IV
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
To the Senate and Ilouse of Ueyrc
fifriitntives : We still continue iu a pcricx
of unbounded i > rospi.y. This prosperit ;
is not the creature ol law , but undoubt
cdly the laws under which we work ha * '
been inslruinentiil in creating the condi
tions which made it possible , and by tin
wise legislation it would be easy cnoug ]
to destroy it. There will undoubtedly b
periods of depression. The wave will re
cede ; but the tide will advance.
As a people we have played a larg
part in the world , and we are bent upoi
making our future even larger than th
.past. In particular , the events of th
' .last four years have definitely decide
iihar , for wotor for weal , our place inns
jbe great among the nations. We do no
Ifchrink from the struggle beiore us. Ihen
: mmany problems for us to face at th
outset of the twentieth century gravi
problems abroad and still graver at home
but we know that we can solve them an <
solve them well , provided > "ly th'lt Wl
briii ' to the solution the qualities of hesu
shown by the mei
and heart which were
who , in the days of Washington , lound
and. in the days o
< -d this government ,
Lincoln , preserved it.
No count rv has ever occupied a highc
plane of material well-being than our
: it the present moment. This well-bom ;
V is due to no sudden or accidental causes
/ > but to the play of the economic forea :
In this country for over a century : to on :
laws , our sustained and continuous poll
cies ; above all. to the high individual av
vrage of our citizenship. Of course , whei
the conditions have favored the growtl
of so much that was good , they have al
favored somewhat the growth ol wha
was evil. It is eminently necessary lha
we should endeavor to cut out this CM !
but let us keep a due sense of proportion
let us not in fixing our jrazc upon tin
lesser evil forget the greater good. 1h
evils are real and some of them arelien
the outgrowth , not o :
acing. but they are
misery or decadence , but of prosperity
of the progress of our gigantic industria
development. This industrial develop
inent must not be checked , but side bj
* Ide with it should go such progressive
iemulation as will diminish the evils. W <
should fail in our duty if we did not tr :
to remedy the evils , but we shall sueeeei
only if we proceed patiently , with prac
tical common sense as well as resolution
separating the good from the bad am
holding on the former while endeavoriu ;
to get rid of the latter.
DEALING WITH TKUSTS.
Corporations Should lie Managed Un
der Public Jie ulatioii.
in my message to tue present Congr-st
at its lirst session I discussed at lengtl
the question ol' the regulation of tho.si
big corporations commonly doing an inter
state business , often with some tendencv
to monopoly , which are popularly known
as trusts. The experience of the pas !
year has emphasized , in my opinion , tin
desirability of the steps 1 then proposed ,
A fundamental requisite of social effi
ciency isa high standard of iudividu.il
onergV and excellence ; but this is in IK
wise inconsistent with power to act iti
combination for aims which cannot sc
well be achieved by the individual acting
alone. A fundamental base of civiliza
tion is the inviolability of property ; but
thisis in no wise inconsistent with the
right of society to regulate the exercise of
the artificial powers which it confers up
on the owners of property , under tin ;
name of corporate franchises , in such a
way as to prevent the misuse of these
powers. Corporations , and especially
combinations of corporations , should be
managed under public regulation. Expe
rience has shown that under our system
of government the necessary supervision
cannot be obtained by State action. It
must therefore be achieved by national
action. Our aim is not to do away with
corporations ; on the contrary , these big
aggregations are an inevitable develop
ment of modern industrialism , and the
effort to destroy them would be futile un
less accomplished in ways that would
work the utmost mischief to the entire
body politic. We are not hostile to them ;
we are merely determined that they shall
be so handled as to subserve the public
good. Publicity can do no harm to the
honest corporation ; and we need not be
overtender about sparing the dishonest
corporation.
