Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-12-11
STATE LAWS
POWERLESS
Keynote Of the Presidents
Message Is Capitalization
CURLING OF CORPORATIONS

ton to Prevent Wrongdoins-Fail-
ure Of Courts to Meet New condi-
tions-Promotion by Merit, Not Age,
In the Army Is Asked.
Washington, Dec. 9.-President |
Roosevelt in his last annual message
to congress reiterates in vigorous Ian
guage his well.known views regarding
the Capitalization of power in the
hands of the federal government for
the purpose of dealing with the great
corporations and railways; again criti-
cises federal judges for their failure to
apply old principles to meet the new
conditions caused by the vital changes
that have taken place in our body pol
itic; advocates new laws in the inter-
ests of labor; appeals for legislation
to conserve the forests and the soil
points the way to a settlement of the
inland waterway problem, and asks
for the Strengthening of our war
forces.
The message, which contains 10000
words, begins by stating that the finan-
cial situation OF the country is excel
lent. The net surplus July l, 1901, to
Sept. 80, 1908, is s99, Alb. But the
currency system is imperfect and
should be strengthened Believing
that diversified, state laws furnish no
o1
dealing with the railways and trusts,
the president strongly urges that the
federal government alone be empower
ed to take action.
He suggests the modification of the
Sherman antitrust law so that distinc.
ton can be drawn between good and
bad trusts, and he also would give the
government authority to stop improper
favoritism or wrongdoing mot by ju-
dicial but by executive action" The
railways, he says. should be put com
pletely under the control of the inter.
state commerce commission, including
supervision of the issuing of securities
and the making of rates. He groups
the anarchist, reactionary and wrong.
doer of great wealth" as equally unde.
sirable persons. Corporations them
selves are turning to the federal con-
troll idea, the president affirms.
Labor Legislation
In advocating legislation in the in.
terests of labor, the president says
there must be prohibition of child la
Dor, diminution of woman labor. short.
err hours for all mechanical labor. dis.
couragement of stock watering and
stock gambling, progressive inheri.
lance tax on large fortunes and more
liberal liability laws
Five thousands words of the mes
sage are devoted to the courts. He
says of judges that there is no body
OF men whose work is so VALUABLE and
who are so inadequately rewarded.
He suggests that their salaries be
doubled. Attention Is called to de.
cisions by courts detrimental to the
rights of wage workers. the Sacred.
ness of contract" is questioned and
modification of the law of Injunction
is urged. President Roosevelt says that
except in cases of clear violation of
the constitution the courts should give
effect to the lawfully expressed and
deliberate judgment of the legislature
and not seek to defeat the will of the
people by technicalities of strained
constructions. The chief breakdown
Of the courts, he says, is inefficiency in
dealing with the trusts.
Conservation of Resources
President Roosevelt again urges the
conservation of the forests and the
soils and to give point to his appeal
cites the case of great districts of
China and Central Asia to show how
by deforestation gardens have become
deserts or the victim of floods. This
easily might be our fate. The matter
OF solving the inland waterway prob
lem should be placed in the hands of
a permanent commission authorized to
coordinate the work of all govern.
ment departments. The futility, use.
lessness and cost of the present yacil-
lating method is pointed out
The act of congress in restricting
the use of the secret service is held
to be of no benefit except to criminals.
The argument that congressman do not
themselves wish to be investigated by
secret service men the president evil
IDENTIFY does not think a good one, but
1t could be met by specific amendment
prohibiting the investigating of mem
bers of the national legislature.
The progress in the Philippines is
outlined and the statement is made
that 1t would be folly to grant indie
pendence to the islands until the peo-
pie develop self-mastery. For the
strengthening of our war forces the
president urges that promotion in the
army should come because of fitness
: to command, not by reason of mere
seniority. Both infantry and artillery
should be enlarged and a general SER
vice corps established. Every possible