Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1906-12-07
INCOME INHERITANCE TAX
He Believes Such Laws Would Curb
Growth of Fortunes to DAN
gerous Proportions.
His Views on Negro Question-Asks
for Currency Reform, and Shipping
BiII-Would Make Citizens of Japs
MANY Other Important Subjects
Discussed.

Washington, Dec. .s-The notable fea-
lures of President sRoosevelt's annual
message to congress- are his appeal for
the enactment into law of several bills
introduced into congress last winter and
spring; his views on the. negro problem
> the scoring he gives those whom he
terms preachers of discontent;" the
stand he takes for the control of corpor-
atoms by the federal government under
the interstate commerce clause of the
constitution, and his recommendation for
an Inheritance and income tax law.
Many other subjects common to mes
sages Of the chief executive are touched
upon, but the ones mentioned are by
far of the greatest Importance. He es-
peclally urges the passage of the bill
prohibiting corporations from contribut-
ing 70 campaign FUNDS, and also that one
which would give the government the
right Of arpeal in criminal cases. OF
this he says:
another DILL which has just past one
gently necessary should be enacted into
law is that comforting upon the govern
cases on questions of law. This right
exists in many of the states; ii exists in
the District of Columbia by act of the
congress. 1t is of course not proposed
that in any case a verdict for the de-
PENDANT on the merits should be set
aside. Recently in one district where
the government had indicted certain per-
sons for conspiracy in connection with
rebates the court sustained the defend
ants demurrer; while in another Juris-
diction an indictment for conspiracy to
obtain rebates has been sustained by
the court, convictions obtained under it,
and two defendants sentenced to impris-
onment The two cases referred to may
not be in real conflict with each other,
but it is unfortunate that there should
even be an apparent conflict. At pres
ent there is no way by which the gov
eminent can cause such conflict, when
il occurs, to be solved by an appeal to
a higher court; and the wheels of justice
a n
the question. can not too strongly
urge the passage of the bill in question.
"A failure to pass will result in seriously
hampering the government in its effort
to obtain justice, especially against
wealthy individuals or corporations who
do wrong; and may also prevent the
government from obtaining justice for
wageworkers who are not themselves
able effectively to contest case where
been against them: have specifically
in view a recent decision by district
Judge leaving railway employees with
out remedy for violation of certain So
called labor statute. 1t seems an absurd
ity to permit single district judge,
against what may be the Judgment of
the immense majority of his colleagues
on the bench, to declare a law solemnly
enacted by the congress to be 'uncon-
stitutionai an, and ri then to deny to to the
preme court definitely decide the ques-
ton
lnjunctions.
ON the subject of the abolition of in
functions in labor disputes, he says:
I'm my last message suggested the en-
actment of law in connection with the
issuance of injunctions, attention hav-
ing been sharply drawn to the matter !
by the demand that the right of apply
ing injunctions in labor cases should be
wholly abolished. 1t is at least doubtful
whether law abolishing altogether the
use of injunctons in such cases would
stand the test of the courts; in which
case of course the legislation would be
be wrong altogether to prohibit the use
of injunctions. 1t is criminal to permit
sympathy with criminals to weaken our
hands in unfolding the law; and if men
violence there should be no impairment
of the power of the courts to deal with
way possible. But so far as possible the
abuse of the power should be provided
against by some such law as / advocated
last year.
The Negro Problem.
The negro problem is given considera-
bic attention after calling attention ate 10
is free from faults, and that no section
has occasion to jeer at the shortcomings |
of any other section, he turns to the sub
ject of lynchings, and especially as ap- |
piled to the negro of the south He says |
the greatest existing cause for mob law /
crime of rape, a crime which he terms
even worse than murder. He quotes the
admonitions to the white people spoken !
by Gov Gambler of Georgia, some years /
ago and by Gov. Jelks, of Alabama, re-
Gently, and then says:
Every colored man should reanze /
that the worst enemy of his race is the
negro criminal. and above all the ne
gro criminal who commits the dread
fuI crime of rape; and il should be felt
as in the highest degree an onense
a gainst the whole country. and against
the colored race in particular, Tor a
colored man to fail to help the officers
of the law in hunting down with all
possible earnestness and zeal every
such infamous offender. Moreover. in
my Judgment the crime of rape should
always be punished with death, as Is
the case with murder; assault with in
tent to commit rape should be made a
ca pital crime. at least in the discretion
Of the court; and provision should be
made by which the punishment may
follow Immediately upon the heels or
the offense: while the trial should be
so conducted that the victim need not
be wantonly shamed while giving tes-
timony and that the least possible
publicity shall be given to the details
The members of the white race on
the other hand should understand that
every lynching represents by just so
much a Ioosening of the bands of civ
lization; that the spirit of lynching
Inevitably throws into prominence in
the community all the foul and evil
creatures who dwell therein. No man