In curbing and regulating the combi
nations of capital which are or may be
come injurious to the public we must be
careful not to stop the great enterprises
which have legitimately reduced the cost
of production , not to abandon the place
which our country has won in the leader
ship of the international industrial world ,
not to strike down wealth with the result
closing factories and mines , of turning
; wage worker idle in the streets mid
Cleaving the farmer without a market for
\\hat he grows. Insistence upon thy im
possible means delay in achieving the
possible , exactly as. on the other Hand ,
the stubborn defense alike of what is
g-jod and what is bad in the existing sys-
U'lii , the resolute effort to obstruct any
attempt at betterment , betrays blindness
to the historic truth that wise evolution
is the sure safeguard against revolution.
Interstate Commerce.
No more important siibjeet can come
before the Congress than this of the regu
lation ot interstate businessThis coun
try cannot afford to sit supine on the plea
that under our peculiar system of govern
ment we are help.i in the presence of
the new conditions , and unable to grap
ple with them or to cut out whatever of
evil has arisen in connection with them.
The power of the < 'ongress to regulate
interstate commerce is an absolute and
unqualified grant , and without limita
tions other than those prescribed by the
constitution.
1 believe that monopolies , unjust dis
criminations , which prevent or cripple
competition , fraudulent overcapitaliza
tion , and other evils in trust organiza
tions and practices which injuriously af
fect interstate trade can be prevented un
der the power of the ( 'ongress to "regu
late commerce with foreign nations and
among the several States" through regu
lations and requirements operating di
rectly upon such co.amerce , the iiistru-
jiontalities thereof , and those dig tged
herein.
[ earnestly recommend this subject to I
the consideration of ; he Congress with a j
view t" the passage of a law reasonable '
in its provisions and effective in its op
erations , upon which the questionsan bo
finally adjudicated that new raise doubts
as to the necessity of cniisiitiiiional
amendment. If it prove impossible to ac- I
compluh the purposes above set forth b ]
such a law , then , assuredly , we shottk
not bhriuk from amending the constitu
tion so as to secure beyond peradven
ture the power sought.
To Enforce Anti-Trust Law.
The Congress has not heretofore uiadi
any appropriation for the better enfurc > ;
ment of the anti-trust law as it now
I stands. Very much has been done by tin
department of justice in securing the en
forcement of this law , but much mon
could be dune if Congress would make :
special appropriation for this purpose. t (
be expended under the direction of th <
Attorney General.
One proposition advocated has been UK
ieduction of the tariff as a means < > :
reaching the evils of the trusts whici
j fall within the category I have described
j Xot merely would this be wholly ineffuc
j live , but the diversion of our efforts ir
i such a direction would mean the abandon
I inent of all intelligent attempt to d (
away with these evils. Many of tin
largest corporations , many ui those whici
should certainly be included in any pro
per scheme of regulation , would not b <
affected in the slightest degree by i
change in the tariff , save as such change
interfered with the general prosperity ol
the country. The question of regulation
of the trusts stands apart from the ques
tion of tariff revision.
CONCERNING THE TARIFF.
Fitful and Radical Chances Declared
Undesirable.
Stability of economic policy must al
ways be the prime economic need of this
country. This stability should not be fos-
silization. The country has acquiesced in
the wisdom of the protective tariff prin
ciple. It is exceedingly undesirable that
this system should be destroyed or that
there should be violent and radical
changes therein. Our past experience
shows that great prosperity in this couu-
try has alwaj's come uuder a protective
tariff ; and that the country cannot pros
per under fitful tariff changes , at short
intervals. Moreover , if the tariff laws
as a whole work well , and if busin ss
has prospered under them and is pros
pering , it is better to endure for a time
slight inconveniences and inequalities in
some schedules than to upset business by
too quick and too radical changes. It is
most earnestly to be wished that we
could treat the tariff from the standpoint
solely of our business needs. Unquestion
ably these business interests will best be
served if together with fixity of principle
as regards the tariff we combine a sys
tem which will permit us from time to
time to make the necessary reapplication
of the principle to the shifting national
needs. We must take scrupulous care
that the reapplication shall be made in
such a way that it will not amount to a
difclwcation of our system , the mere throat
of which ( not to speak of the perform
ance ) would produce paralysis iu the
business energies of the community. The
first consideration in making these
changes would , of course , be to preserve
the principle which underlies our whole
tariff system that is , the principle of
putting American business interests at
least on a full equalitywith interests
abroad , and of always allowing a sufli-
cient rate of duty to more than cover
the difference between the labor cost here
and abroad. The well-being of the wage
worker , like the well-being of the tiller of
the soil , should be treated as an essential
in shaping our whole economic policy.
