Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-28
Acts Previously Advocated Are
Again Brought to At
tenti0n.
ROAST FOR DISHONEST
Hits Inscriptions Rich With
Sons Fools and Daughters
Foreign Princesses.

Washington, April 28. = President
Roosevelt sent another message to
congress yesterday. In characteristic
vein he flays the stirrer of class
hatred, rich and poor, puts his ban
alike on corruption in. the ranks of
labor and capital, and takes fall out
of congress for its sins of omission.
Predatory wealth is hit hard in the
close of the message when the execu-
tive refers to some of our great money
bags whose sons are fools and whose
are foreign princesses," and
who are likened unto the "marauding
barons of the dark ages"
Only Nation Can Act.
Further power is asked for the in
terstate commerce commission and the
statement made that the time has
come when only the nation can act
effectively in the control and super
vision of the country's big combina-
tions.
The message was sent to congress
late in the day Conditions in both
TIE StIdlt lue nouGS WCiS SuCh
that the message received but scant
attention. The house was SO tied up
under its new rules that it could not
officially receive the message, while
the senate was considering the naval
appropriation bill when the document
reached that body. The senate per-
mitted its formal presentation, but by
the time the naval bill was disposed
of it was so late that after the first
few lines had been read it was sug-
gested that further reading be post
poned until today.
The Message I'm Full.
The message follows:
To the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives:
In my message to the congress Of
March %. 1908, outlined certain
measures which / believe the majority
Of our countrymen desire to have en-
acted into law at this time. These
measures do not represent by any
means all that would like TO see done
If l thought it possible, but they do
represent what l believe can now be
done if an earnest effort toward this
end is made.
Laws He Wants Enacted.
Since l wrote this message an en-
pIoyers' liability law has been enacted
which, IT is true. comes short Of what
ought to have been done, but which
does represent real advance. Ap-
parently there is good ground to hope
that there will be further legislation
providing for recompensing. all en-
ployes who suffer injury while en-
gagged in the public, service; that
there will be chiId-labor law enacted
| for the District of Columbia: that the
| waterways commission will be cont.ii-
ued with sufficient financial support to
| increase the effectiveness of its prep
| atory work: that steps will he taken
| TO provide for such investigation into
tariff conditions. by the appropriate
committee of the house of representa-
tives and by government experts In
the executive service. as will secure
the full information necessary for i'm
mediate action in revising the tari1
at the hands of the congress elected
next fall; and finally, that financial
Legislation will be enacted providing
for temporary measures for meetine
any trouble that may arise in the next
year OF two. and for a commission OF
Icxperts who shall thoroughly investi
gate the whole matter, both here and
in the great commercial countries
abroad. so as to be able to recommend
legislation which will put our f1nan'
cial system on an efficient and perma
nent basis.
/ He Mentions o Few More.
j II is much to be wished that on,
} lecture of the financial legislation o
this session should be the establish
ment of postal savings banks. Ampl,
! appropriation should be made to en-
able the interstate commerce commits
sion to carry out the very importan
, feature Of the Hepburn law whic
gives the commission supervision ant
) control over the accounting systems o
! the railways. Failure to provid
. means which will enable the commits
: sion to examine the books Of the raj
: ways would amount to an attack OF
, the law at its most vital point, an,
!. Iwould benefit, as nothing else coul
i benefit, those railways which are col
: ruptly or incompetentiy managet
; Forest reserves should be estabIishe
throughout the Appalachian mountain
: region wherever 1t can be shown ths