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VOL, XXX. PITTSBORO. CHATflAM COUNTY, N; THURSDAY. DECEMBER 5. mil. .NO. 17.
Xfte Gbatbam IR.coro
'
lb
Leading Problems Confronting Our Government
Ably Discussed By the Executive
CURRENCY REFORM PLAN
The Regulation of Public Service
Corporations is Necessary, But
They Must Have Fair Treatment
Integrity of Administration of
Public Affairs a Duty That Ap
plies to AIL
To the Senate and House of Repre
sentatives: Xo nation lias greater resources
than ours, and I think it can be
truthfully said that the citizens of no
nation possess greater energy and in
dustrial ability. In no nation are
the fundamental business condi
tions sounder than in ours at this
very moment; and it is foolish, when
sueh is the ease, for people to hoard
v.iouoy instead of keeping it in sound
banks; for it is such hoarding that
is the immediate occasion of. money
stringency. Moreover, as a rule, the
business of our people is conducted
with honesty and probity, and this
r.pplies alike to farms and factories,
t railroads and banks, to all our leg
i:i'uate commercial enterprises.
In any large body of men, how
ever, there are certain to be some
v .ho are dishonest, and if the condi
tions are sueh that these men pros
per or commit their misdeeds with
impunity, their example is a very evil
tiling for the community. Where
taese men are business men of great
jfaeity and of temperament both
unscrupulous and reckless, and where
the conditions are such that they act
v.iihout supervision or control and at
;rst without effective check from
public opinion, they delude many in
r.ocent people into making invest
ments or embarking in kinds of bus
iness that are really unsound. When
the misdeeds of these successfully
dishonest men are discovered, suffer
comes not only upon them, but
vpon the innocent men whom they
have misled. It is a painful awak
ening, whenever it occurs; and, nat
nmiiy, when it does occur those who
waiter are apt to forget that the lon
ger it was deferred the more painful
it would be. In the effort to punish
the guilty it is both wise and. proper
to endeavor so far as possible to min
imize the distress of those who have
been misled by the guilty. Yet it is
not possible to refrain because of
such distress from striving to put an
end to the misdeeds that are the ulti
mate causes of the suffering, and. as
a means to this end, where possible
to punish those responsible for them.
Our steaay aim should be bv led
lation, cautiously and carefullv un
dertaken, but resolutely persevered
j ji
tn. to assert the sovereignty of th
National Government by affirmative
action; .
Interstate Commerce.
No small part of the trouble that
we have comes from carrying to an
extreme the national virtue of self,
reliance, of independence in initiative
and action. It is wise to conserve
this virtue and to provide for its
fullest; exercise, compatible with see
ing that liberty does not become a
liberty to wrong others. Unfortu
nately, this is the kind of liberty that
the lack of all effective regulation
inevitably breeds. The founders of
the Constitution provided that the
National Government should have
complete and sole control of inter
state commerce. There was then
practically no interstate business
save such as was conducted by Avater,
ana this the National Government
at once proceeded to regulate in
thoroughgoing and effective fashion.
Conditions haA'e iioav so Avholly
changed that the interstate commerce
by water is insignificant compared
with amount that goes by land, and
almost all big business concerns are
now engaged in interstate commerce.
As a result, it can be partially and
imperfectly controlled or regulated
by the action of any one of the sev
eral States; such action inevitably
tending fo be either too drastic or
else too lax, and in either case inef
fecti'e for purposes . of justice. Only
the National Government can in
thoroughgoing fashion exercise the
needed control. This does not mean
that there should be any extension of
Federal authority, for such authority
already exists under the Constitution
in amplest and most far-reaching
form; but it does mean that there
should be an extension of Federal
activity. This is not advocating cen
tralization. It is merely looking facts
in the face, and realizing that cen
tralization in business has already
eome and cannot be avoided or un
done, and that the public at large
can only protect itself from certain
evil effects of this business centrali
zation by 4 providing better. methods
for the exercise of control tbtoub,
the a'u&onfy already "c'en'fraliZ'ed in
the Rational GW&wi&'riX Dy" the Con
ttita'tiou itself. There must be no
halt in the healthy constructive
course of action which this Nation
has elected to pursue, and has stead-
ilv mirsued. during the last six years,,
I
as shown both in the legislation of
the Congress and the administration
of the law by the Department of
Justice. The most vital need is in
connection with the railroads. As to
these, in my judgment there should
now be either a national incorpora
tion act or a law lieeuing railway
companies to engage in interstate
commerce upon certain conditions.