There must never be any change which
will jeopardize the standard of comfort ,
the standard of wages of the American
wage worker.
One way in which the readjustment
sought can be reached is by reciprocity
treaties. It is greatly to be desired that
such treaties may be adopted. If it prove
impossible to ratify the pending treaties ,
and if there seem to be no warrant for
the endeavor to execute others , or to
amend the pending treaties so that they
can be ratified , then the same end to
secure reciprocity should be met by di
rect legislation.
Advocates a Tariff Commission.
Wherever the tariff conditions are ruch
that a needed change cannot with advan
tage be made by the application of the
reciprocity idea , then it can be made out
right by a lowering of duties on a given
product. If possible , such change should
be made only after the fullest considera
tion by practical experts , who should
approach the subject from a business
standpoint , having in view both the par
ticular interests affected and the commer
cial well-being of the people as a whole.
The machinery for providing such careful
investigation can readily be supplied. The
executive department has already at its
disposal methods of collecting facts and
figures ; and if the Congress desires addi
tional consideration to that which will be
given the subject by its own committees ,
then a commission of business experts
can be appointed whose duty it should be
to recommend action by the Congress af
ter a deliberate and scientific examina
tion of the various schedules as they are
affected by the changed and changing
conditions.
The cases in which the tariff can pro
duce a monopoly are so few as to consti
tute an inconsiderable factor in the ques
tion ; but of course if in any case it be
found that a given rate of duty does pro
mote a monopoly which works ill , no pro
tectionist would object to such reduction
of the duty as would equalize competi
tion.
Would Remove Tariff on Coal.
In my judgment , the tariff on anthra
cite coal should be removed , and anthra
cite put actually , where it now is nomi
nally , on the free list. This would have
10 effect at all save in crises ; but in crises
it might be of service to the people.
Hankins ; and Currency.
Bunks are the natural servants of coin-
fierce , and upon them should be placed ,
is far as practicable , the burden of fur-
lishing and maintaining a circulation
idequate to supply the needs of our di
versified industries and of our domestic
md foreign commerce ; and the issue of
: his should be so regulated that a suffi-
: ient supply should be always available
: or the business interests of the country , j
It would be both unwise and unneces
sary at this time to attempt to recon-
truct our financial system , which has
> een the growth of a century ; but .some
idditional legislation is , I think , desira-
ile. It is suggested that all future IcgSs-
ation on the subject should be with the
: ie\v of encouraging the use of such in-
; truinentalities as will automatically siip-
PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
THE PRESIDENT'S PRINCIPAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
ROOSEVELT'S message to Congress is less voluminous
than those of many of his predecessors , containing in full only about
PRESIDENT
12,000 words. It may be called a concise and on the whole an opti
mistic document. The President congratulates the country on the pre
vailing prosperity , and he assures us that while the prosperous wave
will recede and at times there will again come periods of depression , the
tide will continue to advance. No country , he says , has ever occupied a
higher plaue of material well-being than ours at the present moment , and
he predicts that the American people will permit of no national retrogres
sion.
The President in dealing with the trust question holds that corporations ,
and especially combinations of corporations , should be managed under public
regulation. Capital , he says , has the right to combine for its own protection
and for development along industrial lines , and that labor has equal rights.
But that when capital has combined to such an extent as to stifle competi
tion the law-making power should remedy such a condition , and if labor in
combining interferes with the rights of others or with the welfare of the
general public such combination must likewise be regulated by law. He
urges that any defects in the existing law should be eradicated and the
power given the Department of Justice to accomplish the real reforms the
lawmakers intended when legislation regulating the trusts was enacted.
