PRESIDENT'S
ANNUAL MESSAGE
TO CONGRESS
Makes Recommendations
for What He Considers
Important Legislation.
TAILROAD RATES FIRST TOPIC
Would Materially Increase the
Powers of Interstate Com
merce Commission.
LIFE INSURANCE QUESTION
Sees Good and Evil in Labor Unions
—Asks for Immediate Appropri
ations for Panama Canal, and
Promises Report of Hoard of En
gineers and Recommendations
Later—Other Matters.
Washington, Dec. s.—The annuul mes
sage of President Roosevelt was read in
l.oth houses of congress to-day. It Is a doc
ument of some 24,000 words, and con
tains recommendations for much Important
1< gislation.
The subject of federal supervision of cor
f* nations, and especlall> railroad corpora
ti ms, is the lirst subject treated of by the
president, and to It he gives the greatest
amount of attention. After speaking ol the
general prosperity of the country, and the
P ,wer of the corporations for good or evil
in connection with the nation's prosperity,
fee says:
So long as the finances of the nation
are kept upon an honest basis, no other
<i i: est ion of Internal economy with which
th» congress has the power to deal begins
to approach in importance the matter of
endeavoring to secure proper Industrial
< auditions under which the individuals—
and especially the great corporations
doing an interstate business are to act.
Th" makers of our national constitution
pr ivlded especially that the regulation
of interstate commerce should come with
in the sphere of the general government.
The arguments in favor of their taking
this stand were even then overwhelming.
Hut they are far stronger to-day, In view
ol the enormous development of great
business agencies, usually corporate in
form. Experience has shown conclusive
ly that it is useless to try to get any
adequate regulation and supervision of
these great corporations by state action.
Such regulation and supervision can only
lie effectively exercised by a sovereign
whose jurisdiction Is coextensive with the
field of work of the corporations—that Is,
by the national government. I believe
that this regulation and supervision can
be obtained by the enactment of law by
the congress. If this proves impossible,
it will certainly be necessary ultimately
to confer in fullest form such power upon
the national government by a proper
amendment of the constitution. It would
obviously be unwise to endeavor to secure
such an amendment until it is certain
that the result cannot be obtained under
the constitution as it now is. The laws
of the congress and of the several states
hitherto, as passed upon by the courts,
have result! d more often in showing that
the states have no power in the matter
than that the national government his
p iwer; so that there at present exists
u very unfortunate condition of tilings,
under which these great corporations do
ing an Interstate business occupy the po
tition of subjects without a sovereign,
neither any state government nor the na
tional government having effective con
trol over them. Our steady aim should
be by legislation, cautiously and care
fully undertaken, but resolutely per
severed in, to assert the sovereignty of
the national government by affirmative
action.
Present Laws Inadequate.
Tt has been a misfortune that the na
tional laws on this subject have hitherto
been of a negative or prohibitive rather
than an affirmative kind, and still more
that they have in part sought to prohibit
what could not be effectively prohibited
and have in part in their prohibitions
confounded what should be allowed and
what should not be allowed. It is gen
erally useless to try to prohibit all re
is'raint on competition, whether this re
straint lie reasonable or unreasonable;
and where It is not useless It is gener
ally hurtful. Kvents have shown that It
Is not possible adequately to secure the
e'i!"r. emi-nt of any law of this kind by
Incessart appeal to the courts. The de-
T 1 irtme/it . 112 justice has for the last four
years devoted more attention to the en
forcement of the anti-trust legislation
than to anything else. Much has been
accomplished; particularly markd has
been the moral effect of ,h, prosecutions;
but It is increasingly evident that there
will be a very insufficient beneficial re
4'ilt in the way of economic; change. The
successful prosecution of one device to
evade the law Immediately develops an
other device to accomplish the same pur
pose What is needed Is not sweeping
prohibition of every arrangement, good
or bad, which may tend to restrict com
petition, but such adequate supervision
and regulation as will prevent any rc
f»*ri tlon of competition from b« ing to
the detriment of the public—as well us
such supervision and regulation as vvi 1
prevent other abuses in no way connected
with restriction of competition. Of thc.-e
abuses, perhaps the ch.ef, although by
no means the only one. Is overcapitaliza
tion—generally itself the result of dishon
est promotion—because of the myriad
evils it brings in its train; for such over
capitalization often means an inflation
that invites business panic; it always con
ceals the trim relation the profit earned
to the capital actually invested, and il
cr< ites a burden of Interest payments
whl h IM a fertile cause of improper re
duction in or limitation of wages; it
d.im.iges the small Investor, discourage*
thrift, and en mirages gambling and
speculation; while* perhaps worst of ait
l* th. trh-klness and dishonesty which it
Imp! • ? i harm t<» in rals ,s worse than
anv i> »<slbl. h irrn t•» material Interests,
and the uch*'ry of politics and busi
-1 ■- real t shone*! corporations Is
Mr v*» r-e th.m in. actual m iterial evil
they do the pubic. I'ntil the nation <1
government "Mali., tn some manner
whl h th s\ tlon o the rongrc-* m»y
»ugge*t. proper c .ntnd over the big cor
p rit ion* cngav< .1 in n" **rs tat coimnei • e
that 1~. <ver tlie jjre 11 majority of the
tog Mip.tr,it. nit vvih he imp » Me to
deal adequately with thes,
Ritlro.ut Hate Regulation.
