1
MESSAGE IS READ
Scrate and House Receive Docu
ment In Usual Form.
RATE SUPERVISION THE THEME
Urges Economy In Pubtic Expondi
furos Monro Doctrine) Rat- .
due Philippine Tariff,
The must Important (mint brought nut lu
the r aideiua message follow:
To Ilia Senate and lluus of Itepreaentetlves:
Th people i( I'll" country continue to en
joy great proprlly. l,'ndouhtdly thi will
b abb unit flow In u. h proaperlty, and thl
bl nil flow will ba fell ini r ii-mt by ll
mmhri ir Ih community, both liy tli d
eiviug ami Hi undeaervliig. Agaliial tha
wraili .f Ilia lud th wisdom of man rurinol
vail; In Inure of flood r drought human In
genuity ran Inn initially repair Ilia illau.
tr, A geneial fallma of crop would hull
II of ua. Again. If Ilia folly of man lliura
tlia gcnciul well being, then lhi Willi ai"
llino. nl of Ilia folly will have lu pay part of
Ida null r In. on.' 1 by th.n wliu ura guilty
til li. n folly, A i i.l.' brought on l.y Ilia
a. illative folly of fail of lha huelhoa com.
in in. II y would liurt Ilia whole hivanraa rum.
tniiiiliy. lua an. h Btoppagn of aillai", though
II n.lshl l.a l. lrl, Would li.it lia lutlng. In
tha long run Ilia on v Hit I factor In tliu per
dial. m .ri.aiii II y of tlu country Us tha hlsh
lll.llvl.llinl i haia. trr of Ilia lrla American
..ikr, the an int.. American citizen, mi mut
ter whailirr hla work lia mental or manual,
whether lia la faiini'r of anirwiiikcr, bul
lia ttinn or if ofi ionl man.
In our Industrial an. I n.ii a-vstem Ilia In- j
ler.ete of nil men ato a c,Hly Intertwined j
thai In Ilin In. o. ii. n majority of . a
Hialiiht dialing man who by hi ftl. icin y, I , ,l,,- c..h lci,,e , a higher eriia
by hi lugi unity an I Induairy, ben. nta him- f ,, al conduct In tha cmmunlly nt large,
awlf itiiit aixi heni-nt idhera Noiinully lha ; ,n,j ,.., iiiy among bualnea men and In tl.
man of anal .io.lu.tK lapadiy who bmom rrat profej.on .,f th law, and In the growth
rich b guiding the labor of mnny other men I (r , aplilt which condemn all (llh..riet y.
loa l.y eunbliiig I hum to piodin tnor whether In rich man or In poor man, whether
(hail they could pio.lu n without hie !- ( takea lha aliaj.a of bribery or of bla kmall.
wh c, m.. I b .ih I. and thry niKira In Hi j nut much ran he done by legislation which la
l.en. ni. ol.l. h cm.- ala.i In lb public at ! , ,t,,.n,. , practical. There la need
laia Tin. u..-in.lul fa.l that th ahurlng , llf , tmr alrlder and mot unlfonn regulation
liu be luminal luiit neer tillnd u to tnl,,f th VBt n,,iran.e, liitereata of thla country,
in,.:, i li K I .t . i tlott thcia la thl aiming, and j fn,) Hiatea nliould In thla rupee! follow
that the h. lo 111. n a In aorne clrgr.e to cu,hjn, ,,,-r f other nutloliel l.y providing ad.
man ion. .me. I N. .in. ally tha ai, oi her. I ,,,ml national auprrt labw of c.mnierclnl In.
lie man of u nil iio.in.. and the at.t.ige - j tereaia whi. h are clearly Natli nul in chiir
a.ioo i. w. il a the . ! i. eiu.er, m" 1 , irr. My .rede. e..r hv re.eute.liy ree.g.
Mil alike h.l . I by milking I ondllbuia ail. Il , led that th" forctun blllnea of theae coin
that li.n iimn of cn.epiional bnriiii' ability punie an lm.ortnnt part of our foreign com
rec.u. no .elil.,nol ieail f.r hi ahlllt . mef. lal lelnllniia Inning the ndinlnletrntlona
olliel hli.g call he don by leglalallon In help ,,f ',eeil lect I'levelnud. Ilrru.n and Mc-
the geiieial peril), loll li.i eilch help of a'Klliley the Hint" I lepal t men! eiercleed II In-
l.eno.iii. miy betien. n.l ch..i.ter i an b given ri.i. r,, e, throuirh dit.l ..n-.atlc chnnneia. to pre.
to the . . able and leaa for t ii iial r. av a 111" velil li it I il e ( dl"rlmlniiton by foreign Colin
reau.ia i.f a policy w hi. Ii hll Inur to th . trie. ng.ilnNl Ameileait lnuraiic comininlea
a.Hantagx of .ill lii.tuelrlooa and efficient pen- Tliea negotiation llltiatraled the propriety
pie who a. I d-. eiiil), and thl U only another of the Congte. recognlilng Ihe National char
w of .i)lng II. ut any benent which cine In re.lernl legualatlon the Htat liepartmenl could
tho ; able an t forliinnte mut of tie. ; ,,riy Ve rli.iewlon to ttie w lhea of tha au-
t-.eMit) ...mi. cn mote to ttta ini.ta able and
fll.-M foltllhllte If, ther.-foln, the l.a for-
luc it- n.nn I lno.l b envy of hi inr
foitonute t.n.llier In tilk at the coicllilona
tircl. r wlit h tin y li,ii both, thoiiich e.j.iiilly
..n r. I. l hi
ult will a.lle.lly be ttiat
whhe .tannine tiwty cm to the ..tie Mtiuck at
II will lntt with tin evrll liealer load the oh
whn ell Ik. n Ihe blow. 11. ken a a whole,
w uiunt all go uti or go down together.
I irvratlone.
Tel. whi n..t tn. niy limiting, but lnlt
lug uimoi thl. It I a.. tiu thai where thei
la iii) i i . i ntnciit I rewtralnt or uiei vllon,
aorn of the e i.ept ti.nal men Ue Itielr elier-
ailea tint Iii wn tt.nt at for the common
o.xl, but In which t.ll agatnel Ihl
vommoii g.e.d. 'Ihe f .rtunea timiiel through
corpora! oi aapltat lone am nm
en large, and
Vrl u. tl l.wer 111 llliiin that
rield them, aa
tn nih It a matter of tieceenlty tn give to
tli aoverelgn- that I, tn th Ooveriitnetit,
which rrpieenli th penpl a a w hoi -uma
efTecttve power uf ut'ervlli.n uver their cor
..Hat u. In order In lnur a healthy eo-
rial and lndutill life, eveiy big curpnra-
tlon aimuld be held rrapoiiatbln by and be ac-
-,. notable to. i. me enverelgn atrong enough t i
4-ontrol It conduct. I am In no am hoe-
til In curtx.rullon. Thl la an agn of com-
l.inatioti, and any riTort In prevent all com
tili.ailon will b not only u!ca, but In th
nd vlctoii. becuiiM. of live contempt for law
which 111 fullur In enforce luw Inevitably
pr.etucre. hnuld, nmrenver, rncogulB In
voi.llul and ample faahlon th. Immen.e g.K.,1 ,,pce,iltturea can be kepi within Ihe revert.-,
ted by ...iporat. ageiioi.ei in a country j rnur. ,,. ,)ur revenue law mii.t be read-
utii nun, mni inn weauu oi intellect, en
engy and fllcllty devoted tn their arrvlce,
and therefor normally in the .-rvlce of the
public, by their ..nicer and direct. u. Th
'orporat Inn ba coin" t ty. Jiit a the trad
union ha come tn alay. l-i.-h inn do and
liaa don great good. Km h n..uld b" fnvoied
an bu g am It it ..t Hut each hould he
ahar.y checked where 11 acta agnluat law
lid Juetlcr.
