Jasper Weekly Courier, Volume 53, Number 10, Jasper, Dubois County, 9 December 1910 — Page 7

IRK OF YEAR REVIEWED BY IRE PRESIDENT

Affairs of State Are Dealt With at Length in Annual Message. BUT LITTLE ABOUT TARIFF President Discusses Work Tariff Board Ship Subsidy Is Urged. of "WORK ON PANAMA CANAL Need of Legislation Anticipating Com pletion of the Ditch Is Pointed Out Change In Postal RatesParcels Post and Postal Savings Economy Urged. uonhinirton. Dec. C President Taft s annual messago to congress contained 40.000 words, and Is said to be tbo longest document of Its kind rer written. In it he reviews tbo work of each of the administrative departments beginning with the state debarment. He devotes considerable ipao to the satisfactory settlement of the fisheries dispute witn tngiana throuch the medium of the Haguo Tr.bunal. and recounts both the history of tho fisheries dispute and tho establishment of tho tribunal. Ia connection with tho state department he tells of the Important poll tl.al happenings of the past twelve months throughout the entire world, and the action of this country In con ception with them. Tariff Negotiations. Referring to the negotiation of now tariff acroements President Taft IS) 3 The new tariff law, In Section 2, respecting the maximum and mini n.um tariffs of tho United States. whi. h provisions came Into effect on April 1, 1910. imposed upon us re spottnibllity of determining prior to tiat dato whether any undue dlscrlm Itatlon existed against tho United Etaies and Its products In any coun tT of toe world with which wo austuned commercial relations. In the rase of several countries Inttanros of apparent undue discrimination against American commerce were found to exist. These discriminations wore removed by negotiation. Prior to April 1. 1910. when tho maximum tariff was to come Into operation with respect to importations from all those countries in whose favor no proclamation applying the minimum tariff ibould bo issued by the president, one hundred and thirty-four such proclamations wore Issued. This (cries of proclamations embraced the entire commercial world od hence the minimum tariff of tho I sued States has been given unlverI (cation, thus testifying to tho wtisf Te'.iti ! '.. r, tv r ry character of our trado with foreign countries. Advantages to tho com- ' ! United States were ob- " -gh theso tariff Bettley of broader nnd closer ns with tho Dominion of ' ' ich was Initiated in tho ad"f the maximum and mini'"Islons of tho tariff act of '909. has proved mutually 'I. It Justifies further efforts readjustment of the comraertlons of tho two countries so lr coramerco may follow tho J in r. .m f'T tl Hl r sanif s natural to contiguous counrte rid bo commensurate with tho "'ad expansion of trade nnd Indus"J or. both sides of tho l!ne" boundary Ship Subsidy. The president urges such action as believes will lncreaso American trade abroad, and says; Another Instrumentality indispensable to tho unhamapered and natural "Telopment of American commerce Is merchant marine All maritime and crtnmerclal nations recognlzo the Im portance of this factor. Tho greatest commercial nations, our competitors, Jealously foster their merchant ma Tino. Perhans tiowhnrn In thn nooH for rapid and direct mall, passenger u iroignt communication quite so urMnt as between the United States 'u i.aun America. We can secure Jo no other quarter of tho world such .mediate benefits In friendship and rnmmercc as would flow from tte es tabllshracnt of direct linos of com TT Int-. ... .u.wauon witn the countries of a'ln America adeauato to meet th '"lulrcmonts of a rapidly Increasing relation of tho reclnrocal dependence of the countries at th w.sf,rn Ptnlgphere upon each other's produ"ts. sympathies and rhu I alluded to this most Important ' 'Jert in my last annual message; It ras often been before you and I need rt recapitulate tho reasons for itn ."-ommendatlon. Unless prompt ac

