Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-03-04
PRESIDENT TAFTS
STRONG ADDRESS
INAUGURAL DELIVERED BY
NATIONS NEW CHlRF
EXECUTIVE.
EXTRA SESSION IS PROMISED
oe~oress viii Meet March IS 10 Take
Up Tariff Revision--Adequate Army
and Navy Urged-Panama Canal
Heartily Approved-southern Race
Problem and Labor Legislation
Discussed.


Problem and Labor Legislation
Discussed.
Washington, Mar. 4. - President
Taft, having been sworn in as chief
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 q heavy weight of responsibility.
II not, he has no conception Of the
powers and duties of the ONCE upon
which he is about to enter. or he 10
lacking In a proper sense Of the obi
cation which the oath imposes.
The office OF an inaugural address
Is to give a summary outline OF the
main policies of the new administra-
ton. 30 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.
l should be untrue to myself, to my
promises and to the declaration of
the party platform upon which l am
elected to ONCE, IL ! did not make the
maintenance and enforcement Of those
reforms a most important feature OF
my administration. They were d.
rected to 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 o.
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 ha,
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 b,
companies owning and operating inter
state commerce railroads.
Then, too, a reorganization of tn,
department of justice, of the bureau
OF corporations in the department O
commerce and labor, and OF the inter
state commerce commission, lookin,
to effective cooperation Of thes,
agencies, is needed to secure NOR
rapid and certain enforcement of tn
laws affecting interstate railroads an
industrial combinations.
| hope to be able to submit at tn
first regular session of the incomin
congress, in December next, definit
suggestions in respect TO the needle
amendments to the antitrust and tn
interstate commerce laws, and tn
changes required in the executive dc
partments concerned in their enforce
ment.
Promises Extra Session.
A matter of most pressing impol
lance is the revision of the tariff. L
accordance with the promises of tn
| 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 a
once given to bill revising the Dint
ley act This should secure an ad,
quate revenue and adjust the duties 1
such manner as to afford to labo
and to all industries in this countr,
whether of the farm, mine or factor,
| protection by tariff equal to the di
ference between the cost of productio
abroad and the cost of productio
here, and have a provision whic
shall put into force, upon executiv
determination of certain facts, a higi
er or maximum tariff against thos
countries whose trade policy towar
us equitably requires such discrim
nation. II is thought that there ha
been such change in conditions sine
the enactment of the Dingley ac
drafted on similarly protective prir
ciple, that the measure of the tart
above stated will permit the reductio
of rates In certain schedules and wi
require the advancement OF few.
any.
Money Needed for Big Projects.
The putting into force of laws whic
shall secure the conservation OF on
resources, so far as they may be with
in the jurisdiction OF the federal go,
eminent, including the most impor
tant work of saving and restoring ou
forests, and the general improvement
OF waterways. are all proper govern
ment functions which must involv
large expenditure II properly pei
formed. While some of them. like tn
reclamation Of arid lands, are mad
to pay for themselves, others are O
such an indirect benefit that this car
not be expected of them. A perma
nent Improvement, like the Panam
canal, should be treated as a distinc
enterprise. and should be paid for b,
the proceeds OF bonds, the issue O
which will distribute its cost betwee,