I am wII awir of the dimcultlen
f* th I'M I illon dill I ,im > 11; W*l -
iner. and of the nofl of temperate and
ciiutlons i. tlon in securing it.l should
emphatically protest against improp
erly radical or hasty action. Tin- first
tiling- to do i.s to deal with the (Treat
corporations engaged in the business
of Interstate transportation. As I said
In my message of December 0 lust, the
immediate anil most pressing need, so
far as legislation is concerned, is the
enactment into law of some scheme to
secure to the agents of the govern
ment such supervision and regulation
of the rates charged by the railroads
of the country engaged in interstate
traffic as shall summarily and effec
tively prevent the imposition of unjust
or unreasonable rates. It must include
putting a complete stop to rebates in
every shape and form. This power to
regulate rates, like all similar powers
over the business world, should in- ex
ercised with moderation, caution and
self-restraint; but it should exist, so
that it can be effectively exercised
when the need arises.
The first consideration to be kept
in mind is that the power should be
affirmative nnd should be given to
some administrative body created by
the congress. If given to the present
interstate commerce commission or to
a reorganized interstate commerce
commission, such commission should
be made unequivocally administrative.
I do not believe in the government in
terfering with private business more
than is necessary. I do not believe in
the government undertaking any work
which can with propriety be left in
private hands. Hut neither do I be
lieve in the government flinching from
overseeing any work when it becomes
evident that abuses are sure to ob- '
tain therein unless there is govern
mental supervision. It Is not my prov
ince to Indicate the exact terms of the
law which should be enacted; but I
call the attention of the congress to
certain existing conditions with which
it is desirable to deal. In my judg
ment the most Important provision
which such law should contain is that
conferring upon some competent ad
ministrative body the power lo decide,
upon the case being brought before It.
whether a given rate prescribed by a
railroad is reasonable and just, and
if it is found to be unreasonable and
unjust, then, after full investigation
of the complaint, to prescribe the limit
of rate beyond which It shall iit»t be
lawful to go—the maximum reason
able rate, as it is commonly called—•
this decision togo into effect within a
reasonable time and to obtain from
thence onward, subject to review by
the courts. It sometimes happens at
present, not that a rate is too high
but that a favored shipper is given too
low a rate. In such case the commis
sion would have the right to fix this
already established minimum rate as
the maximum; and it would need only
one or two such decisions by the com
mission to cure railroad companies of
the practice of giving improper mini
mum rates. I call your attention to
the fact that my proposal is not to
give the commission power to initiate
or originate rates generally, but to
regulate a rate already fixed or origi
nated by the roads, upon complaint
and after investigation. A heavy
penalty should be exacted from any
corporation which fails to respect an
order of the commission. I regard this
power to establish a maximum rate
as being essential to any scheme of
real reform in the matter of railway
1 regulation. The first necessity is to
secure it; and unless it is granted fo
the commission there is little use In
touching the subject at all.
Rebates Really Blackmail.
Illegal transactions often occur un
der the forms of law. It has often oc
curred that a shipper has been told
by a traffic officer to buy a large
quantity of some commodity and then
after it has been bought an open re
duction i.s made in the rate to take
effect immediately, the arrangement
resulting to the profit of the one ship
per and the one railroad and to the
damage of all their competitors; for
it must not be forgotten that the big
shippers are at least as much to
blame as any railroad in the matter
of rebates. The law should make it
clear so that nobody can fall to under
stand that any kind of commission
paid on freight shipments, whether in
this form or in the form of fictitious
damages, or of a concession, a free
pass, reduced passenger rale, or pay
ment of brokerage, is illegal. It is
worth while considering whether it
would not be wise to confer on the
government the right of civil action
against the beneficiary of a rebate for
at least twice the value of the rebate;
this would help stop what is really
blackmail. Elevator allowances should
be stopped, for they have now grown
to such an extent that they are de
moralizing and are used as rebates.
