New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-28

prosperity, but the policy Of extending to the
F1Gpinos share Of self government as fast as
they are capable OF exercising it has been con-
sistently pursued. and in 1907 the first Philip
pine Assembly was called TO order by Secretary
Taft This body constitutes the second half OF
the legislative branch. the upper house consist
ing Of the Philippine Commission. which IS ap-
pointed by the President and which corresponds
to the American Senate. The Philippine COM
nnissioners now occupy seats and enjoy the right
to speak in the House OF Representatives. The
trade OF the archipelago has more than doubled
since the beginning OF the Roosevelt admins
tration agricultural prosperity is being restored
and peace and contentment reign throughout the
islands.
OPPOSITION TO MONOPOLY.
It may far cry from that determine
ton to effect federal control of the interstate
railways which eliminated in the railway rate
law to the conservation OF the nations natural
resources. but careful analysis Of the underlying
philosophy will reveal the same basic principle
for both, as a thoughtful study OF the economic
policy OF Mr. Roosevelt's administration will
discover the logical development step by step.
by which he has arrived at the larger issue. Re
duced TO its simplest form. the Presidents
economic policy may be stated follows:
NATURAL RESOURCES AND NATURAL
FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL. INSTEAD OF
IN THE INTERESTS OF THE FEW. Too
skilful an opportunist even II he realized in the
beginning where his philosophy would carry
him. to shock the conservative element by re-
vealing the full scope OF his purpose. Mr. Roose
Welt has been content step by step to lead his
party He first sought full federal control Of
the railways. In speech at Denver, in the
summer of 1904. he declared that the railways
were merely ironed public highways. which
must be kept open TO all on equal terms. and in
his next annual message to Congress he said;
Above all else, we must strive TO keep the
highways Of commerce open to all equal
terms" BY persistent advocacy Of this policy
in public speeches and messages he secured, IN
1906, the enactment of the rate law. Awaiting
himself of popular indignation against recently
discovered abuses, he sought and secured the
enactment Of the national food and drug act
and Of the national meat inspection law that
same year. Tho rate law was, of course. sup
Elementary TO the anti-rebate law enacted III
1903.
April u, 1906, he publicly expressed his ad-
vocacy of a national inheritance tax saying,
I'VE shall ultimately have to consider the adop-
ton Of some such scheme that of progress
sive tax on all fortunes" and subsequently he
declared himself in favor of an income tax
Roosevelt made clear TO Congress and TO the
nation his determination to do all in his power
to prevent the monopoly OF natural water power
In his message of 1908, vetoing the Rainey River
dam bill, and in a similar message dated Janu-
ary 10 1909 vetoing the James River dam bill,
he laid down the proposition that Congress
should not grant rights to water power for perl
DDS Of longer than fifty years, and for such
periods only on the condition that proper re-
Enumeration be made for the power granted. 50
that these natural monopolies, which VIII,
Through the natural and orderly development
Of our population and industries. reach enor-
nous amounts. shall rebound to the interest of
all the people and that utilities OF vast value
should not be gratutously granted to individu-
ais or corporations, and perpetually allenated
from the people the state, or the govern
meut."
Pursuing his policy Of securing equal oppor-
tunitv for ALL President Roosevelt finally called
together the Governors of all the states IN May
1908. TO devise methods of conserving the natu-