Tlila I only In form an Innovation.
In
aubatniice It In merely a real. nation, fur from
the earliest time such r. solution i.f Indus-
dial activities hna been tncgnlsed In th.. s.v
tlon of lha luwuiukii.g bo.li.a. and all thai
1 prop..." la In unit the .hanged coinllllona
In auch manner aa will prevent the common
wealth abdicating llm power II has alwavn
poaexased. not only III thla countiy, but also
In llnglnud. befoie and since thl country bu
came a separate Natb.u.
The hct possible regulation of rates would,
of course, bo that regulation secured by an
tinnest agreement among the rallrouds them
alve to carry out the law. Huch .a general
agreement would, for Instance, at once put a
atop to the erTort of any on big ehlppcr or
lilg railroad to disci Imliiate against or Be
cure advantages over soma rival; and such
agreements would iniikn the railroads them
aelvrs ugeiila for enforcing thn law. The
power vested In the tlnvernment to put a
atop lo agreements lo the detriment of the
public should. In my Judgment, be accom
panied by power lo permit, under specified
conditions and careful supervision, agree
ments clearly in the Interest of thn public.
Jtut, In my Judgment, the necessity for glv
lug this further power Is by no means !
real a the necessity for giving the I .mi-
mission or admlnisti aliv e bndy Ihe other
powers I have enumerated above; and It
limy well be Inadvisable to attempt tn vest
this puiltculur power In the Commission or
other adiiilulstrutlv body until It alreudy
possesses and Is exercising what I regard as
liy far the most Important power of all lha
powers I recommend as Indeed Ihe vitally
liiipurtuiu power-Hint to nx a given maxi
mum rate, which rute, after the liipati of a
reuaollllble time, goes Into full effect, sub
ject to review by the court.
jel me most earnestly say that theme reconi
rni'iidiit Ions are not intide tn any spirit uf
hoatlllty to the riillronda. On ethical ground,
on ground of right, auch bostlllby would bn
Intolerable; and on grounda of mere National
aelf-lntcrcBt we must remember that uch lose
tlllly would tell iignlnst the welfare not mere
ly of some few Hch men, but of a multitude
vf small Investors, a multltudo of railway
mployc a, wugew oi kers, und moat severely
galliot I ho Interest or the public ss a whole.
1 believe thai on the whole our nillio,l huv
done well and not III; but the railroad men
Who wish to do well tiliuuld tint be exposed tu
competition with IIiohc who have no such de
alio, and the only wny tu secure this end I
to glvu to some tiovernmenl tribunal the
power lu aee that Justice Ih done by the un
willing txiictlv a It la gladly il mo by the
willing. Moreover, If eome Hover iiiinuit body
lei given Increased power the effect will bu In
furnish uiithoi Itntlvu nnswer on behulf of the
railroad whenever lirnllonul clanioi' ugulnst It
1 rulsed, or whenever charge minln ngaliiet
It urn disprove,!. 1 ask this legislation not
only In the Interest of the public, but III tha
Interest of the honest rullroud mall niul the
liotieal shipper alike, for II le) they who uiu
childly Jeoparded by the practice of their ill
hiinesl competitors. Thl legislation should ba
euiucled III a spirit aa rendu us possible, Horn
liysli'ila und rancor. If wo of the American
body politic lire Hun to thu traditions we
iiuva Inherited we Ml, nil nlwajs avion uny ef
fort to make ua halt) uny man beiuuan ha Is
rich, Just as much us wo should scorn uny
effort to iiuiko us look down upon or treat
conteiiiptunusly uny man hecuusu he I poor,
Tha question of transportation Ilea at Ih
root of all Industrial success, und the revo
lution In IrutiMportatlon which hits taken
pluce during the lust liulf century liu been
tha most Important fuctor III thu growth of
th new Industrial condltlona. Most etu
phatlcully we do not wish to see the man of
rest talents refused the reward fur hi
talent. Still lew do we wlnh lo c lilm
penalized; but we do desire to see Hi sys
tem of rullroud transportation handled
that th atrong mnn shall be given no ad
vantage over tha weak mun. We wish to
Insur a fair treatment for th small town
a for tha big city; for Ih small shipper
for th big shipper., In th old day th
highway ot eswiuaro, wbtir by water or
ly a mad on lanil, ii epn to altj It t.
Inrignd tu lha public and lha Irafflo along It
waa free. At prni Ilia railway I till"
highway, ami wa tiiuat Oil our tiaat In aaa
Hint II It kept open to all on 'ual term,
t'lillk lha i.l.l hiKhftay It la a vary difficult
ami complex I M nal In manna", ami II la
far belter Ihitl II alinulil da inniiii-i1 ly prl .
vat Imllvliluala than l.y Ilia (Ju.erniiiiinl.
l-abor,
Tha Null. .rial ( Iiivm nrnent lifla a nil
lull llltla occasion In 1 1 r- n I wild lha for
inlilahla k rim i of problems connected mora
or leas directly wlili what la known aa lh
liilmr question, for In lha gieat majority of
rase these pinhlems must ha deal Willi l.y
tha alai ami municipal authorities and not
l.y Ilia Nailunal Government. 'Mia Nntlonnl
i Invri iiinani haa rontrol of lha IHaii lrl nf
ii I u in 1. 1 a, however, and It ahuuld to II
that lha lily nf Waahliiglon la fnada a
tnoilal illy In all reaped, liulh na regard
parka, iiuhlln iln ygrounda, pri.par reguluf Inn
of lha ayalain of housing an a to do away
with Ilia avlla of allay tenement, a proper
ayaiam of adurallon, a proper system of
daallng with truancy and Juvenile offenders,
a proper handling of lha charitable work
of tha District. Moreover, there luiulil hi
iropr fartury lawa In iiravatit all abuaaa In
lha inployinant of womin and rhlldrrn In
tha IMmrl.t. Thi-ia will ha u'ful ihlffly aa
nlijact Inawina, hut ivm thla llinllad amount
of iiaafulnaia would ha of raal Nailunal
valti:.