The best possible regulation of rates
would, of course, lie that regulation
secured by an honest agreement
among the railroads themselves to
carry out the law. Such a general
agreement would, for instance, at once
put a stop to the efforts of any one
big shipper or big railroad to dis
criminate against or secure advan
tages over some rival; and such agree
ment would make the railroads them
selves agents for enforcing the law.
The power vested in the government
to put a stop to agreements to the
detriment of the public should, in my
judgment, be accompanied by power to
permit, under specified conditions and
careful supervision, agreements clear
ly in the interest of the public. But.
in my judgment, the necessity for
giving this further power is by no
means as great as the necessity for
giving the commission or administra
tive body the other powers I have
j enumerated above; and it may w -11
j be inadvisable to attempt to vest this
| particular power in the commission or
! other administrative body until il al
i ready possesses and is exercising what
j I regard as by far the most important
I of all the powers I recommend —as in-
I deed the vitally important power—
that to fix a given maximum rate.
I which rite, after the lapse of a reason -
\ able time, goes into full effect, subject
I to review by the courts.
I All private car lines. Industrial roads,
refrigerator charges, and the like should
' be expressly put under the supervision
i of the interstate commerce commission
ir some similar body so far as rates and
, agreements practically affecting rates are
concerned. The private car owners and
! the owners of Industrial railroads are en
titled to i fair and reasonable compensa
tion on their Investment, but neither pri
vate . ars nor industrial railroads nur spur
tracks should be utilized as devices for
-ecurinu preferential rates. A rebate in
| icitu harges, or ,n mileage, or In a divi
sion of the rate for refrigerating charges
is just as pernicious as a rebate In any
; other way. No lower rate should apply
1 in gon Is Imported than actually obtains
in domestic goods from the American
>eab > ird to destination except In cases
I where w iter competition is the controll
ing influeiie • There should be publicity
, the i -.lit - of common carriers; no
.mm ti carrier engaged In Interstate
on.sine..-, should keep any books or mem
nan ! i other than those reported pur
suit li Uw or regulation, and these
oo iks r memoranda should be open to
the in ji i i HI of the govern men i only
.n thi way con violation* or evasloi.s of
h * law be surely detei led A system of
•x mi.nut on of railroad account' should
! provided imtiar to that now conducted
nto tin national hiftiki by the bank ex
am »sers; a lew tlrst-cl »s» rullio.nl ac
j< uirituntM, if they hud proper dire'lion
; it I proper authority to lu»pc< t book and
• p.tp ii. ould i omplUU mu> It in pit.
CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1905.
venting willful violations of tli • law. It
would not be necessary for them to ex
amine into the accounts of any railroad
unless for good reasons they were direct
ed to do so by the interstate commerce
commission. It is greatly to l>e desired
that some way might be found by which
ati agreement as to transportation with
in a state intended to operate as a fraud
upon the federal interstate commerce
laws could lie brought under the juris
diction of the federal authorities. At
present it occurs that large shipments of
interstate traffic are controlled by con
cessions 011 purely state business, which
of course amounts to an evasion of the
law. The commission should have power
to enforce fair treatment by the great
trunk lines of lateral and branch lines.
Immediate Action Urged.
I urge upon the congress the need of
providing for expeditious action by the
interstate commerce commission In all
these matters, whether In regulating
rates for transportation or for storing
or for handling property or commodities
in transit. The history of the cases liti
gated under the present commerce act
shows that its efficacy has been to a great
degree destroyed by the weapon of delay,
almost the most formidable weapon in
the bands of those whose purpose it is
to violate the law.
The president asks for legislation com
pelling railroads to Install block systems on
their lines, and also calls the attention of
congress to the excessive hours of labor
of train service employes of the railroad
companies are often subjected to. He rec
ommends that a commission be appointed
to study of employers' liability with the ob
ject of the enactment of a law covering the
subject and applicable to all Industries
within the scope of the federal power.
The Labor Question.
The labor question is treated of at con
siderable length, and in this connection the
president says:
There has been demand for depriving
courts of the power to issue injunctions
in labor disputes. Such special limita
tion of the equity powers of our courts
would be most unwise. It is true that
some judges have misused this power;
but this does nit justify a denial of the
power any more than an Improper exer
cise of the power to call a strike by a
labor leader would justify the denial of
the right to strike. The remedy is to
regulate the procedure by requiring the
Judge to give due notice to the adverse
parties before granting tiie writ, the hear
ing to be ex parte if the adverse party
does not appear at th.- Tim • and place
ordered. What I- due notice must depend
upon ihe facts of the case; it should not
be used as a pretext to p"rmit violation
of law. or the jeopardizing of life or
property. Of cour-e tills would not au
thorize the Issuing of a restraining order
or injunction In any case in which It Is
not already authorized by <-x -ting law.
