DECEMBER 8, M05
The Commoner.
7
THE PRESIDENT S MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
President Roosevelt's message was delivered
to Congress Tuesday, December 5.
In the beginning the people are congratulat
ed upon their "great prosperity" and are remind
ed that in our industrial and social system the
interests of all men are closely intertwined.
Referring to corporations, the president says
that there must be governmental restraint or
biipervision, and that experience has shown that
U is useless to try to get any adequate regulation
and supervision by state action. In his view this
can only bo effectively exercised by tli3 national
government. He says that he believes that con
gress has the power to ena,t a law to give effective
regulation, but if this proves impossil3 "it will
certainly be necessary ultimately to confer in
fullest form such power upon the national gov
ernment by a proper amendment of the consti
tution." Referring directly to the railway rate ques
tion, the president recommends that power be
given to some administrative body, such as the
interstate commerce commission to decide, upon
a case being7 brought before it, whether a given
railroad rate is reasonable and just. If such
rate is. found to be unreasonable and unjust, then
this administrative body is to have power "after
full investigation of the complaint, to prescribe
the limit of rate beyond which it shall not be
lawful to go the maximum reasonable rate, as
it is commonly called this decision to zo into
effect within a reasonable time and to obtain
thence onward, subject to review by the courts."
On the subject of rebates ho says "it some
times happens at present not that a rate is too
high, but that a favored shipper is given too low a
rate. In such cases the commission would have
the right to fix' this already established -minimum
rate as . the maximum; and it wbuld need only
one or two h decisions by the commission to
cure railroad companies of the practice of giv
ing improper minimum rates."
It is also recommended that all private car
lines and refrigerator charges and the like be
put under the supervision of the interstate com
merce commission or some other administrative
body to whose care railroad rates are intrusted.
The president lay3 considerable stress on the
importance cf "the need of providing for ex
peditious action by the interstate commerce com
mission in all matters." His reference to railway
rate, legislation and rebates are hereinafter re
produced in full.
Attention is again called to the necessity for
legislation requiring the uze of block signals
upon railroads, and congress is reminded that
"the number of serious collisions upon un
blocked roads that have occurred within the past
year adds -force to the recommendation."
Attention is called to "the excessive hours
of labor to which railroad employes in train
service are in many cases subjected," and the
president says "if there are any :easons for lim
iting by law the hours of labor in any employ
ment, they certainly apply with peculiar force
to the employment of those upon whose vigilance
and alertness' in the performance of their duties
the safety of all who travel by rail depends.'
The recommendation contained in a former
message concerning an employer's liability law
for the District of Columbia and for the Navy
Yards is reiterated, and the hope is
expressed that such a law will be prepared and
enacted as speedily as possible.
He says that it is the duty of the national
government to see that 'the city of Washington
is "made a model city in all respects, both as
regards parks, public play grounds, proper reg
ulation of the system of housing, so as to do away
with the evils of alley tenements, a proper sys
tem of education, a proper system of dealing with
truancy, juvenile offenders, and proper handling
of the charitable work of the District." He fur
ther recommends for the District of Columbia
proper factory laws tow prevent all abuses in
the employment of women and children,
and says ttut while "these will be used
chiefly as object lessons" even "this limited
amount of usefulness would be of real value."
While admitting that some judges ha" ) mis
used the power of Injunctions, the president says
that it would bo unwise to deprive courts of
fi2cI iie injunctions in labor Ssputes
hv 2 Ul n?dy to regulate the procedure
by requiring the judge to give duo notice to the
luZVZ m!"U0S before grant"'K the writ? the
I of ir? b0, ?? ,mrtG if th0 averse party does
ovhinin1 a! h, tirao and PUlce ordered." Ho
explains that "due notice" must dorond upon
the facts of the case, saying "It should not be
used as a pretext to permit violation of law or
the jeopardizing of life or property," and adds
of course tliid would not authorize tho issuing
of -a restraining injunction in any cases in which
it is not already authorized by existing law."
He renews the recommendation made in his
last message for an Investigation by the depart
ment of commerce and labor of general labor
conditions, especial attention to be paid to the
conditions of child labor and child labor legisla
tion in the several states. A similar recommend
ation is made with respect to an inquiry into the
conditions of women in industry.
The president says that the employer and
employe are not the only ones interested in any
great labor disturbance, but that the Interests
of a third party the general public must be
considered, and he says "every considerable la
bor difficulty in which interstate commerce
is involved should be investigated by tho govern
ment and the facts officially reported to the
public."
Referring to the recent disclosures before
the insurance investigating committee, the pres
ident says "it has been only too clearly shown
that certain of the -men at the head of these
large corporations take but small note of the
ethical distinction between honesty and dishon
esty; they draw the line only this" shU of what
may be called law honesty, the kind of honesty
necessary in order to avoid falliug into the
clutches of the law." The president ays that
while the only complete remedy for this condi
tion must be found in an aroused public con
science, that "much can be done by legislation
which is not only drastic but practical." He rec
ommends "adequate national supervision of com
mercial interests which are clearly national in
character." He says that "the congress has al
ready recognized that interstate insurance may
bo a proper subject for federal legislation, for in
creating the bureau of corporations it authorized
it to publish andv supply useful information con
cerning interstate corporations 'Including corpor
ations engaged in insurance.' " He says that
insurance business has outgrown in magnitude
the possibility of adequate state supervision, also
"the congress should carefully consider whether
legislation can be had," adding "this legislation
should apply with equal forco to fraternal and
benevolent organizations."
