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About The Nebraska advertiser. (Nemaha City, Neb.) 18??-1909 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 1907)
MESSAGE SENT TO CONGRESS President's Recommen dations on National Legislation. AS TO CURRENCY QUESTION Many Defects of Present System Are Pointed Out by Chief Executive. NOT TIME FOR TARIFF Postponement of Discussion of Re vision of Schedules Until After Presidential Election Urged Ne cessity for Improving Waterways of the Country. , Washington, Dec. 3. President Itoose volt in hln nnnunl mcssngo deals vlgor ously with matters or national lmpor tanoe. Referring to the recent dlsturb nc In financial circles he points out that the hoarding of money by the peo ple, instead of keeping It In sound banks, was tho first cause of financial stringency and a grave error. IIu pays a tribute to tho general honesty of the men engaged In tho banking business. After quotations from his lust annual message which dealt with tho necessity of governmental regulations, the presi dent asserts that his views have in no way changed and declares ft in tho duty of the national government to embody In action the principles ho then expressed. . : Disclaiming any Idea of advocating cen tralization the president Insists upon tho necessity for federal control of the rail roads of the country through (ho Inter state commerce commission, and also urges legislation looking to the proper control of the great business concarns en gaged in Interstato business, this control to be exercised for their own benefit and prosperity no less than for tho protection of "Investors and of tho general public. Want Federal Control. Declaring that modern industrial con ditions are such that combination Is not only necessary but Inevitable, tho presi dent refers to his message of a year ago concerning necessary changes In the antitrust laws, lie goes on: "I ask for full power to be given the federal government, because no single state can by legislation effectually . cope with these powerful corporations en gaged In interstate commerce, and, while doing them full justice, exact from them In return full Justice to others. The con ditions of railroad activity, the condi tions of our Immense Interstato com merce, are such as to make the central government alone competent to exercise full vupcrvlslon and control. "Tho antitrust law should be made both more efficient and moro In harmony with actual conditions. It .should be so amend ed as to forbid only tho kind of combina tion which does harm to the general pub lic, such amendment to bo accompanied by, or to be an incident of, a grant of su pervisory power to tho government over these big corporations engaged In inter state business. This should be occom Oanied by provlston for tho compulsory publication of accounts and the subjec tion of books and papers to the inspec tion of the government officials. A be ginning has already been made for such supervision by the establishment of tho bureau of corporations. "Among the points to be aimed at should be the prohibition of unhealthy competition, such as by rendering Bervlcc at an actual loss for the purpose of crush Ing out competition, the prevention of in nation of capital, and tho prohibition of a corporation's making exclusive trade with Itself a condition of having any trade with Itself. Reasonable agreements between, or combinations of, corporations should be permitted, provided they are first aubmlttcd to and approved by some appropriate government body. I,lk TVxHnnnl nunk Nimprvlalnii. ' "The congress has tho power to chartor corporations to cngago In Interstato and foreign commerce, and a general law can be enacted under the provisions of which existing corporations could take out fed eral charters and now federal corpora tlona could be created. An essential pro vision of such a law should bo a method of predetermining by some federal board or commission whether the applicant for a federal charter was an association or combination within the restrictions of tho federal law. The supervision established might be analogous to that now exercised over national banks. At least, tho antl trust act should be supplemented by spe cific prohibitions of tho methods which ex perience has shown have been of most service In enabling monopolistic combina tions to crush out competition. Tho real owners of a corporation should bo com pelted to do business In their own name Tho right to hold stock in other-corpora tions should hereafter bo denlod to Inter stale corporations, unless on approval by the proper government ofllclals, und a prerequisite to such approval should bo tho listing