The President lays some stress on the need of conservative tariff legisla
tion , which , while not attacking the foundation upon which the Republican
policy of tariff for protection is built , will remodel it to meet new conditions
and remove any evils that the prolonged imposition of present tariffs may
have caused.
The foreign relations of this country are reviewed in a very brief and
formal manner. No international question is pending in which this country
is vitally interested. There is not a cloud on the horizon , the President says ,
but he advocates provision for a thoroughly efficient navy to insure a con
tinuance of this state of affairs.
On Cuban reciprocity the President stands precisely where his predecessor
stood on this question. He favors and urges the largest possible measure
ment of trade reciprocity and pays particular attention to the implied pledges
of this government to 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 will the duty of this government toward Cuba have
been done.
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 to this country impels the President to recom
mend corrective legislation along the lines laid down by the present ad
ministration of the immigration office.
The strengthening of the civil service receives the approval of the Presi
dent , and the recent signing of the contract with the Pacific Cable Company
is referred to as another step toward the advancement of the interests of
this country In the Pacific Ocean and the far East.
The President refers to Congress having already wisely provided that we
shall at once build an isthmian canal , if possible at Panama. He reports
that a good title can be acquired from the French Panama Canal Company ,
and tells that the negotiations with Colombia are still pending.
ply every legitimate demand of produc
tive industries and of commerce , not only
in the amount , but in the character of
circulation ; and of making all kinds of
money interchangeable , and , at the will
of the holder , convertible into the estab
lished gold standard.
CAPITAL , AND LABOR.
Interest of Each Must Harmonize with
Interest of the Public.
How to secure fair treatment alike for
labor and for capital , how to hold in check
the unscrupulous man , whether employer or
employe , without weakening individual
initiative , without hampering and cramp-
Ing the industrial development of the coun
try , is a problem fraught with great diffi
culties and one which it is of the highest
Importance to solve on lines of sanity und
far-sighted common sense as well as of
devotion to the right. This is an era of
federation and combination. Exactly as
business men find they must ofieu work
through corporations , and as it is a con
stant tendency of these corporations to
grow larger , so it Is often necessary for
laboring men to work iu federations , and
these have become important factors of
modern industrial life.
Both kinds # f federation , capitalistic and
labor , can do much good , and as a neces
sary corollary they can both do evil. Op-
position to each kind of organization < shou'd
take the form of opposition to whatever is
bad In the conduct of any given corpora
tion or union not of attacks upon corpora
tions as such nor upon unions as such , for
some of the most far-reaching beneficent
work for our people has been accomplished
through both corporations and unions. Each
must rpfraln from arbitrary or tyrannous
Interference with the rights of others. Or
ganized capital and organized labor alike
should remember that In the long run the
Interest of each must be brought into har
mony with the interest of the general pub
lic ; and the conduct of each must conform
to the fundamental rules of obedience to
the law , of Individual freedom , and of jus
tice and fair dealing toward all. Each
should remember that in addition to power
it must < trlve after the realization of
healthy , lofty , and _ generous ideals.
CUBAN RECIPROCITY.
Treaty with the Island Republic Soon
to Be Submitted.
1 hope soon to submit to the Senate a
reciprocity treaty with Cuba. On May 20
last the United States kept Its promise to
the Island by formally vacating Cuban soil
and turning Cuba over to those whom her
own people had chosen as the first otliclals
of the new reoublle.
Cuba lies ai our doors , and whatever af
fects her for good or for ill affects us also.
So much have our people felt this that In
the Platt amendment we definitely took
the ground that Cuba must hereafter have
closer political relations with us than with
any other power. Thus in a sense Cuba
has become a part of our international po
litical system. This makes It necessary
that in return she should be given some of
the benefits of becoming part of our eco
nomic system. It Is , from our own stand
point , a short-sighted and mischievous poli
cy to fall to recognize this need.
