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Congress is Informed Concerning Legislation Needed By the Country STRONG ON RATE REGULATION IV Country is Enjoying a Season of Unprecedented Prosperity Bub* I jects That Will Engage the Atten tion of the Peoplo's Representa tives ? A Thoughtful and Exhaus tive Document. # ? Following Is* mi substance the. an llllill IIH'hSllfV ol VlChidoilt l|l?OK?\?'ll, as read in boU' houses of * Introduction. j 'J'o ll'e S? ? i i; 1 1 ?? and House ol I ?C*n [alive* : Thn people of t!n-> 4-ouulvy continue | (o enjoy rjreat prosperity. I ndoubt- j edly l Iter's will be ebb mid (low in ! such prospc 1 1 1 v , mid this ebb and llow ; will In! 1 <? 1 1 ny ?re or less by nil mem- | lie rii ol the ei.iDiiiiinily, both by the , deserving' :> 1 1 < I the undeserving.! Against the wrath ol the Lord the wis dom "I man can not avail; in limes j ?of tlood <>r drought huinmi ingenuity ?an but partially repair I lie djsasiei-] A Kcueral failure ? > i crops woubl hr.rl I ?ts. Austin. ii the lolly oi man mars i the general writ beittjf. then those who < are iuiloeeiiL ol the t ? ? 1 1 \ will have to j pay p.r.i "I' the penalty incurred by | those who arc guilty "I the Jolly. A patii;* broii'.ht <>n by the speculative! lolly ol pail oT the business com munity would burl the whole business! eoiniiiniul y. lint s.ieh stoppage oi j welfare, though il iiii'vhl he severe, would 1 1 ? ? l b'* last in;r. In I lie lotc* ^ nui \ \ .i i factor in t lie per manent l 'i osi n'-ot v ol t Iw country is f he hi.Jt iudi\ uiual cjjnraetcr of the average American Worker, the aver age Atifj icaff. ctt i/.'Mt. no matter whether he tvo;i; be mental or man ual. whe'uer be be fanner or wn?v worKiir, bv.si.iess man or prolessioual man. In our liidr -t rial and social system 1 1 to interests of all ui"p are so closely inlerl wieed that in the immense ma jority ot eases a straight -don I in;? man who by hi- eilicioucy. by his ingenu ity and iudust rv. beuclils hinisell must Also benefit others. N'orniallv the matt of ureal productive capacity who be comes rich Itv o;Mtlt!l'.r the labor ot many other men does so by enabling them to produce more than they could product- without his ?; it id mice; and lio'h lie and the\ siijite in the bonolit. w hie ji ? ? ? 1 1 1 also to the public at Inrye. 'I'll- stipcrticial fact that the sharing Misty be n : ? ??< |i :.i I inn-l never blind ?:s lo tin- nulei i.v 'iiy fact that llf/c i< this shai nr.. and that the be'i <;^l comes i i < ? i : ? depress to Cfleli mail concerned. Noi]S;:i!!v the wmic-woi k - cr. the man "? ?iva'i nvmiw, and I hi: average (?'i. -Mr m. ?. II as the i|c I'rnjfc | ' i ? | ? t ?*? ? r, ?!>!. all a!ii?P licjpta) )iy uui|, biU ?;wiitlit ions ;-acjt |t:itl the man nf evcept ion-i! b.'..? ine** ability r#?|iMivi's :'.:t except jm.;, I reward i'oi' his nihility. St.uict tii:i!i ?an be done by b'tf ;?latiou t(.* help the ^??neral proMpov >ty ; bid >io ^ tt 4*! ? help oi' a ppnptpi fllWly beiieiifi.il ehr.raejt.r i'rti> lit) jo the )o*?? nblo and Ic.i.-i Coi'luiifltc. iiavo a* lint ivjtult ? nf ?t )?dU?y whlah *lntll inure to the advantage ol' all in dustrious and ellbdiuit pooi>hpwlju net decent iy : and this^ in-? only H!iV>tlun' way of saving ll:at/an\ bencllt which comes to the less Kjtle and less Sor I untile must of neces^jsy etiilie ex en more to ijie n;ore able and more tor t uiiate. It. therefore, the less t??r tutiatc man :s moved l?y envy "| iii.s nioCe !"oriim;'le Wrotlu r lo strike a' tlic conditions under which t lie*,' have, both, thoii'jh ltiietiually. p> onpcrctl, the t estt 1 1 will a * sit red ly be that while damage may come to the one struck at it will visit with an evm heavier load the one who strikes t!ie blow, faken as a uhol#- \.e mttsi all :.o tip or yo down together. Corporations. Vot. \\ ? ; ; i ?. hot merely .'nililii liny, i?ul insisting upon this1. it is ;d>o U lie tlwil where there iv ;^o\ ciiiu;fcrital re s-hanu or .