Inauranra,
Tli a (raal Inaurartra romnarilra afford atrlk
Ing aiallifla of rori.oratloiiai wlnaia hualmaa
hua aalMi.lr.l mi far lHy.u. tha Jurladlcl toa of
tha atataa whlrh rrantad thm aa tu tirarltida
airlrt aiiforrainint of aui.rrvlalon and rKiila
lion hy tha iariit atnti'a. In niy laal an
nual rnr'anaga I rariiirtmrnfld "that tha I'on
ttmm i-aifully cofial.lrr whrthr tha fowar of
tha huraau of i-orooratloiiii ranriot t-onalltu
tt'inally ha aitfn.1fd tu cover Intfratata traiiav
a.-tlona In Inauiam-a." ltiraM rvrnta hava
a ler of Inaiiiam a, for In tha nhanrna of
rmt.haalii. lha Importnii. a of an rarly and
hauatlva ronalili.rat Ion of thla fiura!l'n. In
ara whrlhfr It la not .iaKihn to furnlah hrt-li-r
aaffiuanla than lha aevMal irtitlM hava
hran ahla In fuliitiih aaitlnat rorrutillon of
tha flDRiuiit kind wlihh hna hern i'.i,aril. It
haa haeil only ton Hrarly ahown tlott -rtaln
of tha men at tha h-a.l of thran lara ror
.'.ratlolia tnkr hut amall riola of tha .thl''al
dlattrii-tlori Ldttfrn honcaiy and dlahoiiraiy;
thfy diaw tha Una only thla nll of what may
l.a rallfd law li.ill.nl y, tlw kind of lioliraly
riart-piviiry In or-H-r ! avoid falllntr Irito lha
l-lutrt.e of the law flf courae the olilv coin
' rpI,,e.v for thla condition niimt b found
thoiltle of th everal atlltea. Who IK.IIcy
wa Ineffective through want of uniformity.
Th Itrvrnuee.
There I mora need of MahlHty than of the
"t'eliipta to ul'Hlll an bleal perfection In
ine iiiriii'.nii or raieing revenue, ami tna
atiock and atraln tn thn biiMnt). world cer
tain tn attend any aerlou clinng" In the
method render uch change Ina.Klitth!" un-
ee for grave rcuxon li i not ponibla to
Iny down any gen. rat ruin l.y which lo
determine the moment when ttie rru-nti for
iwlll outweigh tha reaaon ni:ulnt nuch a
change. Much muat depend, not merely on
thn need, but on the tlemre of the people
a a whole; fur need and ileairea are not
hcearlly Identical.
of
.urne no change
can be mndo on llnea ben.-ncnl to, or dealred
by, i'H4 anction or one atatn only. There
mut b oinethlng Ilk a general agreement
among the cltljen of Ilin eeral atate. aa
rrpre.etited In th Congrra. that the change
j I needed and clrd in thn lntrrt of th
people a a whole; and there ahnuld then be
; a alncere. Intelligent, and dlMtntereated effort
I lo make It In aueh ahape aa will combine, ao
far aa poaalbl. ihe mailmum of good lo th
' people al large with the mlnmum of necr.
aarv dlareeard for lh ai.eclal Intereat of
localltlv or rlanHea. Jtut In lime of peace
the revenue itiml on the average, taking
a aerie of year together, eijual the egpendl
turva or el the revrnura muat be Increased.
I.at yrjr there wa a deficit. I'nleiia our
Ju'tcd. It la a yet tuo early to attempt to
outline what ahnpe aucti a rradJuRttuent
hould take, fur II I a el too' early to aay
; uhellicr Ihere will be need for II.
, It ahould b considered whether It I
not ilolrbule that the tariff lawa
ehould pr i bin for nppl) Ing aa agnlnet
.or In favor of any other nation maximum
i mil minimum tariff rut. etI.Uhc,l by the
t'ongrean. an a In aecure a c.-rtnln recl-
'r""y ireaimeni i.eiween inner nations
ourselves. Having In view even larger
considerations of policy than tho.e of a
puiely economic nnture. It would. In my
Judgment, b well to endeavor lo bring
about closer commercial connection with
Ihe otlie,- people of this continent. I am
happy to be aide to announce to you that
Hu-lu now treat u on the must-favored
nation basis
Kcoiiomy In F. spend I tit re.
I earnestly recommend to the Congress
the nerd of economy and to (his end of a
rigid scrutiny of appropriation. A exam
ples merely, 1 cull your attention to one or
two specific matters. All unnecessary office
should be abolished. The Commissioner of
thn ileneral Land Office recommends tha
abolishment of thn office of receiver of pub
lic moneys for (lilted State land office.
Thl will effect a saving of about a quar
ter of a million dollnra a year. As the busi
ness of the Nation grows It Is Inevitable
Unit there should be from time to time a
legtilinaio Increase In the number of ofll
cluls. und this fact render It all the more
Important that when office become unneces-
Mry ,.y ,huld b. abolished. In the pub-
,u. ,,r. ,!,, also a Urge saving of public
money can be made. There la a constantly
growing tendency to put. Hull masses of un
important Information. It la probably not
iinliilr to say that many tens of thousands
of volumes ure published at which no human
being ever looks and for which there I no
real demund whatever.
Federal Mectlone. 1
In my luat annual message I said:
"Ttie power of tho Hovernment to protect
the Integrity of the elections of Its own ofll
clukM Is Inherent and hus been recognized
and affirmed by repcuted decimations of the
Supremo Court. There is nu enemy of free
government more dangerous und none so
Insidious a the corruption of the electorate.
No one defends or excuse corruption, and
It would seem tu follow Hint none would
oppose vigorous measures to eradicate It. 1
recommend the enactment of a law directed
against bribery and corruption In Federal
elections. The details of such a luw may
be safely left In the wise discretion of the
Congress, but It should go u fur us under
tho CniiBtlt.uttoii It is possible to go, und
should Include severe penalties agulnst ti 1 ill
who gives or receives a bribe Intended ta
Influence his act or opinion a un elector;
and provisions for thu publication not only
of the expenditure fur nominations and
elections of all candidates, but also of all
contributions received und expenditure made
by political committees. o
I desire to repeat this recommendation. In
political campaign In a. country as large
and populous as our It Is Inevitable thut
th. io should ba much expense of un entirely
leK'Hinute kind. This, of course, means that
many contributions, utid some of them of
I !! size, must be mude, and, as a mutter
cf In it, In any big political contest such
contrll utlons are always niii.lo to both side.
It Is entirely proper both to give and re
ceive them, unless there Is an Improper mo
tive connected with either gift or reception.
If thry ar extorted by any kind of pressure
or promise, express or Implied, direct or In
direct, In the wuy of favor or Immunity,
then the giving or receiving become not
only Improper hut criminal. It will un
doubtedly be dlfllcult a a matter of prac
tical detail to shape an act which ahull
guard with reasonable certainty agulnst such
misconduct; but If It Is pusslble to secure
by law tilt full and verllled publication In
detull of all tha sum contributed lo and
expanded by the cundidute or committee of
any political parlies tha result cannot but
be wholesome. All contribution by corpor
ation to any political commute or for any
political purpose should be forbidden by
law, . director should not b permitted to
use Jlock holders' money for uch purpose:
and, moreover, a. prohibition of thl kind
would b, a far a li want, an fiectlv
malhnrl ef atnpplna; tha arlta atm4 at In
rorruiit rr"'Hr :la. No only ahould botn
lha Nallonnl and tha aavaral Dial l-l-laturaa
foil. Id any nfflrar f cortmi.llnn
front ualnc tha rnonay of tha cormratlon In
nr about any alaitlun, hut lhay ahould alao
forhld au h na of monay In nonnartion with
any lKllal Ion auva hy tha amploymant of
rvli a.
