Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-12-16
Last Message of Roose-
welt to a COnven-
ing Congress
Document Wholly De-
void of Anything
Dramatic
Corporations, Courts,
Forests and Other
Matters Discussed

Washington, Dec. 9.-What is ac-
cepted as President Rooseyelts fare
well message was presented to con-
gress yesterday, and in it there is
noted nothing calculated to- give it
classification as memorable docu-
ment. 1t follows the conventionalities
of such a paper. There can be no
telling when the Philippines should
be accorded self-government, he says,
though that time must surely come,
Fortifications there and in Hawaii to
protect harbors from assault land
ward are urged competent young Of
jumped over the heads of elderly in
competents," he affirms; good trusts
should be sanctioned but corporations
regulated; railways should be placed
entirely under the interstate commits
sion and removed wholly from the do
main of the antitrust act employees
should obtain a larger share of inter-
est in business; telegraph and tele-
phone companies should be placed un-
der the interstate commission; a
strong centralizing spirit is mani
tested by the president; the injunc-
ton is defended; postal savings
banks advocated; an employers liza
biiity law defended; ''half holiday
during summer" for all government
workers is urged, half each day or
only on Saturdays is not stated the
doubling of all judicial salaries is de-
manded, and a score of other themes
discussed.
Finances.
The financial standing of the ma
ton is excellent says the president;
but orr currency system is imperfect,
and it is earnestly to be hoped that
the commission viii be able to pro
pose a thoroughly good system which
will do away with existing defects.
From July 1, 1901 TO Sept. 80, 1908,
there was an increase of money in
circulation of 1902 ,a91, 3s9, an in
crease per capita of $706 Within
this time there were several occasions
when it was necessary for the treas
ury to come to- the relief of the mar
ket by purchases or redemptions of
bonds; by increasing deposits in ma
tional banks; by stimulating addi-
tionail issues of national bank notes,
and by facilitating importations from
abroad of gold. Our imperfect cur
rency system made these proceedings
necessary, is the conviction of the
president.
During the past seven years there
has bean a net surplus of nearly one
hundred millions of receipts over ex-
pendituras, reduction OF the inter
est+bearing debt by ninety millions,
in spite of the extraordinary expense
of the Panama canal and a saving OF
nearly nine millions annual interest.
There have been no new taxes and no
increases of taxes; on the contrary
some taxes have been taken off !;
there has been a reduction of taxa
ton.
Corporations
II beGeKe that under the interstate
clause of the constitution the United
States has complete right TO control
all agencies of interstate commerce, .
says the president, and / believe
that the national government alone
can exercise this rignl with effective
ness SO as both to secure Justice
from, and to do justice to, the great
corporations | believe that it Is
folly to attempt to prohibit all eombi
nations as is done by the Sherman
antitrust Law. advocate a law
which shall permit combinations
which are in the interest of the pub
lie but, shall at the same time give
TO some agency of the national gov
eminent full power of control and
supervision. One of the chief feat
ures of this control should be Sc
curing entire publicity in all matters
which the public has a right to know,
and furthermore, the power, not by
judicial but by executive action, to
prevent or put a stop to every form OF
improper favorftism or other wrong
doing.
The raz-ways should be put com
pletely under the interstate com
merce commission and removed from
the domain of the antitrust law. The
power of the commission should be
made thoroughgoing. so that it could
exercise complete supervision and
control over the issue of securities as
well as over the raising and lowering
of rates. AS regards rates, at least,
this power should be summary The
shareholders. the employees and the
shippers all have interests that must
be guarded. II is to the interest of
all of them that no swindling stock
speculation should be allowed, and
that there should be no improper IS
suance Of securities There must be
no defrauding OF investors, oppres
sion Of farmers and business men who
ship freight. or calious disregard q
the rights and needs Of the employees
Rates must be made as low as il
compatible with giving proper returns