-apt .-ocnc of the ?-x erpt io;:r.: rot: u: >? i !.??;*.? energies uol in way*. that are f'oy i lie coowion ltoiuI. but i . : v.a\s vMt.li tell agaiu.st i hi.-> I'oiotv.oii ;;rtc.ck The fortunes amazed iiiro;:c:h eofpcraie orjjanua* uon now - o la.ge, and \ s.;;cb power i.; \ho?e <!:ai .wield (hem. as i?> maLe it ;> matter of necessity to yive to ( ???* so> fi't'iyii- iliat is. to i he ( io\ (Mnau lit . ninth represents the people ;1> ;< \*b<>W' MIMIC ftXl'I'l ivo power of s.n?? t\ i>iou > ?\ it their cor point ? use. In oitlcr to insure a heal thy soeial ami industrial lite, every biu eoi )>oral ion should be hold respon >ihle l\\, avd he accountable to, some sovereign strong enough to eontrol its comluet. I am in.no sense hostile to rorporat ions. This is an age of com bination, and any effort to prevent all roinhinat ion vill be not only useless, but in t lie end vicious because of the I c ntcmpl r.?i law which the {allure lo <mfo?r?* law lnc\ ilal>ly produces. We should, moreover, recognize in cordial mid a in | >1 ?' fashion tli?' good effected I >v corporate agencies in a count ry sfit'li mm on ik, tunl lite Wealth of intellect, elierg,V> fidelity devot <?<1 to their service, an?l therefore nor I nmll.y lo Hit* service of the public, l?y (Itvlr office ik ami directors. The cor poration lias coinc to stay, just us il?o t rado union lias come to htay. luteh can do and lias done great j^ood. Much I should ho favored ho long an il does | gooi). Mitt each should he sharply checked where il act* against law and juotiee. No long an the llminceft of the Nation ttiv kept upon an honest basis no other question of internal eeoitoniy Willi which Um * "ottgeewH ha* the pow er lo deal begins t<> approach in im portance the matter of endeavoring io secure proper industrhil conditions under which tin- individuals ?ami es pecially the fAV*'"' corporations doing an interstate business are to ad, -The makers of our National Constitution provided especially that the regulation of interstate commerce should come wilhin the sphere of the (iencral (Jov 'erum'Kut. The arguments in favor of their taking this stand were even then overwhelming. Ibil they are far | stronger to-day, in view of the enor- 1 I moi:s development ol ereat business I 'agencies, usually corporate in form, i Kxpei ience lias shown conclusively thai it is useless |o try to gel any adci|iiatu regulation and supervision | of these ?rcal corporations by State action. Such regulation and supervise j i<?u can only he effectively exercised I by a sovereign whose .jurisdiction is I coextensive with the Held of woik of j t he corporations- thai is, by the Nal j ioii:il ( i over 1 1 men I . i I nin well aware ?>! the difficulties I oi' the legislation that I am suggest - ! ing, and ol' the need oj tei* ...! i j caul ions act ion in securing il. I should j emphat icahy protest against improp erly radical or hasty action. The lirsl thinu to do is- to deal with the great corporations engaged in the business | ol interstate transportation. As I 'said in my Message of l>ecemhcr (i j last, Hie immediate ami most pressing ! need, so lar legislation is eoncern . etl. is the enactment into law of some j scheme to secure lo the agents of the Government such supervision and reg ulation of ihe rales charged by the ; railroads ol' the country engaged in ' illicit ale trallic as shall summarily and etfect ively prevent I lie imposition of unjust or unreasonable rates. Il : must in< lude pul l ing a complete stop j to rebates in every shape ami form. ; This powt i to regulate rates, like all I similar powers over the business I world, should be exercised with modi fication. caution and self-restraint; j but il should exist, >o that it can be j et't'ecl i\ ?