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The Commoner,
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MR. TAFT INAUGURATED
William II. Taft of Ohio and James S. Sher
man of New York were Inaugurated at noon
Thursday as president and vice president of
tho United States.
A Washington dispatch says: "The ceremony
of tho Inauguration was accomplished with all
duo formality and finality, but under most un
usual conditions, owing to a terrific blizzard
which swept over tho national capital, paralyz
ing street traffic, destroying communication with
the outsido world and bringing disaster to the
thousands of assembled visitors who had gath
ered in expectation of tho usual spectacular dem
onstration. Notwithstanding tho advorso con
ditions, all of tho main features of tho inaugura
tion wero accomplished. Tho main change was
in modifying tho original program so that the
Inaugural address, usually delivered from the
east portion of tho capitol, was pronounced by
Mr. Taft In tho senate chamber. The oath was
administered by Chief Justice Fuller."
GOOD-BYE TO ROOSEVELT
Washington's good-bye to Roosevelt is told
in an Associated Press dispatch as follows: ,
Washington, D. C, March 4. With thousands
of his countrymen bidding him an affectionate
ndlou, Theodore Roosevelt, the retiring presi
dent of the Unitod States, accompanied by Mrs.
Roosevelt, took his departure from the national
capital for hiB Oyster Bay home at 3:30 o'clock
this afternoon.
As ho was leaving tho scene of seven years
of his strenuous activity, Mr. Roosevelt gave
every indication of delight over being relieved
of official cares, looking somewhat tired, but
'happy, tho former president was deeply moved
by the affectionate demonstration in his honor,
while waiting for the train at the station.
"Good-bye and good luck to you," were his
greetings to the thousands who witnessed his
departure. It was a magnificent spectacle when
tho great crowd waved handkerchiefs in unison
and shouted: "Good-bye, Teddy."
Mr. and Mrs. Roosovelt occupied a drawing
room on tho Pullman car "Clytie."
All the way from the capitol to the Union
station, where ho arrived at 1:50 p. m., Mr.
Roosovelt, escorted by tho New York county
republican committee, 800 strong received a tre
mendous ovation which ho greatly appreciated.
A band played "Auld Lang Syne."
"What's the matter with Teddy?" shouted
Representative Herbert Parsons of New York
who headed the escort. "He's all right," an
swered the crowd and three cheers followed.
Addressing tho escort, Mr. Roosevelt said: -
I want to thank you heartily for escorting
mo down to tho station, and let me say to you
how much I appreciate your courtesy. Good
bye and good luck to all."
n hVm R1oos1ervelt' who had been preceded
to the station by Mrs. Roosevelt and Mrs. Nicho-
Sffi V,lnB,wortl1' hold an imPromptu reception
Jii nS f0mer CabineL omcors- Members of the
diplomatic corps, officials and other admiring
friends, came and bado him farewell.
,inni: ?0SGVelt In conversation with friends,
declared ho was glad to give up his arduous
Mr'nVfS1 was ,a nP inausural address of
Root remarked Mr. Roosevelt, to Senator
Mr. Root responded: "It was splendid."
MR. TATT'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Mr. Taffs inaugural address contained about
five thousand words, being among the largest on
rexTr(V ?,n tubeinning Mr. Taft said:
My Fellow Citizens: Anyone who takes the
oath I have just taken must feel a heavy weight
of responsibility. If not, ho has no concoDtfon
of the powers and duties of the office unoS
which he is about to enter, or he is lSing in S
Fmp'osesf61180 th bligatIon whi ' S?o2th
Tho office of an inaugural address is to elvo
a summary outline of tho main policies of th
now administration, so far as thecan be antici
pated. I have had the honor to be one Sf ho
advisers of my distinguished predecessor ZL I
enforcomont of tlm SX . ' " "'""u?n.an! n1
feature of my nnnlWuon. Th "ereX-
cd to the suppression of the lawlessness and
abuses of power of tho great combinations of
capital invested in railroads and in industrial
enterprises carrying on interstate commerce.
Tho steps which my predecessor took and the
legislation passed on his recommendations have
accomplished much, have caused a general halt
in the vicious policies which created pop
ular alarm, and have brought about in the
business affected a much higher regard for ex-,
isting law.
To render the reforms lasting, however, and
to secure at the same time freedom from alarm
on the part of those pursuing proper and pro
gressive business methods, further legislative
and executive action are needed. Relief of the
railroads from certain restrictions of the anti
trust law have been urged by my predecessor
and will be urged by me. On the other hand,
the administration is pledged to legislation look
ing to a proper federal supervision and restric
tion to prevent excessive issues of bonds and
stocks by companies owning and operating in
terstate commerce railroads.
Then, too, a reorganization of the department
of justice, of the bureau of corporations in the
department of commerce and labor, and of the
interstate commerce commission, looking to
effective co-operation of these agencies, is needed
to secure a more rapid and certain enforcement
of the laws affecting interstate railroads and in
dustrial combinations.
I hope to be able to submit, at the first reg
ular session of the incoming congress, in Decem
ber next, definite suggestions in respect to the
needed amendments to the anti-trust and the
interstate commerce law, and the changes re
quired in the executive departments concerned
in their enforcement.
It Is believed that with the changes to be
recommended, American business can be as
sured of that measure of stability and certainty
in respect to those things that may be done and
those that are prohibited, which is essential to
the life and growth of all business. Such a
plan must Include the right of the people to
avail themselves of those methods of combining
capital and effort deemed necessary to reach
the highest degree of economic efficiency, at the
same time differentiating between combinations
based upon legitimate economic reasons and
those formed with the intent of creating monop
olies and artificially controlling prices.
