The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-12-07

/ IN poor man, WleL0ef II takes the shape
of bribery or OF blackmail But much
can be done by legislation which is not
only drastic, but practical. There is
need Of far stricter and more uni
form regulation Of the vast insurance
interests Of this country. The United
States should in this respect follow thu
policy Of other nations by providing
adequate national supervision of com
mercial interests which are clearly Ma
tional in character.
l repeat my previous recommends
ton that the congress should consider
whether the federal government has
any power or owes any duty with re
Epect to domestic transactions in in
surance of an interstate character
That state supervision has proved in
adequate is generally conceded.
The Revenues.
There is more need of stability than
of the attempt to attain an ideal per
lection in the methods of raising rev
enue, and the shock and strain to the
business world certain to attend any
serious change in these methods rem
der such change inadvisable unless for
grave reason. 1t is not possible to lay
down any general rule by which to de-
termine the moment when the reasons
for Will outweigh the reasons against
such 4 change. No change cen be
made on lines beneficial to or desired
by one section or one state only. There
must be something like a general agree
ment among the citizens Of the several
states that the change is needed and
desired in the interest of the people as a
whole, and there should then be a sin
cere, intelligent and disintorested eff
fort to make it in such shape as will
combine. so far as possible. the maxi
mum Of good 10 the people at large
with the minimum of necessary dsre-
gard for the special interests of local.
ties or classes, but in time Of peace
the revenue must, on the average.
taking Il series of years together, equal
the expenditures or else the revenues
must be increased Last year there
was Il deficit Unless our expenditures
can he kept within the revenues then
our revenue laws must be readjusted.
1t is impossible to outline what shape
such a readjustment should take, for
it is as yet too early to say whether
there will be need for it. 1t should be
considered whether it is not desirable
that the tariff laws should provide for
applying as against or in favor of any
other nation maximum and minimum
tariff rates established by the congress,
so rs TO secure a certain reciprocity of
treatment between other nations and
ourselves.
Economy In Expenditures.
| earnestly recommend to the con
gress the need of economy and, to this
end, of a rigid scrutiny of appropria-
tons. All unnecessary offices should
be abolished. In the public printing
also Il large saving of money can be
made. There is a constantly growing
tendency to publish masses of unim-
portant information at which no human
being ever looks.
Yet, in speaking of economy, l must
in nOWise be understood as advocating
the false economy which is in the end
tllS NOlHL tAll a. S5tlllOt " Nul upN II
in 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.
Currency.
Every consideration of prudence de
mands the addition of the element of
elasticity to our currency system. The
evil does not consist in an inadequate
volume of money, but in the rigidity
of this volume, which does not respond
as it should to the varying needs Of
communities and of seasons. Imitation
must be avoided, but some provision
should lie made that will insure a
larger volume of money during the fall
and winter months than in the less ac-
tive seasons of the year so that the
currency will contract against specula-
ton and will expand for the needs of
legitimate business. At present the
treasury department is at irregularly
recurring intervals obliged in the inter
est of the business world-that is, in
the interests of the American public
to try to avert financial crises by pro
viding Il remedy which should be pro
vided by congressional action.
Business Methods In Departments.
At various times I have instituted in
vestigati0ns into the organization and
conduct of the business of the eXecu-
tive departments. While none of these
inquiries have yet progressed far
enough to warrant final conclusions.
they have already confirmed and en-
phasized the general impression that
the organization of the departments is
often faulty in principle and wasteful
in results, while many Of their business
methods are antiquatcd and inefficient
l recommend that the congress consider
this subject.
Federal Elections.
In my last annual message | said
THE power of the government to
protect the integrity of the elections of
its own officials is Inherent and has
been recognized and affirmed by re-
peated declarations of the supreme
court There is no enemy of free gov
eminent more dangerous and none so
insidious as the corruption Of the elect
crate. No one defends or excuses cor
ruptiOn, and it would seem to follow