The Ordway new era., 1909-03-12
INAUGURAL DELIVERED BY
NATIONS NEW CHIEF
EXECUTIVE.
EXTRA SESSION IS PROMISED
Congress viii Meet March IS to Take
Up Tariff Revision-Adeauate Army
and Navy ursed-Panama Canal
Heartily Approved-Southern Race
Problem and Labor Legislation
Discussed.

l,
executive OF the nation, delivered an
inaugural address that was listened TO
with great interest. In part 1t was as
follows:
Ny Fellow Citizens: Any one who
takes the oath have Just taken must
feel a heavy weight OF responsibility.
II not, he has no conception OF the
powers and duties OF the office upon
which he is about to enter, or he is
lacking in a proper sense OF the ooll-
CATION which the oath imposes.
The office OF an inaugural address
is to give summary outline OF the
main policies OF the Iev administra-
ton, so far as they can be anticipated.
! have had the honor TO be one OF the
advisers, OF my distinguished prede-
cessor, and as such. TO hold up his
hands In the reforms he has initiated.
] should be untrue to myself, TO my
promises and TO the declaration OF
the party platform upon which ! am
elected to office, II | did not make the
maintenance and enforcement OF those
reforms a most important feature of
my administration. They were di-
rected 10 the suppression OF the law
lessness and abuses OF power of the
great combinations OF capital invested
in railroads and in industrial enter
prises carrying on interstate com
merce. The steps which my predec-
sor took and the Legislation passed on
his recommendation have accom-
plished much. have caused a general
halt in the vicious policies which ere
ated popular alarm, and have brought
- about in the business affected a much
higher regard for existing law
More Legislation Needed.
To render the reforms lasting. how
ever, and to secure at the same time
freedom from alarm on the part OF
those pursuing proper and progress
sive business methods, further legisla-
tive and executive action are needed.
Relief OF the railroads from certain re-
strictions Of the antitrust law has
been urged by my predecessor and will
be urged by me. On the other hand.
the administration is pledged to legis.
lation looking to a proper federal su-
pervision and restriction TO prevent ex.
csssive issues of bonds and stocks by
companies owning and operating inter.
state commerce railroads.
Then, too. a reorganization OF the
department OF Justice, OF the bureau
of corporations in the department OF
commerce and labor, and OF the inter.
state commerce commission, looking
to effective cooperation OF these
agencies. is needed to secure a more
rapid and certain enforcement of the
laws affecting interstate railroads and
industrial combinations.
| hope 10 be able to submit at the
hrst regular session OF the incoming
congress. in December next, definite
suggestions in respect to the needed
amendments to the antitrust and the
interstate commerce laws, and the
changes required in the executive de
partments concerned in their enforce
ment.
Promises Extra Session.
A matter of most pressing impor
tance Is the revision of the tariff. In
accordance with the promises of the
platform upon which | was elected
shall call congress into extra session
to meet on the fifteenth day of March
in order that consideration may be al
once given to a bill revising the Ding
ley act. This should secure an ade
quate revenue and adjust the duties IL
such manner as to afford to labo,
and to all industries in this country
whether of the farm, mine or factory
protection by tariff equal to the diff
ference between the cost of production
ABROAD and the cost of production
mere, and have provision which
snail put into force, upon executive
determination OF certain facts, a high
er or maximum tariff against thos,
countries whose trade policy TOWARD
US equitably requires such discrimi
nation. 1t is thought that there ha,
peen such change in conditions sine,
the enactment of the Dingley act
drafted on a similarly protective prin
ciple, that the measure of the tariff
ABOVE stated will permit the reduction
OF rates In certain schedules and will
require the advancement Of few, 1
any.
Money Needed for Big Projects.
The putting into force OF laws which
shall secure the conservation of ou,
resources, SO far as they may be with
In the jurisdiction OF the federal gov
ernment, Including the most impor
tant work of saving and restoring on,
forests, and the general improvement
OF waterways, are all proper govern
ment functions which must involve
large expenditure If properly per
formed. While some of them, like thu
reclamation of arid lands, are mad.
TO pay for themselves, others are o.
such an indirect benefit that this can
not be expected Of them. A perma
nent Improvement. like the Panam,
canal, should be treated as distinct
enterprise, and should be paid for b,
tne pr~"eeds Of bonds, the issue o.
waieh wdl distribute it, cost bstwssr