The law should be so framed as to
give to the Interstate Commerce
Commission power to pass upon the
future issue of securities, while am
ple means should be provided to en
able the Commission, whenever in
its judgment it is necessary, to make
a physical valutation of any railroad.
As I stated in my Message to the
Congress a year ago, railroads should
be given power to enter into agree
ments, subject to these agreements
being made public in minute detail
and to the consent of the Interstate
Commerce Commission being first
obtained. Until the National Gov
ernment assumes proper control of
interstate commerce, in the exercise
of the authority it already possesses,
it will be impossible either to 'give
to or to get from the railroads full
justice. The railroads and all other
great corporations will do well to
recognize that this control must come
the only question is as to what gov
ernmental body can most wisely ex
ercise it. The courts will determine
the limits Avithin which the Federal
authority can exercise it, and there
will still remain ample Avork within
each State for the railway commis
sion of that State; and the National
Interstate Commerce Commission wiil
work in harmony with the several
State commissions, each within its
own province, to achieve the desired
end.
Income Tax.
Reference is here made to the diffi
culty of framing a law that will with
stand the test of the courts. The
argument is made by t lie President
that such a tax is not a tax on thrift
or industry. Tho German law is giv
en as an interesting example.
Sherman Antitrust La.
Moreover, in my judgment there
should be additional legislation look
ing to the proper control of the great
business concerns engaged in inter
state business, this control to be ex
ercised for their own benefit and
prosperity no less than for the pro
tection of investors and of the gen
eral public. As I have repeatedly
said in Messages to the Congress and
elsewhere, experience has definitely
shown not merely the unwisdom but
the futility of endeavoring to put a
stop to all business combinations.
Modem industrial conditions are
sucn at combination is not only
i j. ; tj. i., J.,
necessary uui liieviifiuie. j.l s so hi
the world of business just as it is so
in the world of labor, and it is as
idle to desire to put an end to all
corporations to all big combinations
of capital, as to desire to put an end
to combination of labor. Corporation
and labor union alike have come to
stay. Each 'if properly managed is
a source of good and not evil. When
ever in either there is evil, it should
be promptly held to aecount; but it
should receive hearty encouragement
so long as it is properly managed. It
is profoundly immoral to put or keep
on the statute books a law, nominally
in the interest of public morality,
that really puts a "premium upon
public immorality, by undertaking to
forbid honest men from doing what
must be done under modern business
conditions, so that the law itself pro
vides that its own infraction must
be the condition precedent upon busi
ness success. To aim at the accom
plishment of too much usually means
the accomplishment of too little, and
often the doing of positive damage.
The antitrust law should not be re
pealed; but it should be made both
more efficient and more in harmony
with actual conditions. It should be
so amended as to forbid only the
"kind of combination which does harm
to the general public, such amend
ment to be accompanied by, or to be
an incident of, a grant of supervi
sory power to the Government over
these big concerns engaged in inter
state business. This should be ac
companied by provision for the com-
pulsory publication of accounts and
the subjection of books and papers
to the inspection of the Government
officials. A beginning has already
been made for such supervision by
the establishment of the Bureau of
Corporations.
The antitrust law should not pro
hibit combinations that do no injus
tice to the public, still less those the
existence of which is on the whole
of benefit to the public. But even if
this feature of the law were abolish
ed, there would remain as an. equally
objectionable feature the difficulty
and delay now incident to its en
forcement. Tire GoKcnment mast
jaov submit to irisdffie and repeated
delay befbie obtaining a final decxs-
ion of the courts upon proceedings
instituted, and even a favorable de-
cree may mean an empty victory,
Moreover, to attempt to control these
corporations by lawsuits'means to im
post upon both the Department of
Justice and the courts an impossible
burden; it is not feasible to carry on
more man a limited number of such
suits. Such a law to be really ef
fective must of course be administer
ed by an executive body, and not
merely by means of laxvsuits.- The
design should be to prevent the
abuses incident to the creation of un
healthy and improper combinations,
instead of waiting until they are in
existence and then attempting to de
stroy Iheni by civil or criminal pro
ceedings. Pure-Food Law.