>l\ cxecised when the need I t ri>es. The lirst considcral ion !?? he K ? ? | ?t in J j mind is that l lie power >*i it mi I < I he allir- : . niatjve him! should he ;:i\eu to some I ad m in is t rat 1 ye h? ?? ly created hy t !?<? j Iiiru.il i rsi 1 1 i ions i > 1 1 (mi occur un der Hi'.* I ? * nil s ? ? I' lav.', 1 1 has often oc imui 'i! that u f?lii p|K* r has been totll i ralht< uNifii'i* 10 1)11) a lavsfJ | , ljUiilll il> of vdlti" ClMMlJUKtitV tll.il IIm'IJ ii It r i} 'haj hoou bnugjit un nj?n? r<v dtti'UOll U ?{,lld?l III > tt lit I ii U ii rltWi j in. e|y , iti>) ? kuui.^u;ai'ui icmiIi j lii^ to i he d auiii^e t * i* ii 1 1 llitdi' I'utn^j j mi I : i/ 1 ?. i lor it muai not be forbid let; j lii.it ilm l>iv>" idiippci'n two til least an I Uittoli ts> 1)1 tunc as nnv railroad in the j I mm I'M* of' robnicn, Tin* law nhould 1 illlike it clear so Chat nobody ean fail ?to understand t lint any kind ot' com mission paid on freight shipmeuW. whether in thi> form or'in the. form of ! lift it ions damages, or ot\a t'uiim *ion 1 a I rc v-i pm-s, reduced ) >ii ? ?*?? 1 1 n?4 1* rate, ??:? payment of brokerage, is ; 1 ! ??%: :i I . All j ?.??-?%!!? lines., industrial roads, refi igc aior * barges, and the like ?liouid he e\prt ?>iv |?ui under ! the supervision ? ? ! the InlersJale j ' merec f oimaission it m ; ?* similar j body tar as rate-, and agreements i praetieally alt'eeting rates, are run- j .?eiiied. The private-car owners and | the tuners ? ? I industrial railroads aie ( ii'.itied to a .'air and reasonable com- | pens:., lion tin tlieir investment, but j licit her ? nvale eais nor iudusi rial i railroads ..??>? spur tiaeks -Inniid he I utilized a.s v?s \ :?-vr> lor seeuriuu prefer- j uut lal rates. A rebate in iei.m eh.irgo". 1 or in OMleayc, or in a dn ision of the | lute for rcl liberating' ? h tiroes is just i aj. pernicious a>v J rebate in ai\v other ! wqy. Xo lower rate should apply ?>u yooUb imported than aetually obtains 'on domc&lic goods from tbfc Anicri- j loan seaboard to destination except in 'cities where water competition is the j 1 eoiit rolling iiitlucnce. There shouM j .he publicly of the accounts of com- ' I lnon carriers: no common carrier en-, gaged in interstate business should i 'keep any books or nieniorauda other I j than those reported pursuant to law J or regulation, and these hooks or J memoranda should i?e open to the in spect ion of the (iuvcrnment. Only in this way can violations or evasions of the law he surely detected. A sys tem of examination of railroad ac counts should he provided similar to > that now conducted into the national! bunltN by the batik examiner*; u few railroad accountants, if they hud propel- direction *1 n?i pro|>er authority (o inspect books ami paper*, could accomplish much in preventing (willful violations of tin* law. i 1 urge the t'ongiess the need of providing for expeditious action by the Interstate ( 'ommcree Commis sion in all these matters, whether in regulating rates t'??r t raiispoi 1 at ion 01 tor utoring mi- handling property or commodities in transit. The history of the eases litigated under the pres ent eoinmeree Set shows that its elli eaeay Imik been to a great decree des troyed by I lie weapon of delay, al most I lie most formidable Weapon in the hands of those whose purposo it is to violate the law, Safety Appliances. In my annual Message to the l''ifty cighth Congress, at its third session I culled attention to the necessity for legislation requiring t ho line of itlock signals upon railroads engaged in interstate commerce, The number of serious collisions upon uubloekcd road* that have oeeuried within the past year adds foree