OCR Text |
Show ECOMONY IS URGED 111 TARjffiGE PRESIDENT POINTS OUT NECESSITY NECES-SITY OF CURTAILING EXPENSES EXPEN-SES TO LAWMAKERS. ANNUAL DOCUMENT IS READ Conservation, Ship Subsidy and Fortification For-tification of Panama Canal Leading Lead-ing Topics Discussed Has Little to Say About Tariff. "Washington, Dec. 6. Economy in government affairs is the keynote of President Taft's annual message read before both houses of congress today. The message approximates 40,000 words and is one of the longest ever submitted by a president. Conservation of the public domain, ship subsidy, fortification of the Panama Pana-ma canal and the continuation of the present tarl3 board are the leading subjects touched upon. He also reviews re-views the work of the' various government gov-ernment departments and concurs in recommendation, tending toward the bettering of the service, made by several sev-eral of the members, of his cabinet. Economy Is Urged. In dwelling on the urgent need for economy in government expenditures, the president says: "Every effort has been made by each department chief to reduce the estimated cost of his department for the ensuing fiscal year ending June 30, 1912. I say this In order that congress may understand that these estimates thus made present the smallest sum which will maintain the departments, bureaus and offices of the government and meet its fcther obligations under existing law, and that a cut of these estimates would result re-sult in embarrassing the executive branch of the government in the performance of Its duties. This remark does not apply to the river and harbor estimates, except to those for expenses of maintenance and the meeting of obligations under authorized author-ized contracts, nor does it apply to the public building bill nor to the navy building build-ing program. Of course, as to these congress con-gress could withhold any part or ali of the estimates for them without interfering interfer-ing with the discharge of the ordinary obligations ob-ligations of these functions of Its departments, depart-ments, bureaus and offices. "Against the estimates of expenditures $640, 494, 013.12, we have estimated receipts for next year $680,000,000, making a probable proba-ble surplus of ordinary receipts over ordinary or-dinary expenditures of about $50,000,000, or taking into account the estimates for the Panama canal, which are $56,920,S47.69, and which will ultimately be paid in bonds, it will leave a deficit for the next year of about $7,000,000, if congress shall conclude to fortify the canal." . Wants Forest Limitation Removed. On the subject of conservation he devotes de-votes considerable space to forest, coal, oil and gas, phosphate lands and water power sites. As to the reservation of forest lands he says: "The law now prohibits pro-hibits the reservation of any more forest lands In Oregon, "Washington, Idaho, Montana. Colorado and Wyoming, except by act of consrress. I am informed by the depirtnient of p Tlmlture that the government gov-ernment owns other tracts of timber land in these states which should be included in the forest reserves. I recommend to congress that the limitation herein imposed im-posed be repealed. "Congress ought to trust the executive to use the power of reservation only with respect to land most valuable for forest purposes. During the present administration. administra-tion. 62.250,000 acres of land largely non-timbered non-timbered have been excluded from forest reserves, and 3.500.000 acres of land principally prin-cipally valuable for forest purposes have been included in forest reserves, making a reduction in forest reserves of non-timbered non-timbered land amounting to 2,750,000 teres." Wants Canal Fortified. Regarding the Panama canal, the president presi-dent asserts that unless unexpected obstacles ob-stacles arise the waterway will be completed com-pleted well within time limit of Janu-arv Janu-arv 1. 1915, and within estimate of cost, $375,000,000. Suggestions for levying of tolls and management are made, and regarding re-garding fortification of the canal, he Bays: "Among Questions arising for present solution is the decision whether the canal shall be fortified. I have already stated to the congress that I strongly favor for-tificat'on for-tificat'on and I now reiterate this opinion opin-ion and ask your consideration of the subject in the light of the report already before you mad3 by a competent board. "Failure to fortify the canal would leave the attainment of both these aims In the position of rights and obligations which we should be powerless to enforce and which could never in any way be absolutely ab-solutely safeguarded against a desperate and irresponsible enemy." Ship Subsidy. The president urges such action as he believes will Increase American trade abroad, and says:: "Another instrumentality indispensable to the unhampered and natural development develop-ment of American enmmorce is merchant marine. All maritime and commercial nations na-tions recognize the importance of th;s factor. The great i's' rnmmomal nations, our competitors, jenlonsiv foster the'r merchant marine. Perhaps nowhere is the need for rapid and direct mail, passenger pas-senger and frehrh t communication quit so urgent as between the Pnited States and Latin Amer'ca. We can secure in no other quar'er of the world such immediate imme-diate ben-!' " - i n friendship and commerce com-merce as would flow from the establishment establish-ment of direct lines of communication with the countries of Latin America ade-ouate ade-ouate to meet the requirements of a rapidly rap-idly increasing appreciation of the reci-procal reci-procal depen'inre of the countries of the western hemisphere upon each other's products, sym pat hies and assistance. "I alluded to this most important subject sub-ject in my last annual message : it has often been before you and I need not r-a r-a titillate the reasons for iis recommendation. recommen-dation. Unless prompt action be taken 'he completion of the Panama canal will find this the only great commercial na tion unable to avail In InternationaJ marl- i time business of this great contribution to j the means of the world's commercial in- i tercourse." Criticism of the Tariff. In the space d-voted to the tariff the "Ti.f se..-.j.i!.-s of the rates of duty hi i the fiu r..i ar ! i bt-'-n SM'ij.