Incidentally, in the passage of the
pure-food laAV the action of the var
ious State food and dairy commis
sioners showed in striking fashion
hoAV much good for the Avhole peo
ple results from the hearty coopera
tion of the Federal and State offi
cials in securing a given reform. It
is primarily to tile action of these
Stale commissioners that Ave owe the
enactment of this laAv; for thcy
aroused the people, first to demand
the enactment and enforcement of
State laAvs on the subject, and then
the enactment of the Federal law,
without which the State laws were
largely ineffective. There must be
the closest cooperation betAveen the
National and State governments in
administering these laAvs.
Currency.
In my message to Congress a year
ago I spoke as follows of the cur
rency : "
"I especially call your attention to
the condition of our currency laws.
The national-bank act has ablv serv
j i .,.'
I eu a great purpose 111 aiding the
enormous business development of
the country, and Avithin ten years
there has been an increase in circu
lation per capita from $21.41 to
; $23.08. For several years evidence
.lias been accumulating that addition
al legislation is needed. The recui-
rence of each crop season emphasizes
the defects of t ho present laws. There
j must soon be a revision of them, be
! cause to leave them as they are means
t: incur liability of business disaster.
SiLcc your body adjourned there has
been a fluctuation in the interest on
call money from 2 per cent to 30
per cent, and the fliivjtaUon Avas oac.i
! greater during the preceding six
months. The Secretary of the Trea.5
; ury had to step in and by wise action
put a stop to the most A'iolent period
of oscillation. Even Avorse than such
fluctuation is the advance in commer
cial rates and the uncertainty felt in
the sufficiency of credit even at high
rates. All commercial interests suf
fer during each crop period. Exces
sive rates for call money in New
York attract money from the interior
banks into the speculative field. This
depletes the fund that would other
wise be available for commercial uses
; and commercial borrowers f.".'
to pay abnormal rates, so that each
fall a tax. in the shape of mcreascu
interest charges, is placed on the
Avhole commerce of the country.
"The mere statement of these facts
sIioav that our present sys'tem is ser
iously defective. There is need of
a change. Unfortunately, however,
many of the proposed changes must
be ruled from consideration because
they are complicated, are not easy of
comprehension, and tend to disturb
existing rights and interests. Wc
must also rule out any plan whieh
,Avould materially impair the value of
the United States 2 per cent bonds
now pledged to secure circulation,
the issue of which Avas made under
conditions peculairly creditable to the
Treasury. I do not press any espec
ial plan. Various plans have recent
ly been proposed by expert committees
of bankers. Among the plans which
are possibly feasible and whieh cer
tainly should receive your considera
tion is that repeatedly brought to
your attendtion by the present Secre
tary of the Treasury, the essential
features of which have been appro
ved by many prominent bankers and
business men. According to this plan
national banks should be permitted
to issue va specified proportion of
their capital in notes of a given kind,
the issue to be taxed at so high a
rate as to drive the notes back when
not Avanted in legitimate trade. This
plan Avould not permit the issue of
currency to give banks additional
profits, but to meet the emergency
presented by times of stringency.
"I do not say that this is the right
system. I only advance it to empha
size my belief that there is need for
the adoption of some system Avhich
shall be automatic and open to all
sound banks, so as to avoid all pos
sibility of discrimination and favor
itism. Such a plan would tend . to
prevent the spasms of high money
and speculation which now obtain in
New York market; for at present
there is too much currency at cer
tain seasons of the year, and its ac
cumulation at New York tempts
bankers to lend it at low rates for
speculative purposes; whereas at
other times when the crops are being
nnved there is urgent need for a
large but temporary increase in the
currency supply. It must never be
forgotten that this question concerns
business men generally quite as much
as bankers; especially is this true of
stockmen, farmers, and business men
in the West; for at present at cer
tain seasons of, the year the differ
ence in interest rates between the
East and West is from 6 to 10 per
cent, whereas in 'Canada the corres
ponding difference is but 2 per cent.
Any plan must, of course, guard thfe
nterests of Avestern and , southern
L bankers as carefully as it guards the
interests of NeAv York or Chicago
bankers, and must be drawn from the
standpoints of the farmer and the
merchant no less than from the
standpoints of the city banker and
the country banker."