to the reeom mendtttion then iii.ide. The Congress .should provide; by appropriate legis lation, for the introduction of block signals upon all railroad* engaged jjx fnterstale comiqercq at the earliest practicable date, as a 'measure of in creased safety to the traveling pub lie. Hours of Laboj of Railroad Em ployees. The excessive hours of labor to which railroad employees in train ser vice are in many eases hubjeeled i* also a matter which may well engage the serious attention of the Con gress. The strain, both menial and physical, upon those who are en?.jage<lv in the movement and operation of railroad trains under modern condi tions is perhaps greater than that which exists in any other industry, and if there ai^- any reasons for limit ing by law the hours of labor in any employment, they certainly apply with peculiar force to the employment of those upon whose vigilance and alert ness in the performance of their du ties the safety of all who travel by rail depends. Labor. Till* National Government lias as but lit lie occasion 10 deal with (lie formidable tM'nup r, ? ? i* problems connected more or lessVjdirect ly/ wit h what is Uuown as the labor question, lor in the ??real majority o / eases these problems must h" dealt /with by the Stal<.* ami municipal aUlhoiities and not by the National ? ioifernmcnj . The National < loveruiiKvft' lias con trol of the District of Columbia. how ever, and il should see to it that the City of Washington is made a model city in all respects, both as regards parks, public b-M'onnds. proper regula tion of the system of housing so as lo do away with the evils of alley tenements, a proper - vslem of educa tion. a proper system <?! dealing with truancy ami juvenile offenders, a pro per handling of tie? charitable work of the District. Moreover, there should be proper factory laws to pre vent all abuses in the employment of women and children in the District. These will be useful chiefly as ob ject lessons, but even ilii* limited amount of ..usefulness would be A' real national value. I here lias been demand for depriv ing courts of the power to issue in junctions |n labor disputes. hueli special limitation bl the equity pow ers of our courts would be irfp^t un wise. 1 1 i> ? rue that some judges have misused thu-s power: but liiis does ijot justify a denial o^tbe power any rnpro than ati improper- .exercise of the power tii call a ?'strike by n labor leader would justify j!|0 denial of 1 hrt tight to pi rikc. The Department OL i 'onuuerce and Labor should ulao nv.ike a thorough In vestigation of the condition of women in industry. Over live million Amerieau women five now engaged in gainful occupations; yet i there is avi alums" complete dearth [of data upon which lo base ajjy. trust worthy conclusions as retard? a sub ject as important as it is vast and I complicated There >s need of full I know ledge on which to base action 1 looking toward -State and municipal 'legislation for the protection or wo:*k iu^' women. The introduction of wo iie-n into industry is working change ami disturbance in the domestic and t-ocial lite of i he Nation. Insurance. The ".Treat insurance companies nf ?'onl striking examples of corpora tions whose business lias extended so far bevond the .jurisdict iun of the Mate wliirli created them as to pre clude >iiic' enforcement of supervi sion and reanlai ion by the parent Sute*.. In my las- annual Message, ! j e> or: metaled "that the t.'ontresf, carefully consider whether the pow- j er of the H-ircau of Corporations can not constitutionally he extended to cover interstate transactions in in surance. " RtVent events have em phasized the importance of an early and exhaustive consideration of 1 1 1 i <?; <|ii('stion, to see whether it is not j?os- | sil>le to I n rni^li