Gilpin observer., 1912-12-12

executive work Of Col. 0oethslR ~
comes more conspicuous iq the eyes of
the country and of the world. 1t seems
to me wise and proper to make pro-
vision by law for such reward to him
as may be commensurate with the
service that he has rendered to his
country. I suggest that this reward
take the form Of an appointment OK
Col. Goethals as major general IN
the army Of the United States, ana
that the law authorizing such appoint
ment be accompanied with provision
permitting his designation as CHIEF or
engineers upon the retirement OF the
present incumbent Of that office.
Navy Department.
The navy of the United States II In
q greater state of efficiency and ID
more powerful than 1t has been Do
fore, but in the emulation which ex-
lists between different countries In re-
spect to the increase of naval and
military armaments this condition 10
not of a permanent one. In view OF
the many improvements and increases
by foreign governments the slightest
halt on our part In respect to new
construction throws US back and re-
duces us from naval power OF the
first rank and places us among the na~'
tions of the second rank.
A year ago congress refused to ap-
propriate for more than one battle
ship. In this think great mistake
of policy was made, and I urgently
recommend that this congress make
up for the mistake of the last session
by appropriations authorizing the con-
struction of three battleships, In ad-
dition to destroyers, fuel ships, and
the other auxiliary vessels as. shown
in the building program of the gen
eral board. We are confronted BY
q condition in respect to the navfes OF
the world which requires US. II We
would maintain our navy as an insur.
ance of peace. to augment our naval
force by at least two battleships q
year and by battle cruisers. gunboats.
torpedo destroyers, and submarine
boats in a proper proportion. We
have no desire for war. We go 40
far as any nation in the world to avoid
war, but we are a world power. Our
population, our wealth, our definite
policies, our responsibilities In the Pa
cific and the Atlantic, our defense OF
the Panama canal, together with our
enormous world trade and our mis-
sionary outposts on the frontiers OF
civilization, require US to recognize
our position as one of the foremost
in the family of nations, and to clothe
ourselves with sufficient naval power
to give force to our reasonable de-
mands, and to give weight to our
influence in those directions OF prog
ress that powerful Christian nation
should advocate.
Department Of Justice.
This department has been very
active in the enforcement OF the law
Il 1t has been better organized and with
u a larger force than ever before in
the history of the government The
prosecutions which have been success
fully concluded and which are now
pending testify to the effectiveness OF
the department work.
The prosecution of trusts under tho
Sherman antitrust law has gone on
without restraint or diminution, and
DEGREES similar to those entered In
the Standard Oil and the Tobacco
cases have been entered In other suits,
like the suits against the powder
trust and the bath tub trust. ! am
very strongly convinced that steady.
consistent course in his regard. with
continuing Of Supreme court de-
cisions upon new phases Of the trust
question not already finally decided. Is
going to offer solution of this much
| discussed and troublesome issue in .
| quiet, calm and judicial way. without
any radical legislation changing the
governmental policy In regard to COM
binations now denounced by the Sher-
man antitrust law. have already
recommended as an aid In this matter
legislation which would declare unlaw-
full certain well-known phases Of un-
fair competition In interstate trade.
and l have also advocated voluntary
national Incorporation for the larger
Industrial enterprises, with provision
| for a closer supervision by the bu-
reau of corporations. or q board ap-
pointed for the purpose. SO as to mako
certain compliance with the anti.
trust law on the one hand and to
| give greater security to the stock
holders against possible prosecutions
on the other. believe. however. that
the orderly course Of litigation In the
courts and the regular prosecution Of
trusts charged with the violation Of
the antitrust law is producing among
business men clearer and clearer
perception of the line of distinction be-
tween business that Is to be encour-
aged and business that Is to be con-
demned, and that In this quiet way
the question OF trusts can be settled
and competition retained as an eco
nomio force to secure reasonableness
In prices and freedom and independ-
ence in trade.
| Workman'a CONNIE nation Act