ed. It is to be hoped that such
uniformity, founded in a wise and just discrimination between what is
injurious and what is useful and necessary in business operations, may
be obtained, and that means may be found for the Congress, within the
limitations of its constitutional power, so to supplement an effective
code of State legislation as to make a complete system of laws
throughout the United States adequate to compel a general observance
of the salutary rules to which I have referred.

The whole question is so important and far-reaching that I am sure no
part of it will be lightly considered, but every phase of it will have
the studied deliberation of the Congress, resulting in wise and
judicious action.

Restraint upon such combinations as are injurious, and which are within
Federal jurisdiction, should be promptly applied by the Congress.

In my last annual message I dwelt at some length upon the condition of
affairs in the Philippines. While seeking to impress upon you that the
grave responsibility of the future government of those islands rests
with the Congress of the United States, I abstained from recommending
at that time a specific and final form of government for the territory
actually held by the United States forces and in which as long as
insurrection continues the military arm must necessarily be supreme.
I stated my purpose, until the Congress shall have made the formal
expression of its will, to use the authority vested in me by the
Constitution and the statutes to uphold the sovereignty of the United
States in those distant islands as in all other places where our flag
rightfully floats, placing, to that end, at the disposal of the army and
navy all the means which the liberality of the Congress and the people
have provided. No contrary expression of the will of the Congress having
been made, I have steadfastly pursued the purpose so declared, employing
the civil arm as well toward the accomplishment of pacification and the
institution of local governments within the lines of authority and law.

Progress in the hoped-for direction has been favorable. Our forces have
successfully controlled the greater part of the islands, overcoming the
organized forces of the insurgents and carrying order and administrative
regularity to all quarters. What opposition remains is for the most part
scattered, obeying no concerted plan of strategic action, operating only
by the methods common