Ilia llacna ( oiift rmra,
Tha flrat ronferema of natlona hald at Tha
llaaua In IH.lll, heina; unabla lo dlapoaa of all
lha bualnena hef.ua It, raeommetidrd lha
rorial'laratlon arid aattlarnant of a number of
Important iiuaallnna hy anothar curifcranra
to ha called aubneiiuently and at an aarly
data. Thaaa guaatlona wara tha following:
lit Tha right and dullaa of nautrala, (li) tna
limitation of tha arrnad fon.aa on land na
, and of military budgata; (Ml tha uaa
of naw lypa and caliber of military and
naval gun; (4) lha Inviolability of prlvata
properly at a In lime of war; lot th
homhaidrnent of porta, rltlca and village by
naval forraa. In October, IWU4, at th In-
lama of tha Interparliamentary l.nlon,
wlili-h, at a oonferem held In th 1,'nlled
Hiatea and attended hy lha lawmaker of 1.1
dlff. rim natlona, had reiterated th demand
for a aerund confereni of nation, 1 laauad
Invltallrna lo all tha power algnatory to
Tim llagua convention lo aand dlgata lo
g'lch a confaran' and auggaatad that It ba
agtln held at 'lb llagua. In It not of
Iieremb! HI, IWH, th I lilted Hlat lov
arnrnenl rornrnunlrated lo tha rapraaanta
llve of foreign government It belief thai
(It ronferenc could b beat arranged un
d ir th provision of lha prnt llagua
lraty.
Kroin all tha power arceptanr wa re.
relvad, coupled In aoma cj.- with th con-
(lltloti that w ahould wait until th and of
lha war than waging between Ituaala and
Jaiian. The rkripernr of Ituaala, Immediately
after tha treaty of peace which ao happily
terminated thla war, In a note .rewrite, 1 lo
thn I'riet'lent on Hept. inber l.'l, through Am
baeaa.lor Itoaen, look the Initiative In recom
mending that thn conference be now celled.
The I'nlted Htatea tiovernmenl, In reeponae,
eipreaaed lie) cordial acitulca' ern e and atated
that II would, aa a matter of course, take
part In Ihe new conference and endeavor to
further It alma. We aum that all civilized
government will wupporl the movement, and
that ttie conference ta now an aatured fact.
Thl Oovernmeiit will do everything In It
power In ecnr the auccean) of the confer
ence to Ih nd that aubatnnttal progreaa may
be made In th can" of International peace,
Juatlce and good will.
The Monroe) IHietrloa.
to develop along He own llnea. If we had
would not meet uny of the need of tha pre.
ant day, and Indeed would probably by tin
refuMed to apjT'y the doctrine to changing c,n-
dltlone It w.iuld now be completely outworn,
tine of thu moat effective Inatrumenta for
prace la the Monro llnctlllie, as II haei hen
and la being gradually developed by thl Na
tion and accepted by other nation. No other
pulley could have ben a efficient In pro
moting peace In the Western Ilemlaphete and
In giving lo each nation thereon th chart.
time have eutik Into compute oblivion. It la action.
useful at home, and Is meeting with recoirnl- Mreoctae of Trust In Puhllfi Kervlce.
lion abroad because we have a.liinted our .
application of II tn meet the growing and ! .Th'r ,0 b7 no. "' 1 nl"J
changing needs of the hemisphere. When we "V"" wh'rh provide, for the punishment of
announce a policy, auch aa the Mont.-. Hoc. t. nlted htatc Attorney or other officer of
trine, we thereby commit ourselves to Ih con- n Government who corruptly agree to
sequence of the policy, and tho.e cunsenuences wrongfully do or wrongfully refrain from
from time to lime alter. It lo out of the doing any act when the consideration fot
((iiiatlon to claim a right and yet shirk the uch corrupt agreement Is other than one
reaponeihlllty for Its exercise. Not only we, possessing money value. This ought to be
bul all Aio. rl, an republic w ho are benefited remedied by appropriate legislation. Legla
by the existence of the doctrine, must retog- latlon should also be enacted to cover, ex-'
nlze the obligation) each nation la under a pllrltly, unequivocally and beyond question,
regard foreign people no lesa than It duty breach of truet In the shape of prematurely
to liiaust upon He own rleht. divulging ofndal secret by an officer or
That our rlKhts and Interest are deeply employe of the (.'nlted Klates, and to pro
roncerned In the maintenance of the doc- vide a suitable penalty therefor, fcuch offl
rlne Is so rlenr a hardly In need argument. ' cer or employe owe the duly to th I'nlted
Thl I especially true In view of the con- State to guard carefully and not to divulge
atructlnn of th Panama I'anal. A a or In any manner us prematurely Infor
mer matter of self-defense wo must exer- matlon which Is accessible to the officer or
'Is a close watch over the approaches to employe by reason of hi official position.
hls canal; and this mean that w must be Most breaches of public trust ar already
thoroughly alive to our Interest tn the
t'arlbbran Hea.
Hanto Domingo.
Panto Domingo, In her turn, ha now made
an appeal to u to help her, and not only
every principle of wisdom but every generous need for such changes as will fit these laws
Instinct within u bids us respond to the ap- to actual present condition. The honest
peal. It la not of the slightest consequence ' disposal and right use of the remaining
whether we grant the aid needed by Kanto public land I of fundamental Importance.
I ion. Inn, i a an Incident to the wise develop- , The Iniquitous methods by which the mo
ment of the Monroe Doctrine, or because we nopolixlng of the public land Is being
regvrd Ihe rase of Santo Domingo a stand- brought about under tha present lawa are
Ing wholly by Itself, and to be treated aa becoming more generally known, but the
auch, and not on general principles or with existing laws do not furnish effective reme
any reference to the Monroe Doctrine. Tha die The recommendations of the Public
Important point Is lo give the needed aid. Lands Commission upon thl subject ar wise
and the rase I certainty sufficiently peculiar and should be given effect,
to deserve to be Judged purely on Its own The creation of small Irrigated farms tin
merit. The condition In Hnnto Domingo der the reclamation act la a powerful offset
have for a number of years grown from bad lo the tendency of certain other lawa to fo.
to worse until a year ago all society was on ter or permit monopoly of the land." Under
Ih verge of dissolution. Fortunately. Just that act the construction of great Irrigation
at this tlma a ruler sprang up In Santo works has been proceeding rapidly and sue
Domingo, who. with his colleagues, saw th cessfully, the land reclaimed are eagerly
danger threatening their country and ap- taken up, and the prospect that the policy
pealed lo the friendship of the only great of National Irrigation will accomplish all
and powerful neighbor who possessed th that was expected of It I bright. The act
power, and as they hoped also the will to should be extended to include the State of
help them. There was Imminent danger of Texas.
foreign Intervention. The previous ruler of j The forest policy of the Administration at)-
Santo Domingo had recklessly Incurred
debts, and owing to her Internal disorder
she had ccsed to be able to provide mean
f paying the debts. The patience of her
foreign creditor had become exhausted, and
at least two foreign nations were on the
point of Intervention, and were only pre
vented from Intervening by the unofficial as
surance of thl Unvernment thnc it would
Itself strive to help Sumo Domingo In her
hour of need. In the case of one of thes
nations, only the actual opening of negotia
tions lo this end by our Hovernment pre
vented the seizure of territory In Santo Do
mingo by a Kuropean power. Of the debt
Incurred some were Just, while some were
not of a character which really renders It
hllgatory on, or proper for, Santo Domingo
to pay them In full. Hut she could not,
pay any of them unless some stability wa
assured her government and people.
