Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-23
Special Message Will Urge Special
Session After March, 1909, For
Revision of the Tariff Law.
CHANGES IN ANTITRUST LAWS
Giving Concessions to Both Capital and
Labor===Limiting Use of Injunction In
Labor Disputes===Pass the Aldrich Bill.

Washington, March 22-President
Roosevelt has determined on a legis-
lative program the enactment of which
will be urged upon Congress in a Spe-
cial message, which he said Saturday
will be forthcoming this week
Each of the measures to be proposed
involves perplexing difficulties and
each will have far-reaching effect on
the business and economic conditions
of the country.
The program is the product of i'm
portant conferences by which the
President has been put in possession
of the views of all interests concerned.
Likewise the attitude of the leaders in
both branches of Congress has been
made known. It's success depends up
on the combined effort which he be-
lieves can be brought to bear in behalf
of the whole plan by those affected
especially by some one of its features.
The program includes:
A declaration in favor of revision
of the tariff in a special session to be
held after March 4, 1909.
An amendment to the Sherman an
| tI-IruSJ law 50 DIS W iHCiNt ldul
concessions to combinations of both
capital and labor.
Limiting. the powers of certain
courts in the use of the injunction in
labor disputes.
Passage Of an employers liability
act.
Passage Of the Aldrich financial bill.
The support of business and finan-
cial interests of the Middle West was
pledged to the President on this pro-
gram following an extended confer
ence held at the White House Friday
night
A most satisfactory conference was
; held at the Presidents offices Friday
with leaders of the two houses of Con-
gress The details of Fiday nights
conference were purposely withheld
pending the morning conference. At
| the conclusion of the latter, the fol-
| lowing statement was made public by
Secretary Loeb:
''At conference with the President,
| held at the White House last evening
with the following representatives of
| commercial bodies of the Middle West:
| Richard c. Hall. chairman, Presi-
| dent chicago ASSOcldllOH VI I'm
| merce; J. V. Farwell, Jr., member of
the Chicago Association of Commerce.
Charles H. Wacker, member of Chi
cago Association of Commerce. James
f Smith. president St. Louis Business
Mems League; Festus j. Wade. OF
executive committee st. Louis Bust
| ness Mems League; II. b. Topping,
president of the Kansas City CONNER
cial Club: c. 3. Parker, ex-president
Kansas City Commercial Club: f. NJ
Clendenning, secretary Kansas City
Commercial Club.
"The following address was pre-
| sentcd to the President. and there was
a full expression of Ciews, both on the
part Of the President and the commit
| tee:
"'Mr President the ORGANIZATIONS
We represent have a membership OF
about 45o0 business men. corporations
firms and individuals, engaged in the
development of the agricultural re-
| sources and the manufacturing, COM
mnrciaI and financial interests OF the
middle West. In the pursuit OF our va
rious lines of business, we come II
contact with almost every portion o.
the country. but especially of the
Mississippi Valley.
Owe were never in a more prosper
GUS condition than prior to the panic
OF last fall. Our labor was all EN-
ployed, our capital profitably invest
ed In short period these conditions
have changed.
"'Certain lines Of business are al
most stagnant. brought about by tn
fear of the people as to the stabilit!
Of some of our institutions. None.
has been boarded instead Of flowint
into the ordinary channels of invest
ment securities and various CONNER
cial securities and various commercial
interests.
| 1.-TWO primary causes are RESPONSE
bic for this condition. First, the gros
violation Of law by some corporation
and grating by some public officials
ard secondly, deficient currency sys
TEN. wholly incapable of respondln
to needs of commerce when fear an
| uncertainty are engendered in tn
minds Of the masses.
1.-The starting of this period Of un
rest and distrust was the eXposur
brought about by the insurance inves
tigaion in New York, where it wa
shown that the trustees of corpora
tons. acting for millions of our pee
pie, and representing in assets MOI
than a thousand millions of dollar
4 had in some instances, used the as