cn tho completion of the

Panama canal will find this the only

great commercial nation unnblo to nvail in international maritime busi ness of this great contribution to the means of tho world's commercial Intercourse." (.overnmental Expense. To n. öno subject docs ho devote more scu than to the expense of conducting the various government departments and the urgent need for economy, and in this connection he says: Every effort has boen made by each department chief to reduce tho estimated cost of his department for the onsuing fiscal year ending Juno 30, 1912. I say this In order that congross may understand that these esti mates thus mado present tho smallest sum which will maintain the departments, bureaus and offices of tho government and meet Its other obliga tions under existing law, and that a cut of theso estimates would result In embarrassing the executive branch of the government In tho performance of Its duties. This remark does not apply to the river and harbor esti mates, except to those for expenses of maintenance and the meeting of obligations under authorized contracts, nor docs it apply to tho public building bill nor to tho navy building program. Of course, as to theso congress could withhold any part or all of tho estimates for them without In terfering with tho discharge of the ordinary obligations of theso functions of its dopartinents, bureaus nnd offices. "The final estimates for tho year ending June 30, 1912, as they have beon sent to the treasury on November 29 of this year, for the ordinary expenses of tho government, Including those for public buildings, rivers and harbors, nnd tho navy building program, amount to 1630,494.013.12. This is J52.964.SS7.36 less than the ap propriations for the fiscal year end ing June 30. 1911. It la $10.883,153.44 less than tho total estimates, including supplemental estimates submitted to congress by tho treasury for the year 1911. nnd is $5.574,059.39 less than the original estimates submitted by the treasury for 1911. "These Qugrcs do not Include the appropriations for tho Pannma canal, the policy In respect to which ought to be. and 1b, to spend as much each year as can be economically and effectively expended In order to com plcte the canal as promptly as possl ble. and therefore, the ordinary mo live for cutting down the expense of tho government does not apply to ap propriations for this purpose. "Against the estimates of expend! tures. $640,494,013.12, we have estimat ed receipts for next year $680,000.000 making a probable surplus of ordinary receipts over ordinary expenditures of about $50,000,000, or taking Into ac count the estimates for the Panama canal, which are $56.920.847.69, and which will ultimately bo 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." The Tariff. Tho President devotes but little space to tho subject of tho tariff law, and of it ho says: "The schedules of the rates of duty In tho Payne tariff act have been sub jected to a great deal of criticism, some of It Just, more of it unfounded, nnd to much misrepresentation. Tho act was adopted In pursunnco of a declaration by the party which Is responsible for It that customs bill should be a tariff for the protection of homo Industries, tho measure of the protection to be the difference be tween tho cost of producing the Imported article nbroad and the cost of producing It at home, together with such nddltion to that difference as might give a reasonable profit to the homo producer. The basis for the criticism of this tariff is that in respect to a number of tho schedules the declared measure was not followed, but a higher difference retained or Inserted by way of undue discrimination In favor of cortaln Industries and manufactures. Llttlo, If any. of the criticism of tho tariff has been directed against the protective principle nbovo stated: but the main body of the criticism has been based on the attempt to conform to the measure of protection was not honestly and sincerely adhered to." The Tariff Board. The president refers to the appointment of a board of experts to Investigate the cost of production of various articles included in tho schedules of tho tariff, and says: "The tariff board thus appointed and authorized has been diligent in nrenarinc Itself for tho necessary Invesications. The hope of thoFC who have advocated tho use of this board for tariff purposes Is that the question of the rate of a duty Imposed shall becomo more of n business question and less of a political question, to bo nKPorialned by experts of long trainnmirate knowledge. The hnlt In business and tho shock to bus! ness due to the announcement that a now tariff bill Is to bo preparod and nnt In oneratlon wilt bo avoided by treating the schedules ono by one as occasion shnll nrlse for a change In thn rntoR of each, and only after a re port upon Iho schedule by the tariff board competent to make such report. It Is not likely that tho board will be in mnko n report during me prea cnt session of congress on any of the .,,.i.i1h. because a proper examine tlon InvolvcB an enormous amount of ntl nnd a great dcni oi care; urn. hone to be ablo at tho oponlng of the rnneress. or at least during the session of lhat congress, to bring to u. nttontlon the facts In regard to those scl'cdulcs In the present tariff that mnv prove 'o necu '' Our Island Possessions. "During Uo 1,1Bt summer, at my request, tho secretary of war visited