Accordingly tne r-xrcutlv Department of
our Hovernment negotiated a treaty under
which we are to try to help the Dominica
people to elrulghten out their finance. Thl
treuty Is pending before the Senate. In the
meantime , a temporary arrangement has
been made which, will last until the Senate
hua had time tn take action upon the
treaty, t'nder this arrangement the Domini
can Hovernment has appointed Americans to
all the Important position in the customs
service, and they are seeing to the honest
collection of Ihe revenues, turning over 5
per cent to the government for running ex
penses and putting the otRer 0.1 per cent into
a safe depositary for equitable division In I
case the treaty shall be ratified, among th I
various creditor, whether Kuropean or
American.
The custom-houses offer well-nigh Ihe only
sources of revenue In Santo Domingo, and
the different revolutions usually hava as
their real aim the obtaining possession of
these custom-houses. The mere fact that
the collectors of customs are Americans,
that they are performing their dutle with
eftulency and honesty, and that the treaty
is pending In the Senate, gives a certain
moral power to the government of Santo
Domingo which It haa not had before. This
has completely discouraged all revolution
ary movement, while It haa already produced
sucn an increase in th revenue that th
government 1 actually getting more from
, 4 per cent, lha, he Am, ! a collector.
n over to It than It got formerly when
Hie
mi
lt took the entire revenue. It Is enabling
tha poor hurussed people of Sumo Domingo
once more to turn their attention to Industry
and lo be free from the curs of inter
minable revolutionary disturbance. It offer
to ull bona fide creditors, American and
Kuropean, Hi only really good chance t
obtain that to which they are Justly entitled,
while It In return gives to Sanlo Domingo
the only opportunity of defense against
claims which It ought not to pay, for now
If It meet the view of tho Senate we
shall ourselves thoroughly examine all these
claims, whether American or foreign, and
sea that none that are Improper are paid.
There Is, of course, opposition to the treaty
from dishonest credltois, foreign and Amer
ican, and from the professional rvvolution
Ints of the Inland Itself. We have alreudy
reuson to believe thut some of the creditors
who do not dare expose their claims to
honest scrutiny are endeavoring to stir up
sedition In the Inland and opposition to the
treaty. In the meantime 1 have exercised
Ihe authority vested In m by the Joint reso
lution of the Congress to urevent tha Intro
duction of arm Into Hi Island for revo
lutionary purpose.
Army and Navy,
W cannot coiudder Ih Question of our for
eign policy without at the same time treating
-army ami tne uvy. we now have a Chinese luborer. skilled and unskilled, le
very small Army Indeed, one weli-nlgh In- glflmately com under the head of undesir
flniteslmal when compared with the army of able Immigrants
any other large nation. Of courae, Ihe Army
"" "uuiu m nearly perieci or ua
kind and for It also a I poaulble. I do not
bellev thut any army In th world ha a
belter average of enlisted man or a better
typo of Junior officer; but th Army hould b
trlned to act effectively In a niasa. Piovlav
Ion ahnuld be made by sufficient annrcnrla-
tlona for maneuver of a nracllcal kind mo
that th troop may l.arn how to take car of
'"'""" ' actual rvio etinamona;
ararr marrh, tor Inatanra, halnf mad with
tka aoldlar loaded ataniy aa ha would ha In
an aotlva campaign, Tha tliarata and Colo
nala wonld lliarnt.y tiava opportunity of hand
Una; raalmatita, hrlfadaa) and dlvialona and
lha oommlaaary and ffiMlcat deiiartmnta
would ha taatad In lha flld. i'rovlalon ahnuld
h mada for tha rra at leant of a brl-
roaat and dlml.arkln at aoma othar point
and conllnulnt Ha rnnr'h, Tha numhar of
poata In whlrh tha Army la kept In tlma of
peaia nhonld ha maierlnlly dlmlnlahad and
lha poata that ara left mada rorrepondlnly
larfr. No h"l Intarea'a ahould ha allowed
lo aland In tha way of nwvrrihllna; tha reur
part of tha tronpa arhleh would at nead form
our flld armlea In aiatlona of au'h alia a
will permit lha beat t rn Irilnar lo ba alven to
i "'"
" ' - I uiii. ern, i 'i h ' i in inn ..
and wa mut tiav not company or regimental
garrieiori, out brlgada and dlvlalon garrlaon.
Our Navy muat, relatively to lb navlaa of
other natlona, alway b of greater aia than
our Army. W hava moat wlaely continued
for a numliar of year) lo build up our Navy,
and It haa now reached a fnlrly high atandard
of efficiency, Thla aiandard of efficiency mut
not only b maintained, but lnrreaed. II
d'ie not aeem to m nceaary, however, that
lha Navy ahonld-at leaat In lha Immediate
future ba Increaaed beyond tha preaenl num
ber of unllai What Ut now clearly neieeaary
k lo uhtltuta africtent for Inefficient unit
a lha latter berom worn out or a It be
come apparent that thay ara uaeieaa. I'rob
ably th reault would ha atialnd by adding a
ingl battle hlp to our Nvy ach year, Ih
ui'eraeded or outworn veie being laid up
or broken up a they are thus replaced. Th
four alngl turren monitor built Immediately
after tha don of lha Rpanlah war, for In
atance, ara veeviela whl'i would be of but
little ua In th even! of war. Th money
Pnt upon them could have ln more ne-
fully event In other way. Thu It would have
been far better never to have built a alnel
one of the monitor and to have put lie
money Into an ample aupply of reaerv gun.
Moat of the eerialler criilaer and gunten&t).
though they -rve a ueeful purpnee ao far aa
they ara needed for International police work,
would not add to the etrenath of our Navy
In a conflict with a aerlou foe. There I
urgent need of providing a large n'Tae In
Ihe number of officer, and eapeclally In the
number of enllated men.
Naturalisation lawl.