I again urge on the Congress the
need of immediate attention to this
matter. We need a greater elactic
ity in our currency; provided, of
course, that Ave recognize the even
greater need of a safe and secure
currency. There must always be the
most rigid examination by the Nat
ional authorities. , Provision should
be made for an emergency currency..
The emergency issue should, of course
be made Avith an effective guaranty,
and upon conditions carefully pre
scribed by the Government. Such
emergency issue must be based on
adequate - securities approved by the
Government, and must be issued un
der a heavy tax. This would permit
currency being issued when the de
mand 3or it Avas urgent, while secur
ing its retirement as the demand fell
off. It is worth investigating to de
termine whether officers and direc
tors of national banks should ever
be alloAved to loan to themselves
Trust companies should be subject to
the same supervision as banks; legis
lation to this effect should be enacted
for the District of Columbia and the
Territories.
Enforcement of the Law.
A few years ago there Avas loud
complaint that the laAv could not be
invoked ' against Avealthy offenders.
There is no. such complaint iioav. The
course of the Department of Justice
during the last feAv years has been
, such as to make it eA'ident that no
mai; stands above the laAv, that no
i corporation is so Avealthy that it can
1 not be held to aecount. The De
i pnrtment of Justice has been as
: prompt to proceed against the
j Avealthiest malefactor Avhose crime
Avas one of greed and cunning as to
pro eed against the agitator Avho in-
! cites to brutal violence. Everything
that ."an be done under the existing
law, and Avith the existing state of
' publie opinion, whieh so profoundly
iniluenecs both llio courts and juries,
, Las been done. But the laws them
; sehes need strenstheneinjr in more
than one important point; they
should be made more definite, so that
no honest man can be led unwittingly
to hieak them, and so that the real
wiongdoer can-be readily punished.
Injunctions.
Irs! anccs of abuse in the granting
of irjunctions in labor disputes con
tinue to occur and the resentment in
the minds of those Avho feel that
their lights are being invaded and
their liberty of action and of speech
unwarrantably restrained continues
H'.ieAvise to groAV. Much of the at
tack on the use of the process of in
junction is Avholly without Avarrant;
i but T am constrained to express the
belief that for some of it there is
warrant. This question is becoming
more j.nd more one of prime import
:.?' ee, and unless the courts will them
'A ves deal Avith it in effective man
ner, it is certain ultimately to de
mand some form of legislative ac
tion. It would be most unfortunate
for our social welfare if Ave should
permit many honest and lawabiding
citizens to feel that they had just
cause for regarding our courts with
hostility. I earnestly commend to
the attention of the Congress this
matter, so that some way may be de
Aised Avhich will limit the abuse of
injunctions and protect those rights
which from time to time it unwar
rantably invades. Moreover, discon
tent is often expressed Avith the use
of the process of injunction by the
courts, not only in labor disputes, but
Avhere State laAvs are concerned. I
refrain from discussion of this ques
tion as I am informed that it aviII
soon receive the consideration of the
Supreme Court.
Accidents.
The loss of life and limb from rail
road accidents in this country has
become appalling. It is a subject
of which the National Government
should take supervision. It might be
well to begin by providing for a Fed
eral inspection of . interstate railroads
someAvhat along the lines of Federal
inspection of steamboats, although
not going so far. '
The National Government should
be a model employer. It should" de
mand the highest quality of service
from each of its employees and it
should care for all of them properly
in return. Congress should adopt
legislation providing limited but defi
nite1 compensation for accidents to
all workmen Avithin the scope of the ,
Federal power, including employees
of the navy yards and arsenals.
Eight-Hour Law.
The Congress should consider the
extension, of the eight-hour law. The
constitutionality of the present law
has recently been called into question
ahd the Supreme Court has decidec
that the existing legislation is un
questionably within the powers of
Congress." The principle of the eight- J
hour day should as rapidly and as
far as practicable be -extended to the
entire work carried on by ' the Gov
ernment; and the present law should
be amended to embrace contracts on
those public works which the'presenc
wording of the agt has been con
strued to exclude. The general intro
duction of the eight-hour day sho
be the goal toAvard Avhich we should
steadily tend, and the . Government
should set the example in this respect.-
Compulsory Investigation of indus
trial Disputes';
Strikes and lockouts, Avitli their at
tendant loss and suffering, continue
to increase. For the five years end
ing December 31, 1905, the number of
strikes was greater than those in any
previous ten years and Avas double
the number in the preceding five
years. These figures indicate the in
creasing need of providing some ma
chinery to deal Avith this class of dis
turbances in the interest alike of the
employer, the employee and the gen
eral public.