better safeguards than I the several Stales have been able 1 ?? furnish a??ainst corruption of the tln^rant kind which has been exposed. It has been only too clearly shown that certain of the men at the head nt these lurLe corporations take hut small note oi the ethical distinction he I. wee n honesty and dishonesty; ITiev drhw the line only this side of what may be called law-honestv, the kind of honesty necessary in order to avoid falling into the clutches of the law, Of cou me tlic* only c?i^|>let<\ remedy for 1 1 1 ik condition nnhi be t>i<ii<^<in an around j??i l>i it* con*fiin*e, k higher mciihc of ethical eondiri in i h<* coqi inunity ut large* and efcy^ially iiiuontr |l)u>inusH men nnd in ill ^nutl pro fe*?ion of tin* law, a ml i\ tli<* yrowth oi' it spirit which con<l?**is all di?> hojieHty, whether in rieh\nan <?r in i poor man, whether il I ti k A 1 1 ic? thape | of bribery or of black ma ill But nnieh jean In* done by le:;Ulat i? ?\ which is I not only drastic but pracfyil, The Revenues There i* more need of fit ability than of the alempl to atlaityn ideal jwrfeet ion in the methods ''raising revenue; ami the shuck ami rain to ilie business world certain t attend any serious change in these <>thods render such ??!??! n^? inad visahlunlcss for grave reason. It is not ?ssihle to lav down any general r* |?y which to determine the momcihvhen the reasons for will oulwe^?l>J|o>ie against, such a change, Mu<limist de|H!Jt<l, not merely on the neen lmt iu< the (h'siren, or the jveoplep a <C%de; lor needs and desires afyot I necessarily identical. Of coufHno ehan^e can he made on lines ciul to/ or desired hy, one<8Gt)n or one State only. There mmtbe something like u .general agrauipt among tin; citizens of the sev^j Slates, jis represented in the tv gresK, that the change is needed i\ desired in the interest of the jreople a whole; and there should then \ a sincere, intelligent , and disinte esled effort to inn k? it iii such sliajl ii as will combine, fco far as possibly (lie maximum of good to t lie peopU,, at larjje villi the minimum of neces*, sary di regard for the special interests^ of localities or classes. But in time ol\ peace the revenue must on the av-1 erase, taking a series of years to irelher, equal the expenditures or else the revenue* must he increased. Last year there was a deficit. I'ulcss our expendit ures can be kept within the i revenues then our revenue laws must | be readjusted. Economy in Exepnditnrcs. I earnestly recommend to i I it* Con gress tli? need of economy and to ill is end of m rigid scrutiny of appro priations. \s examples merely. I call your attention to one of two' Specific matters. \ I i unnecessary ?lliees should be abolished. The Commis sioiu'i' of 1 lie (lencrnl I a. 'id Ofiiee recommends the abolishment of the of liee of receiver of public moneys for I nited Stales land offices. Vet. in spunking of ecefiomy, i must in no wise he understood as advo cating thu false economy which is in the end the worst extravagance. To cut down on thu Navy, for instance, would he a crime against the Nation. To fail to push forward all work on the I'anama Canal would be as great a folly. Ai various time* I. have instituted investigations into the organization and conduct of the business of thu Kxecutivu Departments. While none of these inquiries have yet progressed far enough to warrant final conclu sions, they hove already^ continued and emphasized thu general imres sion thai the organization of the De partments is often faulty in princi ple and wasteful in results, while many of their business methods are i artiipiidated and inuOicicul. There is every reason why our executive ?governmental machinery should be at least as well planned, economical, and efficient as the last machinery of the ureal business organizations, which at present i<? not the case. Monrqo Doctrine. t)i;o yl' t lju most effective instru ment?