We should always fearlessly Insist upon
our rights in the face of the strong , and
we should with ungrudging hand do our
generous duty by the weak. I urge the
adoption of reciprocity with Cuba not only
because it Is eminently for our own Inter
ests to control the Cuban market and by
every means to foster our supremacy In
the tropical lands and waters south of us
but also because we , of the giant republic
of the north , should make all our sister na
tions of the American continent feel that
whenever they will permit it we desire to
show ourselves disinterestedly and effect
ively their friend.
A convention with Great Britain has been
concluded , which will be at once laid be
fore the Senate for ratification , providing
for reciprocal trade arrangements between
the United States and Newfoundland on
substantially the lines of the convention
formerly negotiated by the Secretary of
State. Mr. Blaine. I believe reciprocal trade
relations will be greatly to the advantage
of both countries.
The Hnuue Tribunal.
Wherever possible , arbitration or some
similar method should be employed In lieu
of war to setTle diliictilties between civil
ized nations , although as yet the world has
not progressed sutliciently to render it pos
sible , or necessarily desirable , to invoke
arbitration in every case. The formation
of the international tribunal which sits at
The Hague it > an event of good omen from
which great consequences for the welfare
of all mankind may tlow.
It is a matter of sincere congratulation to
our country that the United States and
Mexico should have been the first to use
the good offices of The Hague court. This
was done last summer with most satisfac
tory results in the ca e of a claim at issue
between us and our sister republic.
THE ISTHMIAN CANAL.
Will Be the Greatest Fn-rineerincFeat
Yet Accomplishe I.
The Congress has wisely provided that we
shall build at once an isthmian canal. If
possible at Panama. The Attorney General
reports that we can undoubtedly acquire
good title from the French Panama Canal
Company. Negotiailous are now pending
with Colombia to secure her assent to our
building the canal. This canal will be one
of the greatest engineering feats of the
twentieth century : a greater engineering
feat than has yet been accomplished dur
ing the history of mankind. The work
should be carried out as a continuing policy
without regard to change of adiinnJstrati.iu :
and It should be begun under , circum
stances which will make It a matter of
pride for all administrations to continue
the policy.
The canal will be of great benefit tc
America , and of Importance to all tht
world. It will be of advantage to us In
dustrlally and also as Improving our mill
tary position. It will be of advantage tc
the countries of tropical America. It is
earnestly to be hoped that all of thest
countries will do as some of them have nl
reudy done with signal success , and will
Invite to their shores commerce by re-cog-
nlzing that stability and order are the pre
requisites of successful development.
A Pacific Cable.
During the fall of 1SKH a communication
was addressed to the Secertary of State ,
asking whether permission would be grant
ed by the President to a corporation to laj
a cable from a point on the California coast
to the Philippine Islnds by uay of Hawaii.
A statement of conditions or terms upon
which such corporation would undertake
to lay and operate a cable was volunteered.
The Congress adjourned without taking any
action , leaving the matter in exactly tht
same condition In which it stood when tht
Congress convened.
Meanwhile the Commercial Pacific Cable
Company had proceeded with preparations ;
for laying Its cable. It also made applica
tion to the President for access to and use
of soundings taken by the United State *
steamer Nero , for the purpose of discover
ing a practicable route for a trati"-I' cltk
cable. Pending consideration of this sub
joet. It appeared important and desirable tc
attach certain conditions to the permission
to examine and use the soundings , if II
should be granted These conditions pre
scribed , among other things , a maximum
rate for commercial messages and that the
company should construct a line from the
Philippine Islands to China , there beinj ;
at present , as Is well known , a British lint
from Manila to Hong Kong.
The representatives of the cable companj
have , however , at length acceded to Uiest
conditions , and an all-American line be
tween our Pacific coast and the Chinese
empire by way of Honolulu and the Ph'lip '
pine Isla'nds Is thus provided for and Is
expected within a few months to be rcadj
for business.
Porto Rico Is Prosperous.
Of Porto Uico it Is only necessary to sas
that the prosperity of the Island and tht
wisdom with which it has been governed
j have been such as to make It serve as at
i example of all that Is best in Insular ad
ministration.
PEACE IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Rights of Liberty mid Government
Reach Limit of Advisability.