1 renew the recommendation I made
in my last annual message 112 r an in
vestigation by the departm tit of c m
merce and labor of general labor condi
tions, especial attention tj be paid to the
conditions of child labor and child labor
legislation in the several states. Such
an investigation should take Into account
the various problems with which the
question ot child labor is connected. It
is true that these problems can be actu
ally met ill most eases only by the states
themselves, but it would be well for the
nation to endeavor to secure and publish
comprehensive information as to the con
ditions of the labor of children in the dif
ferent states, so as to spur up those that
are behindhand, and to secure approx
imately uniform legislation of a high
character among the several states. In
such a republic as ours the one thing
that we cannot afford to neglect is the
problem of turning out decent citizens.
The future of the nation depends upon
the citizenship of the generations to
cume; the children of to-day ire those
who to-morrow will shape the destiny
of our land, and we cannot afford to neg
lect them. The legislature of Colorado
has recommended that the national gov
ernment provide some general measure
for the protection from alms-- of children
and dumb animals throughout the United
States. I lay the matter before you for
what I tru-u will be your favorable con
sideration.
The department of commerce and labor
should also make a thorough Investiga
tion of the conditions of women In in
dustry. Over "i.000.000 American women
are now engaged in gainful occupations;
yet there is an almost complete dearth
of data upon which to base any trust
worthy conclusions as regards a subject
as important as it is vast and compli
cated. There Is need of ftill knowledge
on which to base action looking toward
state and municipal legislation for the
protection of working women. The in
troduction of women Into Industry Is
working change and disturbance iii the
domestic and social life of the nation.
The decrease In marriage, and especially
in the birth rate, has been coincident with
it. We must face accomplished facts,
and th" adjustment to factory conditions
must be made; but surely it can b> made
with less friction and less harmful effects
on family life than Is now the case.
This whole matter in reality forms one
of the greatest sociological phenomena
of our time; it is a social question of
the first importance, of far greater im
portance than any merely political or
economic question can be; and to solve
it we need ample data, gathered in a
sane and scientific spirit in the course
of an exhaustive investigation.
In concluding with the subject of labor
the president says:
In any great labor disturb.in not only
are employer and employe interested, but
also a third party—the general public.
Every considerable labor difficulty in
which interstate commerce is Involved
should be investigated by the govern
ment and the facts officially reported to
the public.
Equal Rights for All.
The question of securing a healthy,
self-respecting and mutually sympathetic
attitude as between employ rand em
ploye, capitalist and wage worker, Is a
difficult one All phases of the labor
problem prove difficult when approached.
Hut the underlyng principles, the root
principles, in accordance with which the
problem must be solved ire entirely sim
ple. We can get justice tltd right dealing
only If we put as of paramount Impor
tance the principle of treating a man or
his worth as a mail rather than with
reference to his social position, his occu
pation, or the class to which lie belongs.
There are selfish and brutal men in all
runks of life. If they are capitalists
their selflghness anil brutality may take
the form of hard indifference to suffer
ing. greedy disregard of every moral re
straint which Interferes with the accum
ulation of wealth, and cold-blooded ex
ploitation of the weak; or, if they are
laborers, the form of laziness, of sullen
envy of the more fortunate, and of will
ingness to perform deeds of murderous
Violence. Such conduct is just as repre
hensible In one case as In the other, and
all honest and 1 irse lug men should Join
Iti warring against It wherever It he
tomes manifest. Individual capitalist and
Individual wage worker, corporation ami
union, are alik entitled to the protec
tion of the law, and must ilike obey the
law.
The Insurance Scandal.
On tie subject of life | rib urate • the presl
i.Vnt sa>s recent events have emphasized
Ho imp .nan I' ear.y a inn looking to a
solution of ihi subj. i 1 of some hurt of con
trol that will furnltl better safeguards
than the \ rul stale* have been able to
furnish against corruption of the flagrant
kind which ha.-, been exposed, ur.J in this
connection I Mil ue»
I Tbcre Un- i ut * alrivUr unU uni-
form regulation of the vast insurance
interests of thin country. Tin* United
States should in this respect follow the
policy of other nations by providing
adequate national supervision of com
mercial interests which are clearly na
tional in character. My predecessors
have repeatedly recognized that tha
foreign business of these companies Is
an important part of our foreign com
mercial relations. During the admin
istrations of Presidents Cleveland,
Harrison and MeKinley the state de
partment exercised its influence,
through diplomatic channels, to pre
vent unjust discrimination by foreign
countries against American insurance
companies. These negotiations illus
trated the propriety of the congress
recognizing the national character of
Insurance, for in the absence of fed
eral legislation the state department
could only give expression to the
wishes of the authorities of the several
states, whose policy was ineffective
through want of uniformity.