* !}>)? peace is the Monroe l)oc triue as it lias been and is being grad ually developed by thi* Nation and j accept by other nation*. No other policy could hayc beau ?? efficient ! in promoting peace in the AVe?tcrn ! Hemisphere and In wiving to each na? lion then'on the rdiaUce to develop along it* own lino*. It' we had refused to apply the Doctrine to changing conditions it would now be complete ly outworn, would not meet any of the needs of the present day, ami indeed would probably by this time hqvc sunk into complete oblivion. It is useful at home, and is Jiieeting with recognition abroad because wu have adapted our application of it to meet thu growing and changing needs of our Hemisphere. When wo announce a policy, Mich as the Monroe Doc trine. wu thereby commit ourselvos to the consequences of the policy, and those consequences 'from time to time alter. It is out of the question to claim a right and yet shirk the re | sponsibility l'or its exercise. Not on - ! Iv we, but all American Republics r who are benefitted bv the existence ot the Doctrine, must recognize the obligations each nation is under as regard* foreign peoples no less than its duty to insist upon its own vights. ! That our rights and interests' arc deeply concerned in the maintenance of the Doctrine is as char as hardly to need argument. This is especially true in view ol' the construction of the Panama Canal. "ASa mere mater of self-defense we must ^ercise a [close watch over the approaches to this canal: and this ineauV that we must be thoroughly alive to {our inter ests in thu Caribbean Sea. afljswor arsea iMd ?es lOzrh hrdlun Santo Domingo. ' Santo Domingo, in her turn, has now made an appeal to us to help hrr. and not only every principle of wisdom but every generous instinct within us bids uk res|>ond to the ap peal. It is npt of thu slightest con sequence whether we grant the nid needed by Santo Pomingo as an jtp cidcut to (h^levelopment of the Monroe Doq<>r |>ecau*e w? re paid t lie ('Mf^Hilto I >i?iiiiiixo as standing wlty iisdf, ami to l)'v treated as su,| not on yenernl pi'in<'i|>leri ??t a?v reteri-iU'C i?> t lie Alonroe no. Ard Navy. W v <-anuot j?|* the quOKlioii 01 our foreign witlnSul ?t 'l!t> *anu' tiiw tri'of (In1 Army ami the Navy.. ?w liavo a n<'?.v small army? I, otio \v<*l l-nijil* iiiHiiittfcimal Wnm| tared with t lie army of any tluix44 nation. i'ouiko the Art do havo kIiouIiI !??< ax marly p of it# kind ami for ils si/o as >|e. I do not be lieve that any in the world ha? a better averni ?ml ihIcmI man or n belter iiiior ollleer; but (he ?\ t my ^sbgjj. (rained t" net elTe? iivt'ly ? in jass. Provision should be lnntU siilli?'i<'ul appro priii tiniib v?i' in, crs of a practi cal kind mi lb all I'oopn may learn bow to tako eai ? bcniM'l vt's under aetnal service co)>ut>; I'verv inareb for instance, b< made wit li tbe *<?ldier loaded ily as Jie would be in nc?vve cam!, Tbe general* and colonels woifutrchy- have op portimiiy of lliug regiments, britrndes, and *di\fa, and tbe com ? ??/??> n iii^ in m/uimil niHl nilll ijj: its march. Tlumher of |?t>s.ts i which i In; ArmyUopt in time of nice should ho njaljv diminshed ul lli<* post s I luil let'l made eor ??s|)oiuliiigly larue(No local inlcr ?ltt should he ji I Ul to stand in ie way of Hssenntr /the greater rl of t|it? troopsjnch would at led form our iield oios in stations \ si it'll si /,e as wilfimit the best \hiing" to he given the personnel Mill grades. inclmt Ihe high ofli A and staff ollic. To aeeom 1 Ify this end we milinvc not com mistily and iti% 1 departments would be tested i<> Held. Provis ion should be nnt'or tbe exercise at least of a brig ami by prect'r enee ol' a divisioi niarebin# and K' or regimen ta.j a i rifcons', htn '^de and divisioijarrisons. Federal Elions. \ President lotus xi | >> m i the Mutyu <>1 Federal eetions, <juot inii .