The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-09-26

- 81 ~ VCuaV0 VI ~ Cu098SU OF ~
8 people In this republic" &
resentatIve Kahn Of California, &
8 In an address reviewing Presi. 8
x dent Taft's Administration. &
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The record of President Taft's ad.
ministration IL one Of splendid achieve
ment.
His administration has broken all
records for prosecutions brought and
won under the Sherman antitrust law.
Without fear or favor it has brought
to the bar of justice corporations and
persons engaging In illegal combina-
tons in restraint Of trade, the ulti-
mate purpose of each combination be-
ing to create monopoly and to raise
the prices on its products. In two
years and eleven months Of his ad-
ministration President Taft caused to
be instituted twenty-five civil suits
and forty criminal suits against IL
legal trusts. Roosevelt, in the seven
and half years of his presidency,
only instituted forty-four suits against
illegal combinations.
Under President Taft's administra-
ton the great Sugar trust frauds were
unearthed. resulting in the forced res
titution Of millions Of dollars into the
national treasury. These frauds
which were based upon the bribery OF
customs officials to dishonesty value
imports of sugar, were in progress
during the last administration, but
were not detected until Taft became
president.
Corporation Tax.
President Taft suggested and &C.
cured the enactment Of a law impos-
ing a tax upon corporations which
adds $30.000.00O annually to the reve-
nues Of the government.
He advocated and approved the law
establishing postal savings banks
These banks are now the repositories
of many millions of dollars and afford
to people Of small means In remote To-
calities an easy and safe method Of
accommodating money.
Under his direction there has been
an investigation Of the excessive and
unfair charges Of the express COM
panies and a complete Encouragement
OF rates ordered.
Railroads have been prevented from
putting rate increases into effect with
out the approval Of the interstate COM
merce commission. While this legis-
lation' was pending an effort was made
by certain trunk lines to increase
rates. A temporary Injunction was
Immediately obtained by the attorney
general, and by agreement with the
railroad presidents they did not put
the increases into effect but waited
for the enactment Of the law. They
then applied to the interstate COM
merce commission for permission, un.
der the new law, to make the increase,
but their application was denied by
the commission. The railroads de-
nounced the president and his attor-
ney general for the stand they took in
protecting the rights of the shippers.
Other Reforms Accomplished.
The white slave traffic has been
vigorously and effectively attacked,
and severe punishment has been
melted out to those engaged in the
nefarious business
A bureau of mines has been estab
lished, so as to safeguard the lives Of
miners. President Taft personally at
tended demonstration of the meth
DDS employed to rescue miners and
has done everything in his power to
give efficiency to this new bureau.
Another great social reform which
President Taft advocated and which
received his hearty approval when the
law was passed concerns the investi-
cation of child labor conditions by the
government. President Taft selected
woman to manage the bureau which
is conducting the inquiry in order that
there might be sympathetic and
thorough administration of the law.
Under President Taft's administra.
ton the Panama canal will be com
pleted ahead of time, without a faint
of graft. President Taft has made
several visits to the isthmus in order
to personally assure himself that the
work was being prosecuted honestly
and vigorously.
An income tax amendment TO the
federal constitution has been sub
mitted to the states and now lacks
only the Affirmative action of the
legislatures OF three or four additiona!
states to become part Of the fun
damental law Of the land.
Tariff Revised Downward.
The tariff has been revised down
ward. Under the Payne tariff law, ap
proved by President Taft, the list OF
articles admitted duty free was in
creased, while the average rates of
duty upon all dutiable articles was de-
creased. No American industry has
Oeen crippled and not one American