with the government of all owners and stockholders, both by tho corporation owning such stock and by the corporation in wnicn sucn stock la owned." I After calling attention to tho benefits which tho legislation ho urges would confer upon tho country, tho president aays: "Thoso who fear, from any rea son, tho extension of federal activity will do well to atudy the history not only of tho national bnnklng act, but of tho pure food law, and notably tho meat lnspcc tlon law recently enacted. Tho benefit to Interstato common carriers and business concerns from tho legislation I advocate would bo equally marked. i The Currency Uueatlnn. On tho question of tho currency tho pre.sjucm cans attention to His last an nual message wherein ho polntod out that our prcsont system is defective and bowing tho need of a change. In that message lie said: "National banks should bo permitted to laaue a Bpaciflcd proportion of their cap Ital In notes of a given kind, the Issue to be taxed at so high a ralo as to drive the notes back when not wanted In legiti mate trade. This plan would not per mit tho Issue of currency to give banks additional profits, but to moot tho emer gency presented by times of stringency. I do not say that this is the right sys tem. 1 only advance It to emphasize my belief that there Is need for the adop tion of some system which shall bo au tomatic and open to all sound banks, so as to ovoid all possibility of discrim ination and favoritlam. Such a plan would tend to prevent the spasms of high money and speculation which now ob tain In the Now York market; for at present thore Is too much currency at certain seasons of the year, and Its ac cumulation at New York tempts bankers to lond It at low rates for speculative purposes; whereas at other times when tho crops are being moved thoro Is ur gent need for a large but temporary In crease In tho currency supply. It must never bo forgotton that this question concerns business men generally quite as much as bankcrn; especially Is thin true of ntockmon, farmers and business men In the west; for at prcsont at certain Beusonr, of the yenr the dlfferenco In In terest rales between tho cast and west Is from six to ten pur cent,, whereas in Canada the corresponding dlfferenco Is but two per cent. Any plan must, of course, guard the Interests of western and southern bankers a carefully as it guards the Interests of Now. York or Chicago bankers, and must bo drawn from the standpoints of tho farmer and the merchant no less than from the standpoints of the city banker and tho country banker." ltepentn Itceommcndntioaa. The president continues: "I again urge on tho congress tho need of Immediate attention to this matter. Wo need a greater elasticity In our currency; provided, of course, that wo recognize tho oven greater need of a safo and secure currency. There must always be tho most rigid examination by tho national authori ties. Provision should bo made for an emergency currency. Tho emergency Issue should, of course, be made with an effective guaranty, and upon condi tions carefully prescribed by tho gov ernment. Such emergency Issue must be based on adequate securities ap proved by tho government, atid must be Issued under a heavy tax. This would permit currency being Issued when the demand for it was urgent, while securing Its retirement as the demand fell off. It is worth investi gating to determine whether officers and directors of national banks should ever be allowed to loan to themselves. Trust companies should be subject to the same supervision as banks; legisla tion to this effect should be enacted for the District of Columbia and the terri tories." fioi Time for 'I'm riff DIucunhIob. On the subject of tho tariff tho presi dent declares himself In favor of post poning all consideration of tho ques tion until oftei- the prcstdontlal elec tion. He says: "Tho Income account of the nation Is in a most satisfactory condition. For tho six fiscal years ending with tho tlrst of July last, the total expenditures and revenues of tho national govern ment, exclusive of the postal revenues and expenditures, were In round num hers, revenues, $3,405,000,000, and ox pondlturcs, $3,275,000. The net ex cess of Income over expenditures, In cluding In the latter tho fifty millions expended for the Panama canal, was $1!)0,000,000 for tho six years, an average of about $31,000,000 a year. This represents an approximation between in come and outgo which It would bo hard to Improve. Tho satisfactory working of the present tariff law has been chiefly responsible for this excellent showing Nevertheless, there Is an evident and con stantly growing feeling among