I repeat my previous recommenda
tion that tlie congress should also con
sider whether the federal government
has any power or owes any duty with
respect to domestic transactions in in
surance of an Interstate character.
That state supervision has proved in
adequate is generally conceded. The
burden upon insurance companies, and
therefore their policy holders, of con
flicting regulations of many states, is
unquestioned, while but little effective
check is imposed tipon any able and
unscrupulous man who desires to ex
ploit the company in liis own Interest
at the expense of the policy holders
and of the public. The inability of a
state to regulate effectively insurance
corporations created under the laws of
other states and transacting the larger
part of their bus! ess elsewhere is
also clear. As a r medy for this evil
of conflicting, ineffective, and yet bur
densome regulations there has been
for many years a widespread demand
for federal supervision. The congress
lias already recognized that interstate
insurance may be a proper subject for
federal legislation, for in creating the
bureau of corporations it authorized
it to publish and supply useful in
formation concerning interstate cor
porations, "including corporations en
gaged in insurance." It is obvious
that if the compilation of statistics be
the limit of the federal power, it is
wholly ineffective to regulate this
form of commercial intercourse be
tween the states, and as the insurance
business has outgrown in magnitude
the possibility of adequate state su
pervision. the congress should care
fully consider whether further legisla
tion can be had. What is said above
applies with equal force to fraternal
and benevolent organizations which
contract for life Insurance.
Under the subject of national revenues
th' presi lent makes a plea for the enact
ment of reciprocal arrangements bet ween
this and other countries, but does not asK
for any tariff legislation at the present
tin . In th- same connection he asks for
economy in appropriations.
Business Methods in Departments.
<>n the subject of "graft" in the several
government departments that have been
under investigation he says;
At various times I have Instituted
investigations into the organization
and conduct of the business of the ex
ecutive departments. While none of
these inquiries have yet progressed
far enough to warrant final conclu
sions, they have already confirmed
and emphasized the general impres
sion that the organization of the de
partments is often faulty in principle
and wasteful in results, while many
of their business methods are anti
quated and inefficient. There is every
reason why our executive govern
mental machinery should be at least
as well planned, economical and
efficient as the best machinery of the
great business organizations, which at
present is not the case. To make it
so is a task of complex detail and es
sentially executive in its nature; prob
ably no legislative body, 110 matter
how wise and able, could undertake it
with reasonable prospect of success.
I recommend that the congress con
sider this subject with a view to pro
vide by legislation for the transfer,
distribution, consolidation and assign
ment of duties and executive organiza
tions or parts of organizations, and
for the changes in business methods,
within or between the several depart
ments. that will best promote the
economy, efficiency and high character
of tiie government work.
Federal Elections.
fin the subject of federal elections he rec
ommends That it be made unlawful for po
litical parties to receive campaign con
tributions from the corporations, and also
that it b" made unlawful for corporations
to give such contributions, and in this con
nection he says:
Contributions by corporations to any
purpose should be forbidden by law;
directors should not be permitted to
use stockholders' money for such pur
poses; and, moreover, a prohibition of
this kind would be. as far as it went,
an effective method of stopping the
evils aimed at in corrupt practices
acts. Not only should both the na
tional and the several state legisla
tures forbid any officer of a corpora
tion from using the money of the cor
poration in or about any election, but
they should also forbid such use of
money in connection with any legisla
tion save by the employment of coun
sel in public manner for distinctly le
gal services.
The Hague Conference.
The Hague conference and the sub
ject of arbitration generally is treated
of at considerable length, and in this
connection an explanation is given of
tliis government's connection with the
coming conference in the following
words:
The tirst conference of nations held at
The Hague in IVJ9. being unable to dis
pose of all the business before it, recom
mended the consideration and settlement
of a number of important questions by
another conference to be called subse
quently and at an early date. These
questions were the following: (1) The
rights and duties of neutrals; (21 the
Imitation of the armed forces 011 land
and sea, and of military budgets; till the
use of new types and calibers of military
and naval guns; (4) the inviolability of
private property at sea in times of war;
(.It the bombardment of ports, cities and
villages by naval forces. In October,
1904, at the Instance of the Interparlia
mentary union, which, at a conference
held in the United States and attended
by the lawmakers of 15 different nations,
had reiterated the demand for a second
conference of nations, I Issued invitations
to all the powers signatory to The Hague
convention to send delegates to such a
conference and suggested that it be again
held at The Hague. In Its note of De
cember Iti, 1901. the United States govern
ment communicated to the representa
tives 01 foreign governments its belief
that the conference could be best ar
ranged under the provisions of the pres
ent Hague treaty.
