Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Both Houses of Congress Hear
Reading.
FIRM ON RATE LAW
Corporations, Panama Canal and Many
Other Important Topics Are Thor
oughly Discussed.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 5.-Pres-
tdent Roosevelt's message was read TO
Congress today. 1t is in substance as
follows:
The Nation.
The people of this country continue to
enjoy great prosperity. Undoubtedly
there will be ebb and flow.
Something can be done by legislation
to help the general prosperity on a pol
Icy which shall insure to the advantage
Of all people who act decently.
If the less fortunate man is moved
to envy to strike at the conditions under
that while damage may come to the me
struck at, it will visit with an even heav
Ter load the one who strikes the blow.
Taken as a whole we must all go up and
down together.
Corporations.
The corporation has come to stay just as
the labor union has come to stay. Each
should be favored as long as it does good.
Experience has shown that it is USE
less to try to get an adequate regulation
and supervision of great corporations by
state action. believe that it can be OBJ
tanned by the enactment of law by the
Congress. If necessary the constitution
must be amended.
1t has been misfortune that national
laws on this subject have been of a pro-
hlbltive rather than an affirmative kind.
The successful prosecution of one device
to evade the law Immediately develops
another devise. What is needed is not
sweeping prohibition but supervision and
regulation.
Of these abuses perhaps the chief is
overcapitalization.
Railway Rates Law.
If nuSt ipoIT,do puf+ipo, n
stop over rebates. The power should be
affirmative and should be given to some
administrative body created by the Con-
gress. The most important provision Is
comforting on some administra tive body
the power to decide whether q rate is
just if unjust, to prescribe the
reasonable maximum rate, this to go into
effect within reasonable time, subject
to review by the courts. A related rate
should be made the maximum on all
similar transportation. My proposal is
not to give the commission power to in
itlate or originate rates, but to regulate.
The best possible regulation would be an
agreement among the railroads to carry
out the law. * 1t would put a stop
to determinations. A system of exam
nation for railroad accounts similar to
that now conducted in national banks
should be provided. Present laws have
been greatly destroyed by delay in the
courts. The question Of Transportation
lies at the root Of all Industrial success.
We must understand that the public
servants who are to Go this work must
be Of the highest type. They must be
well paid.
Safety Appliances.
The Congress should provide for the
Introduction of block signals on all rail-
roads engaged in interstate commerce.
II there are any reasons for laws limit
Ing the hours Of labor they certainly ap-
ply to railroad workers with peculiar
force.
An employers liability law applicable
to all industries within the scope Of the
federal government should be enacted.
Labor.
There has been demand for depriv-
ing courts of the power to issue injunc-
tons in labor disputes. Such limitation
have misused this power, but it does not
justify a denial any more than Of the
power to call a strike for improper exer-
else of the power.
In such a republic as ours the one
thing that we cannot afford to neglect is
the problem of turning out decent citi-
zens;, the children of today are those who
will share the destiny of the land tomor-
row.
The Introduction of women into indus
try is working change and disturbance in
domestic and social life. The decrease
In marriage and especially the birth rate
is coincident with it. There is need for
knowledge on which to base legislation
for protection of working women.
If the class spirit grows it will ulti-
mately prove fatal to us.
This government is not and never shall
be governed by mob. Each man, rich or
poor, shall be treated simply and solely
on his worth as a man.
The noblest of all forms of govern
ment is self-government; but it also is
the most difficult. There are selfish
and brutal men in all ranks of life.
Insurance.
That state supervision is inadequate
has already been generally conceded.
The United States should follow the pol
icy of other nations by providing ade-
quate federal supervision.
The Revenues
, Unless our expenditures can be kept
within the revenues, then our revenues
must be readjusted. There is more need
of stability than to attain ideal perfec-
ton. The shock and strain to the bust
ness world certain to attend any serious
change render such change inadyisabIe
unless for grave reasons. 1t is yet too
shame
the rcadjustment should take.
Economy
To cut down on the navy would be a
crime against the nation. To fail to
push forward all work on the Panama
canal would be as great folly. All m
necessary Offices should be abolished. In
the public printing also large saving
can be made.
Currency.
Every consideration of prudence de-
mands the addition Of elasticity to our
currency system.
Business Methods.
There is every reason why our execu-
tive government should be at least as
well planned as the best machinery Of
the great business organizations.
Federal Elections.
Not only should both the national and
state Legislatures forbid any officer Of
a corporation from using the money of
the corporation in any election, but they
should forbid the use of such money in
connection with any legislation except
by employment of counsel for distinctly
legal services.
Hague Conference.
We can do nothing of permanent value
Cor peace unless we keep in mind our
aim is righteousness.
We have scant sympathy with the SEN
timentalisr who breads oppression less
than physical suffering, who would pre-
fer a shameful peace. As the world is
now, only that national is equipped for
peace that knows how to fight if war is
demanded. But it remains our clear
duty to strive for peace.
Monroe Doctrine.
That our rights and interests are deep
ly concerned in the maintenance of the
doctrine is clear. This is especially true
in view of the Panama canal. 1t must
be understood that under no cireum-