Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1902 — MESSAGE READ TO CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

MESSAGE READ TO CONGRESS

President Roosevelt Makes Recommendations of Importance, PROBLEMS TO BE TAKEN UP Great Part of the Document la Devoted to Trusts and the Tariff— Work of the Short Session Is Now Under Way—Probable Legislation.

President Roosevelt’s message to Congress, read in the House and Senate, is not • a long document. In his usual terse manner the president deals with the subjects which he thinks should occupy the attention of the lawmaking body. Following is a comprehensive synopsis of the message: Trusts to Be Regulated. The president holds that capital admittedly has the right to combinfe for its own protection and for development along industrial lines, but asserts that when these organization form associations of such strength as to stifle competition it is the duty of the lawmaking power to remedy such an evil condition. The message says: “That such organizations exist, and that they are a menace to our institutions, is well known. It is the duty of Congress to enact legislation which will remedy the evil, without interfering with the right of capital to organize along industrial lines and for its own protection.” In this connection the message goes on to show that in many instances the so-called trusts have proved of great benefit to the country in stimulating production and creating new markets for their output. Some check upon the rapacity of the gigantic corporations, however, is declared to be urgently needed. Without making definite recommendations as to what form the necessary legislation should take, the president adverts to the proceedings brought by the department of Justice in the Beef trust case and the merger of the Northern Securities, as witnessing the official recognition of the government of the violation of existing laws in these two cases, and he urges that any defects which may be apparent in the existing law should be eradicated. Especially the president insists that power must be given the department of justice to accomplish the real reforms the lawmakers Intended when the existing legislation regulating the trusts was enacted. In his message of last year President Roosevelt advocated publicity as the most effective check which could be put on the trusts, and this he repeats. He says: “Publicity is the only sure remedy which we can invoke. What further remedies are needed in the way of governmental regulation, or taxation, can only be determined after publicity has been obtained by process of law, and in the course of administration. The first requisite is knowledge, full and complete—knowledge which may be made public to the world." Revision of the Tariff. On the subject of the tariff the president declares himself in favor of a revisionary legislation that, while not attacking the foundation upon which the policy of tariff for protection is built, will remodel it to meet new conditions and eradicate such evils as have arisen through the imposition of the present tariff. He urges that the Sherman act be amended so as to extend the power and authority of the government over trusts. He also recommends that a tariff commission, to be composed of experts or a joint committee of Congress, be created to Investigate the operations of the Dlngley tariff act for the purpose of determining if any of the existing schedules can be reduced or eliminated. These recommendations comprehend the policies of the administration, and, in a measure, the polices of the Republican party. No Extra Session. There Is no reference in the message to the calling of an extra session of Congress to deal with the tariff question. Our Foreign Relations.

The foreign relations of the country are reviewed In an informal manner. No international question Is pending in which tne United States is vitally interested The action which Great Britain and Germany threaten to take In Venezuela, however ,1s made the occasion for a reiteration of this administration’s well-known policy on coercion of the South American governments. The adherence of the United States to the Monroe doctrine is emphatically reiterated, presumably for the benefit of European nations. Reciprocity With Cuba. On the Question of Cuban reciprocity the message shows that the president stands precisely where his predecessor stood. He urges the largest possible measurement of trade reciprocity, paying particular attention to the implied pledges of this government tcf see to It that Cuba was put upon her feet in a business as well as a political way, and not until that has been done through a measure of reciprocity which he contends is In line with the Republican policy, will the duty of this government toward Cuba have been done. Immigration Question. The message calls the attention of Congress to the unusually large immigration to this country during the last fiscal year, and the great proportion of undesirable immigrants that have sought and, in some cases, secured entrance’ In this connection the president strongly recommends corrective legislation along the lines laid down by the present administration of the Immigration office It is the general opinion of those usually well informed that the present session of Congress will surely deal with this question. The message says: "Our labor must be protected so far as it is possible from the presence in this country of any laborers brought over by contract, or of those who, coming freely, yet represent a standard of living so depressed that they can undersell our men in the labor and drag them to a lower level." The president declares that our present immigration laws are unsatisfactory

He advocates a more thorough system of examination at our immigration ports. Civil Bervice. The strengthening of the civil service is referred to briefly by the president, but with cordial approval. He says: 'The merit system of making appointments is in its essence as democratic and American as the common schools system itself. It simply means that in clerical and other positions where the duties are entirely tjon-politlcal, all applicants should have a fair field and no favor, each standing on his merits as he is able to show them by practical test.” Our Interests in the East. The Interests of the United States In the Orient are shown by the message to be thoroughly safeguarded, and the recent signing of the contract with the Pacific Cable Company is referred to by the president as another step toward their advancement. As to Canal Question. The president puts upon Congress the responsibility of acting on the canal question. He reports in the message that the negotiations with Colombia have not been carried to a satisfactory conclusion, and recites the provisions of the Spooner act, which, though not mandatory, suggest to the president the propriety of leaving to Congress the next step to be taken in the matter. As to the need for the construction of such a canal, however, the message is emphatic. It says: “It is a work which it is for the interest of the entire country to begin and complete as soon as possible; it is one of those great works which only a great nation can undertake with prospects of success, and which when done are not only permanent assets in the nation’s material interests, but standing monuments to its constructive ability.” Gold Standard for Philippines. The president congratulates Congress upon the virtual ending of the insurrection in the Philippines and highly eulogizes the work of the officers and men of the United States army who have so faithfully and well done their duty in the islands. In this connection the message says of the Filipinos. “Our earnest effort is to help these people upward along the stony and difficult path that leads to self-government. We hope to make our administration of the islands honorable to our nation by making it of the highest benefit to the Filipinos themselves; and as an earnest of what we intend to do, we point to what we have done. Already a greater measure of material prosperity and of governmental iL on ?i? ty et « c ie nc y has been attained in the Philippines than ever before in their history.” The president recommends the applicacation of the gold standard to the Philippines. The Navy. Some dissatisfaction is expressed with the size and efficiency of the navy, and the need for a strong sea force emphafj*ed - , Th e president insists that it is the duty of Congress to continue the W^*T? C . °f up-building, and to provide the additional force asked for by Secretary Moody. He points out the impossibility of improving a navy after war breaks says: ‘‘Three thousand additional seamen and one thousand additional marines should be provided; and an increase in the officers should be provided by making a large addition to the classes at Annapolis.” It is the belief of well-informed members of both houses that the only legisa*.oa °V‘ Bide of the appropriations which will get through will be the usual gF ! private bills, the bill for the establishment of a department of comn^ rCe L,^ nd labor - Perhaps the ship subsidy bill, which already has passed the senate; the omnibus statehood bill admitting the territories of Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico that is now pending before the senate committee on errltories and a few other measures.