Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1905-12-13
Some Things that Ought to Be Done.

Under the Constitution it is the
duty of the President from time to
time to give the Congress "informa-
tion of the state of the Union, and
recommend to their consideration
such measures as he shall judge
necessary and expedient;" but it is
nowhere required in the Constitution
that he shall practice upon the Con-
gress the art of essay writing of an
altruistic sort. This view should
have impressed upon the Presidents
own mind because of the plea which
he makes for economy in public ex-
penditures that large saving of
public money can be made in the
public printing. "There is a con-
stantly growing tendency" says the
President upon this point, "to pub
lish masses of unimportant informa-
tion. 1t is probably not unfair to
say that many tens Of thousands of
volumes are published at which no
human being ever looks and for
which there is no real demand what
ever" The public officers who are
afflicted with the writing habit will
not be impressed, we are sure, with
the Presidents example in the art of
brevity. There are great many
things discussed by him in his mes
sage of real importance, but they are
so beclouded with his moralizing that
it is almost impossible to separate
the wheat from the chaff. Among
the Presidents recommendation
that are noteworthy are the follow
ing:
An investigation by the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor of
general labor conditions, with special
consideration of the conditions of
child labor and child labor legislation
in the several States.
Federal supervision of the insur-
ance business of the country.
The desirability of establishing a
maximum and minimum tariff rate,
as trading basis, for the purpose of
securing a certain reciprocity of
treatment between the United States
and other countries.
Economy in public expenditures
by the abolition of all unnecessary
offices.
The reduction of the public money
paid for the public printing.
The addition of the element of
elasticity to our currency system, 80
that we may have plenty Of money
when we need it, and little money
when it is of no use to us.
The reorganization Of the bust
ness methods in the various depart
ments of the Government.
The enactment of law against
bribery and corruption in Federal
elections.
The participation of the United
States in the second Hague Confer
ence for the purpose of promoting
the ends of peace, but without adopt
ing any course which would weaken
our ability for war.
The "big stick" policy in the man
agement of the political affairs of
this continent, the Monroe Doctrine
being construed to mean the political
supremacy of the United States in
this hemisphere.
The approval of the policy of wet
nursing the Dominican government
for the benefit of it's creditors.
The adoption of policies which
would promote the efficiency of our
army by the increase and reorgani-
zation of the medical department of
the army, and provision for such
manTuvres of practical kind as
would teach our soldiers to take care
of themselves under actual service
conditions.
The continued care of the navy
and the adoption of plans which
would increase its standard of eff
cheney.
The indispensable necessity of a
great merchant marine.
Liberal treatment of the James
town Exposition.