On July 4 last , on the I'JGih anniversary
of the Declaration of Independence , peace
and amnesty were promulgated In the
Philippine Islands. Some trouble has since
from time to time threatened with the
Mohammedan Moros , but with the late in
surrectionary Filipinos the war has entirely
ceased. Civil government has now been
introduced. Not only docs each Filipino
enjoy such rights to life , liberty , aud the
pursuit of happiness as he has never before
j known during the recorded history of the
J islands , but the people taken as a whole
j now enjoy a measure of self-government
greater than that granted to any other
Oriental by any foreign power and greater
than that enjoyed by any other Orientals
under their own governments , save the
Japanese alone. We have not gone too far
in granting these rights of liberty and self-
government : but we have certainly g"i > e to
the limit that iu the interests of the Philip
pine people themselves it was wise or just
to go. To hurry matters , to go faster than
we are now going , would entail calamity on
the people of the islands. No policy ever
entered Into by the American people has
vindicated itself in more signal manner
than the policy of holding the Philippines.
The triumph of our arms , above all the
triumph of our laws and the principles , has
come sooner than we had any right to ex
pect. Too much praise cannot be given to
the army for wha * it has done in the Philip
pines both In warfare tintl from an ad
ministrative standpoint In preparing the
way for civil government ; and similar credit
belongs to the civil authorities for the way
in which they have planted the seeds of
pelf-government la the ground thus made
ready for them. The conrage , the unflinch
ing endurance , the high soldierly efficiency ,
and the general kind-heartedness and hu
manity of our troops have been strikingly
manifested. There now remain only some
15,000 troops In the islands. All told , over
100,000 have been sen' there.
Constructive 1-t 'csuianship.
Taking the work of the army and the
civil authorities together. It may be ques
tioned whether anywhere else In modern
times the world has seen a better example
of real constructive statesmanship than our
people have given In the Philippine Islands.
High praise should also be given those
Filipinos , in the aggregate very numerous ,
who have accepted the new conditions and
joined with our representatives to work
with hearty good will for the welfare of
, the islands.
I The army has been reduced to the mini
mum allowed by law. It Is very small for
the size of the nation , and most certainly
should be kept at the highest point of ef
ficiency. The senior officers are given scant
chance under ordinary conditions to exer
cise commands commensurate with their
rank , under circumstances which would fit
them to do their duty In time of actual
war. A system of maneuvering our army
In bodies of some little size has been be
gun and should be steadily continued.
The measures providing for the reor
ganization of the militia system and for
securing the highest efficiency In the na
tional guard , which has already passed the
House , should receive prompt attention and
action.
Naval Maneuvers and The'r Object.
For the first time In our history naval
maneuvers on a large scale are being held
under the immediate command of the ad
miral of the navy. Constantly Increasing
attention Is being paid to the gunnery of
the navy , but It Is yet far from what It
should be. I earnestly urge that the In
crease asked for by the Secretary of the
Navy In the appropriation for Improving
the marksmanship be granted.
There should be no halt In the work of
building up the navy , providing every year
additional fighting craft. We are a very
rich country , vast In extent of territory
and great In population ; a country , more
over , which has an army diminutive Indeed
when compared with that of any other first-
class power. We have deliberately made our
own certain foreign policies/which demand
the possession of a first-class navy. The
Isthmian Canal will greatly increase the ef
ficiency of our navy If the navy Is of suf
ficient size : but if we have an Inadequate
navy , then the building of the canal would
be merely giving a hostage to any power
of superior strength. The Monroe Doctrine
should be treated as the cardinal feature
of American foreign policy : but it would be
worse than idle to assert It unless we in
tended to back it up. and It can be backed
up only by a thoroughly good navy.
POSTAL REVENUES INCREASE.
Business Activity the Cause Progress
of Free Rural Mai Deliver- .
The striking increase In the revenues of
the postoffice department shows clearv ! the
prosperity of our people and the increasing
acthit > of the business of the country.