our peo plo that tho time Is rapidly approaching when our system of revenue legislation must bo rovisod. "This country Is definitely committed to the protective system and any effort to uproot It could not but causo wide spread Industrial disaster. In other words, the principle of the present tar iff law could not with wisdom be changed. But in a country of such phenomenal growth as ours it Is prob ably well that every dozen years or so the tariff laws should be carefully scrutinized so as to see that no ex cesslve or improper benefits are con ferred thereby, that proper revenue, is provided, and that our foreign trade is encouraged. There must always be as a minimum a tariff which will not only allow' for the collection of an ample rovenuo but which will at loast make good tho dlfferenco In cost of produc tion here and abroad; that is, tho dlf ference In the labor cost hero and abroad, for tho well-being of the wage- worker must ever be a cardinal point of American policy. Tho solo consider atlon should bo to sec that tho sum total of changes represent tho public good. This means that the subject can not with wisdom bo dealt with in tho year preceding a presidential election, becauso as a matter of fact experience has conclusively shown that at such a tlmo It is impossible to get men to tvet.t it from the standpoint of the public good. In my judgment the wise time to deal with the matter is immedl atcly after such election." Income and Inheritance Tat. Thoro has been no change In the mind of tho president concerning tho advisability of an Income tax and an Inheritance tax. In the message ho says: "When our tax taws are revised tho question of an Income tax and an in herltance tax should receive the caro ful attention of our legislators. In my judgment both of theso taxes should bo part of our systom of federal taxation. I speak drflldently about the Income tax because one scheme for an Income tax wus declared unconstitutional by the supremo court; while in addition It is a difficult tax to administer In ltn prac tical working. Nevertheless, a grad uated incomo tax of tho proper type would bo a deslrablo fcuture of federal taxation, and It Is to bo hoped that one may bo devised which tho supreme court will declaro constitutional. The Inheritance tax, however, la both a far better mothod of taxation, and far more Important for tho purpose of having tho fortunes of tho country bear In proportion to their increase In size a corresponding Increase and burden of tnxatlon. The government has the ab soluto right to decide as to tho terms upon which a man shall receive tho bo quest or dovlso from another, and this point In tho devolution of property Is especially appropriate for tho imposi tion of a tax." Due "enforcement of I.avr. On tho matter of the Impartial en forcement of the laws the message says: A few yearn ago there was loud complaint that the law could not he In voked against wealthy offenders. Thore Is no such complaint How. Tho course of the department of Justice during the lost few years has been such as (o make It evident that no man atauda abovo tho law, that no corporation Is so wealthy that it cannot be held to account. Everything that can be done under the existing Inw. and with the existing Btate of public opinion, which o profoundly Influences both tho courts and Juries, has been done. Rut tho laws themselves need strengthen Ing In more than one Important point; they should bo mnde moro definite, bo that no honest man can bo led unwit tingly to break them, and no that the real wrongdoer can bo readily punished, "The two groat evils in the execution of our criminal laws to-day are senti mentally and technically. l-'or tho lat ter tho remedy must come from tho hands of tho legislatures, the courts and tho lawyers, Tho other must dc- pond for Its euro upon tho gradual growth of a sound public opinion which shall insist that regard for the law and tho demands of reason shall control all other Influences and emotions In the jury box. Roth of theso evils must bo removed or public discontent with the criminal law will continue" l.'we of InJiiui'doiiN, .Referring to tho question of tho use and abuse of Injunctions the president de clares: "Instances of abuse In the uraullnir of injunctions in labor disputes continue to occur, and tno resentment in the minds of thoso who feel that their rights ore being invaded and their liberty of action and of speech unwarrantably restrained continues to grow. Much of the attack on tho use of the process of Injunction is wholly without warrant; but I am con ntralned to express the belief that for somo of it there Is warrant. This ques tion Is