Mower County transcript., 1907-12-04
ct subject Of currency legislation, and

says: Il ~
Il again urge on the congress the need
OF Immediate attention to this matter.
We need a greater elasticity in our cur
rency; provided, of course, that we recog-
nlze the even greater need of safe ana
secure currency. There must always be
the most rigid examination by the ma
tional authorities. Provision should be
made for an emergency currency. The
emergency issue should, of course, be
made with an effective guaranty, and up
on conditions carefully prescribed by the
government. Such emergency issue must
be based on adequate securities approved
by the government, and must be issued
under a heavy tax. This would permit
currency being issued when the demand
for it was urgent, while securing its re-
tirement as the demand fell Off It is
worth investigating to determine whether
officers and directors of national banks
should ever be allowed to loan to them
selves Trust companies should be sub
ject to the same supervision as banks;
legislation to this effect should be en-
acted for the District of Columbia and
the territories.
"Yet we must also remember that even
the wisest legislation on the subject can
only accomplish certain amount. No
legislation can by any possibility guar
antee the business community against the
results of speculative folly any more than
it can guarantee an individual against the
results of his extravaganza. When an in
dividual mortgages his house to buy an
automobile he invites disaster; and when
wealthy men, or men who pose such,
or are unscrupulously or foolshly eager
to become such, indulge in reckless spec
ulation-especially if it is accompanied by
dishonesty-they jeopardize not only their
own future but the future of all their in
nOnant fa11nw-nitiZpnS for thpV
the whole business community to panic
and Distress"
He advises against any general tariff
legislation this session of congress, and
says:
''In a country of such phenomenal
growth as ours it is probably we'll that
every dozen years or so the tariff laws
should be carefully scrutinized so as to
see that no excessive or improper bene-
fits are conferred thereby, that proper
revenue is provided, and that our
foreign trade is encouraged. There
must always be as minimum
a tariff which will not only al
low for the collection Of an ample rev.
enue but which will at least make
good the difference in cost Of production
here and abroad; that is, the difference in
the labor cost here and abroad, for the
we'll beieg of the wage-worker must ever
be a cardinal point of American policy
The question should be approached pure
ly from a business standpoint; both the
time and the manner of the change being
such as to arouse the minimum of agi-
tation and disturbance in the business
world, and to give the least play for
selfish and factional motives. The sole
consideration should be to see that the
sum total of changes represent the pub
lie Sood. This means that the subject
cannot with wisdom be dealt. with in the
year preceding a presidential election, be-
cause a matter of fact experience has
conclusively shown that at such time
it is impossible to get men to treat it from
the standpoint of the public good. In my
Judgment the wise time to deal with the
matter is Immediately after such cleo
ton"
He asks for the repeal of the tariff on
paper and wood pulp.
He reviews and enlarges upon his pre-
vious recommendations for the enact
mont of federal inheritance and income
tax laws.
Attention is called to the prosecution of
wealthy offenders against the national
laws. and in this connection he asks that
the laws under which these prosecutions
are brought, be strengthened and made
more definite.
The Use and the
Abuse Of InjunctiOns.
"Instances Of abuse in the granting of
injunctions in labor disputes continue to
occur, and the resentment in the minds
of those who feel that their rights are
being invaded and their liberty of action
and Of speech unWarrantably restrained
continues to grow. Much of the attack
on the use of the process of injunction is
wholly without warrant; but 1 am con-
strained to express the belief that for
some of it there is warrant. This ques-
ton is becoming more and more of prime
Importance, and unless the courts will
themselves deal with it in effective man
ner. it is certain ultimately to demand
some form of legislative action. It would
be most unfortunate for our social well
fare if we should permit many honest
and law-abiding citizens TO feel that
they had just cause for regarding our
courts with hostility. I earnestly COM
mend to the attention of the congress
this matter, so that some way may be
devised which will limit the abuse of in
functions and protect those rights which
from time to time 1t unWarrantably in
vades. Moreover, discomfort is often ex-
pressed with the use of the process of
injunction by the courts, not only in la
Dor disputes, but where state laws are
concerned. 1 refrain from discussion of
this question as I am informed that it
will soon receive the consideration Of the
supreme court
OF other legislation in the interest of
labor he favors federal inspection Of rail-
roads; providing limited but definite COM
pensation for accidents to all workmen
employed in any way by the government,
and says:
1.-The constitutionality of the employers
liability act passed by the preceding con-
gress has been carried before the courts.
In two jurisdictions the law has been de-
clared unconstitutional, and In three juris-
dictions it's constitutionality has been af-
firmed The question has been carried to
tie supreme court, the case has been
heard by that tribunal and decision is
expected at an early date. In the event
that the court should affirm the consti-
tutfonality of the act, urge further leg
islation along the lines advocated in my
message to the preceding congress. The
practice of putting the entire burden of
loss of life or limb upon the victim or
the victims family is form of social in
justice in which the United States stands
in unenviable prominence. In both our
federal and our state legislation we have,
with few exceptions, scarcely gone
farther than the repeal of the fellow
servant principle of the old law of liabil-
ity, and in some Of our states even this
slight modification of a complete out