Mexico Missouri message., 1909-03-11

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 Il was AZ
follows:
My Fellow Citizens: Any one who
takes the oath have Just taken must
feel heavy weight Of responsibility.
IL not, he has no conception Of the
powers and duties OF the ONCE upon
(which he is about to enter, or he Is
I'd hcking In a proper sense Of the obli-
. baton which the oath imposes.
III The ONCE OF an inaugural address
Is to give a summary outline OF the
fnain policies OF the new administra.
ition, 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.
i should be untrue to myself, to my
promises and to the declaration OF
'NAO H1AAy hBbh al
elected to ONCE. II did not make the
maintenance and enforcement OF those
reforms n 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-
pllshed much. have caused a general
halt in the vicious policies which Gre
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.
1ation looking to a proper federal su-
pervision and restriction to prevent ex.
cessive 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.
I hope to be able to submit at the
a3irst regular session Of the incoming
congress. IN December next, definite
fsuggestions ~ respect to the needed
amendments to the antitrust and the
interstate commerce laws, and the
I changes required In the executive de
,partments concerned In their enforce
ment.
Promises Extra Session.
A matter Of most pressing impor
lance Is the revision OF the tariff. In
accordance with the promises of tbs
platform upon which was elected
I I shall call congress into extra session
10 meet on the fifteenth day OF March
in order that consideration may be q
once given to a bill revising the Ding
lley act. This should secure an ade
qutte revenue and adjust the duties II
. sud- a manner as to afford to labo
Aank to all industries In this country
Whether Of the farm, mine or factory
protection by tariff equal to the dli
ference between the cost of production
Iabroad and the cost OF production
6here. and have q provision whiel
4 shall put into force. upon executive
u determination Of certain facts, a high
or or maximum tariff against thos
countries whose trade policy towar
Jus eQuitably requires such dIscrlm
nation. II is thought that there ha
been such \ change in conditions sine
4 the enactment Of the Dlngley AZ
drafted on q similarly protective prir
n ciplo, that the measure OF tho tart
Z above stated win permit the reduction
of rates in certain schedules and vii
require the Advancement OF few,
any.
a Money Needed for aIa Projects.
The putting into force OF laws whicI
shall secure the conservation OF gu
resources. 50 far a. they may be viii
fn the Jurisdiction % the federal 70,
-ornment. including the m0ot impol
tant work OF saving and restoring on
forests. and the general improvement
OF waterways, are all proper govasr
ment functions which must involv
large expenditure II properly PEI
formed. While some OF them, like IN
reclamation Of arid lnnds. are mad
10 pay for themselves. othefs are q
such an indirect benefit that this cas-
not be expected OF them. A perml