From all the powers acceptance was re
ceived, coupled in some ca»e< with the
condition that we should wt.t until the
end of the war then waging between Rus
sia and Japan The emper .r of Russia,
immediately after the treaty of peace
which so huppi!> terminate,| this war.
in a note presented t" the pre<ld< nt on
September 11. throiiKh Amlin ».i'ln Ho en
to>>k the Initiative in recommending thai
the conference be now culled The I'u.ted
States governrneu' in response expressed
Its cord al «cqule.n enee an I itati d that
,lt would, as a matter of course, take part
la the new conference ami endeuvor to
further Its alms. We assume that all
civilized governments will support the
movement, and that the conference is
now an assured fact. This government
will do everything in its power to secure
(lie success of the conference to tin' end
that substantial progress may be made
in the cause of International peace, jus
tice and good will.
In the conclusion of this subject he
says:
I have dwelt much on the dangers
to be avoided by steering clear of any
mere foolish sentimentality because
my wish for peace Is so genuine ami
earnest; because I have a real and
great desire that this second Hague
conference may mark a long stride
forward in the direction of securing
the peace of justice throughout the
world. No object is better worthy the
attention of enlightened statesmanship
than the establishment of a surer
method than now exists <if securing
justice as between nations, both for
the protection of the little nations and
for the prevention of war between the
big nations. To this aim we should
endeavor not only to avert bloodshed,
but, above all, effectively to strengthen
the forces of right. The Golden Rule
should be, and as the world grows in
morality it will be, the guidleg rule
of conduct among nations as among
Individuals; though the Golden Rule
must not be construed, in fantastic
manner, as forbidding the exercise of
the police power. This mighty and
free republic should ever deal with
all other states, great or small, on a
basis of high honor, respecting their
rights as jealously as it safeguards its
own.
The Monroe Doctrine receives
lengthy consideration, as does also the
appeal of Santo Domingo for assist
ance which the president believes it
is our duty to give.
Tn treating of the subject of the
army and navy the president favors
a change in the method of promotion.
He would promote officers on merit
instead of by seniority, believing that
this method would be conducive to bet
ter efficiency than iu» one now in
vogue. He also recommends an in
crease In the coast artillery; the gar
risoning of considerable bodies of
troops at one place, and for an in
crease and reorganization of the med
ical service in both the army and
navy.
Naturalization Laws.
legislation in line with the recommenda
tions of the naturalization commission ap
pointed by the president last March is
asked for. These recommendations are
given as follows:
First. A federal bureau of naturaliza
tion, to be established in the department
of commerce and labor, to supervise the
administration of the naturalization laws
and to receive returns of naturalization
pending and accomplished.
Second. Uniformity of naturalization
certificates, fees to be charged, and pro
cedure.
Third. More exacting qualifications for
citizenship.
Fourth. The preliminary declaration of
intention to be abolished and no alien to
bo naturalized until at least 90 days after
tiling of his petition.
Fifth. Jurisdiction to naturalize aliens
to be confined to United States district
courts and to such state courts as have
jurisdiction in civil actions in which the
amount in controversy is unlimited; in
cities of over I'iO.OOO inhabitants the
United States district courts to have ex
clusive jurisdiction in the naturalization
of the alien residents of such cities.
Public Land Laws.
Recommendations for changes in the pub
lic land laws are made, and In this connec
tion the president says:
The creation of small irrigated
farms under the reclamation act is a
powerful offset to the tendency of cer
tain other laws to foster or permit
monopoly of the land. Under that act
the construction of groat irrigation
works has been proceeding rapidly and
successfully, the lands reclaimed are
eagerly taken up. and the prospect
that the policy of national irrigation
will accomplish all that was expected
of it is bright. The act should be ex
tended to include the state of Texas.
The reclamation act derives much
of its value from the fact that it tends
to secure the greatest possible num
ber of homes on the land, and to cre
ate communities of freeholders, in part
by settlement on public land, in part
by forcing the subdivision of large
private holdings before they can get
water from, government irrigation
works. The law requires that no right
to the use of water for land In private
ownership shall be sold for a tract
exceeding 160 acres to any one land
owner. This provision has excited ac
tive and powerful hostility, but the
success of the law Itself depends on
the wise and firm enforcement of it.