the Philippine Islands and has described IiIb trip in tbo report. He

found tho Islands In a state of tran quillity and growing prosperity, due largely to tho change In the tariff aws, which has opened tho markets of America to tho products of the 'hlllppines, uud has opened the Phil ippine markets to Amprlcan manufactures. "Tho year has been one of prosperty and progress in Porto HIco. Panama Canal. "At tho instance of Colonel Ooothals, the army engineer ofllcer In chargo of tho work on tho Panama canal, I huvo Just made a visit to tho Isthmus to inspect the work done and to consult with him on the ground as to certain problems which aro likely to ariso In tho near fu ture. Tho progress of tho work is most satisfactory. If no unexpected obstacle presents Itself, the canal will bo completed well within the Um fixed by Colonel Goethals, towlt, January 1, 1915, nnd within the cstlmato of cost, $375,000,000. "Among questions arising for pres ent solution Is the decision whether the canal shall bo fortified. I have already stated to the congress that 1 strongly favor fortification and 1 now relterato this opinion and ask your consideration of the subject in tho light of tho report already be fore you made by a competent board "Another question which arises for consideration and possible legislation Is tho question of tolls In the canal. This question is necessarily affected by the probable tonnage which will go through tho canal. "In determining what tho tolls should bo we certainly ought not to insist that lor a good many years to come they should amount to enough to pay tho interest on the investment of $400.000,000 which the United States haB mado in tho construction of tho canal. Wo ought not to do this, first, because the benellts to be derived by the United States from this expenditure is not to bo meas ured solely by a return upon tho Investment. If It were then the construction might well have been left to private enterprise. "My own Impression is that the tolls ought not to exceed $1 per net ton, and I should recommend that within certain limits the president be authorized to fix the tolls of tho canal and adjust them to what seems to be commercial necessity. "1 cannot close this reference to the canal without suggesting as a wise amendment to tho Interstate commerce law a provision prohibiting Interstate commerce railroads from owning or controlling ships engaged In tho trade through tho Panama canal. I believe such a provision may bo needed to save to the people of the United States the benefits of the competition in trade between tho caBtern and western seaboards which this canal was constructed to secure. Department of Justice. Discussing the affairs of tho de partment of Justice, the prcsiaem says: I Invite csneclal attention 10 me prosecutions under the federal law of ihn so-called 'bucket shops, ana of those schemes to defraud in which the use of the mall Is an essential part of the fraudulent conspiracy, nrnsecutlons which nave, savea ig norant and weak members of the public and arc saving them hundreds of millions of dollars. The violations of the anti-trust law present perhaps tho moat Important litigation before me department, and tho number of cases filed shows the activity of the government 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 law providing for the In corporation of industrial ana uiub companies engaged in interstate com merce, and I renew my recommeudation in that behalf." Thf orviru: need In tho United stntfts of cheapening the cost of liti gation by simplifying Judicial proced ure and expediting nnai juagmciu nointed out and action looking to cor rection of these evils Is urged. The president recommends an increase in me bhiuued ui .v.-.. Judges. Postal Savings Banks. Af its last session congress made p rovlslon for the establishment of savings Dan3 uj ,juo..v,...vv nartment of this government ny wmcn under general control of trustees, con sisting of tho postmaster general, inu orrMarv of the treasury ana me i torney general, tho system could bo betmn In a few cities ana town, huu enlarged to cover within Its opera tions as many cities anü towns anu ua (r n nnrt of the country as seemed .! Tho initiation nnd establish ment of such a system has required a great deal of study on tho part of ihn nxnorts In the postouice anu irea.-i rv rfanartments. but a system has now been devised which Is believed to be more economical and simpler In ltfl oreratlon than any similar system n,rr,nil Arrangements nave Drcn per fnptod so that savings banks will be opened In some cities and towns on the 1st of January, and there will bo a gradual extension of tho benefits of inn to tho rest of the country." Tt Is eratlfylng," says tho president. the reduction In the postal deficit has been accompl'shcd without nv nirta ment oi poswu mcuuius On the contrary, the service has been ntlv extended during the year In all Its brancnes" ' Second-Class Mall. "In my last annual message 1 In vited the eltentlon or corg-csi to me ,nllncv of the rostnl rate Imroscd III""-" " . . . II I.. uron seconders man m.-i..-. ... w f-ir ns that Includes magaz'nes nnd Bhowcd by flares prernrcd b experts of the roitofflcc department thi the government was rendering a service