The need for some provision for
such investigation was forcibly il
lustrated in the recent" strike
of telegraph operators which serious
ly interfered with telegraphic com
munication, causing great damage to
business interests and serious incon
venience to the general public.
Inland Waterways.
The conservation of our natural re
sources and their proper use consti
tute the fundamental problem whieh
underlies almost every other problem
of our National life. We must main
tain for our civilization the adequate
material basis without Avhich that
civilization can not exist. We must
shoAV foresight, we must look ahead.
As a nation Ave not only enjoy a Avon
derful measure of present prosperity
but if this prosperity is used aright
it is an earnest of future succesa
sueh as no other nation will'" have.
The reAvard of foresight for this Na
tion is great and easily foretold. But
there must be the look ahead, there
must be a realization of the fnt tha
to Avaste, to destroy, our natural re
sources, to skin and exhaust the land
instead of using it so as to increase
its usefulness, Aviil result in under
mining in the days of our children
the Aery prosperity Avhich we ought
by right to hand down to them am
plified and developed.
Tariff on Wood Pulp.
There should be no tariff on any
forest product grolin in this- coun
try: and, in especial, there should
be no tariff on Avood pulp; due no
tice of the change being of course
g.'vtn to those engaged' in the busi
ness so as to "nablo them to adjust
themselves to the new conditions.
The repeal of the duty on Avood pulp
should if passible be accompanied
by an agreement Avith Canada that
theie shall be no export duty 011 Ca
nadian pulp wood.
The Panama Canal.
Work in iioav progressing v at a
satisfactory rate. The private bids
for the construction of the canal
Avere all unsatisfactory, and in con
sequence were all rejected.
Postal Affairs.
I commend to the favorable con
sideration of the Congress a postal
saA'ings bank system, as recommend
ed ly the Postmaster General. The
primary object is to encourage among
our people economy and thrift and
by the use of postal saA'iugs banks to
give them an opportunity to husband
their resouces, particularly those who
have not the facilities at hand for
depositing their money in savings
banks. VieAved, hoAveAer, from the
experience of the past feAv Aveeks, it
is eAident that the advantages of
such an institution are still more far
reaching. Timid depositors have
AvithdraAvn their savings for the time
being from national banks,, trust
companies, and savings banks; indi
viduals have hoarded their , cash and
the Avorkingmen their earnings; all of
Avhich money has been withdrawn
and kept in hiding or in the safe de
posit box to the detriment of pros
perity. Through the agency of the
postal savings banks such money
would be restored to the channels of
trade, to the mutual benefit of capi
tal and labor.
. I further, commend to the Congress
the consideration of the parcel post,
especially on the rural routes. There
are now 38,215 rural routes, serving
nearly 15,000,000 people Avho do not
have the advantages of the inhabi
tants of cities in obtaining their sup
plies. These recommendations have
been drawn up to benefit the farmer
and the country storekeeper; other
Avise, I should not favor them, for I
beliere that it is good policy for our
Government to do everything possi
ble to aid the small town and the
country districts. It is desirable that
the country merchant should not be
crushed out.
Reports show that during the past
year we made a clear profit on our
foreign postal business of more than
three and a half million dollai-s. The
President recommends that profit be
expended in improring the service.
Oklahoma.
Oklahoma has become a State,
standing on a full equality with her
elder sisters, and her future is assur--ed
by her great natural resources.!
The duty of the National Govern
ment to guard the personal and
property rights of the Indians with
in her borders remains of course un
changed. German Tariff Agreement.
A re-adjustment of the German
tariffs made it necessary to appoint
a comission composed of experts to
investigate conditions and secure the
fullest measure of rights to shippers,!
both exporters and importers.
Forto Rico.
I again recommend that the rights
of citizenship be conferred upon the
people of Porto Eico. A bureau of
mines should be created under the
control and direction of the Secre
tary of the Interior; the bureau to
have power to collect statistics and
make investigations in all matters,
pertaining: to mining and particularly
to the accidents and dangers of the
industry.-
Yicksburg National Park.
