The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-03
PRESIDENT
.R0OSEvELT'S
LAST ANNUAL
Will Be ReDiew of
Administrators
Achievement
(By s. W. Press Associatton.) !

RoOSevelt's last annual message to
C:ngres sis now known to be practi.
cally finished, and tnose who have
had oportunity to glance at Its con.
tents declare that it is a verltable
classic and will take rank as one OF
the most important state papers ever
written by a President of the United
States. 1t has ben the Presidents 5
ambition to make this message a
summary and a faithful register of
his administration. and he has spent
many months striving to accomplish
this effect.
Aside from its literary merits its
unusual clarity and its summing up
Of past history, the message will ad-
vocate many measures of practical
reform. In this respect, 1t will be
quite up to the standard set by the
President in past messages.
Mucn attention will be paid in the
message to questions of economic re-
form in which labor is deeply in
terested. One OF the most striking
features will be the recommendation
OF an amendment to the Sherman an
thrust law exempting labor trgan-
i2ations from its provisions, and the
passage OF an antl-injunction law
along the lines proposed last year
Under a recent Supreme. Court de-
clslon in the Danbury hatters' case.
labor unions conducting a boycott
came within the conspiracy clause.
/. Whether the President will pusH
his fight for a larger navy by rec.
ommending the annual construction
Of four monster battleships has not
been decided. He will at any rate
ask for two.
Additional Notifications for the
Philippines and for seacoast deienses
in this country will be strongly urged.
and it may be that the President will
decide to ask fer reorganization of
the navy bureaus.
Congress will be requested to
broaden the powers of the Interstate
Commerce Commission in the super
vision rates before they become ef-
feCtive. The difficulties encountered
in the adjustment of the interstate
rates by States having railroad com.
missions have raised a demand for
additional Federal Legislation that the
President believes will meet with
hearty support even by the majority
party IN Congress.
The postal savings bank project Of
the Postmaster General will receive
hearty Endorsement and an earnest
recommendation that it be speedily
enacted into law.
The great growth of prohibition
sentiment and the demand Of the
States that the Federal Government
meet the Original packers" decision
Of the Supreme Court will be touched
upon.
The President will also recommend
legislation requiring publicity OF
campaign expenses.
He has not yet indicated whethe.
he will repeat his previous recon,
mendation for the enactment OF an
Inheritance and income tax, but ne
Will press for a Federal Incorporation
license and for the enactment of a
new, employers liability law.
The President will take advantage
ui certain criticisms in the last Con
gress as to the adyisabflity Of send
ing the Atlantic fleet into Aslatic wa
ters by pointing out the feeling of in
ternational amlty that followed It:
tflumphal progress, and the great ad
yantages. commercially and otherwise
which he believes will accrue In ia
pan, China and other points in the
Orient.
Statehood for New Mexico and Ari
soua will not be neglected, nor vii
the demand for the creation OF al
Appalachian Forest Reserve. Alse
his advocacy of the adoption pf ,
policy looking to the purchase of n
least one legation site a year will b;
renewed.
The placing Of dates upon the labels
Of packing house products and thu
payment of the cost of inspection b!
the packers is another matter Il
which he will call attention. Tn,
demand for uniformity in dIvorc,
laws will be reiterated as well a
national child labor Legislation.
Although Il Ia generally understoo,
that the President viii leave to hi