The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-03-05

executive of the nation, delivered an
inaugural address that was listened to
with great interest. In part it was as
follows:
My Fellow Citizens; Any one who
takes the oath have just taken must
feel a heavy weight of responsibility.
If 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 office 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 prede-
CessOr, and as such, to hold up his
hands In the reforms he has inflated.
| should be untrue to myself, TO my
promises and to the declaration Of
the party platform upon which | am
elected to office. if | did not make the
maintenance and enforcement of those
reforms most important feature of
my administration. They were d.
rected 10 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 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
ne urged by me. On the other hand,
the administration is pledged to legis-
iatlon looking to a proper federal SUI
perVlsion and restriction to prevent ex-
cesSiye 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
10 effective cooperation OF these
agencies, is needed to secure a more
rapid and certain enforcement of the
laws affecting interstate railroads and
Industrial combinations.
hope to be able to submit at the
nrst regular session of the incoming
congress, in December next, definite
suggestions in respect to the needed
> amendments to the antitrust and the
interstate commerce laws, and the
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 the
PLATFORM upon which was elected
+ l snail call congress into extra session
10 meet on the fifteenth day of March.
III ordef that consideration may be at
once given 10 d bill revising the Ding
icy act. This should secure an ade.
qddte revenue and adjust the duties in
Such manner as to afford to labor
ana to all industries in this country
whether OF the farm, mine or factory.
protection by tariff equal to the diff.
ference between the cost of production
abroad and the cost of Droduction
mere, and have a provision which
snail put into force, upon executive
determination of certain facts. a high.
CT or maximum tariff against those
countries whose trade policy toward
US eQuitably requires such discrimi.
nation 1t is thought that there has
oeen such a change in conditions since /
sno enactment OF the Dingley act
uralted on q similarly protective prin.
cipie, that the measure of the tariff
ABOVE stated will permit the reduction
OF rates In certain schedules and will
require the advancement of few ~
any
money Needed for Big Projects.
Inc putting into force OF laws which
snail secure the conservation ~ our
.esources' SO far as they may be with. i
IN the Jurisdiction OF the federal gov
srnment, including the most imnor.
.ant work of saving and RESTORING onr
forests, and the general Improvement
VI waterways, are all proper govern.
ment functions which must involve
.arss expenditure IL properly ner.
.o9nieu. While some of them, like the |
reclamation Of arid lands. arc made
10 pay for themselves Others arc Of |
SucQ an Indirect hana6t $50 ~,