The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-09-04
The Document Will Be
Longest Ever Sent
to Congress.
Particular Attention to
Corporations and
Railroads.

President Roosevelt has nearly CONS
pleted his annual message to Congress.
II was learned today from high source
mat he expects 10 have this message
practically finished By the time he re-
turns to Washington. September 25.
For many nights the President has
been working Ike a Trojan on the
speeches he Will deliver on his Western
trip. He has also been devoting nue.
time 10 his message, despite stories OF
his having thrown aside as far as posi-
bic all Official duties at Oyster Bay.
1t is learned that the Presidents mes
sage TO Congress next December will be
a most remarkable document. The
President intends Il 70 be such. and he Is
taking the utmost pains with II. As
long ago as last spring ne set on foot
Inquiries the fruits Of which he intended
should have TO do with the annual mes
sage.
Longest Message.
In the first place. the December mes
sage viii be the longest one the. Presi-
dent has written to Congress- This
means that it VIII be the longest OF
Presidential messages. II viii deal with
an extremely wide range OF subjects.
and win include a great deal more than
recommendations FOR Congress n work
on the coming winter
II will be- intended as a document
when shall map out the psrty's policy
/ for long in the future, for the 1898
campaign and FAR beyond that. It viii
/ be intended as a setting forth Of the
| cons tructtve statesmauship in which
| the Republican party should engage
| through a long series Of years. II viii
/ be the last message which the PreSf-
1 06nL-uulegE re-elaCTaT-u~fLA n
| a long session Of Congress. Some will
| interpret Il as being the document
/ which the President intends shall
| stand as historic testimonial TO his
| statesmanlike view Of things needed
/ for the good Of the nation. Others viii
| look upon II as intended TO convince
the public mind that Theodore Roose-
l velt is the man who is needed 10 be
/ the country's Chief Executive for an
| other four years. At any rate. il IS
| conceded by those aware OF what the
! President has IN mind that he viii
present 10 Congress a great program
! which IL will take two years 70 work
out
One Feature of Document.
One great feature Of the message
will be its handling Of corporation and
| railroad problems, the industrial end Of
the document. StTicter control Of rail-
roads viii be urged, including control
OF capitalization and physical valuation
when necessary in the opinion Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission Ma
tionaI Incorporation for corporations
in Interstate business viii also be
recommended.
Much SPACE viii be devoted to the need
of comprehensive legislation for the con-
lsArVafiOn OF America natural resources
Under this general head viii come pub
Ilic land legislation, reclamation matters
the Improvement Of inland waterways,
legislation regarding minerals on tny
| uublic lands and the ike. SOcl0lO6ictl
Questions will not escape attention, ana
the President will no doubt reltefale
some of his weiI-known views In this
relation. ...
! will not call for tariff revision at TINS
session Of Congress. What he VIII say
. on tariff, aside from this, is not known
!. He will undoubtedly defend the German
tariff arrangement, and ask Ior the
passage of the Philippine tariff bill
Inheritance Tax Question.
He is not expected TO urge Inheritance
: tax and income tax legislation except
when the time comes for overhaulins
the revenue laws, which means thai
these subjects viii not be taken VI
seriously the coming session or in th'
! Sixtieth Congress. Aside from thes'
: matters there will be numberless thing.
3 TO be discussed pertaining &c the vart
= GUS departments. The naval program
will be an extremely important phase
a OF the message.
There is much wonderment here as Z
: whv the President changed his plan
and will return here September p
/ much earlier than expected II IS IN
| derstood an important Cabinet meeting
: will be held September q. For on
|, | thing the President IS said 10 wan
: 10 20 over his Western speeches via
members Of Congress. Cabinet members
and others before starting West. n
can 90 this better here than at Oyste
: Bay.