I further t ftommend that a naval
monument be established in the
Vicksburg National FSrkv This nat
ional park gives a unique opportun
ity for commemorating the deeds of
those gallant men - who fought j on"
water, no less than of those who
fought on land, in the great civil war.
The Thirteenth Census.
Legislation should be enacted at
the present ' session of the Congress
for the 'Thirteenth Census. The es
tablishment of the permanent Census
Bureau affords the opportunity for
a better census than Ave have ever
had, but in order to realize the, full
advantage of the permanent organiz
ation, ample time must be given for
preparation.
Presidential Campaign Expenses.
Under our form of government vot
ing is not merely a right but a duty,
and, moreover, a fundamental and
necessary duty if a man is to be a
good citizen. It is Avell to provide
that corporations shall not contrib
ute to Presidential or National cam-
paigns, ahd furthermore to provide
for the publication of - both contri
butions and expenditures.
The need of collecting 4ago cam
paign funds by the parties would
vanish if Congrass should provide
an appropriation ample enough to
meet the ligitimate expenses of each
of the great parties'. Then the stipu
lation should be -made that no party
receiving campaign funds from the
Government should accept more than
a fixed sum from, any individual,
subscriber or donor, and the neces
sary publicity for receipts and dis
bursements could easily be provided.
The Army.
NeA-er in our entire history has the
nation suffered in the least particu
lar because too much care has been
given -to the Army, too much prom
inence been give it, too much money
spent upon if, or because it has been
too large. As a nation Ave have al
ways been shortsighted in providing
for the efficiency of the army in
time of peace. I think it is only
lack 'of foresight that troubles ut;
not any hostility to the Army.
In the matter of efficiency It is
urged that officers and enlisted men
should be paid sufficient compensa
tion to warrant then in making the
army a lifi, occupation. Among offi
cers there 6hould be examinations
rigid enough to Aveed out the ineffi
cient. The practice marches and field
maneuvers of the past two or threo
years haA-e been valuable, and these
should be continued perhaps the most
important legislation needed for the
benefit of the. army is a laAv to equa
lize and increase the pay of officers
and enlisted men-in the army, naA'yj
marine corps and revenue-cutter ser
vice. The Public Health.
There is a constantly growing in
terest in this country in the question
of the public health. ' At last tha
public mind is aAvake to the fact that
many dieases, notably tuberculosis,
are National scourges. The Avork of
the State and city boards of health
should be supplemented by a con
stantly increasing interest on the
part of the National Government.
. The Navy.
It is recommended that this year
provision be made for four new bat
tleships, and that, docks, coaling sta
tions, colliers and supply ships be
provided to meet the needs thus created.-
Our coast line is on the Pacific
as well as the Atlantic and occas
ionally the fleet should be dispatched
to the Avaters of the Pacific. Our
duty to California, Washington and
Oregon is the same as to Maine, NeAV
York, Lousiana and Texas. I sin
cerely hope that the fleet will be
shifted from the Atlantic to the Pa
cific every year or tAvo until our
navy is of sufficient strength to ad
mit of division.
Foreign Affairs.
In dealing with other nations it
should 'be our policy to be neighboiv
ly and do all we can to help ""others
Avitbout meddling; and at the same
time to giA'e them to understand in a
proper Avay that we do not mean to
be imposed upon.
The Philippines.
The Secretary of War has gone, to
the Philippines. On his return I
shall submit to you his report on the
s.iano!.
International Bureau of American
Republics.
One of the results of the Pan-American
Conference at Kio Janeiro in
the summer'of 1906 has been a great
increase in the activity and useful
ness of the International Bureau of
American Republics. That institu
tion, which includes all the American
Republics in its membership and
brings all their representatives to
gether, is doing a really valuable
work in informing the people of the
United States about the other repub
lics and in making the United States
known to them. Its action is now
limited by appropriations determined
when it was doing- a work on a much
smaller scale and rendering much less
valuable service. I recommend that
the contribution of this government
to the expenses of the bureau be
made commensurate with its increas
ed work.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
The White House, Dec. 3, 1907.
