The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-09
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


tain him in his removal of the chief.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
In a message of something like $4,000
words, President Roosevelt gives con-
gress his valedictory exposition of ex-
listing conditions and needed legisla-
ton. The one conspicuous and notable
faeture is the comparatively mild tone
of the communication, though it lacks
nothing of the admOnitory preachments
which have come to be regarded as dis
tinctive of the presidents style.
The opening sentences declare the ma
tons financial standing is excellent
and the management of its financial
affairs during the past seven years
most satisfactory. In proof of this Is
cited a reduction in the public debt and
large per capita circulation. but with
becoming reticence no direct reference
is made TO the panic of 1907. the large
and continuing deficits in the national
treasury or the bungling efforts Of Cor
telyou TO meet the crisis of October,
1907.
Wall street had discounted some days
ago the utterances on corporation con-
troll by the government, Justly appre-
hending that the conservatism of the
message in this regard was a factor
favorable to speculation in stocks. The
president again declares that the law
should be changed to permit eombina-
lions subject to governmental superyi-
sion and publicity; that over-capitali-
cation and kindred evils should be pre-
vented; that telegraph and telephone
systems should be included in the gov
ernment's supervision of corporations.
and that all the agencies of interstate
commerce should likewise be taken
under the control of some government
agency such as the interstate commits
sion
ITO accomplish this" he adds,
means, of course. a certain increase
in the use of-not the creation Of
power by the central government"
10 ltIOSt WIN DclcNG CClNA
such as is proposed would be worse
evil than the wrongs it is proposed TO
remedy, "a certain increase in the use
of power by the central government
is a feeble phrase to describe what
would be government control of prac-
tically every agency of business OF
every sort by bureaucratic appointees
of political party
on the labor question, the president
reiterates his we'll known and oft-eX-
pressed views. He denounces agar
the demands of the labor organizations
voiced by Gompers and others; and al
| the same time he expresses the belief
that some remedy should be afforded
/ by legislation to prevent the abuse OF
I the temporary injunction on ex partt
! hearings without notice. He urges
strongly the extension and enlargement
of the employers liability law; the re-
striction of child labor and woman Ia
| Dor: is for shorter hours of employs
ment in mechanical occupations, ant
advocates progressive inheritance
tax.
! Considerable space is devoted TO con.
sideration of the federal Judiciary, be
ginning with a recommendation thai
judges salaries be raised and endins
with a lengthy discussion of the weak
nesses and imperfections of judicial in
terpretations that fail to catch tn,
spirit of today. Jr~ S.
Forest preservation is the subject o
a dissertation on the whole question
! Illustrated by examples from the fat,
of China and brought down to dat
! with photographs. National water
ways are discussed with recon-
mendation that the existing unsatis
factory system of expenditure and ex
travagance without results be aban
doned for a scientific. progressive an
systematic development of interna
waterways for transportation. pur
poses. National parks get some atten
ton and the secret service is the tex
Tor small preachment on the cussed
ness OF congress, which prevents tn
use of the secret Service men in "spot
ting" members Of the national legis
lature.
Postal savings banks are recon
mended. the parcels post comes in 70
approval and larger appropriations ar
suggested for national educational pur
; poses.
X X
The progress OF the Panama cana
construction is declared very satisfaC
= tory and colonial questions are GOV
cred at length The army and nav
: get their fun share of attention. and
= former Recommendation for a chan,