The receipts of the postoltice department
for the fiscal year ending June 3D last
amounted to $ ll1.8-S,0-7. ! ( ; . an increase of
$10.t21i.j553.87 ( over the preceding year , the
largest Increase known in the histurv of the
'
po.-tal service. The magnitude of 'this in-
creast will best appear from the fact that
the entire postal iccelpts for the year 1 ± W
amounted to but Sfe.olS.OGT.
Uurai free delivery service Is no longer
in the experimental stage : it has become a
fixed policy. ( The results following its in
troduction have fully justified the Congress
in the large appropriations made for its
estalili.-bu.eut and extension. The average
j early increase In pustothce receipts In tue
rural districts of the country is about 2
per cent We are now able , by actual re
sults , to show that where rural free deliver
suits , to show that where rural free deliv
ery service has been established to such an
extent as to enable us to make compari
sons the vearly increase has been upward
of 10 per cent.
On Nov. 1. 1902 , 11,650 rural free deliv
ery routes had been established and vrtre
In operation , covering about ne third t
th - tcrrltor > of the I'nitcd States arallable
for rural free delivery service. There are
now awaiting the action of the department
petitions und applications for the i-stabliRU-
iiH-iit of 1U.7-48 additional routes. This
shows conclusively the want which the es
tablishment of the serviie has met and
the need of further extending It an rapidly
as possible. It Is justified both by the
financial results and by the practical bene
fits to our rural population. It brings the
men who M\e on the soli Into close rela
tions with the active business world : It
keeps the fanner In dally touch with the
markets : it Is a potential educational
force : 't enhancethe value of farm prop
erty , makes farm life far ploasanter and
less Isolated , and will do much to check
the undesirable current from country to
city.
It Is to be hoped that the Congress will
make liberal appropriations for the con
tinuance of the service already established
and for Its further extension.
Irrigation of Arid Western LamH.
Few subjects of more Importance bavo
been taken up by the Congress In went
. \ears than the Inauguration of the system
of nationally aided irrigation for the arid
regions of the tar West. A good beginning
therein lias been made Now that this pol
icy of national Irrigation has been adopted ,
the need of thorough and scientific forest
protection will grow more rapldtv than ever
throughout the public land States.
So f ir as they re available for agricul
ture , and to whatever extent tbev may ha
reclaimed under the national Irrigation law.
the remaining public lands should be held
rigidly for the home builder , the * rtller
who lives on his land , and for no one cl < e.
In their actual use the desert bind law. th *
timber and stone law. and the commutation
clause of the homestead law have been
so pervortrd from the intention with which
they w re enacted as to permit the i c-
| qulsltlon of large areas of the public do-
j main for other than actual settlers and
i the COPI'qncnt prevention of settlement.
Moreover , the approaching exhaustion of
the public ranges has of late led to much
discussion as to the best manner of using
these public lands in the West which are
suitable chiefly or only for grazing The
sound and steadv development of the West
depends upon the building up of homes
therein. .Much of our prosperity as a nation
"
has been due to the operation "of the home
stead law. On the other hand , we should
recognize the fact that In the grazing re
gion the man who corresponds to the home
steader may be unable to settle permanent
ly If only allowed to use the same amount
of pasture land that his brother , the home
steader Is allowed to use of arable land.
Alask i's Need of Itettt-r LJIWS.
I especially urge upon the Congress tho
need of wise legislation for Alaska. It
is not to our credit as a nation that Alaska ,
which has been ours for thirty-live years ,
should still have as poor a si stem of laws
as Is the case. No country has a more >
valuable possession-Iu mineral wealth , in
fisheries , furs , forests , and also in land /
available for certain kind * of farming and
stock growing. It is a territory of great
size and varied resources , well fitted to i
support a large permanent population. Alas L
ka needs a good land law and such provis 1
ions for homesteads and preemptions as
will encourage permanent settlement.
How t > Deal with tiie Indian.
