Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-12-05
President Wilson's Address to Congress

have already been acted upon by the
house Of representatives: the bill which
seeks to extend greater freedom OF COM
bination to those engaged in promoting
the foreign commerce of the country
than is now thought by some to be
legal under the terms of the laws
against monopoly; the bill amending
the present organic law of Porto Rico;
and the bill proposing more thorough
and systematic regulation Of the ez-
penditure Of money i'll elections, com
monty called the Corrupt Practices Act
1 need not offer my advice that these
measures be enacted into law. Their
urgency lies in the manifest circum-
stances which render their adoption at
this time not only opportune but nee
essarv. Even delay would seriously
leopard the interests of the country
and Of lne government.
Election Expenditures
Immediate passage OF the bill to reg
ulate the expenditure of money in elec'
tions may seem TO be less necessary
than the immediate enactment of the
other measures to which l refer; be-
cause at least two years will elapsc be-
fore another election in which federal
o. aces are to be filled; but it would
greatly relieve the public mind if this
important matter were dealt with while
! the circumstances and the dangers to
the public morals of the present method
of obtaining and spending campaign
funds stand clear under recent observa-
tion and the methods of expenditure
can be frankly studied in the light of
present experience; and delay would
have the further very serious disad.
vantage of postponing action until an
other election was at hand and some
special object connected with il might
be thought to be in the mind Of those
who urged il. Action can be taken
now with facts for guidance an dwith-
out suspicion OF partisan purpose
To Help Exporters
shall not argue at length the de-
STABILITY of giving freer hand IN
. the matter of combined and concerted
effort to those who shall undertake the
essential enterprise of building up our
. export trade. That enterprise will pres
ently. will Immediately assume, has in
deed already assumed, n magnitude un-
! prcccdented in our experience we
have not the necessary Instrumental
ties for its prosecution; il is deemed to
be doubtful whether they could be ere
lated upon an adequate scale under our
present laws. We should clear away all
! legal obstacles and create u basis OF
undoobted law for it which will give
! freedom without permitting unrcgulat-
cd license. The thing must be done
! now, because the opportunity IS here
lnnd may escape us if we hesitate or
dclav.
The argument for the proposed amend
lmcnts of the organic law of Porto Rico
is brief and conclusive. The present
laws ~ovcrning the island and rcgulat-
: ing the rights and privileges Of its pco'
, plc are not lust. We have created cNJ
pectations of extended privileges which
we have not satisfied. There is un'
! casincss among the people of the is'
land and even q suspicious doubt with
regard to our intentions concerning
them which the adoption of the pend.
ing measure would happily remove. We
do not doubt what we wish TO do in
any essential particular We ought to
do it at once.
nAt the last session of the congress
n bill was passed by the senate which
provides for the promotion of vocation
nj and Industrial education which is of
vital importance to the whole country
because il concerns n matter, TOO long
neglected, upon which the thorough in
dustral preparation of the country for
the critical years Of economic develop
, mcnt Immediately ahead of us in very
large measure depends May | not urge
its early and favorable consideration by
, the house of representatives and its
early enactment into law3 Ii contains
4 plans which affect all interests and all
, parts of the country and ! am sure that
; there is legislation now pending before
! the congress whose passage the country
: awaits with more thoughtful approval
: or greater impatience to see great
, and admirable thing set in the way OF
, being done"
| There are other matters already adj
vanced to the stage of conference be-
i tween the two houses of which it is not
Q necessary that ! should speak. Some
| practical basis of agreement concern
r ing them will no doubt bc found aud
) action taken upon them.
\ Inasmuch us this is, tentlemcn, prob
9 ably the last occasion shall have to
I address the isixlN-fourth congress,
! hope that you will permit me to say
r with wnat genuine pleasure and salts
| faction | have coopcrated with you in
, the many measures of constructive pol
| ley with which you have enriched the
| legislative annals of the country II
. has been u privilege to lahour in such
com any. take the liberty of congrat
uatlng YOU upon the completion of q
9 record of rare scrViccablcucss and dis
b tinction.