We cannot afford to substitute tenants
for freeholders on the public domain.
The greater part of the remaining
public lands cannot be Irrigated. They
are at present and will probably al
ways be of greater value for grazing
than for any other purpose. This fact
has led to the grazing homestead of<
t>4o acres in Nebraska and to the pro
posed extension of it to other states.
It is argued that a family cannot bo
supported on ISO acres of arid grazing
land. This is obviously true; but
neither can a family be supported on
'>4o acres of much of the land to which
it is proposed to apply the grazing
homestead. To establish universally
any such arbitrary limit would be un
wise at the present time. It would
probably result on the one hand in
enlarging the holdings of some of the
great land owners, and on the other
in needless suffering and failure on
the part ,of a very considerable pro
portion of the bona tide settlers who
give faith to the implied assurance of
the government that such an area is
sufficient. The best use of the public
grazing lands requires the careful ex
amination and classification of these
lands in order to give each settler
land enough to support his family and
no more. While this work is being
done, and until the lands are settled,
the government should take control of
the open range, under reasonable reg
ulation;) suited to local needs, follow
ing the g< neral policy already in suc
cessful operation on the forest re
serves. It is probable that the present
grazing value of the open public range
is scarcely more than half what it
once was or what it might easily be
again under careful regulation.
The- Immigration Question.
Several recommendations looking to
changes In the present Immigration laws
are made, and he suggests that United
States government agents pass upon Immi
grants before they leave their native shores
for this country. I le also recommends such
changes In the laws as would not work a
hardship 011 the educated Chinese coming
into or visiting this country, but without
ictlng down the bars to the Chinese coolie
labor, and la this connection he says:
liut in tiie effort to carry out the policy
of excluding Chinese laborers, Chtne-e
coolies, grave Injustice and wrong ha* ■
been done by this nation to the people ot
Uhina. at' ! therefore ultimately to this na
tion Itself. I'hli ese students, business ar.d
professional m> n of all kinds— not only
merchants, but hankers, doctors, nianufa -
tuiers, professor*, travfer* and the like
should be encouraged to come here and
treated on precisely th. same footing tl ai
we treat students, business men, trm e.ci 3
iiul the like of other nations our |i«.
an I treat 1.-s shon.d be framed, rot so as to
put the.- people in the except* |
but to >tate that »e will admit ali Chii •
except Chinese of th* coolie class, Chines •
•kiiiod or unskilled iabortia. There wuu.4
not bo the least danger that any such pro-,
vision would result In any relaxation of the
law about laborers. These will, under all t
conditions, be kept out absolutely. But it I
will be more easy to see that both justice
ami courtesy are shown, as they ought to
be shown, to other Chinese, if the law or
treaty is framed as above suggested. Ex
aminations should be completed at the port
of departure from (,'hina. For this purpose
there should be provided a more adequate
consular service in China than we now
have The appropriations, both for the
offices of tile consuls and for the office
forces in the consulates, should be In
creased.
Insular Possessions.
He treats at considerable length of condi
tions in the Philippines, and recommends
that the coastwise laws of the I'nited
States as applied to the archipelago be sus
pended until July 1, IPO9. He recommends
the immediate fortification of Hawaii in
order to conserve the interests of this coun
try in the Pacilic. He also advocates thn
adoption of legislation that will explicitly
confer American citizenship on the peopia
of Porto Rico, and on the general subject
of insular affairs says:
I wish also to call the attention of the
congress to one question which affects our
insular possessions generally; namely, the
need of an Increased liberality in the treat
ment of the whole franchise question in
these islands, in the proper desire to pre
vent the islands being exploited by specula
tors and to have them develop In the inter
est of their own people an error has been
made in refusing to grant sufficiently lib
eral terms to Induce the investment of
American capital in the Philippines and in
Porto Rico. Elsewhere in this message I
have spoken strongly against the jealousy
of mere wealth, and especially of cor
porate wealth as such. But it Is particular
ly regrettable to allow any such jealousy
to be developed when we are dealing either
with our insular or with foreign affairs.
The big corporation has achieved its pres
ent position In the business world simply
because it is the most effective instrument
in business competition. In foreign affairs
we cannot afford to put our people at a dis
advantage with their competitors by in any
way discriminating against the ettlcien■ v
of our business organizations, in the sama
way we cannot afford to allow our insular
possessions to lag behind in industrial de
velopment from any twisted jealousy of
business success. It Is. of course, a meio
truism to sa\ that the business Interests of
the islands will only be developed if it be
come the financial Interest of somebody tt»
develop them. Yet this development ls-one
of the things most earnestly to be wished
for in the interest of the islands themselves.