Iurlng the peat year evidence ba accu
mulated to confirm th expreaalon con
tained In my lat two annual meanagea a
to the Importance of revling by appro
priate legialatlon our ryMem of naturalizing
allena. 1 appointed luat March a cornmla
l"n to make a careful examination of our
naturalization lawa, and to auggeat appro
prlale meaaures to avoid the notorious
hmu". reeutiing irnm rne improviueni or
unlawful granting of eltlzenahlp. Thl com
nileelon, cortiKied of an officer of the De
partment of State, the Department of Jua
tlce, and of the Department of Commerce
and I-abor. haa discharged the duty Imposed
upon It, and ha submitted a report, which
will be transmitted to the Congresa for It
' consideration, and, I hope, for It favorable
.covered by the law, and thl on ahould be.
Publlc-I-and I -a its.
Once again 1 call your attention to the
condition of Ihe public-land laws. Recent
developments have given new urgency to th
pear to enjoy the unbroken support of th
people. The great user of timber are them-
selves forwarding the movement for forest
preservation. All organized oppoHltlon to the
forest reaerves In the vv est haa disappeared.
Since the conemlldatlnn of all Government for
est work In the National Forest Service there
haa been a rapid and notable gain In the use
fulness of the forest reserves to the people
ni ,n public appreciation of their value. The
National parks within or adjacent to foremt
reserves should be transferred to th charge
of the Forest Service alao.
Merchant Marine.
To th ipread of our trad In peace and
the defense of our flag In war a great and pros
perous merchant marine Is Indispensable. M'e
should have shipa of our own and seamen of
our own to convey our good to neutral mar.
kets. and In case of need to reinforce our
battle line. It ran not but be a source of re-
gret and uneasiness) to us that the line of
communication with our Bister republic of
South America ahould be chiefly under for
eign control. it I not a good thing, that
American merchant and manufacturer ahould
have to lend their goods and letter to South
America via FJurope If they wish security and
dispatch. Even on th Pacific, where our
ship have held their own better than on the
Atlantic, our merchant flag k now threatened
through the liberal aid bestowed by other
governments on their own steam line. I ask
your earnest consideration of the report with
which the Merchant Marine Commission ha
followed It long and careful Inquiry,
Pension.
It 'la a matter of unmixed satisfaction once
more to cull attention to the excellent work of
the Peneiinn llureau: for the veteran of the
Civil W ar hava a greater claim upon ua than
any other clasa of our citizens. To tbem,
Il rut or an among our people, honor Is due.
Seven year ago my lamented predecessor.
President McKlnlt-v, stated that the time had
come fur the Nation to care fur the grave
of Ihe Confederate dead. I recommend that
the Congress take action toward this end. The
first need I to take charge of tha grave of
the Confederate dead who died In Northern
prison.
Immigration.
The question of Immigration I of vital In
ter cert lo this country. In th year ending
""J 'ft"; ,0 f V!,'tsJ S''e'
TJZ?'. t.i",
In the (Ingle year thut hua Just elapsed there
came to thl country a greater number of
people than came here during the lutl rear of
our Colonial life which Intervened between th
first landing at Jamestown and the Declara
tion of Independence. It la clearly shown In
Ihe report of the Commissioner-General of
Immigration that while much of this enormous
Immigration Is undoubtedly hcultliy and natur
al, a considerable proportion Is undeeuruble
from one reason or another; moreover, a con
siderable proportion tf It, probably a very
large proportion, Including most of the undo
slruble class, doe not come here of It own
Initiative, but because of the activity of the
agent of the great transportation compuntea.
inese ugent ure distributed throughou Lu
rope, and by the offer of all kind of Induce
menta they wheedle and cajole many Immi
grants, often aguliurt their beat Intereat, to
coma here. The most aerlou obstacle we have
to encounter In the effort to aecure a proper
regulation of the Immigration to these shores
arises from the determined opposition of the
foreign steamship line who have no Interna:
whatever In the matter auva to Increase the
return on their cupltul by currying musses of
Immigrants hither In the steerage quarter of
their ships.
The question arising In connection with
Chlnene Immigration stand by themselves. The
condition In China are such thut the entire
Chinese coolie class, thut I, the clasa of
their numbers, the low wage for which they
work and their low standard of living. Not
only Is It to the Intereat of thla country to
keep them out, but the Chinese authorities do
not desire that they hould be admitted. At
present their entrance I prohibited by law
amply adequate to accomplish thl purpos.
t'he. lu.,. v,.. V... . .i v
lhoroimi.lv .nr,,.j ' ti,. ..i.,iu,i.,. n,.m
are to few In number as to be Inflnltatdmal
and caa b entirely disregarded. Tnr la ao
arlrma profKiaal t altar tha Immigration lawa
a a regard! tha Chlnea laborer, ak 1114 nr
unakllied, and thera la no aicuao for any
man feeling or arTe.tlng ta foal tha lilghleat
alarm on lha anblart.
Hill tn tha affort to rarry out tha Boiler of
ai' ludlng ( hlnena lahorera, f.hlneaa coollea,
grava lnjiielra and wrong hava been d.mo by
thla Nation to lha peopl of l.lilna, and thara
fora ultimately to thla Na'lon Itaeif. Chlneaa
luilenta, bualnaaa and pr.fea"lonal mni of all
klrida not only marcharita, but banker, dc
tora, manufacturer, profearairai, traveler and
Ilia like- fhould ba encouraged to corna her
and treated on prorlaeiy tha aama footing that
wa treat atudenia, bualnea mnn, traveler and
th Ilk of other nation. Our law and
trete ahould ba framed, not o a to out
thena peopla In the eepted cla?a, but to
atata that wa will admit all Thine, n'.
c'""- ,T " "U.
ui.BFU.r.i inoorer. t llm woui" ii'fc
th leaat danger thai any such provision would
result in any relaxation of th law about
laborer. These will, under all condition, ba
kept out boluty. !ut It will be mora eaery
to aee that both Justice end courtesy are
shown, a they ought to b hown, to other
Chinese, if th law or treaty la framed a
above wuggeBted. Kzamlnatlon should be
completed at the port of departure from
China. For thl purpose thr should be pro
vided a mora adquat Consrular rvlc In
China than we now have. Th appropriation,
both for tha office of the Consul and for
th office forces In Ih Consulate, ahould be
l.i. ressed.
Thus Hovernment has the friendliest feeling
for China and desires China' well-being. W
cordially sympathize with the announced pur
p., of Japan to aland for Ih Integrity of
China. Such an attltud tend to tb peace
of th wurld.
Tha rivll Hervlee.
Th civil service law ha bn on tha tatut
book for 22 year. F.very President and a
vat majority of heailai of department who
have been In office during that i-riod have fa
vored a gradual extension of the merit sis
tem, Th more thoroughly Its principles have
been undert'od the greater hss been the fa
vor with which the law ha been regarded by
administrative officers. Any attempt to carry
on the great executive department of the
Hovernment without thl law would Inevitably
result In chaos. The civil Service Commis
Bloner) are doing excellent work, and their
enmpenrattona k Inadequate considering the
service they perform.
Adulteration of Food.
I recommend that a law h enacted to
regulate Interstate commerce in mlsbranded
and adulterated foods, drinks and drugs.
