Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-08-25
ASKS CONGRESS
BE SUPPORTED
President Says Change Ia House
Would Bring Confusion.
GIVES HIS VIEW ON TARIFF


New York, Aug. 21.-A letter written
by President Roosevelt to Congressman
James +. Watson. OF Rushville, Ind,
was made public through the Repuhll-
can congressional campaign committee
In II the president reviews and ap-
proves the work of the present con-
gress and declares:
ITO change the leadership and ora
ganization OF the house at this time
means to bring confusion upon those
who have successfully engaged In the
steady working out OF great and com
prehensive scheme for the better1nent
of our social and civic conditions"
The president also declared that such
q change would result In a hurtful os-
Citation between the extreme radical
and the extreme reactionRry. The
president said also he hopes the pres
ent congress Will enact laws prohibit
ing political contributions by corpora
tons. lowering the duties on imports
from the Philippines and limiting the
number OF hours for railway employees.
OF the tariff Mr.. Roosevelt says: we
stand uneQuivocally for a protective
tariff. and we feel that the phenomenal
industrial prosperity which we are now
enjoying Is not lightly 10 be jeopar-
died; for 10 would be 10 the last degree
foolish TO secure here and there & small
benefit at the cost OF general business
depression. But whenever a given rate
or schedule becomes evidently disad-
vantageous N the nation, because OF
the changes which go on from year 20
year In our conditions. and where II is
feasible TO change this rate or schedule
without too much dislocation OF the
system. Il will be done: while a gen
erRl revision OF the rates and sched-
ules will be undertaken whenever II
shall appear 10 the sober business sense
benefits TO be derived from making
such changes will outweigh the dis
advantages: that Is, when the revision
Will do more good than harm. Let me
add one word OF caution, however. The
question of revising the tariff stands
wholly apart from the question OF
dealing with the Eo-called ''trusts''-
that lie with the control OF monopolies
and with the supervision OF great
wealth IN business. especially in cor
porate form. The only way IN which
Il IS possible to deal With those trusts
and monopoiles and thls great corpor-
ate wealth is by action along the line
OF the laws enacted by the present
congress and It's immediate predeces-
Bors. The cry that the problem can be
met by any changes IN the tariff repre-
sents an effort 70 divert the public at
tention from the only method Of TAX
ing effective action"
Mr. Roosevelt then enters on q re-
view OF tho work Of the congress and
the important measures passed by It,
measures which he declares are impor-
tant not in a partisan sense, but are
important because they subserve the
welfare Of the people as n whole.
Z, The interests banded together to op-
pose the Panama canal, says the let
ter. are numerous and bitter. and most
OF them with peculiarly sinister has
IS for their opposition. Had congress
been either timid or corrupt and had
not the leaders OF congress shown the
most far-sighted resolution in the mat
ter, the work OF building the canal
would never have been begun or II be-
gun would not have halted.
President Roosevelt reviews and ap-
proves the measures taken 70 secure
certain rights TO wage workers, includ-
ing the employers liability law and the
sight-hour law. He announces that II
additional legislation is needed 10 make
the eight-hour law effective he will ask
for IL and also that next year be win
ask congress to put in permanent form
his regulations for securing Saturday
half holidays for wage oerners under
the government during the summer
months. I'VE will do everything" he
says. that can be done to further the
interests OF the farmer and the wage
worker and this declaration is subject
60 only oae reservation. which is that
for no man and no body of men win
I'VE do anything that is wrong"