Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-11

Ny Fellow Citizens-Any one who
takes the oath have just taken must
feel heavy weigh, 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 Il proper sense Of the oblign-
ton which the oath imposes.
The office Of an inaugural address is
to give summary outline of the main
policies of the new administration so
far as they can be anticipated. l have
had the honor to be one Of the adj
visers of my distinguished predecessor
and as suck to hold UP his hands in
the reforms he has Initiated. I should
be untrue to myself, to my promises
and to the declarations of the party
platform upon which l was elected to
office II did not make the mainte
nance and enforcement of those re-
forms most important feature Of my
administration. They were directed to
the suppression Of the la wlessness and
abuses Of power Of the great combina-
tons of capital invested In railroads
and in Industrial enterprises carrying
on interstate commerce. The steps
which my predecessor took and the
legislation passed on his recommended
ton have accomplished much. have
caused general halt in the vicious
policies WHICH created popular alarm
and have brought about In the bust
ness affected much higher regard for
existing law.
Further Action 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 progressive
business methods further legislative
and executive action are needed. Re
lief 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 legis-
lation 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 de-
partment Of justice. of the bureau OF
corporations in the department of COM
merce and labor and of the interstate
colAmerce commission looking to effec-
tive cooperation of these agencies Is
needed to secure more rapid and GER
tain enforcement Of the laws affect
ing interstate railroads and industrial
combinations.
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 to the antitrust and the
interstate commerce law and the
changes required in the executive de-
partments concerned In their enforce
ment.
GOOD and Bad Trusts"
It Is believed that with the changes
to be recommended American bust
ness can be assured OF that measure OF
stability and certainty in respect tc
those things that may be done and
those that are prohibited. which is
essential to the life and growth o.
all business. Such plan must include
the right Of the people 10 avail them
selves of those methods OF combining
oil ocp danunod
reach the highest degree Of economic
efficiency. Mt the same time different
nting between combinations based
upon legitimate economic reasons anC
those formed with the intent OF Great
ing monopolies and nrtiliclally control
ling prices.
The work Of formulating into prac
teal shape such changes Is creative
work Of the highest order and requires
oil the deliberation possible in the in
terval. believe that the amendment.
10 be proposed are Just as necessary il
the protection of legitimate business q:
in the clinching OF the reforms which
properly bear the name OF my prede
cessOr.
Revision Of tho Tariff.
A matter Of most pressing impor
lance ia the revision of the tariff. II
accordance with the promises of tn
platform upon which was elected.
xhall call congress into extra session
70 meet on the 10Th day Of March. II
rider that consideration may be n
once given to % bill revising the Ding
Icy act This should secure an aa''
Guate revenue and adjust the duties Il
such a mannee rs to afford to labo
ind to all industries In this country
whether of the farm. mine or factory
protection by tariff equal to the differ
cnce between the cost Of productio
abroad and the cost Of production her
end have u provision which shall pu
into force, upon executive determine
ton of certain facts. higher or max
mum tariff against those countrie
whose trace policy toward us equitabl
requires sNch discrimination. 1t
thought that there has been such
change In conditions since tho cnac'
mcnt Of the Dingley act. drafted on
similarly protective principle. that tn
measure of the tariff above stated wi
permit the reduction of rates in ccrtaf
schedules and will require the az
vancement Of few. IL any.
The proposal to revise tho tart
made in such an authoritative way Q
TO lead the business community
count upon 1t necessarily halts q