The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-03-12
Main Policies OF Administration
Outlined-WiIl Maintain
ROOsevelt'S Reforms.
TARIFF REVISION IS PRESSING
A Tariff Bill Must Be Drawn in Accord.
asce With Provisions Made
Before Election.

| Inc following Is PRESIDENT Iait
inaugural address:
My 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 obi
cation which the oath imposes.
The ONCE of an inaugural address
Is to give summary outline OF the
main policies of the new administra-
ton, SO far as they can be anticipated.
have had the honor to be one of the
advisers of my distinguished predeces-
sor. and as such, to hold up his hands
In the reforms he has initiated. l
should be untrue TO myself. TO my
promises and 10 the declarations OF
the party platform upon which I was
elected to Office If did not make the
maintenance and enforcement Of these
reforms a most important feature of
the administration. They were d.
rected to the suppression of the law
lessness and abuses of the power of
the great combinat;o ns OF capital IN
: vested In railroads and In Industrial
enterprises carrying on Interstate
commerce The steps which my pred
iecessor took and the legislation pass.
ed on his recommendation have ac-
complished much. have caused a
great halt in the vicious policies
(which created popular alarm. and have
brought about. in the business affect
ed. a much higher regard for existing
law.
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 progressive
business methods. further legislative
and executive action are needed. Re
Icf of the railroads from certain re-
strictions of The antitrust law have
been urged by my predecessor and
will be urged by me. On the other
hand. the administration is pledged to
Legislation licking 10 proper federal!
supervision and restriction to prevent
excessive Issue OF bonds and stock
by companies owning and operating
interstate commerce railroads.
Then, too. a reorganization of the
department OF justice. of the bureau OF
corr oTations in the department OF
anu
state commerce comnissnin. looking
TO effective cooperation of these agen.
cies. is needed TO secure a more rapid
and certain enforce ment of the laws
affecting intestate railroads and in.
dustrial combinations.
| hope 10 be able to submit to the
first regular session of the incoming
congress. in December next. definite
suggestions In respect 10 the needed
amendments 10 the antitrust and the
Interstate commerce law and the
changes required In the executive de,
partments concerned In their enforce
ment,
II is believed that with the changes
10 be recommended. American bust
ness can be assured of that measure
Ct stability and certainty In respect
10 these things that may be done and
those that are prohibited. which Il
essential to the life and growth of all
business. Such plan must include
the right OF the people to avail them
, selves OF those methods of combining
capital and effort deemed necessary IL
!, reach the highest degree OF economic
. efficiency at the same time different
l. atipg between combinations based up
on legitimate economic reasons and
S. those formed with the intent of Great
T. ing TonoEolies and artiiicially con
controlling prices.
The work of formulating into prac
10 teal shape such changes is creative
" work of the highest order. and re
= Guires all the deliberation possible il
g the interval. | believe that the amend
T. ments 10 he proposed are just a:
r necessary in the protection of legit
IL. fnNn f.. 81 III ,.t,t -
IN the reforms which properly bear tho
IS name OF my predecessor.
= A matter of most pressing import
% ance is the revision of the tariff. II
II accordance with the promises OF tn,
- platform upon which | was elected
shall call congress to extra session
Il TO meet on The 18th day of March. II
IN order that consideration may be a
IN once given TO bill revising the Ding
a ley act. This should secure an ade
IA Quate revenue and adjust the duties il
is 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
nc ference between the cost of produc
ie ton abroad and he ees. CT preauatiS!
p Eere. and have provision which shall
he put into force upon executive deter
e- mination Of certain facts. higher o
Of maximum tariff against those coun
in tries whose trade policy toward u
eQuitably requires such discrimina
tion. II is thought that there ha
- been such a change in conditions
since the enactment of the Dingle,
act. drafted on a similarly protective
"a principle, that the measure Of tn,
Mt tarin above stated will permit the re
g.. duction OF rates in certain schedules
and will require the advancement O
ct few. il any.
ed The proposal to revise the tarii
no made in such an authoritative way a
= 10 lead the business community I,
count upon ii necessarily halts al
" those branches of business directl,
nc affected. and as these are most i'm
De Iortant. il disturbs the whole busincs