Approaching tho tariff question tho president
says: "There is more need of stability than of
the attempt to attain an ideal perfection in the
methods of raising revenue; and tho shock and
strain to the business world certain to attend any
serious change in these methods render such
change inadvisable unless for grave reason. It
is not possible to lay down any general rule
by which to .determine the moment when the
reasons for will outweigh the reasons against
such a change. Much must depend not merely
on the needs but on the desires of the people as
a whole; for needs and desires are not necessar
ily identical. Of course no change can be made
on lines beneficial to, or desired by, cne section
or one state only. There must be something like
a general agreement among the citizens of the
several states, as represented in congress, .that
the change is needed and desired in the interest
of the people as a whole; and there ihould then
bo a sincere, intelligent and disinterested effort
to make it in such shape as will combine so far
as possible the maximum of good to e people
at large, with the minimum of necessary disregard
for the special interests of localities or sections."
The president says that of course the income must
equal the expenditure, or else the revenues must
ha increased, saying "unless our expenditure can
be kept within tho revenue, then our revenue
laws must be readjusted." He adds: "It is a3 yet
too early to r.ttempt to outline what shape such
a readustment should take, for it Is as yet too
early to say whether there will be need for it.
It should bo considered whether it is not de
sirable that the tariff laws should provide for ap
plying as against or in favor of any other nation
the maximum and minimum tariff rates estab
lished by the 'congress, so as to .secure a certain
reciprocity of treatment between other nations
and ourselves. Having in view oven larger con
siderations of policy than those of a purely
economic nature, it would, in my judgment, be
well to endeavor to bring about cloHor commer
cial connections with the other peoples of this
continent. I am happy to bo able to announce
to you that Russia now treats upon the most-favored-nation
basis."
Calling attention to tho neod of economy tho
president recommends "a rigid scrutiny of ap
propriations." Ho says that all unnecessary
oillcos should bo abolished, and particularly rec
ommends tho abolishment of what Is known aa
the office of receiver of public moneys for United
States land offices. Ho says this will effect a
saving of about $250,000 a year. Ho nlco says
that considerable money may be saved tho
public printing oflk whore "thore Is a constant
ly growing tendency to publish mnsHOH o, un
important Information." Ho warns the congress
against what he calls 'false economy," explain
ing " a cutting down of tho navy, for Instance
would bo a crime against the nation. To fall to
push forward all work on the Pnuana canal would
bo as groat a folly."
On tho currency question tho president says
that there should he "the element of elasticity
1o our currency system." While "inflation must
be avoided," ho says "some provision shcjld be
made that will insure a larger volume of money
during the fall and winter months than In the
loss active seasons of the year." I' wants a
currency that will "contract against speculation
and will expand for the needs of leKltlmate
business."
Emphasizing the necessity for "business
methods In the departments," tho president sug
gests that congress "provide for the transfer,
distribution, coiisoliilatlon and assignment of
duties and exccutlvo organization, and or tho
changes In business methods within or between
the several departments that will" best promote
tho economy, efficiency and high character of
(lie governmental work."
Referring to federal elections tho president
renews the recommendation made In the last an
nual message concerning tho enactment of a law
directed against bribery and corruption In elec
tions. On this point he says:
"In political campaigns In a country us large
and populous as ours it is inevitable that thore
should bo much expense of an entirely legitimate
kind. Tills, of course, means that jnnny contribu
tions, and some of the of L.rgo size, must
be made, and, as a matter of fact, In any big
political contest such contributions arc always
made to both sides. Tt is entirely propor both
to give and receive them, unless thore Is an Im
proper motive connected with either gift or re
ception. If they are extorted by any kind of pres
sure or promise, express or implied, direct or in
direct, in tho way of favor or Immunity, then
the giving or receiving becomes not only im
proper but criminal. It will undoubtedly be diffi
cult as a matter of practical detail to shape an
act which shall guard with reasonable certainty
against such misconduct; but if it is possible
to secure by law the full and verified p blication
in detail of all the sums contributed to nnd ex
pended by the candidates or committees of any
political parties the result can not but be whole
some. All contributions by corporations to any
political committee or for any political purpose
should be forbidden by law; directors should
not be permitted to use stockholders' money for
such purposes; and, moreover, a prohibition of
this kind would be, as far as it went, an effective
method of stopping the evils aimed at in cor
rupt practice acts. Not only should both the
national and the several state legislatures forbid
any officer of a corporation from using tho money
of the corporation in or about any election, but
they should also forbid such use of money In
connection with any legislation save by the em
ployment of counsel in public manner for dis
tinctly legal services."
Referring to his invitation to another con-
, ferencp to be held at The Hague, the president
" says that he assumes that all civilized govern
ments will support the movement. He devotes
a paragraph in bis message to reference to the
general attitude of the United States government
. toward peace. He- expresses the hope that this
second Hague conference "may mark a long
stride forward in the direction of securing tho
peace of justice throughout the world."
Reaffirming the Monroe doctrine, the presi
dent says that.it must be made clear that that
doctrine is not to be treated as an excuse for
agtrrandizement on our part at tho expense of the
renublies to the south, and wo must try to con
vince all the nations of '" Is continent ' it "no
. just and orderly government has anvthing to fear
from' us." Ho save that somo nation by being
unable "to keep order among its own people or
m
4u'u .