The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-03-11
TAFT TELLS POLICIES;
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
New President Declares Inten.
tion to Garry on Roosevelt
Reforms.
REVISE ANTI TRUST LAWS
Business Must Be Assured Measure Of
stability-For Prompt Revision
of the Tar

Impressive ceremonies, President Taft
an his inaugural address outlined the
policies of his administration in the
following words:
the oath l have just taken must feel a
heavy weight of responsibility. 1t not, he
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 q summar outline OF the main poll
cies OF the new administration. so far as
they can be anticipated. have had the
honor to be one of the advisers of my
distinguished predecessor, and as such to
hold up his hands in the reforms he has
any promises and to the declarations of
ahe party platform upon which was
elected to office. If I did not make the
maintenance and enforcement OF those re-
aorms a most important feature Of my ad-
ministration. They were directed to the
suppression of the lawlessness and abuses
or power of the great combinations OF
capital invested in railroads and In in
.dustrial enterprises carrying on interstate
-cessor took and the legislation passed on
his recommendation have accomplished
much. have caused a general halt in the
vicious policies which created popular
alarm, and have brought about in the
business affected a much higher regard
for existing law.
and to secure at the same time freedom
from alarm on the part of those pur-
TSuluE proper anu progressive business
methods, further legislative and executive
action are needed. Relief of the railroads
from certain restrictions 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
hesitation looking to a proper federal SUI
pervfston and restriction to prevent excess
rsive issues of bonds and stocks by COM
panies owning and operating interstate
railroads.
Then, too, q, reorganization of the de-
p%artrnent of justice, of the bureau of cor
porations in the department. Of
and labor. and of the Interstate Commerce
commission. looking to effective co-opera-
zion of these agencies, is needed to secure
a more rapid and certain enforcement Of
the laws affecting interstate railroads and
industrial combinations.
Plans for Law Revision.
I hope to be able TO submit, at the first
regular session Of the incoming congress.
An December next, definite suggestions in
respect to the needed amendments of the
antitrust and the Interstate
law, and the changes required in the ex-
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 differentiating
between combinations based upon legiti-
innate economic reasons and those formed
with the intent of creating monopolies and
sartlicially controlling prices.
The work of formulating into practical
shape such changes is creative work OF
the highest order. and requires all the de-
liberation possible in the interval. I be-
1ieve that the amendm ents to be proposed
are just as necessary In the protection of
legitimate business as in the clinching of
the reforms which properly bear the name
of my predecessor.
A matter of most pressing Importance
As the revision of the tariff. In accord
ance with the promises of the platform
upon which 1 was elected. / shall call
congress into extra session, to meet on
eloeratlon may be at once given to a bill
revising the Dingley act. This should Sc
cure an adequate revenue and adjust the
duties in such a manner as to afford to
labor and to all industries in this country,
whether of the farm. mine or factory,
protection by tariff equal to the difference
and the cost of production here, and have
a provision which shall put into force,
upon executive determination of certain
facts. a higher or maximum tariff against
those countries whose trade policy toward
US equitably requires such discrimination.
1t is thought that there has been such q
change In conditions since the enactment
of the Dingley act, drafted on a similarly
protective principle, that the measure Of
9he tariff above stated will permit the re-
duction OF rates in certain schedules and
any.
Prompt Tariff Revision.
The proposal to revise the tariff made
an such an authoritative way as to lead
the business community to count upon it,
necessarily halts all those branches Of
business directly affected, and as these
are most Important, 1t disturbs the whole
necessary. therefore,, that a tariff bill be
drawn In good faith In accordance with
promises made before the election by the
as due consideration will permit. 1t is
not that the tariff is more important in
the long run than the perfecting of the
zion and interstate m regulation,
but the need for action when the revision
more immediate. to avoid embarrassment
of business. To secure the needed speed
seem wise to attempt no other legislation
at the extra session. I venture this as
a suggestion only, for the course to be
executive is wholly within it's discretion.
In the making of a tariff bill, the prime
motive is taxation and the securing there
by OF q revenue. Due largely to the BUSH
ness depression which followed the fnan-
cial panic of 1907, the revenue from Gus
such an extent that the expenditures for
the current fiscal year will exceed the re-
trainers of the tariff bill must OF course
have in mind the total revenues likely
TO be produced by 1t, and so arrange the
Should 1t be impossible to do SO by i'm
port duties. new kinds of taxation must
be adopted, and among these I
- graduated inheritance tax, as correct in
principal and as certain and easy of col
lection.
The obligation on the part of those re-
sponsible for the expenditures made to
carry on the government, to be as eco
nomieal. as possible. and to make the bur-
den of taxation as light as possible. is
plain and should be affirmed In every dec
iaration Of government policy. This is
especially true when we are face to face
with a heavy deficit. But when the de-
sire to win the popular approval leads
70 the cutting off of expenditures really
needed to make the government effective,
and to enable 1t to accomplish It's proper.
objects: the result Is as much to be con-
aemned as the waste Of government funds
In unnecessary expenditure. The scope of
a modern government in what it can and
ought to accomplish for It's people has
oeen Wldened far beyond the principles
OF pohttcal writer's. and his widening has
met popular approval.
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