OF power by judges a regulation which
would require them TO give due notice to
the adverse parties before granting the writ
of Injunction. "What is due notice" b,
adds, must depend upon the facts Of the
case II should not be used as pretext tC
permit violations of the law or the leopard.
izing OF lie and property" OF further in
alton that every considerable industrial diff
ficulty 10 which interstate commerce Is 10
volved should be Investigated by the Gov
ernment and the facts officially reported Il
the public.
The President touches upon the tarii
question 10 his discussion of the Govern
ments revenues, which were insdequat
last year, the result being a deficit. "Un
less" he says, "our expenditures can
kept within the revenues, then our revenu
laws must be resdjusted. II is too earl
yet to attempt TO outline what shape sue
readjustment should take, for II is as "
too early to say whether there will be nee
for it,"
In connection with the second Hagu
Conference, to which the Gar Of Russi
has recently extended invitations to th
nations OF the world, President Rooseve
writes Interestingly of the attitude Of ou
Government toward peace. "Peace wit
righteousness" be proclaims the America
ideal, and he takes occasion to score III
"demagogues of peace" as well as the "deu
agogues OF war" One of the most effectiy
instruments Of peace, in the President
opinion, is the Monroe doctrine. Mr.. Roos,
welt says IL should be our policy 10 convinC
the South American republics that the MOI
roe doctrine will not be used by the Unite
States for aggrandizement at the expense
South America.
Among other important subjects discusse
by the President lie Federal supervision
insurance companies. The necessity for tn
supervision, In the Presidents opinion,
emphasized by the investigation now
progress in New York. The recommend
ton In the Presidents message to Congre
last December for legislation to prevel
bribery and corruption 10 Federal election
is repeated with an elaboration and ex plici
ness which leave no room for doubt as
Mr.. Roosevelt's position. The President
very plainspoken on the subject OF INN
grafton. He holds certain steamship COZ
panes responsible Tor the inferior quail
Of a large proportion Of immigrants. L
recommends rigid inspection by govern
mental agents Of intending immigrants
their own countries. In his view an int
national conference to consider immigratic
problems Ia desirable, aud also change
the method of distributing immigrants upc
their arrival 10 the United States. ave ne,
more OF the right kind of immigration 4
the South" says the President, land spec
effort should be made to secure it." II
specting the admission Of Chinese student
business and professional men OF oil kind
the President points out the necessity for
modification Of our laws II we are to mali
tain cordial relations with China and DIT,