-ced 1 to a great d-al or" : :ticism, some of it just, r i ' j i e of it unfm; i. uad too much ! misivpreseritation. TN a--t was adopted in pursM-iM'e of a d iv'.raun by the par-' par-' ty which is responsible f'T it that customs cus-toms bill should be a tariff fcr the pro-teeth, pro-teeth, n of heme industries, ihe measure of til- protection to be the difference between be-tween the co.st of producing the imported article abroad and the cost of producing it at home, together with such addition to that difference as might give a reasonable profit to the home producer. The basis for the criticism of this tariff is that in respect to a number of the schedules tho declared measure was not followed, but a higher difference retained or inserted by ' way of undue discrimination In favor of I certain industries and manufactures. Utile, Ut-ile, if any. of tho criticism of the tariff has been directed against the protot;ve principle above stated: but the main body of th criticism has been based on the at-ten at-ten f to conform to the measure of protection pro-tection was not honestly and sincerely adhered to." The president also refers to the afDoint-ment afDoint-ment of a board of experts to investigate" the cost of production of various articles included in the schedules of the tariff, and concludes: "Whether or not the protective policy la i to be continued, and the degree of protection protec-tion to be accorded to our home indus- I tries, are questions which the people must decide tit rough their chosen representatives. representa-tives. But whatever policy is adopted, it is clear that the necessary legislation should be based on an impartial, thorough thor-ough and continuous study of the facts." Recommends Parcels Post. The adoption of the parcels post is again adopted. On this subject President Taft says: "With respect to the parcels post, I respectfully recommend its adoption adop-tion on all rural delivery routes, and that 11 pounds the international limit be made the limit of carriage in such post. The same argument is made against the parcels post that was made against the postal savings bank that It is introducing introduc-ing the government into a business which should be conducted by private persons and is paternalism. The postoffice department depart-ment has a great plant and a great organization, or-ganization, reaching Into the most remote hamlet of the United States, and with this machinery it is able to do a great many things economically that if a new organization were necessary It would ba impossible to do without extravagant expenditures." ex-penditures." Department of Justice. Discussing the affairs of the department of justice, the president says: "I invite especial attention to the prosecutions prose-cutions under the federal law of the so-called so-called 'bucket shops,' ' and of those schemes to defraud in which the use of the mall Is an essential part of the fraudulent conspiracy, prosecutions which have saved ignorant and weak members of the public and are saving them hundreds hun-dreds of millions of dollars. The violations viola-tions of the anti-trust law present perhaps per-haps the most important litigation before the department, and the number of cases filed shows the activity of the government govern-ment in enforcing that statute. "In a special message last year I brought to the attention of congress the propriety and wisdom of enacting a general gen-eral law providing for the incorporation of industrial and other companies engaged in interstate commerce, and I renew my recommendation in that behalf." The crying need in the United States of cheapening the cost of litigation by simplifying judicial procedure and expediting ex-pediting final judgment is pointed out and action looking to correction of these evils is urged. The president recommends an increase In the salaries of federal judges. Postal Affairs. In regard to postal matters the president presi-dent points with pride to its present efficient effi-cient management and the recent reduction reduc-tion in the deficit. The present unrestricted unre-stricted franking privilege comes in for comment with a suggestion for the adoption adop-tion of better methods for its regulation. Abolish Navy Yards. The president calls attention to certain reforms urged by the secretary of the navy which he recommends for adoption, and continues: "The secretary of the navy has given personal examination to every navy yard, and has studied the uses of the navy yards with reference to the necessities of our fleet. With a fleet considerably less than half the size of that of the British navy, we have shipyards more than double the number, and there are several of these shipyards expensively equipped with modern mchinery, which, after investigation the secretary of the navy believes to be entirely useless for naval purposes. He asks authority to abandon certain of them and to move their machinery to other places, where it can be made of use." Speaking of our foreign relations the president says: "During the past year the foreign relations of the United States have continued upon a basis of friendship and good understanding. '"Che year has ben notable as witnessing witness-ing the pacific settlement of two important impor-tant international controversies beTore the permanent court of Tho Hague. "The arbitration of the fisheries dispute between the United States and Great j Britain, which lias been the source of nearly continuous diplomatic correspond-I correspond-I ence since the fisheries convention of ISIS, i has given an award which is satisfactory I to both parties. This arbitration is par-i par-i ticularly noteworthy not only because of the eminently just results secured, but ; also hocause it is the Irst arbitration held , under the genera I ntjit ration treaty of : April 4, IMS. between the United States r-nd Great Britain, and disposes of a controversy con-troversy ihe settlement of which has resisted re-sisted every other resource of diplomacy and which for nearly ninety years has been the cause of friction between two countries whose common interest lies in maintaining the most friendly and cordial rein t:ons with each other. ; President Taft makes a few recommendations recommen-dations for changes in the interstate commerce com-merce law and says: "Except as above, I do not recommend any amendment to the interstate com J merce law as it stands. I do not now , recommend any amendment ro the anti-! anti-! trust law. In other words, it seems to me that the existing legislation with I reference to the regulation of corporations corpora-tions and the restraint of their business has reached a point where we can stop for a while and witness the effect of the ! vigorous execution of the laws of (he statute books in restraining the abuses which certainly did ex'st and which roused the public to demand reform." |