becoming moro und more of prima Importance, nnd unless tlie courts will themselves deal with it In effective man ner. It Is certain ultimately to demand somo sort of legislative action. I earnest ly commoml to the attention of the con gress this matter, so that some way may bo dovlscd which will limit thn abuse of injunctions and protect thoso rights which from time to tlmo It unwarrantably In vades." Among tho recommendations made In tho message are for federal inspection of railroads, the establishment of an em ployers' liability act, and for tho exten sion of tho present eight-hour Jaw by the government. In Industrial DlniuitcN. The president favors compulsory In vestigation by tho national government of Industrial disputes, saying: "Strikes and lockouts, with their at tendant loss and suffering, continue to Increase. For the five years ending De cember 31, 1905, tho number of strikes was greater than those in any previous ten years and was double tho number In tho preceding five years. Theso llg- urcs Indicate tho increasing need of providing somo machinery to deal with this elas.1 of disturbances in the Inter est alike of tho employer, tho employe and the general public. 1 renew my previous recommendation that tho con grcss favorably consider tho matter of creating tho machinery for compulsory Investigation of such Industrial contro versies as are of sufficient magnitude and of sufficient concern to tho people of tho country as a whole to warrant tho federal government In taking action The recent strike of tho telegraphers la cited as an instance whoro such power might profitably have boon used. Child Labor Evil. Tho necessity of checking the evil of ehlld labor Is pointed out with much dl rectness. On the relation between capital and labor tho president asserts that pub He opinion must be aroused In condemua tlon of evil practices on both sides. Tho work of tho department of agriculture Is given high praise and the Importance of tho department pointed out. Cooperation with farmers' associations Is urged. The necessity of a national systom of Inspec tion and grading of grain, to correct evils complained of, Is also pointed out. .National Water Highway. Showing tho necessity for the develop ment of tho national water highways tho message says: "Our great river systems should bo developed us national water highways; the Mississippi, with its trlb utarles, standing first In importance, and the Columbia second, although there aro many others of Importance on tho Pacific, the Atlantic and the gulf slopes. Tho nn tlonal government should undortakc this work, and I hope a beginning will be made In the present congress; and tho greatest of all our rivers, tho Mississippi, should receive especial attention. From the great lakes to tho mouth of tho Mis slsslppt thero should be a deep waterway, with deep waterways leading from It to tho east and west. Such a watorway would practically mean tho extension of our coast lino Into the very lieart of our country. It would bo of Incalculable ben eflt to our people. "As an Incident to creating tho deep waterway down the Mississippi, tho gov ernment should build along Its whole lower length levees which, taken to gether with the control of tho head waters, will at once nnd forever put a complete slop to all threat of Hoods in tho Immensely" fertile Delta region. Tho territory lying adjacent to tho Missis sippi along Its lower course will there by become ono of the most prosperous and populous, as It already Is ono of tho most fertile. farn.Ing regions In all the world." "I have appointed an inland waterways commission to study anu outuno a com prohonslvo scheme of development along all the lines Indicated L.atcr I shall lay Its report before tho congress." Public l.niidN. Extension of tho work of Irrigation and tho roclamatlon of waslo lands is advo cated, together with a revision of the present land laws in tho Interest of the actual home-maker, 'i no uniawiui rone Ing of nubile lands for prlvato grazing, the president says, must bo stopped, but at tho Bamo time tho necessity which oc casioned it must bo provided for. Several plans are recommended. Conservatism of the mineral wealth of tho country, and the necessity for tho preservation of tho forests to provent a timber famine, aro dwelt upon. Drastic action by tho congress Is urged. Would Hcnenl Duly on Wood Pulp. The president declares In favor of tho repeal of tho duty on wood pulp, at tho same tlmo declaring that It should If possible bo accompanied by an agreement with Canada that thero snouid bo no ox port duty on Canadian pulp wood. That tho government should own und leaso mlnornl and oil lands