The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-03-04
TAFT TELLS POLICIES;
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
New President Declares Inten-
ton to Garry on Roosevelt
Reforms.
REVISE ANTI TRUST LAWS
Business Must Be Assured Measure of
stability-For Prompt Revision
of tho Tar
iH.

Washington, March 4.-lnaugurated
president Of the United States with
Impressive ceremonies, President TART
In his inaugural address outlined the
policies of his administration In the
following words:
Ny Fellow Citizens-Anyone who takes
the oath 1 have just taken must feel a
heavy weight of responsibility. 1T not, he
has no conception of the powers and du-
ties of the office upon which he Is about
to enter, or he is lacking In a proper sense
of the obligation which the oath imposes.
The office OF an inaugural address is to
give Il summary outline OF the main poll
cies of the new administration, 40 far as
they can be anticipated. ] have had the
distinguished predecessor. 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 declarations of
the party platform upon which l was
elected to office. II l did not make the
maintenance and enforcement Of those re-
ministration. They were directed to the
suppression OF the lawlessness and abuses
of power Of the great combinations of
capital invested in railroads and In in
dustrial enterprises carrying on interstate
commerce. The steps which my prede-
cessor took and the legislation passed on
his Recommendation have accomplished
much, W caused a general halt in the
vicious policies which created popular
alarm, and have brought about in the
business affected Il much higher regard
lOI cAISIlllk INV,
To render the reforms lasting. however,
and to secure at the same time freedom
from alarm on the part of those .pur-
suing proper and progressive business
methods. further legislative and executive
action are needed. Relief of the railroads
from certain restrictions of the anti-trust
law have been urged by my predecessor
and viii be urged by me. ON the other
hand. the administration is pledged to
legislation looking to a proper federal SUI
pervision and restriction to prevent excess
.f,,n cc,yn nj lnp1e aIl ufnpSS hu pnn1-
panies owning and operating interstate
commerce railroads.
Then. too. n reorganization Of the de-
partment of justice, of the bureau of corr
porations in the department OF commerce
and labor, and of the Interstate Commerce
commission. looking to effective co-opera-
a more rapid and certain enforcement of
the laws affecting interstate railroads and
Industrial combinations.
Plans for Law Revision.
1 hope to be able TO submit. at the first
regular session of the incoming congress,
in December next, definite suggestions in
respect to the needed amendments of the
antitrust and the interstate commerce
law, and the changes required In the ex-
ecutive departments concerned in their
enforcement.
1t is believed that with the changes to
be recommended. American business can
be assured OF that measure OF stability
and certainty in respect to those things
that may be done and those that are pro-
hibited. which is essential to the life and
growth of all business. Such a plan must
include the right of the people to avail
themselves of those methods OF combining
capital and effort deemed necessary to
reach the highest degree of economic eff
cheney, at the same time d~ifferentiating
betwee combinations based upon legiti-
mate economic reasons and those formed
with the intent of creating monopolies and
attiflcially controlling prices.
The work OF formulating into practical
shape such changes is creative work of
liberation possible in the interval. ! be-
lieve hat the amendments to be proposed
are Just as necessary m the protection Of
the reforms which properly bear the name
of my predecessor.
A matter of most pressing Importance
Is the reSis lon Of the tariff: In accord
upon which I was elected. 1 shall call
congress into extra session., to meet on
the 18th day OF March. In order that con-
alteration may be at once given to q bill
revising the Dinglcy act. This should Sc
cure an adequate revenue and adjust the
duties In such a manner as to afford to
labor and to allindastries in this country.
whether of the farm. mine or factory,
protection by tariff equal to the difference
between the coast OF production abroad
n provision which shall put into force,
upon executive determination of certain
facts. q higher or maximum tariff against
those countries whose trade policy toward
us equitably requires such discrimination
1t Is thought that there has been such a
change in conditions since the enactment
protective principle. that the measure OF
the tariff above stated will permit the re-
duction Of rates in certain schedules and
will require the advancement OF few. If
any.
Prompt Tariff Revision.
The proposal to revise the tariff made
In such. an authoritative way az to lead
the business community to count upon it,
RI. nna0aa0 ri1r 81 tnlfc2 oil Hhncn ri
business directly affected. and as these
are most important. it disturbs the whole
business of the country; It is imperatively
drawn in good faith in accordance will
promises made before the election by the
party IN power. and as promptly passed
not that the tariff is more important ir
the long run than the perfecting of the
reforms In respect to anti-trust legisla'
tion and interstate commerce regulation
but the need for action when the revision
of the tariff has been determined upon. il
more immediate to avoid embarrassment,
in the passage Of the tariff i BIZ. It w speet
seem wise to attempt no other legislation
at the extra session. venture this a.
= suggestion only, for the course to b
executive is wholly within its discretion
In the making of a tariff bill. the prime
motive is taxation, and the securing there
ness depression which ollowed the flnan
cial panic OF 1907. the revenue from Gus
toms and other sources has decreased I,
such an extent that the expenditures 70
the current fiscal year will exceed the re
ceipts by 500, 600, 600. II is imperative tina
such a deficit shall not continue, and tn,
trainers of the tariff bill must OF cours,
nave in mind the total revenues likel,
to be produced by 1t. and so arrange tn,
duties as to secure an adequate income
Should 1t be impossible to do so by i'm
port duties, new kinds of taxation mus
be adopted. and among these l recommen,
a graduated inheritance tax. as correct il
principal and as certain and easy of col
lection.
The obligation on the part OF those re
sponsible for the expenditures made t
carry on the government, to be as eco
noinical as possible. and to make the bur
den of taxation as light as possible, !
plain and should be affirmed in every dec
laratfon of government policy. This !
especially true when We are face to fac
with a heavy deficit. But when the de
sire to win the popular approval lead
to the cutting off OF expenditures reall
needed to make the government effective
and to enable 1t to accomplish its prope
objects. the result is as much to be con
demned as the waste of government fun
In unnecessary expenditure. The scope O
a modern government in what it can an
ought to accomplish for its people ha
been widened far beyond the principle
laid down by the old laissez faire schoc
OF political writer's, and this widening ha
met popular approval.
Department. Matters.
In the departnent Of agricnlture fh