Such law would protect legitimate manufac
ture and commerce, and would tend to se
cure th health and welfare of the consum
ing public. Traffic In foodstuffs which have
been debased cr adulterated so as to Injure
health or to decelv purchaser should be
forbidden.
National Park.
I call your attention to the generou act
of the State of California In conferring
upon the (.'nlted States Government the own
ership of the Yosemlte Valley and the Mari
posa Hlg Tree drove. There should be no
delay In accepting the gift, and appropria
tions should be made for the Including
thereof In the Yosemlte National I'ark, and
for th care and pollcelng of the park. Cali
fornia has acted most wisely a well' as
with great magnanimity In the matter.
There are certain mighty natural features
of our land which should be preserved In
perpetuity for our rhlldien and our chil
dren' children. In my Judgment the Grand
Canyon of the Colorado should be made Into
a National park. It 1 greatly to he wished
that the State of New York should copy as
regards Niagara what the State of California
has done as regards the Yosemlte. Noth
ing should be allowed to Interfere with the
preservation of Niagara Falls In all their
beauty and majesty. If the state cannot see
to this then It Is earnestly to be wished that
she should be willing to turn It over to the,
National Government, which should In uch
case (If possible. In conjunction with th
Canadian government) assume the burden
and responsibility of preserving unharmed
Niagara Falls; just as It should gladly as
sume a similar burden and responsibility
for the Yosemlte National Park, and as It
ha already assumed them for the Yellow
stone National I'ark. Adequate provision
should be made by the Congress for the
proper care and supervision of all these
National parks. The boundaries of the Yel
lowstone National park should be extended
to the south and east to take In such por
tion of the abutting forest reservation a
will enable the Government to protect the
elk on their Winter range.
Life-ejavlng Service.
I call your especial attention to the de
sirability of giving to the membera of the
Life-Saving Service pensions such a are
given to firemen and policemen In all our
great cities. The men In the Life-Saving
Service continually and In the most matter
or fact way do deeda such a make Amer
Icana proud of their country. They have no
political influence; and they live In auch re
mote place that the really heroic services
they continually render receive the scantiest
recognition from the public. It Is unjust for
a great nation like this to permit these
men to become totally disabled or to meet
death In the performance of their hazardous
duty and yes. to give them no ort of re
ward, if one of them serves 30 years of his
life In such a position he should surely be
entitled to retire on half pay, as a fireman
or policeman does, and If he become totally
incapacitated through accident or sickness
or loses hi health la the discharge of his
duty he or his family should receive a pen
slon Just as any soldier should. I call your
attention with especial earnestnesa to this
matter because It appeals not only to our
Judgment but to our sympathy; for the
people on whose behalf I ask It are compara
tively few In number, render Incalculable
service of a particularly dangerous kind, and
have no one to speak for them,
Indiana.
During the year Just past, the phase of the
Indian question which has been most sharply
brought to public attention I the larger
legal significance of the Indian's Introduction
into citizenship. This has made Itself mani
fest not only In a great access of litigation
tn which the citizen Indian figures a a party
defendant and In a more widespread dispo
sition to levy local taxation upon his per
sonalty, but In a decision of the United
Statea Supreme Court which struck away
the main prop on which ha hitherto rested
the Government s benevolent effort to pro
tect him against the evils of intemperance.
The court holds. In effect, that when an
Indian becomes, by virtue of an allotment of
land to him, a citizen of the state In which
his land 1 situated, he passes from under
Federal control In such matters as this, and
the arts of the Congress prohibiting the sale
or gift to him of Intoxicant become sub
stantially Inoperative. It I gratifying to
note that the statea and municipalities of
the West which have most at stake In the
welfare of the Indiana are taking up thl
subject and are trying to supply. In a meas
ure at least, the abdication of Its trusteeship
forced upon the Federal Government. Never
theless, I would urgently press upon the at
tention of the Congress the question whether
some amendment of the Internal revenue
law might not be of aid tn prosecuting
those malefactor, known in the Indian coun
try aa "bootlegger," who are engaged at
once In defrauding the United States Treas
ury of taxes and, what la far more Impor
tant, In debauching the Indians by carrying
liquor Illicitly Into territory still completely
under Federal Jurisdiction.
The Philippine.
During the last year the Philippine Islands
have been alowly recovering from the eerie
of dleustera which, since American occupa
tion, have greatly reduced the amount of ag
ricultural product below what wa produced
In Spanish times. The war, the rinderpest, the
locuots, the drought and the cholera have been
united as cause to prevent a return of t lie
prosperity much needed In the Islands. The
most serious Is the destruction by the rlnder-
pcrrt of more than 75 per cent of the draft
cattle, because It will take several years of
breeding to restore tho necessary number of
these Indispensable Bids to agriculture. The
Commission attempted to supply by purchaso
from adjoining countries the needed cattle.
but the experiments made were unsuccessful.
Most of the cattle Imported were unable to
withstand the change of climate and the rig
ors of the voyage and died from other dis
eases thun rtnderuest.
lteductlon of Tariff Needed. '
The agricultural condition of the Island
en fore more strongly than ever the argument
in favor of reducing the tariff on the prod
uct of the Philippine Island entering th
United Statea. I earnestly recommend that
upon the product of the Philippine Islands bo
entirely removed, except tho tariff on sugar
and tobacco, and that that tariff be reduced
to 25 per cent of the present rate under Ih
Dlnglcy act; thut after July 1, likiu, the
tariff upon tobacco and augur produced In the
Philippine lslunds ba entirely removed and
thut free trade between the Island and th
United Stutes In th product of each country
then be provided for by law,
Hawaii.
In my Judgment Immediate step should be
taken for the fortification of Hawaii. This
la Ih moat Important point In the Paclflo to
fortify In order to conserve th Intereat of
thla country. It would be hard to overstate
th importance of thla need. Hawaii 1 too
heavily taxed. Laws ahould b enaoted let
ting ald lor a period of, aay, 20 yeara li
9t rent ef fh Internal renn nd eneta
rclpt from Hawaii a special fdnd le )
expended In th llnd for eduratlcnal and
puhllo bnlldlns. and for harbor Improve
ment and military and naval defense It
cannot b Uk often rpatd that our alrn
muat ba to davlor th Territory of Hawaii
on traditional American line. That territory
has nerlnue commercial and Induatrlal prob
lem lo reckon with; but no meaaura of relief
can b ronrtdnred which looka to levlalatloa
admitting Chin and restricting them by
"tntut to field labor and dometla snrvtee.
Th ertatu of servility can never again be
tolerated on American soil. We cannot con
cede that lha proper fjolutlon of Ita problem
la special legislation admitting to Hawaii
cla of laborer denied admlewlon to th othar
atate and terrttnrle. There ar obtple,
and great obstacle). In Ihe way of building
the tariff now Imposed by the DlnrJr bill
up a representative American community In
the Hawaiian Island; but It I not In th
American character to glv up In th fac of
difficulty. Many an American commonwealth
ha been built up against odd equal to thoes
that now confront Hawaii.
Porto Klco.