> well Unowitconst ilutional PV'yn that C'on.yw shall he the ,,)? (||(. <|iUica(ion <?l its own V'inbers. lie lso declares stroii against all t'?Us of corrup tion >\ expresses res* at the grow t^ncv to in ere a expenses in conneij, with the e.dnct ol' po litical 'jinpniuns. Hdlv. he ad vocate)lu? ^roalest psihle purity <>'" the\,||0| ai,d thct'ulest t'ie?; doni oL, exercise oh lie elective I ninehiiy, insistent. \vi ?ood jrov ernmeuh "" \ Immigration Thes um 0f imnn^i'tViii is treat- j ed hv MVoosevelt in tpartienlur I v able u?| liouyht fill irtnicv. Tito tendency i/oreitrners tceongrejratc in sectional' t ho eoitiry already consented people i deplored. I liph-elass Winners are desirable and are Momed, but nlv those with tendeilk towards gnd citizen ship and "Vlustrions ad law-ab iding habit*|| add to te general welfare of ^nation, lis pointed out that onyunjinjj sedons' need labor, and thnll who eoae with a wilj to work Mtind a readjweleomo. Crlttal Ijaws. Iti iny^labt \ss:i4c I ?$c?l the at (cut \t?ti of t ? 'ouy;rcso ti tho nr need pl'uion to iftUo our iriminal law |V> otYeeiiv^ and I most earnestly Wst thai y.ju pay heed to the iouqI' i lift ^ttdfiiey- i General on thiVubject. 'eninrien ago U tvna frilly notlful to throw every sai'&rd romii the ne owed, rtwih drip then vfta I he whouhl lie wrW) by | p stale. The (tanker i?* novMnftiy ilitvcvovw, 1 Bi-#ache? of Trust public Service/. ! There seem* wA no nttuto ot, | the United Rtai^whicH wovido* ' tor tho punishnie^f a United States attorney on her ofleev of the (Government whWuptl' agrees to wrongfully do avronjrhlly re frain Prom doing nt m*t wien the eonsideration for sn?H?rrn); agree ment is other than\lt? |m messing j money value. This o?j (,? reme died hy appropriate \islal in. Public L&nd \ws. Oncc again I call ycr at tuition to the condition of the pUc-lniJ laws, j Keeent developments hi givn new urgency to the need i'oivb ranges ns will fit the?<e laws t6c>tuu pres ent conditions. Tlio ho^t daposa't and right use of t he rei'min pub' tie lands is of fuudame^l iiport ance. The iniquitous uboe by which the monopolizing o\be mblic lands is being brought mil under the present laws ore beeanjj more generally known, but the e.^in laws do not furnish effective enedies. '1 he recommendations of k ^ublie Lands Commission upon til shject arc wise and should be giveityfct. The Jamestown Tercent^fl. This enterprise is highly Amend ed by tlie President, win h*vn ^ \ ??ot m the seal of his approval up\ri%-cry thing Congress may see til to assist iu making it a sieeess, t Our Island Possessions (iood work has been done lour government in all the territory oe quired by our recent war with *i?. Order is rapidly being b rough nnt ami tbu people are beetnmji?.>?i t e n t cd, t ons . The Hague Conference. 'litis tiibimul, established for th* purjwse of arbitrating matter* of mi. tci national tliMVieni-n, ha* already aci complished much jrood. Matters o jirnuiim'ut and defenae uud also th <1 u t i?*s of' neutral i>ower* in time o wsir hu vi! been brought up and dia eu.Nsed before this lii^h tribunal, v*u< a bettor uydeiHtamliuv: between th iyrown <?ut of I ho meetings. Iiiatiuna of (he earth hit* alread National Park Reservations. The President recommends to tlx Congress tlu; enlargement of thi hounds or the ^ eljowstoue Nati</hn Park, the protect ion ?*l the Niagan Falls and (lie establishment ol' j?ucl other park reservation# as congrefc may ?eo lit lo sot apart, The m e a. henelils of these national parka t science as well as lo I lie health an happiness ol?ihe people is |>oiutc out . Merchant Marine. I T? i In* ?r4'j? ? I of our I rale in pcaei ai/d t lie defense of our 1 1 ? ?