The work of formulating into practical shape
such changes is creative work of the highest
order, and requires all the deliberation possible
in the Interval. I believe that the amendments
to be proposed are just as necessary in the pro
tection of legitimate business as in the' clinch
ing of the reforms which properly bear the name
of my predecessor.
TARD7F REVISION
Concerning tariff revision Mr! Taft said:
A matter of most pressing importance is the
revision of the tariff. In accordance with the
promises of the platform upon which I was
elected, I shall call congress into extra session,
to meet on the 15th day of March, in order that
consideration may be at once given to a bill
revising the Dlngley act. This should secure
an adequate revenue and adjust the duties in
such a manner as to afford to labor and to all
industries in this country, whether of the farm,
fiLnefrrJaaCt0rJ' Protetion by tariff equal to
nw ,ffer wcx between the cost of production
abroad and the cost of production here, and have
a provision which shall put Into force unrin
executive determination of certain facts, a higher
or maximum tariff against those countries whose
trade policy toward us. equitably requires S
discrimination It is thought that there has
. been. such a change in conditions since the fin
actment of the Dingley act, drafted on a simT
larly protective principle, that the measure of
the tariff above stated will permit the Sinn
of rates In certain schedulL
tho advancement of few, if any require
anuthoXUeaT Vt S Th" ,""
J-1! t0 -tronltcessairlS
all those branches of business directly attectefl
and as these are most important it dutSSfa i?'
whole business of the country It f w he
tively necessary, therefore? that a tariff bill
drawn in good faith in accordance with promis
made before the election by the naVtvSE S s
poinut. It is not that the tariff is more impor-
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.VOLUME 9, NUMBER f
tant in the long run than the perfecting of the
reforms in respect to anti-trust legislation and
interstate commerce regulation, but the need
for action when the revision of the tariff has
been determined upon, is more immediate to
avoid embarrassment of business. To secure the
needed speed in the passage of the tariff bill, it
would seem wise to attempt no other legislation
at the extra session. I venture this as a sug
gestion only, for the course to be taken by con
gress, upon the call of the executive, is wholly
within its discretion.
In the making of a tariff bill, the prime motive
is taxation, and the securing thereby of a rev
enue. Due largely to the business depression
which followed the financial panic of 1907, tho
revenue from customs and other sources has
decreased to such an extent that the expenditures
for the current fiscal year will exceed the re
ceipts by $100,000,000. , It is imperative that
such a deficit shall not continue, and the fram
ers of the tariff bill must of course have in
mind the total revenues likely to be produced
by it, and so afrange the duties as to secure
an adequate income. Should it be impossible
to do so by import duties, new kinds of taxation
must be adopted, and among these I recommend
a graduated inheritance tax, a"s correct in prin
ciple and as certain and easy of collection.
OTHER SUBJECTS
He urged economy on the part of those re
sponsible for expenditures and said that this
course is particularly necessary "when we are
face to face with a heavy deficit." He spoke a
good word for the scientific experiments in the
department of agriculture. He declared in favor
of an Increased army and an increased navy.
He urged improved post fortifications. He ad
vised the conservation of resources. On the
Bubject of an increased navy he said he desired
to reiterate what Mr. RooBevelt had said on tho
Importance of maintaining a strong navy. At
the same time he declared: "Our international
policy is always to promote peace," and he paid
a tribute to The Hague tribunal.
ASIATIC IMMIGRANTS
On the subject of Asiatic immigration Mr.
Taft said: w ,
The admission of. Asiatic immigrants1 -who can
not be amalgamated with our population has
been made the subject either of prohibitory
clauses in our treaties and statutes, or of strict
administrative regulation secured by diplomatic
negotiations. I sincerely hope that we may con
tinue to minimize the evils likely to arise from
such immigration without unnecessary friction
and by mutual concessions between self-respecting
governments. Meantime, we must take
every precaution to prevent, or, failing that, to
punish outbursts of race feeling among our peo
ple against foreigners of whatever nationality
who have by our grant a treaty right to pursue
lawful business here and to be protected against
lawless assault or injury.
STATE LAWS IN LIGHT OP FEDERAL
TREATIES
ReerJng,t0 federal treaties and state laws
Mr. Taft said:
This leads me to point out a serious defect in
the present federal jurisdiction which ought to
be remedied at once. Having assured to other
countries by treaty the protection of our laws
for such of their subjects or citizens as we per
mit to come within our jurisdiction, we now
?? ?J 8?te or cIty' not under the control
of the federal government, the duty of perform-
? nF"???1 oblisations in this respect.
SL? inP tJlf IsI,atI? 7e may' and 0USht to,
I ll J ?ands of the fedoral executive the
SSSf iS nforcllls ?e treaty rlShts of such
aliens in the courts of the federal government.
MoS fl igov?P m,!nt In a Pusillanimous posi
S??n ?Se d.efinite casements to protect
thni nll en ? eXCUse tne fallure t0 Perform
d,,tv n ?fem?nt3 by an explanation that the
imL ep t?em Is In 8tates or cities, not
m ,n0tULCOnr-1, If we would Promise, we
SSmiS? wSo1V6S !? a posItIon to Perform our
orSstioftnCafn ni0t P,emit the PssIble Allure
Sr SSSninJ?6-0 l0Cal Preudice in any state
Jlak of i ?l KT? n,n?llt t0 expose us t0 thQ
JurLdiction IZ lCh m,IS?lbe avoided if fedGral
by -con cr? TnS asserted by suitable legislation
inJSht0a?VaIIed out by PrPer proceed
of the nntforfodi by the executive, in the courts
oi tne national government.
TID3 CURRENCY
nnoQorfni?g the currGncy Mr. Taft said: .
une of the reforms to bo carried out during
moVerrl1111?1,8111 ls a SoSSi 2? on?
monetary and banking laws, so as to secure
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