Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1906-12-06
THEPREs|DENT's
ANNUAL MESSAGE
Recommends Legislation on
New and important
Subjects.
INCOME INHERITANCE TAX
He Believes Such Laws Would Curb
Growth of Fortunes to DAN
gerous Proportions.
His Views on Negro ouestion-Asks
for Currency Reform, and Shipping
BilI-WouId Make Citizens of Japs
Many Other Important Subjects
Discussed.

Washington, Dec. 3.-The notable fea-
lures of President Roosevelts 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
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
sa ges of the chief executive are touched
upon, but the ones mentioned are by
far of the greatest Importance. He es-
pecially urges the passage of the bill
prohibiting corporations from contribute
ing to campaign funos, and also that one
which would give the government the
right of appeal in criminal cases. OF
this he says:
Another bill which has just past one
house of the congress and which is ur
gently necessary should be enacted into
law is that comforting upon the govern
ment the right of appeal in criminal
cases on questions of law. This right
exists in many of the states; it exists in
the District of Columbia by act of the
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-
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 il is unfortunate that there should
even be an apparent conflict At pres
ent there is way by which the gov
eminent can cause such a conflict, when
it occurs. TO be solved by an appeal to
n higher court; and the wheels of justice
are blocked without any real decision of
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 a case where
the judgment of inferior court has
been against them. l have specifically
in view a recent decision by district
Judge leaving railway employees with
out remedy for violation of a certain So
called labor statute. 1t seems an absurd
ity to permit a 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-
stitutional," and then to deny to the
government the right to have the SUI
preme court definitely decide the ques-
tiOn."