We have been paying U possible heed to
the political and educat onal Interests of
the Islands, but, important though these ob
jects are. It is not less important that wa
should favor their industrial development.
Th ■ government can in certain ways help
this directly, as by building good roads;
but the fundamental and vital help must
be given through the development of tha
industries o£ the Islands, and a most effi
cient means to this end is to encourage bi,j
American corporations to start Industries
in them ar.d this means to make it advan
tageous for them to do so. To limit tha
ownership of mining claims as has been
done In the Philippines is absurd.
In treating of Alaska he asks that that.•
territory be granted an elective delegate to
congress, and of the territories of Okla
homa. Indian territory, New Mexico ana
Arizona he says:
Admission to Statehood.
I recommend that Indian territory and
Oklahoma be admitted as one state and
that New Mexico and Arizona be admitted
as one state. There Is no obligation upon
us to treat territorial subdivisions, which
are matters of convenience only, as bind
ing us on the question of admission to state
hood Nothing has taken up more time in
the congress during the past few years
than the question as to the statehood to
be granted to the four territories above
mentioned, and after careful consideration
of ail that has been developed in the dis
cussions of tho question I recommend that
they be immediately admitted as two
states. There is no justification for further
delay; and the advisability of making tha
four territories into two states has been
clearly established.
In some of the territories the legislative
assemblies issue licenses for gambling
The congress should by law forbid this
practice, the harmful results of which ara
obvious at a glance.
The Panama Canal.
He refers to the Panama canal, but asida
from asking for an immediate appropria
tion do"s no', give any recommendations as
to other legislation at this time, but prom
ises a later communication which shall con
tain the report of the board of engineers
and his own conclusions as to the type of
canal, on this subject he says:
The American people is pledged to tha
speediest possible construction of a canal
adequate to meet the demands which tha
commerce of the world will make upon it,
and I appeal most earnestly to the con
gress to aid in the fultillment of the pledge.
Gratifying progress has been made during
the past year arid especially during tho past
four months. The greater part of the nec
essary preliminary work has been done.
Actual work of excavation could be begun
only on a limited scale till the Canal Zor t
was made a healthful place to live in anil
to work in. The isthmus had to be sanitat
ed first. This task has been so thoroughly
accomplished that yellow fever has been
virtually extirpated from tlie isthmus and
general health conditions vastly improved.
The same methods which converted tha
Island of ''uba from a pest hole, which
menaced the health of the world, into a
healthful place of abode, have been app i -1
on the isthmus with satisfactory results.
There is no reason to doubt that when tha
plans for water supply, paving and sewer
age of Panama and Colon and the large
labor camps have been fully carried out,
the isthmus will be. for the tropics, an un
usually healthy place of abode. The work
is so far advanced now that the health of
all those employed in canal work is as well
guarded as it is on similar work in this
country and elsewhere.
In addition to sanitating the isthmus,
satisfactory quarters are being provided
for employes and an adequate system of
supplying them with wholesome food at
reasonable prices has been created. Hos
pitals have been established and equipped
that are without superiors of their kind
anywhere. The country has thus been
made lit to work In, and provision has been
made for the welfare and comfort of those
who are to do the work During the past
year a large portion of the plant with
which the work is to be done has been or
dered. It Is confidently believed that by
the middle of the approaching > ear a sultl
clont proportion of this plant will have
been installed to enable us to resume the
work of excavation on a large scale »
What Is needed now and without delay is
an appropriation by the congress to meet
the current and accruing expenses of tha
commission. The llrst appropriation cl
tlo.uiu.UUO, out of the |135,0U0.U00 authorized
b> the Spooner uct, was made three years
ago. It Is nearly exhausted. There is
barely enough uf it remaining to carry tha
commission to the end of the year. Cniess
the congress shall appropriate before that
time all work must t. a.-e. To arrest prog
ress i ir an> length of time now. whqn mat
ters are advancing so satlsfa< t rlly, woutf
be den ,11 able There wi lhenort.ine\ With
wliuh to meet pay-roll obligations and
nine with wblci. to meet Mils, mlngdll*
for materials and supplies; an I tier- will
V b-morallza' lon 1.1 11: foi'ees. lerea ad on
the isthniUH i . w u rklngs.i harm nloiis.y
and effective >, if there is . la> in glint
ing an emergency appropriation
The message closes with a rec mmenda
tion for n. a« adequate 1 1: \ ssoi, fi r tho
work of li.e * ate uepar*n.' nt, u: I a read
just meat u| the »a.ai> list ul oui <!<(■.
u (liters.
3