The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-04-03
ROOSEVELT SENDS A SPECIAL
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS-
Characteristic Aggressive Tone Notice
ably Absent.

Washington, d. G.. Especially The
message which President Roosevelt
sent to Congress Wednesday was as
amazing by the mild conservatism of
its tone as was that of last January
by the fierce denunciaSion Of those
whom the President regarded as the
enemies of his policies. Senator'S
and representatives had learned with
in the past few days that tie mes
sage would be one of Cancellation,
but they were not prepared for the
mild-mannered document which was
read to them Wednesday. Indeed,
some of them could hardly believe
that the President had written it.
1t lacked his characteristic express
sions. and it appeared to studiously
avoid the aggressiveness that has
heretofore been the most marked
feature OF President Roosevelt's COM
munications to Congress.
Taking up the various recommen.
datiols he makes, it would seem that
some of them will be carried out. u
is notable that in the very opening
OF his message Mr. Roosevelt does
not demand legislation in his usual
determined style Child labor, he
says, should be prohibited through
out the nation, but he does not in
his characteristic way demand inn
mediate enactmenC of national child
labor bill. Indeed, he would seem to
be satisfied with a child labor bill
for the District of Columbia, and it
is very probable that bill, restrict
ed in it's application ito Washington,
will be passed either at this session
or the next session of Congress.
Unusually Self-restraincd.
He is similarly restrained in ask
ing for the Employers Liability Law.
This bill, as already stated, is to be
passed in the House shortly under
a suspension of the rules, and the
Senate will probably pass it without
delay. AS for the liability law in
favor of the government employees
the Senate Tuesday showed it's good
will by passing bill to pay $4,000
to Yardmaster Bannon, who was in
jured while working on the Panama
Canal, the bill having been passed
in answer to former recommends
ton made by President Roosevelt.
The greater part of his message is
devoted to explaining and urging on
Congress the bill introduced on Mon
day by Representatives Hepburn to
amend certain features of the Sher-
man Antitrust Law. The conserva-
tism of his recommendation will be
gratifying to financial and industrial
interests of the country. No less
satisfactory to labor will be his rec
concentrations for labor legislation.
Strikes, he says, while clumsy
weapon, are entirely legal and should
be recognized as such, and he makes
an effective plea for legislation of the
working man. Nothing should be
done to legalize either a black list
or boycott that would be illegal at
common law, he says, position in
which all well informed and patriotic
labor leaders fully sustain the Presi-
dent.
His recommendations for postal
savings banks will not be followed at
this sessions. although the House may
pass the bill in which Postmaster
General Meyer has shown so much
interest.
Outlook In Congress.
The recommendations he makes
LOT preparations Tor the revision OF
the tariff in 1909 are The results of
conferences between him and the
leaders in Congress and will be car
ried out, and it is more than probable
that Congress will act on his plea
made in his last message to place
upon the free list wood pulp and to
make corresponding reduction upon
paper made from wood pulp.
The meeting of the governors of
all the states in Washington, on May
Ia and Is, to discuss the conserva-
ton of our national resources, will
point out to Congress way in which
to make elective his recommendations
for conserving our resources, and his
plea for permanent waterways COM
mission, which he regards as an es-
sential feature of the conserving Of
our resources, will probably be grant
ed. His notice to Congress that he
will hereafter veto any bill granting
water power privileges which does
not carry with it provisions for prop
er compensation of the government