The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1908-12-19
President RooseTelt's Final
Message.

| 9th inst, and it's contents is attr
great interest throughout the country
The document covers two pages OF an
ordinary newspaper in small type, and
in point of exhaustiveness, vlgor,
, ability and clarity OF expression com
pares favorably with its predecessors
and is worthy OF the established repu-
tation of it's distinguished and bril-
liant author.
The recommend ations, suggestions
and statements of governmental con-
ditions comprised in the message may
be briefly summarized as follows:
The present session of congress
should witness action for the improve
ment of inland waterways action that
will give US not only navigable, but
navigated rivers.
Our courts are jeopardized and dis
credited by judges who show inability
or unwillfngness TO put stop to the
wrongdoing of very rich men and to
give relief to wageWorkers and men Of
small means who are crushed down
and oppressed by modern industrial
conditions that should be cnrbed and
reformed.
Organized labor is chafng under
unjust restraint coming from repeated
resort to procedure by injunction.
Although often improperly expressed,
labor's discomfort has a sound basis,
and existing abuses should be abro-
gated.
The burdens OF taxation on the small
man should be lightened as far as
possible, and as means to this end
an inheritance tax on large fortunes
should be levied.
Railways should be placed under
the control of the Interstate Commerce
Commission and removed from the
domain of the antitrust law. The
commission should have control over
the issuing OF securities and the rails
ing ard lowering OF rates.
Excellent results have been accom-
plished by the management of the na-
tton's finances during the past seven
years, but the currency system is yet
imperfect.
There was surplus of revenues in
the years 1902, 1908, 1906 and 1907, and
deficit in 1904, 1906 and 1908, the net
result being a surplus of over 500, 000,.
600. The interest bearing debt was
reduced from 1881, 141, 040 to 1897. 253,-
800, Notwithstanding there were two
sales of Panama Canal bonds and an
issue OF 3 per cent certificates of in
debtedness.
The Sherman anti.tru law should
be amended so as TO invest the a,
tional government with the paramount
right to control all agencies of inter-
state commerce, and there should be a
law permitting combinations which
are to the public Interest.
Railroad. telegraph and telephone
companies doing interstate business
should be under control of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission.
Proper solution of the labor problem
depends as much on the states as the
central government.
Child labor must be prohibited, wo-
man labor diminished and the hours OF
mechanical labor shortened.
Stock watering should be prohibited
aud stock gambling discouraged.
An increase in the salaries of United
States judges is recommended.
Postal savings banks are advocated.
The saving of the forests is com
mended.
More effective action against Grimm
ais by the secret service is advocated.
Opportunity OF tie government in ed
vocational work must not be lost nor
longer neglected.
War against disease, and particu
larry against plague carrying rodents
and insects, should be vigorouslg
waged.
The Immediate admission to state
hood of New Mexico aud Arizona is
The postmaster general should be
authorized to experiment with the
parcels post.
Attention is called to the Importance
of the fisheries in interstate waters,
and an extension of the federal law
regulating game to include fish, is
recommended.
The administration of the Panama
Canals praised.
The commercial and material pro
gress Of the twenty Latin American re-
publies is noted with satisfaction.
Extension IF the ocean mail service
10 South America, Asia, the Philip
pines and Australasiais recommended.
F Particular attention is called to tbs
advancement Of Hawaii.
Progress toward government ia
the Philippines is fast, but no one car
prophecy when it will be wise to con
slider independence as definite policy
American citizenship for the people
of Porto Rico is recommended.
Hope is expressed that the Cuban
people will be able to govern them
80 lxAr t,;tb insfinas after the .,;t !, t4~o,,