I earnestly advocate th adoption nf leg
Islatlnn which will explicitly confer Amrl
can citizenship on all citizen nf Porto Klco,
Thr l. In my Judgment, no excuse for
failure lo do this. Tha harbor of Ban Juagt
should be dredged and Improved. Th ex
pens of th F'deral Court of Porto Rico
should be met from tha Federal Treasury,
and not from the Porto Rican lrasury. The
election In Porto Hlco should tak place
vry four vars, and th legislature should
meet In session every two year. Th pres
ent form of government in Porto Rico, which
provide for th appointment by th Presi
dent rf the members of the executive coun
cil or upper House of the Legislature, hae
proved natlsfactory and ha Inspired confi
dence In property-owners and investors. I
do not deem it advisable at the present time
to change thla form in any material feature.
Tha problems and needs of the Island are
Induatrlal and commercial rather than po
litical. Alaska,
I earnestly ask that Alaska be given an
elective delegate. Some person should be
rhnien who can speak with authority of the
need of th territory. Th Government
hould aid In th construction of a railroad
from the Gulf of Alaska to the Yukon Klver,
In American territory. In my last two
messages I advocated certain additional ac
tion on behalf of Alaska. I shall not now
repeat those recommendations, but I shall
lay all my atres upon the one recommen
dation of giving to Alaska some one au
thorized to speak for It. I should prefer that
the delegate wa mad elective, but If thla
Is not deemed wise then make him ap
pointive. At any rate, give Alaska some
person whose business It shall be to speak
with authority on her behalf to the Con
gress. The natural resource of Alaska are
great. Some of ihe chief need of the pecul
iarly energetic, self-reliant, and typically
American white population of Alaska were
set forth In my last message. I also ear
nestly ask your attention to the needs of the
Alakan Indian. All Indians who are com
petent should receive the full right of
American citizenship. It Is, for Instance, a
gross and Indefensible wrong to deny to such
oaru-working, decent-living Indian a the
Metlakahtlas the right to obtain licensee aa
captains, pilots and engineers, the right to
enter mining claims, and to profit by the
homestead law. These particular Indians
are civilized, and are competent and en
titled to be put on the same baal with the
white men round about them.
Admission to Statehood.
' I recommend that Indian Territory an4
Oklahoma be admitted as one state and that
New Mexico and Arizona be admitted a one
state. There Is no obligation upon us to
treat territorial subdivisions, which ar mat
ter of convenience only, aa binding ua on
the question of admission to statehood.
Nothing ha taken up more time In the
Congress during the past tew year than the
question a to the statehood to be granted
to the four territories above mentioned, and
after careful consideration of all that has
jeer, developed In the discussions of the
question I recommend that they be Imme
diately admitted as two states. There 1 no
Justification for further delay; and th ad
visability of making the four territories Into
two state has been clearly established.
Tha Panama Canal.
The treaty between the United States and
the Republic of Panama, under which the
construction of the Panama Canal wa made
possible, went into effect with Its ratification
by th United Statea Senate on February 23,
1904. The canal properliea of th French
Canal Company were transferred to the
L nlted States on April 23. 10 04, on payment
of $40,000,000 to that company. On April 1.
1U05, the Commission waa reorganized, and
It now j consist of Theodore P. Shoot.
chairman; Charle E. Magoon, Benjamin M.
Harrod, Rear-Admiral Mordecal T. Endicott.
Brigadier-General Peter C. Halns, and Cole
nel Oswald H. Ernst. John F. Steven waa
appointed chief engineer on July 1 last.
Active work In canal construction, mainly)
preparatory, has been In progress for less
than a year and a half. During that period
two polnta about the canal have ceased to
be open to debate. First, the question of
route; the canal will be built on the Isthmus
of Panama. Second, the question of feasi
bility; there are no physical obstacle on thla
route that American engineering skill will
not be able to overcome without serious dif
ficulty, or that will prevent the completion
of the canal within a reasonable time and
at a reasonable cost. This la virtually the
unanimous testimony of the engineers who
have Investigated the matter for the Gov
ernment, Necessity of Dispatch.
The point which remains unsettled Is tho
question of type, whether the canal sha be
one of several locks above sea-level, or at
sea-level with a single tide lock. On thla
point I hope to lay before the Congress at
an early day the finding of the advisory
titrd of American and European engineers,
that at my Invitation have been considering
the subject, together with the report of the
Commission thereon: and such comments
thereon or recommendations In reference
thereto a may seem necessary.
The American people la pledged to the
speediest possible construction of a canal
adequate to meet the demands which the
commerce of the world will make upon It.
and I appeal most earnestly to the Conaxesa
to aid in the fulfillment of the pledge. Grat
ifying progress has been made during the
past year and especially during the past four
month. The greater part of the necessary
preliminary Work has been done. Actual
work of excav.u'rp could be begun only on
limited teal-- tin the Canal Zone was
made a healthful place to live In and to
work In. The isthmus had to be sanitated
first. This task has been so thoroughly
accomplished that yellow fever has been '
virtually extirpated from the Isthmus and
general h?sUn conditions vastly Improved.
The same meihod which converted tha
island of Cuba from a pest hole, which men
aced the health of the world, Into a health
ful place of abode, have been applied on the
isthmus with ratlsfactory results. There la
no reason to doubt that when the plan for
water supply, paving, and sewerage of Pan
ama a-o.d Colon and the large labor campa
have been fn'ly carried out, the Isthmua will
be, for the Tropics, an unusually healthy
place of abode. The work I so far ad
vanced now that the health of all those em
ployed In canal work Is aa well guarded as
It Is on similar work In this country and
elsewhere.
What Is needed now and without delay Is
an appropriation by the Congresa to meet
the current and accruing expenses of the
Commission. The first appropriation of $10.
000,000, out of the $135,000,000 authorised
by the Spooner act, was mude three years
ago. It Is nearly exhausted. There Is bare
ly enough of It remaining to carry the
Commission to the end of the year. Unless
the Congress shall appropriate before that
time all work must cease. To arrest prog
ress for any length of time now, when mat
ters are advancing so satisfactorily, would
be deplorable. There will be no money with
which to meet pay-roll obligations and none
with which to meet bills coming due for
materials and supplies; and there will ba
demoralization of the forces, here and on
the Isthmus, now working so harmoniously
and effectively. If there Is delay In grunting
an emergency appropriation. Estimates of
the amount necessary will be found In the
accompanying report of th Secretary of
War and the Commission.
The Department of State.
I recommend more adequate provleilon than
ha been made heretofore for the work of the
Department of Stute. Within a few yeara
there haa been a very greut Increase In the
amount and Importance of the work to be
done by that department, both In Washing
ton and abroad. This ha been caused by
the great Increase of our foreign trade, the In
crease of wealth among our people, which en
able them to travel more generally than
heretofore, the Incrjase of American capital
which la seeking investment In foreign coun
tries, and the growth of our power and
weight In the oounclls of th civilized world.
There ha been no corresponding Increase of
facilities for doing th work afforded to the
department having charge of our foreign re
lation. THEODORE! ROOSEVELT.
Th Wblte House. Dee. 6, 100e.