In dealing with the Indians our aim
should be their ultimate absorption Into
the body of our people. Hut in many cases
'
this absorption must and should b'e very
slow. In portions of the Indian Territory -
the mixture of blood has gone on at the
same time with progress in wealth and V
education , so that there are plenty of men
with varying degrees of purity of Indian ,
blood who are absolutely Indistinguishable
iu point of social , political , and economic
ability from their white associates. There-
are other tribes which have as yet made
no perceptibl" advance toward such equal
ity. To try to force such tribes too fast IB
to prevent their going forward at all.
The Hrst and most important step toward
the absorption of the Indian is to teach
hlnj to canhis living ; yet It Is not neces-
sarll5 to be assumed that In each com
munity all Indians must become either till
ers of the soil or Btock-ralsers. Their in
dustries may properly be diversified , and
those who show special desire or adapts
billty for Industrial or even commercial
pursuits should be encouraged so far s\a
practicable to follow out each his own bent
hvery effort should be made to develop
the Indian along the lines of natural apti
tude , and to encourage tho existing native
Industries peculiar to certain tibes ! , such
as the various kinds of basket weaving ,
canoe building , smith work , und blanket
work. Above all. the Indian boys aud girls
should be give-j confident command of col
loquial English , and should ordinarily be
prepared for a vigorous struggle with the
conditions under which their people live ,
rather than for Immediate absorption Into
some more highly developed community ,
i-ciencs Brought to Farmer'H Aid.
In no department of government work la
recent years has there been greater success
than In that of giving scientific aid to the
farming population , thereby showing them
how most efficiently to help themselves.
There Is no need of Insisting upon Its Im
portance , for the welfare of the farmer l
fundamentally necessary to the welfare of
the republic as a whole. In addition to
such work as quarantine against animal
and vegetable plagues , and warring against
them when here introduced , much efficient
help has been rendered to the farmer by
the Introduction of new plants specially
fitted for cultivation under the peculiar con
ditions existing in different portions of the
country.
The District of Columbia Is the only part
of our territory In which the national gov
ernment exercises local or municipal func
tions and where in
, consequence the gov
ernment has a free hand in reference to
certain types of social and economic legis
lation which must be essentially local or
municipal In their character. The govern
ment should see to It. for Instance , that
the hygienic and sanitary legislation affect-
Ing Washington is of a high character. The
evils of slum dwellings , whether In a shape
of crowded and congested tenement house
districts or of the buck alley type , should
never be permitted to grow np In Wash
ington. The city should be a model m
every respect for all the cities of the coun
try.
try.The
The safety-appliance law , for the better
protection of the lives and limbs of rail
way employes , which was passed In 18U3.
went into full effect on Aug. 1 , 1901. It
has resulted In averting thousands of casu
alties. Experience shows , however , the
necessity of additional legislation to per
fect this law.
Uaelesi Public Documents.
There is u growing tendency to provide
for the publication of masses of documents
for which there is no public demand and
for tutprinting of which there is no real
necessity. Noihing should be printed by
any of the departments unless it contains
jomiMhinj : of permanent value , and the Con
gress could with advantage cut down very
materially on all the printing which it has
now become customary to provide.
Gratifying progress has been made dur
ing the year in the extension of the merit
system of making appointments In the gov
ernment service It should be extended by
law to the District of Columbia. It Ig
nueh to be desired that our consular system
be established bv law on a basis providing
for appointment and promotion only In con
sequence of proved fitness.
Additions to President's Residence.
Through a wise provision of the Congress
it its last session the White House , which
lad become disfigured by incongruous addi-
Lious and changes , has now been restored
: o what It was plaui.cd to be by Washing-
: on. In making the restorations the ut-
jiost care has been exercised to come as
jcar as possible to the early plans and to
supplement these plans by a careful study
) f such buildings as that of the University
jf Virginia , which was built by Jefferson.
The White House is the propertv of the na-
.ion. The stalely simplicity of its archl-
: ecture is an expression of the character of
: he period in which it was built , and is in
u-cord with the purposes it was designed
o serve. It is a good thing to preserve
uch buildings us historic monuments whicb
ceep alive our sense of continuity with tb
lation's past.
past.THEODORE ROOSEVELT.