Is (ho bollei of tho president, Work on tho' Panama canal is declared to be proceeding In a Satisfactory man ner, and flgurei given to substantiate the Htatemont. I ''or PomImI SnvlnRB Riinka. On the questions of postal saving banks and tho establishment of a parcels post system the message says: I commend to the favorable considera tion of tho congress a postal savings bank system as recommended by tho postmaster general. I further commend to tho congress the consideration of tho postmaster general's recommendation for an extension of tho par.eel post, especially on the rural routes. These recommendations have been drawn up to benefit tho fanner and tho country storekeeper; otherwise T should not favor thorn, for I behove that It Is good policy for our government to d ovcrythlng possible to aid tho sninll town and tho country district. It Is desirable that the country merchant should not be crushed out." Some form of local self-government for Alaska Is naked of tho congress, and that tho rights nf citizenship be conferred upon tho people of Porto Rico. CnmptilKn Contribution. Die president says: "It la well to provide that corporations ahall not con- trlhuto to presidential or national cam paigns, and further moro to provldo for tho puhllctalon of both contributions and expenditures. Tho need for col lecting largo campaign funds would vanish If congress provided an appro priation for the proper and legltlmato expenses of each of tho great national parties, an appropriation ample enough to meet tho necessity for thorough or ganization and machinery, which re quires a large expenditure of money. Then the stipulation ahould he maelo that no party receiving campaign funds from lite treasury should accept moro than a fixed amount from any Indi vidual subscriber or donor; and tho necessary publicity for receipts and ex penditures could without dlmculty bo provided,." Tho extension of tho Ocean Mall act of 1891 Is recommended as an aid to American shipping. A subsidy for Pacific steamers, tho president thinks, Is necessary. I'luit the. army In the past has been niggardly provided for ami should bo more geuorously dealt with la dwolt upon at length, together with recom mendations for future legislation. Yearly additions to the navy are recommended and in tho president's Judgment tho country should build four battleships this year. Reason for Pacific CruUe. Concerning tho dispatch of the fleet to the Pacific, the president believes it should be Bhlfted botwecu tho two oceans every year or two as a means of teaching officers and men how to handle the vessels In a tlmo of war. Although tho results of The Hague conference aro declared not to have been up to expectations, a degree of good Is said to havo resulted, notably a provision by which tho powers taking part In tho conference agreed not to have recourse to armed force for tho collection of debts owed to their cltl zona by foreign countries. The expectation of tho government Is declared to be to turn over Cuba to a government chosen by tho people of the Island within the coming year. (criuan Tariff Agreement. Concerning tho tariff agreement en tercel Into with Germany, Its object is declared to havo boon tho prevention of a tariff war between tho United States and that country. The work of tho commission which mado tho agreement is praised. Tho president asks for authority to remit to China all Indemnity In oxcess of the sum of $11,G5C,492.U9 and Inter est at four per cent. In conclusion tlto messugo congratu lates tho country on its present cor dial relations with all countries, par ticularly tho sister republics to the south. HAD HER PLANS WELL LAID. William Wat Not Likely to Take Vlra Away In a Hurry. Vlra, tho MorseB sable cook, an nounced to her jnlstroas that she in tended to bo married tho noxt week, says the Youth's Companion. Mrs. Morso wns filled with regret. "O Vlra," she cried, "I was afraid William would persuade you at last! You said you'd novcr leave us." "Why, I isn't gwlne to 'loabe you, honey," nud Vlra patted the shoulder of her young mlstross In a comforting way. "I's jes' nacholly mairylng dat Wlllum now to keep him from poster Ing me. Ho's been rouu' too much lately, an' yet If 1 caB' him off, he'll get Into rnlxtrlous comp'ny. I's mar rying dat boy to sabe him." "Yes," said Mrs. Morso, somowhat reassured by Vlra's tone, but slightly bewildered, nevertheless, "I know It will bo a fine thing for him, Vlra, but won't ho want to take you away?" "Whar ho get do monoy?" Inquired Vlra, returning to her work of beating eggs with renewed vigor. "I's sabod do money fo' his honeymoon trip, and I's got his plans all laid out fo' him