Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-16
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE CONTAINS
NO MINclNG OF WORDS
WORK NEARLY FINISHED
Railway Rate Question is the Feature
Of the Lengthy Communication, But
1t Touches a Wide Variety Of Sub
Jects In Addition to That.

reading the proof 1t 1s the most COM
prehensive document ne ever submit
ted to congress. In length it aggre-
gates 10000 words and would fill two
pages of newspaper.
1t covers an immense variety Of sub
jects, internal and external, and has
some straight talk, particularly on the
subject of railroad rate legislation
and federal supervision of corporations
which will appeal to the country.
The President has not minced words
In his discussion of corporate interests
or Of the immigration question. In con-
nection with the former, he is opposed
by capital and in the latter by labor.
Rate issue is Feature.
His message may be summarized as
follows:
RAILROAD RATE LEGlsLATloN-
This is the most prominent feature of
ed out in great detail the evils now
existing ard the necessity for their
eradication. AS a remedy he proposes
that the interstate commerce commits
sion shall be authorized in declaring a
rate to be unreasonable, to declare at
the same time what is maximum rea-
sonable rate, and to make an order re-
quiring the offending railroad to reduce
its rate to that maximum.
He further recommends that in order
to insure obedience to the order, the
law contain a penalty. but that oppor-
tunity be reserved to the company to
appeal to the federal court, whose de-
cision shall be final. The maximum and
reasonable rate fixed by the commits
sion, however, shall enter into force
upon tits declaration The President
also seeks the regulation Of the private
car and terminal interests SO that dis
elimination or rebates in any form
shall be inI ossible.
Need Of Insurance Reform.
NSURANCE-The President has
handled this subject without gloves, re-
ferring to the revelations made during
the inquiry in New York as evidence
of the great need of federal super
vision. In the discussion Of this SUBJ
iect the President has been hampered
by the general belief prevailing among
men versed In law that federal SUI
pervision is unconstitutional. But the
President believes the quickest way to
settle this is to enact legislation, and
If the supreme court decides the act of
congress to be unconstitutional to
amend the constitution.
Curb for Corporations.
coRPoRATIoNs-This is subject
which has been given seri-
Gus consideration. by the Pres
ident He believes corporations
should be managed with due regard to
the interests of the public as whole.
He has expressed this belief in his
message and has recommended proper
legislation by congress. In this con-
nection, attention is called to prose-
cutions which have been conducted by
the department of justice, particularly
describes what has been done to pun
ish the men who took part in this
combination. Railroad prosecutions
which have been begun in st. Louis
and Milwaukee and which involve a
number Of roads are also referred to
in connection with the activity of the
department of justice in enforcing the
existing statutes.
Faith In Canal Project.
PANAMA CANAL The President
expresses conf ance in Chairman
Shonts and staff now building the ca
nal, and describes the work which has
been done up to date. accounting for
the expenditure Of $10,000,00t placed
at his disposal when the project was
undertaken The President wants
more money and will urge congress to
authorize it. He will ask that the
bonds which congress authorized the
secretary of the treasury to issue may
be used by national banks as a basis
for circulation which shall be subject
to tax of one-quarter of one per cent
instead of one half of one per cent.
the same basis as the 2 per cent bonds
of 1898.
The President does not want any
legislation which is calculated to re-
strict the powers of the executive in
bconnection with the construction Of
the canal. This feature of his mes
sage is not entirely completed. Secre-
tary Taft now is on his way back
from the isthmus. The board of con-
sulting engineers has not submitted
its recommendation as to the type of
canal to be built, and the Panama
canal commission has not, consequent
ly, prepared it's views upon the rec
ommendation of the consulting board.
At present President Roosevelt does
not contemplate reduction in the
membership of the commission, which
he considered last spring.
Would Admit Educated Chinese.
IMMIGRATION - The President
wants laws which will prevent the
United States from serving as dump.
ing ground for Europe. At the same
time he wants fair dealings with all
nations, and has devoted consider.
able space to the question of the
amendment of the Chinese exclusion
law.
The President favors continued ex.
clusion of the 1aboring classes of the
Chinese. He opposes the exclusion OF
the intelligent classes. He wants the
merchant, the banker artist, student
and such classes of Cinnamon to have
right to enter the United States, un.
der exactly the same terms and condi.
tons as If they were born in Europe
or any place else. He wants them re.
lieved from unnecessary and harsh ex.
animation and particularly from any
measures sayoring Of degredation He