Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-02-06
ROOSEVELT WARNS
OF NATIONAL PERIL
Special Message Declares Attempt
Is Being Made in High Places
to Block Legislation.
BAND TO DEFEAT REFORMS.
President Replies to Those Individ-
uals and Corporations Who Have
Attacked the Administration,

An organized effort by certain
wealthy men TO discredit the admins
tration in its crusade against unlawful
methods of trusts is charged by Presi-
dent Roosevelt in special message
sent to Congress. The President saws
the purpose of these men is to cause
reaction of sentiment and prevent the
legislation needed to carry out the re-
forms sought. The only way to coun-
teract the movement says the mes
sage. lis TO make clear to the public
just what they 1.-THE men referred tol
have done in the past and what they
are seeking to accomplish in the pres
ent.'
AS if to give point to these state
ments the President refers to the re-
cent heavy fines inflicted on the Stand
ard Oil Company and the Santa Fe
Railroad Company for rebating and
then discusses at length the statements
issued by both concerns denouncing the
action of the courts. which were scat
tered broadcast. Answer is made to
the criticism that fines are inflicted
against wealthy individuals and cor
porations instead of prison sentences.
The President says the wrong-doer is
sent to prison where it is possible to
do so. He refers to the Gaynor and
Greene case and 1.-The misapplication of
funds in connection with certain great
banks in Chicago" where this has been
DONE
In reply to the cry that his policy
hurts business, Mr.. Roosevelt says:
"The business that is hurt by the move
ment for honesty is the kind of bust
ness it pays the country to have hurt"
In discussing remedies for corpora
ton abuses the President says the COM
mon law is not enough and the national
and State governments must work to-
gether to attain the results needed. He
asserts that the apologists and defend
ers of corporate wrong-doing who OPP
pose Federal action are proving false
to the people and laying up a day of
wrath for the interests .ney seek to
protect.
On the subject of railroad rates and
control of interstate commerce, the
President urges that authority be given
the Interstate Commerce Commission
to pass upon rates of its own initia-
tive and to stop proposed advance in
rates pending an investigation. The
remedy for stock watering the Presi-
dent sees in a law giving the Federal
government supervision over the issu-
ing of stock.
A suggestion beyond anything the.
President formerly made is that the
Federal government should assume con-
troll over the physical operation of rail-
ways to the extent Of fixing schedules
for perishable commodities. While
these reforms are asked in the interest
of the public and the shipping, the mes
sage says the restrictions proposed
should not prevent capital from paying
liberal returns. Amendment of the
Sherman law on a comprehensive plan
to include the operations of other con-
Germs than railroads doing an inter-
state business is recommended.
Inc HTSI part VI tne HeSSdSe 10 ut
voted to the relations of capital and
labor, chief attention being given to the
employers liability law and labor in
functions. new employers liability
bill to avoid the defects of the law re-
Gently declared unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court is urged. In this con-
nection the President recommends the
passage of a comprehensive act pro-
viding for compensation by the govern
ment to employees who are injured on
duty. Suits to compel payment of dam
ages, the message says, should be I'M
necessary.
Abuses of labor injunctions are dis
cussed by the President. who takes the |
position that while abolishing the proc
ess of injunction would be unwise the |
needless and unjust use of such court |
orders occasionally works wrong and |
Congress should give careful study to |
the subject with view to amending |
the law.