He's got a ticket out to Callforny au' to bring my olo farder back oas'jan' den I's gwlne send him down souf fo' my slsior, an' den up In Canady fo' my brudder, an' when he gets da fam'ly all rounded up, an' has to sup- po't 'em mostly, you t'nk he's gwlno bo In a hurry to hab me to suppo't, honey?" Left a Generous Will. Slgnor Eugonio Padova's tradespeo ple will bless his memory. Ho was a rich Italian gentleman who lived for many years In Paris, and has just died, leaving an original but generous will. Ho bequeaths ?C00 to be divided among all the barbers who ovor shaved him at a halr-dressor's whero ho went regularly. Every waiter who served him In the restaurants In which ho was accustomed to dluo gets a logacy. Ho lcavos money also to tho clerks of tho .shops of which ho was si rogular customer, and to tho aerv ants of the clu i to which ho belonged. NEBRASKAN FREE LIBERATED FROM MEXICAN PRIS-- ON AFTER TWENTY YEARS. CASE ALMOST FORGOTTEN Did Not Know What He Wns Thero for, But Languished for a Score of Years General News Items. Washington authorities" havo hern advised fioru (ttilvoslou, Texan, Hint .lames Konzbury a native of Ne braska, aged seventy-live, linn been released from a Mexican prison at Gundalaxjnrn, whore ho mih eonllnod for nearly twenty years. He unit trouble with a Mexican of locnl In- Huonco in Jalisco about lantl matter. Alberto Sanchez assaulted hint with n knife, and Kenbury shot and killed him. This wa nearly twenty years ago, and, after languishing in prison for several mouthy, the American, who had Invested In largo holdings, was filven a trial and convicted of murder. lie never know what sentence was Im posed, nnd was not allowed witnesses at. tho trial, About a year ago be communlcntod with relatives In Ne braska through a Mexican who ha1 served a term In the same prison They appealed to President Diaz, and It Is said that tho government -Authori ties had dlfllculty In locating the rec ords In Kenzbury's cane. II. la be llovetl he wns Imprisoned und forgot ten. Ho was a young man when he went to Mexico, and bought a ranch of 5,000 acres, and was making monoy when ho killed tho Mexican. His property wns sold at public auction sixteen years ago. CODY FIRE WAS DISASTROUS. 8even of Largest Buildings in City Were Destroyed. Cody, Wyo., again Is the victim of fire, over seven of tho largest build ings of that city being burned to the ground. A flro broke out in the city meat murket, tho belief bolng that It. was purposely sot' nllro. Tho flro spread and swept down tho block, burning tho entire row of frame buildings. The largo Arnold building, tho telephone nflice, skating rink. Campbell Drug company's store and llvo other largo buildings woro de stroyed. Tho loss Is at present esti mated at $50,000. A week previously Cody flufforcd from a $12,000 lire, tho blaze starting ut about tho same place in the block and burning In the othpr direction. FIVE MILLIONS FOR BANKS. Oklahoma Will Receive This Sum From Government. Senator Owen of Oklahoma, who called at the "white houso, snld ho had boon assured that Oklahoma would recolvo tho $5,000,000 duo from the national government appropriated In lieu of school lands In the Indian Ter ritory. This monoy, he said, would bo deposited by the state in state banks without delay, thus rollovlng the financial situation In Oklahoma and tho Income to tho state will bo greator becauso of the hlghor rates of Interest which will be paid by the state banks. NUGGET IN A DUCK'S CRAW. South Dakota Farmer Gets Christmas Present by Shot. When Jj. N. Snow, a small rancher near Spearllsh, S. D took a chance shot at a wild duck Hying overhead, ho did not expect to get a Christmas present. His aim proved true und tho bird fell. When dressed a largo gold nugget fell from Its craw. Snow Is having tho nugget made Into a ring for his wife and some prospectors havo started out to And tho placer bed from which tho duck picked up tho yellow metal. Big Companies Barred Out. . Tho 'San Francisco Examiner suys -that throo of tho largest Insurance companies doing business on the coast haov been denlod authority to tlo fur thor biiHlnes in that state by Tnsur anco Commissioner Wolfe. It Is al leged those companies transferred from tho stalo courts to the federal court suits for losses sustained In tho grent lire, In violation of tho stalo law. Boy Kills Sweetheart. Molvln Powell, aged sovonteen, shot nnd killed his sweethenrt, Lillian Hum phreys, aged sixteen, near Wllklns vllle, Ky. Friends of Powell say that tho pistol was accidentally discharged, but the sister of MIbs Humphreys claims that tho shooting was lnton tlonal. Powell . has not boon captured,