The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1908-12-11
PRESIDENTS
LAST MESSAGE
ANNUAL RECOMNENDATIO To
CONGRESS ARE MADE BY
ROOSEVELT.
Sherman Law Should Be Amended
Favors Postal Savings Banks
and Parcel Post.

ing is brief synopsis of the Presi-
dents message, read to the two
Houses today:
The financial standing of the ma
ton at the present time is excellent.
and the financial management of the
nations interests by the government
during the last seven years has
shown the most satisfactory results.
But our currency system is imperfect
and 1t is earnestly to be hoped that
the currency commission will b. able
TO propose thoroughly good system
which will do away with the exist
ing defects.
During the period from July l.,
1901, to Sept. 80, 1908, there has
been a net surplus of nearly one
hundred millions of receipts over ex-
penditures, 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 on the annual
interest charge.
Corporations believe that I'M
der the interstate clause of the con-
stitution the United States has COM
plete and paramount right to control
all agencies of interstate commerce,
and | believe that the national gov
eminent alone can exercise this
right with wisdom and effectiveness
so as both to secure justice from and
to do justice to the great corpora
tons which are the most important
factors in modern business. | be-
lieve that it is worse than folly to
attempt to prohibit all combinations
as is done by the Sherman antitrust
law, because such law can be en-
forced only imperfectly and unequal
ly, and it's enforcement works almost
as much hardship as good.
The railways of the country should
be put completely under the inter-
state commerce commission and re-
moved from the domain of the anti
trust law.
Telegraph and telephone COM
panies engaged in interstate business
should be put under the jurisdiction
of the interstate commerce commits
sion.
Labor-As far as possible / hope
to see a frank recognition of the
advantages conferred by machinery,
organization and division of labor,
accompanied by an effort to bring
about a larger share in the owner
ship by wageworker of railway, mill
and factory.
There should no longer be any
paltering with the question of taxi
ing care of the wageworkers who,
under our present industrial system,
become killed, crippled or worn out
as part of the regular incidents of
a given business. The object sought
could be achieved by proper employ
ers' liability laws.
also renew my recommendation
that the principle of the eight-hour
day should be as rapidly and as far
as practicable be extended to the en-
tire work being carried on by the
government.
The Courts most earnestly urge
upon congress the duty Of increasing
the totally inadequate salaries now
given to our judges. Beginning with
the supreme court, the judges should
have their salaries doubled.
It is discreditable to us as a peo-
pie that there should be difficulty in
convicting murderers or in bringing
to Justice men who as public ser
wants have been guilty of corruption
or who have proflted by the corrup-
ton of public servants.
Forests there is any one duty
which more than another we owe it
to our children and our children S
children to perform at once 1t is to
save the forests of this country, for
they constitute the first and most i'm
portant element of the natural re-
sources of the country.
Pure Food-The pure food legis-
lation has already worked a beneht
difficult of estimation.
Postal Savings Banks again re-
new my recommendation for postal
savings banks, for deposittng saw
ings with the security of the govern
ment behind them.
Parcel Post-The establishment or
a local parcel post on rural routes
would be to the mutual benefit or
the farmer and country storekeeper.
Public Health-The dangers TO
public health from food adulteration
and from many other sources, such
as the menace to the physical, men
tai and moral development OF chill
dren from child labor, should be met
and overcome.
Statehood advocate the imme-
date admission of New Mexico and
Arizona as states. This should be
done at the present session OF con-
gress.
Porto Rico-I again recommend
that American citizenship be con-
ferred upon the people of Porto RICO
The Navy approve the recon-
mendations of the general board Ior
the increase of the navy, calling es-
pecial attention to the need OF add
tional destroyers and golfers and,
above all, of the four battleships. IL
is desirable to complete as soon as
possible a squadron of eight battie-
ships of the best existing type.