St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-12-19
One Dollar a Year.
Presidents
Message

waterways action which should result
in giving US not only navigable, but
navigated rivers. We have spent
hundreds of millions of dollars upon
these waterways, yet the traffic on
nearly all of them is steadily declining.
The condition is the direct result of the
absence of any comprehensive and far
seeing plan of waterway improve
ment."
The courts are jeopardized primari-
ly by the action of those Federal and
State judges who show inability or I'M
willingness to put a stop to the wrong
doing of very rich men under modern
Industrial conditions, and inability or
unwillingness to give relief to men of
small means or wage-workers who are
crushed down by these modern indus
trial conditions; who, in other words,
fail to understand and apply the need
ed remedies for the new wrongs pro-
duced by the new and highly complex
social and industrial civilization which
has grown up in the last half century.
Organized labor is chatting under the
unjust restraint which comes from re-
peated resort to this (the Injunction
plan of procedure. It's discomfort has
been universally expressed, but there
is sound basis for it and the orderly
law~abiding people of community
would be in far stronger position for
upholding the courts if the unboubted-
ly existing abuses could be provided
against.
"As far as possible we should tighten
the burden of taxation on the small
man. We should put premium on
thrift, hard work and business energy,
but these qualities cease to be the
main factors in accommodating a for
tune long before that fortune reaches
a point where it would be seriously
affected by any inheritance tax such
as propose. 1t is eminently right
that the nation should fix the terms
upon which the great fortunes are
inherited.
Railways should be placed exclu-
siveiy under the Interstate Commerce
Commission and removed from the
domain of the antitrust law. The
power or the commission should be
made thoroughgoing. 1t should have
control over the issuing of securities
and summary power over the raising
and lowering of rates.
The financial management of the
naffnpPc iya4n +bo
seven years has accomplished excel
lent results, though the currency sys-
TEN is imperfect.
The operations of the government
resulted in a surplus during the years
1902, 1903, 1906 and 1907, and.a deficit
in 1904, 1905 and 1908, and fractional
part of the fiscal year 1909; the net
result being surplus of $99, 283, 413 81.
The interest bearing debt was re-
duced from 1897, 141, 040 to 1897, 253, $50
notwiths landing the fact that there
were two sales of Panama Canal bonds,
and an issue of 8 per cent certificates
of indebtedness.
The operation of the Sherman anti
trust law is faulty. The national
government should have the para
mount right to control all agencies
of interstate commerce. There should
be a law permitting combinations
which are in the interest of the public |
Railroad, telegraph and telephone
companies engaged in interstate BUSH
ness should be put under control of |
the Interstate Commerce Commission. |
Greed and rascality practiced on a |
large scale should be punished as re-
lentlessly as that practiced on small |
scale,
Solution of the labor problem de-
ponds as much on the States as upon
the Central government.
Congress should deal with the ques-
ton of taking care of the wage earn
ers.
There must be prohibition of child
labor, diminution of woman labor,
and shortening of hours of all me-
chanical labor.
There should be an inheritance tax
on large fortunes.
Stock watering should be prohibited
and stock gambling, SO far as is pos
sible, discouraged.
An increase in the salaries of United
States Judges is recommended.
Postal savings banks are advocated.
Labor's attack on the courts during
The recent campaign is described as
''claes consciousness.
The saving of the forest is COM
nended. {
Action should be begun at once by /
he present Congress for the improve !
nent of the inland waterways.
More effective action against crimi- {
Lals by the secret service is advocated. ]
Opportunity of the government in
work must not be lost nor
onger neglected. J
War against disease, and particu- t
arly against plague-carrying rodents
nd insects, should be vigorously (
ragged. S
The immediate admission to state c
God of New Mexico and Arizona is
dvocated. t
The Postmaster General should be a
uthorized to experiment with the s
arcels post,
Attention is called to the impor- t
ance of the fisheries in interstate 8
alters, and an extension of the Fed y
raj law regulating game to include s
sh, is recommended.
The administration of the Panama c
anal is praised. T
The commercial and material pro- p
-ess of the twenty Latin-American f
,publics is worthy of careful consid- k
alton. G
Extension of the ocean mail service Il
South America, Asia, the Philip r.
mes and Australasia is recommended. v
Particular attention is called to the fl
,ogress of Hawaii. n
Progress toward self-government in S;
] philippines is fast, but no one can 81
,onbesV when it will be wise to con-
Ter independence as definite policy. n
American citizenship for the people S
Porto Rico is recommended. m
Hone is expressed that the Cuban
- rrrill be able to govern them OF