The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-12-05
THE ANNUAL REVIEW.

The annual review and the annual
prognostication which taken together
constitute the usual Presidential mes
sage, although a WEAKNESS and vexa-
tion of spirit to many people, are wor-
thy of careful consideration, The doc
ument which just comes from the White
House is quite up to the usual order
II Will repay perusal and it should be
carefully preserved as a comprehensive
showing of the current trend of the
country.
The Presidential opinions are so we'll
known and this message so closely fol-
lows his former public utterances on
subjects of Importance that the reader
will find nothing to startle. while much
TO interest his attention.
After commencing the work of the
present Congress so far. President
Roosevelt recommends legislation pro-
hibitiug political campaign contribu-
tiops by corporations, subject upon
which probably a majority of citizens
are affirmatively agreed. To the pro-
posal for a law comforting upon the
Government the right of appeal in
criminal cases on questions of law Mr..
Roosevelt devotes considerable atten-
tion, relating recent experiences in the
rebating cases and pointing out the
practice of setting aside judgments
upon technicality, He opposes the
abolition of the injunction in labor
cases, but recommends safeguards
against an abuse of the power OF courts
in this direction. A preventive against
lynching is suggested in swift, orderly
punishment of known crime by law
and the avoidance of unnecessary legal
delay As to the difficulties arising
between capital and labor, the Presi-
dent holds agitators and hysterical
preachers of discomfort to be largely
responsible. He urges that the hours
OF railroad employees be regulated by
law and the gradual and general intro
duction of the eight hour day for all
workingmen, and he advocates thor
ough investigation of child labor and
the labor of women. He also advises
that the employers liability law should
he made to place the entire risk of the
trade upon the employer, so that the
entire community should bear the bur
den in the added cost to the people
OF trade production. Retention of coal
lands by the Government and their
working by private individuals on
royalty basis is advocated involving
the withdrawal Of these lands from
sale or entry The President believes
in the good effects to he expected from
the rate law and the pure food law,
but considers that perhaps the practical
operation of these should be awaited
in order to test the eXpediency of such
legislation. Graduated inheritance and
income taxes are advocated as a meth
tent the burdens of government, Tech
meal and industrial training, agricul
ture, irrigation and forest preservation
are treated along the lines of already
established policy, A National mar
riage and divorce law under a Consti-
tutional amendment is proposed. In
this connection the President alludes
TO polygamy and advocates the care of
this question by the Federal Govern
ment believing that it should not be
left to the several States), regardless
of whether a Constitutional amendment
shall be carried to cover the entire
questions Of marriage and divorce The
Message makes no direct reference to
Mormon church polygamy by name,
but unquestionably il is intended TO
cover this especial subject. There will
be much local congratulation to find
the President so clear on this matter
Evidently he has seen a great light.
Hereafter it will scarcely lie in the
power of the hicrarchs TO use his great
name as a shield for their infamous
practices. The development of Ameri-
can shipping is asked for; and curren-
cy refrom is specially urged but the
President does not put forward any
particular plan to this end, except as
his mention of the scheme Of the pres
ent Secretary of the Treasury may be
considered to be a recommendation
He either wants tariff law or abso-