The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-11-10
PRESIDENTS
LAST MESSAGE
Closing Word 10 Congress VII!
UTgeChange IN TruStLay,
ADVOCATE LARGER NAVY

Mr. Roosevelt Secs Need Of lrcre-1irJ
the Powers Of the interstate Cor'-
nerce Commission-May Take ~
income and inheritance Taxes an
viii Discuss the Fleets Trip ArounG
the WorId-Oocumen viii Sc Ra-
eognized 40 a "characiorIs.ie' Mes
sage.
Washington, Nov 7. - Pre8l leut
RoOsc.c.t has already done 3 oil
deal ol work on his message To- G, n
grcss. which will be delivered i'm a-
diatcly alter the opening Of the new
session Much Of the materill ID. ID
has been gathered together ald Iany
features have been roughly dra. aI.
The task of working IL over into lrGl
shape. aHd o. determining IusI what
shall and what shall not be included 1
in the document, still Is to be taken
up.
ID can be- stated that the president
will scnd gnlt will be recognized as a
characteristic" message The fact
thaf it IS his last congressional session
ana hat ID vii be only 4 short ses
sion. WIN in no wise cause the presi
leat ia hcetiaje in asking Tor all the
things he wants he will reiterate the
demand fer those things wA.ch cen
gress hasn't yer got around to giving
on the strength of iOimer demands
and viii come out for some new fea
lures OF progressive legislation
With fhe tarih taken care Of, tresi.
dent Roosevelt VIII present the case
of those various reform measures he
he's been pressing in tho past, The
list WIN lneiude,
Practical and effective Amendment
Of the sherman antitrust act. with
the vieT Of establishing some such
goyeinmcnt supervision OF the great
industrial corporations as the inter
state commerce commission maintains
ovc rthe railroads
Conel leIaMe extension Of the pow
srs OF the interstate commission in
the ma. er OF controlling rates, es-
pecially the power to prevent rate
ar schedule " rates taking effect IN
m after the commission shall have
had opportunity 10 examine and de-
lermine its prima facie reasonable
ness
Liberal appropriation for the contin-
ued enforcement of the uniform rail-
road accounting provisions Of the Hep
burn act.
Passage OF the government en-
ployers' liability act.
Increase OF the naval establishment
by the construction OF two new bat
tleships al least. and probably a re-
newal OF the request for four.
Provision Tor the establishment of
forest reserves in the Appalachian re-
giou
Inauguration OF an effective federal
control over the water powers OF the
country. with view TO preventing
their monopolization by private inter
ests. and to assuring that power shall
be sold at reasonable rates.
Internal waterways improvement
and development
Campaign fund publicity,
Whether the president will take up
income and inheritance taxes aud the
making OF valuation Of the railroads
Is not yet decided upon, It Is under
stood.
The expectation Is. however that
he will discus. at least the advisability
Of income and inheritance taxes. 1t IS
the presidents firm belief that such
legislation is needed in this country
for the regulation of swollen for
tunes" and he is anxious that his
of It in former utter
ances shall not be forgotten.
One section OF the message to which
the president has devoted himself
with especial satisfaction is the dis
cussion Of the battleship fleets trip
around the world. It has been a source
Of unalloyed qualification to him that
the great parade OF the naval force
has been so strikingly successful, both |
as demonstration of the fitness of
The navy and OF the excellent relations |
between the United States and the ma
ions of the world.
The president will take occasion |
once mere to press for a permanent |
policy of naval expansion which will |
assure this countrys high rang on
he seas.