< in wa n j; real and prosperous ike velum I m;i ji'iiM* is iudispensilde. Vv'u ? iiold hrtv sl'jj)-. ol our own and seamen of. on own to convey our ;.>oods to neutr: iiiiii-kclh. anil iu ci'ii- ? ol* iK'ed to r< e.ifo'ce our liattle line. It can n< bat lie u source of regret and in easiness io us thai the lines ol! coin munieali< n with out sister republic oi .South '..nierica should lie clue;' under foreign control. Pensions. Tlio soldier who did his duty i ili? time ot war should receive tli benches <>f ;i yratcl'ul country,, bt^ hero :is elsewhere, a strict wot el should be kept to prevent fraud." Mississippi Levees. j Tlio National (Jovei-nineitl nl <!<ics something in eon iici'I ion tvitj ( Sir* < (instruction <nul muinlennnce o (lie t.reut system, of levees sW.s< th lower course of I lie Mississippi; ii my judgment it sliouid muc! IOOI C. The Civil Service. Tlie civil service law has been o th<? si a? 11 1 o honks for tw.pnty-tw wars. 10 very President and a vns majority of heads of department who have been in oflice duriy* period have favored a gradual ejl tension of Ihe merit system. Thl more thorou^h.'y i(s principles liavj heen under*' *o?l. the greater hal been (lie favor wil h which the law had It'll regarded hv administrative, oflicer.s. Any attempt to carry on thl jrrea! executive departments of, th (ioveriiinent without this law wotiil inevitably' result in chaos. The i.ici Service Commissioners are doing e> eel lent work; and their eompens; tion is inadequate (Oiis)deiiiijf th service they perforin. Admission to Statehood. 1\ recommend I hat Indian Territ^r and Oklahoma be adimtted ns on Stale and that Mexico ^ and Arizon be. admitted as one State. There i no obligation upon us to treat terri torial subdivisions, which are mat tors of convenience only, as bind j iug us on the question of adpiissior to statehood. Panama Canal. 1 The treatment hntwt- rn the Unitec Mates and the Kcpnblie of Panama under \vh i?*li I he construction of th< I'anaina Canal was made possible went into oti'eH. with ils ratillcalioi j l.\ V t lio United Stales on April 23 '1004, on payment of $40,000,000 t <! that uojnpauA On April 1, 1005, tin j ('on)Miisbjon wax reorganized anc i il now consists of Theodore P Slujiits, (ihainnan, OJiarlps J$, Ma Aduiiiui Ifordecoi T. i^pliooit, J)rig (Ion. t'otuv ( ond i'fl |, Qswflh II. Kinwt, The Department ut Bute, I recommend more adequate pro viwiou than hn# boon made hereto fore for the work of the Depart ment of State. Within a few year there has been 'a very great increasi in the amount and importance of tb< work 1 41 bo clone by that Department both in Washington and abroad* f Ju; has been caused by the great in crease of <>ur foreign trade, the in crease of wealth among our people which enable* them to travel wor generally than heretofore, the ini crease of American capital which ij seeking investment in foreign connj tries, and the growth of our powet and weight in the council* of (In civilized world. Conclusion. Suitable provision should be made for the expense of keeping our dip lomatic olwers more fully inform^ of what is being done from day to day in progress of our diplomat;* affairs with other countries. Th? lack of such information, caused bj insufficient appropriations available for cable lolls and for clerical am meseygcr service, frequently puts on officer# at a great disadvantage ?n< detracts from their usefulness, salary list should be readjust does ?not now correspond eir the importance of the rendered and iho degrees ami experience required in ftiieuL }H?silions, or to the differel in the. cost of living. In many call the salaries nrc quite inaSequa TIIKODORK KOOS The While 1 louse, Pocenibor .*>, v , -~ ? r-?