OPENING. Of CONGRt&S
Brilliant Scene Characterizes tho
Formal Opening 0 the Sixtieth
Session Joseph Cannon Selected
as Speaker and John Sharp Wil
liams as Minority Leader.
Washington, Special. A brilliant
scene characterized the meeting of
the Sixtieth Congress Monday. Irs
Senate and House of Representatives
there Aver notable gatherings of th
official society of the capital. Tho
coming together for the first time of
the men Avho have been ' elected to
the Senate and the House, about ona
hundred of Avhom have not before
served r in Congress, made the oc
casion one of particular interest. '
The gt viking scenes of - the day
were in the House of Representatives,
where the formal selection of
Joseph Cannon to again be Speaker
of that body and tho designation by
the 'Democrats of Mr. John Sharp
Williams as their leader, were occas
ions, for oA-ations for those, gentlemen,.
. The A-ast hall of the House of.
Representatives rang Avith cheers of
Republicans and Democrats foitheir
leaders, and the Speaker received a
warm a reception from members of
the minority as he did from his own
party.
In accepting the speakership Mr.
Cannon said in part:
"We are today organizing th
Sixtieth Congress making the onu
hundred and eighteenth milestono
'nto the history of government by
the people under tho constitution.
Our predecessors i:i the years thai
are passed have left to U3 an' exavaoio
of Avisdom, moderation and courage!
hat has never failed to preserve thw
ideals and the interests of Republi
can government on many crises,
whether of pea.v- or Avar, adversity or
prosperity-.
"This Iiouse is the ouly institution
under -ur constitution where the will
of ih-i people .may be expressed Avitli
a .cairiiess approximating scientilut
njuracy. Other departments of the
gjvernm jnt have lofty and impor
tant functions, but to this Housu
alone belongs the peculiar, the deli
cate and the all-surpassing function
of interpreting and putting in defi
nite fonn the Aviil of the people. Thi
duty Ave must perform outrselves. The
principles of the past help us to the
extent of shoAving up the points of
the compass; but beyond that we
nust depend on our oAvn Avisdom, our
OAvn constancy, our OAvn industry
and our own fidenlity to duty."
The appearance of William "J.
Bryan on the floor of the House also
was the occasion for enthusiastic
cheering by the Democrats.
Senate Convenes.
The Senate convened promptly aC
12 noon. After Vice President Fair
banks sounded the gavel proceedings
were opened with prayer by the Rca
Edward Everet Hale, chaplain of tho
Senate.
Senator La Follelte Avas the first
Senator to be recognized and present
ed the credentials of Senator Isaac
Stephenson, of Wisconsin.
The Vice President ordered that,
the roll of Senators-elect be called
alphabetically and they were sworn
in by fours, being escorted to tho
desk by their colleagues.
All the Senators-elect were pres.
ent in the chamber except Senator
Bankhead of Alabama, Avho is de
tained at home by illness.
Under the form observed by the
Senate neither Senator Bankhead
nor Senator Johnson can be swora
in until the death of Senator Morgan
and Pettus haAre been announced and
as the Senate will adjourn, in their
honor neither of their successors will
be admitted until Wednesday.
Night Riders on Trial.
Nashville, Tenn., Special. Jame
Gross, Dr. S, C. Haskins and Georg;;
Sanders, alleged night riders, are on
trial at Clarksville, Tenn., 'charged
with destroying tobacco plant beds.
The jury in the case has been com
pleted. Owing to the prominence of
the defendants, the trial is attracting
much attention.
Green; and Gr-yrcr Appeal to UnitsJ
States Supremo Court.
Washington, Special Benjamin 1).
Greene and John F. Gaynor, vho em
bezzled nearly $600,000 of United
State funds at Savannah, Ga., haw
petitioned the Supreme Court for :
Avrit of certiorari in theirj case, rais
ing some international questions up
on which they hope to be releasdi
from prison. They are now under
sentence of four years' imprisonment
and a fine of $575,000 each, and this
appeal to the United States Supreme
Court is the last straAV of hope thai
remains to them.
Illinois Congressman Dead.
Murphysboro, 111., Special. Con
gressman George W. Smith, of th
25th Illinois district, died at his home
here of typhoid fever. He had been
sick two weeks but his condition wa
not considered critical until Friday
night, .when, he became suddenly
worse. He was a Republican an
Avas serving his twentieth year is
Congress.