Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-12-12
MESSAGE IS
CONSERVATIVE
Communication to Congress Aims to
Please All Glasses.
Wants Financial Legislation and Favors
Changes in Railroad Law-Inves-
d tgate Child Labor Conditions
Protect Labor in Employ Of Man.
ufacturer-tias 8obered Down.

No nation has greater resources than ours
and I think 1t can be truthfully said that
the citizens Of no nation possess greater en-
ergy and Industrial ability. In no nation
are the fundamental business conditions
sounder than in ours at this very moment; !;
and 1t is foolish. when such is the case. for
people to hoard money instead OF keeping
1t In sound banks: for 1t Is such boarding
that 10 the immediate occasion of money
strfngency Moreover. as rule. the business
Of our people Is conducted with honesty and
probity. and this applies alike to farms and
factories to railroads and banks. to all our
legitimate commercial enterprises.
In the effort to punish the guilty 1t is
both wise and proper to endeavor so far as
possible to minimize the distress of those
who have been misled by the guilty. Yet
It Is not possible to refrain because Of such
distress from striving to put end to the
misdeeds that are the ultimate causes of the
suffering and. as a means to this end. where
possible to punish those responsible for
them. There may be honest differences of
opinion as to many Governmental policies;
but surely there can be no such differences
as to the need Of unfinching perseverance
IN the war against successful dishonesty.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
No small part of the trouble that we
have comes from carrying to an extreme
the National virtue Of self-reiance. Of inde-
pendsnce in initiative and action. 1t Is
wise to conserve this virtue and to provide
for its fullest exercise. compatible with see
ing that liberty does not become a liberty
TO wrong others. Unfortunately, this Is the
kind OF liberty that the lack of all effective
regulation inevitably breeds. The founders
OF the Constitution provided that the Ma
sional Government should have complete
and sole control of interstate commerce.
There was then practically no interstate
business such as was conducted by
water. and this the National Government at
once proceeded to regulate in thoroughgoing
and effective fashion. Conditions have now
merce by water Is Insignificant compared
with the amount that goes by land, and al
most ell big business concerns now en-
Esged in interstate commerce. AS result.
1t can be but partially and imperfectly
controlled or regulated by the action of any
one of the several states: such action in
evitably tending to be either too drastic or
else too lax. and in either case ineffective
for purposes of Justice. Only the National
Government can in thoroughgoing fashion
exercise the needed control. This does not
mean that there should be any extension Of
Federal authority. for such authority al
ready exists under the Constitution in
amplest and most far-reaching form; but
1t does mean that there should be extern
sion OF Federal activity. This is not ad-
vocatng Capitalization. 1t is merely look
sng facts in the face. and realizing that
Capitalization in business has already come
and cannot be avoided undone and that
the public at large can only protect Itself
from certain evil effects of this business
Capitalization by providing better methods
for the exercise OF control through the
authority already centralized in the National
Government by the Constitution itself.
To confer upon the National Government.
in connection with the amendment l advo-
cate In the anti-trust law, power OF super
vision over big business concerns engaged
in interstate commerce, would benefit them
as It has benefited the National banks In
the recent business crisis 1t is noteworthy
that the institutions which failed In
which were not under the super
vision and control of the National Govern
ment Those which were under National
control stood the test.
PURE FOOD LAW.
incidentally, In the passage Of the pure
food law the action of the various state
food and dairy commissioners showed in
striking fashion how mucn good for the
whole people results from the hearty CO.
operation OF the Federal and state officials
In securing given reform. 1t is primarily |
TO the action OF these state commits ssioners
that we owe the enactment Of this law
for they aroused the people, first to demand |
tho enactment and enforcement OF state |
laws on the subject. and then the enact
ment of the Federal law. without which |
the state laws largely Ineffective. |
There must be the closest cooperation be- |
tween the National and state governments |
IN administering these laws.
CURRENCY.
In my message to Congress a year ago I |
spoke as follows on the currency:
I especially call your attention to the con-
1ition of our currency laws. The National
1ank act has ably served great purpose in
aiding the enormous business development
" the country. and within ten years there
las been an increase in circulation per cap
ia from s2i.41 to $33.0S. For several years
ional legislation is needed. The recurrence
II each crop season emphasizes the defects
evision OF them. because to leave them as
hey are means to incur liability OF business
disaster. Since your body adjourned there
las been fluctuation in the interest on call
money from per cent to 30 per cent. and
he fluctuation was even greater during the
'reasury had to step IN and by wise action
nut a stop to the most violent period of os- Z
illation. Even worse than such fluctuation
the advance In commercial rates and the
felt in the suffiency OF credit
ven at high rates. All commercial interests
ates for cali money in New York attract
honey from the interior banks into the spec
'ould otherwise be available for commercial !
ses, and commercial borrowers are forced |
tax. in the shape OF increased interest :
hargss, Is placed on the whole commerce !
I the country.
The mere statement OF these facts shows = =
nat present system Is seriously defec- :
We. There is need OF a change. Unfor- =
inately, however. many OF the proposed .
langes must be ruled from consideration |
ecause they are complicated, are not easy a
comprehension and tend to disturb exist '
IL rights and interests. We must also rule c
It any plan which would materially impair t
lie value of the United States 2-per cent V
sue OF which was made under conditions II
,cuiarly creditable to the Treasury. l do /,
Ut press any especial plan. various plans | ;,
i've recently been proposed by expert COM -
ittees of bankers, Among the plans which U
e possibly feasible and which certainly =
oud receive your consideration is that re- !.
'atedly brought to your attention by the d
esent Secretary OF the Treasury the es- "
ntial features OF which have been ap- G
owed by many prominent bankers and bus n
ess men According to this plan National II
INKS should be permitted to issue a speci- v
ID proportion of their capital in notes of | q;
given kind, the issue to be taxed at so n
gh a rate to drive the notes back when
t wanted In legitimate trade. This plan =,
,uld not permit the issue OF currency to y.
ve banks additional profits. but to meet ol
9 emergency presented by times of strin- IT
ncy. "
Need for Immediate Action. q
I again urge on the Congress the need of 81
mediate attention to this matter We 81
ed greater elasticity in our currency: | be
divided OF course, that we recognize the b,
en- greater need of a safe and secure cur ST
ncy There must always be the most III
I'D examination by the National author in
es Provision should be made for an cl
Iergency currency. The emergency issue eli
aranty. and upon conditions carefully pre- G'
.bed by the Government Such emergency re
ue must be based adequate securities &c
proved by the Government and must be
ued under a heavy tax. This would per-
currency being issued when the demand lo
It was urgent. while securing its retire. tn
mt as the demand fell of. II is worth while nu
estigating to determine whether officers in
directors of National banks should tn
n be allowed to loan to themselves tt
Ist companies should be subject to the Of
ne supervision banks; legislation to tn
8 effect should be enacted for the Dis ali
t of Columbia and the Territories. &c
THE TARIFF. M m.
his country 10 dsanitsiy committed to fol