to the magazines, costing many Mil

lions Ln excess of the compensation paid. An answer was attempted to this by the representatives of the magazines, and a reply was filed to this answer by the postofJlce depart ment Tho utter Inadequacy of the answer, considered In the light of the reply of tho postofflco department, I think must must appeal to any fairminded person. Whether the answer was all that could be said ln behalf of the magazines is another question. I agreo that the question Is ono of fact; but I Insist that If the fact 1b as the experts of the postofllce department show, that we aro furnishing to tho owners of magazines a service worth millions moro than they pay for it. then Justice requires that the rate should be Increased. Tho lncreaso ln tho receipts of the department resulting from this change may be devoted to Increasing the usefulness of tho de partment In establishing a parcels post and ln reducing the coBt of firstclass postage to ono cent. It has been said by the postmaster general that a fair ndJuBtment might bo mado under which tho advertising part of tho magazine should bo charged for at a different and higher rate from that of the reading matter. This would relieve many useful magazines that are not circulated at a profit, and would not shut them out from the use of tho malls by a prohibitory rate. "With respect to the parcels post, I respectfully recommend Its adoption on all rural delivery routes, and that 11 pounds tho International limit be mado the limit of carriage ln such post." Abolish Navy Yards. The president calls attention to certain reforms urged by the secretary of the n-o-.-y which he recommends for adoption, and continues: "The estimates of the navy department are $5,000,000 less than the appropriations for tho same purpose last year, and Included In this Is the building program of the same amount as that submitted for your consideration last year. It Is merely carrying out the plan of building two battleships a year, with a few needed auxiliary vessels. I earnestly Lapo that this program will be adopted. "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 theso shlpyardB expensively equipped with modern machinery, which, after investigation the secretary of the navy belevea to bo entirely useless for naval purposes. He asKs autuoruy 10 aoandon certain of them and to move their machinery to other places, where It can bo made of use." The complete success of our coun try ln arctic exploration should not remain unnoticed. The unparalleled achievement of Peary in reaching tho north pole, April 6, 1909, approved by critical examination of the most expert scientists, has added to the dis tinction of our navy, to which no uelongs, and reflects credit upon his country. I recommend ntting recogni tion by congress of the great achievement of Robert Edwin Peary." Conservation. 'The subject of the conservation of the public domain has commanded the attention of the people within the last two or three years. 'There Is no need for radical re form in the methods of disposing of what are really agricultural, lands. The present laws have worked well. Tho enlnrged homestead law has encouraged tho successful farming of lands In the soml-arld regions. 'N-othlng can be more important ln the matter of conservation than tho treatment of our forest lands. It was probably the ruthless destruction of forests In the older states that first called attention to the necessity for a halt ln the waste of our resources. In the present forest reserves there aro lands which are not properly for est, and which ought to be subject to homestead entry. This has caused somo local Irritation. Wo aro carefully eliminating such lands from forest reserves or whero their elimination Is not practical liBtlng them for entry under the forest homestead act. "Congress ought to trust tho executive to use tho power of reservation only with respect to land most valuable for forest purposes. During the present administration, 62.250,000 acres of land largely non-timbered, have been excluded from forest re serves, and 3,500,000 acres of land principally valued for forest purposes have been Included in forest reserves, making a reduction ln forost reserves of non-tlmbored land amounting to 2,750,000 acres." Coal Lands. "Tho next subject, and ono most important for your consideration, Is the disposition of the coal lands In the United States and Alaska. At tho beginning of this administration thero were withdrawn from ntry for purposes of classification 17,867,000 acres. 3lnce that time thero havo beon withdrawn by my order from entry for classification 78,977,745 acres, making a total withdrawal of 96,844,746 acres. Meantime of tho acres thua withdrawn 1,061,889 havo been classified and found not to contain coal and havo been restored to agricultural entry, and 4,726,091 acres have been classitled as coal lands; while 7.993,239 acrea remain withdrawn from entry and await classification, In addition 337,000 acres havo boen classitled as coal lands without prior withdrawal, thus Increasing tho classified coal lands to 10,429,372 acres. Under tho laws providing for tho dlsjoial of coal lands In the United Stau s, the minimum price at which

lands are permitted to. be sold. Is $10 aa aero; but tho secretary of the Interior has the power to tlx a maximum prlco and to sell at that price. "As one-third of all the coal supply Is held by the government. It seoms wise that It should retain such control over tho mining and the Bale as tho relation of lessor to lessee furnishes. "The secretary of the Interior thinkB there are difficulties in the way of

loasing public coal lands, which objections be has set forth in his report, the forco of which I freely concede. I entirely approve his titatlng at length in his report of tho objections ln order that tho wholo subject may bo presented to congress, but after a full consideration, for the reasons I havo given above, I favor a leasing system and recommend it" Water Power Sites. "Prior to March 4, 1909, thero had bt'jn, on tho recommendation of the reclamation service, withdrawn from agricultural entry, because they wero regarded as useful for power sites which ought not to bo disposed of as agricultural lands, tracts amounting to about 4.000.O0J acres. Tho withdrawals wero hastily mado and included a great deal of land that waB not useful for power sites. They were Intended to include the power sites on 29 rivers ln 9 Btates. Since that time 3,475,442 acres have been restored for settlement of the original 4,000,000 because they do not contain power sites; and meautime, now withdrawals have been mado which, with other restorations based upon Held examination, result In withdrawals at present effectivo of 1,218,356 acres on vacant public land and 2J2,197 acres on entered public land, or a total of 1,420,553 acres. These withdrawals made from time to time cover all the power sites included in the first withdrawals and many more, on 151 rivers and ln 12 states. The disposition of these power sites involves one of the most difficult questions presented ln carrying out practical conservation. "The subject Is one that calls for new legislation. It has been thought that there was danger of combination to obtain possession of all the power 8ltes and to unite them under one control. Whatever the evidence of this, or lack of it, at present we havo had enough experience to know that combination would be profitable, and the control of. a great number of power at will within certain sections. "However this may be, It is the plain duty of the government to see to It that In the utilization and development of all this Immense amount of water power, conditions shall be Imposed that will prevent extortionate charges, which are the usual accompaniment of monopoly. "The question of conservation Is not a partisan one, and I sincerely hope that even In the short time of the present session consideration may be eiven to thoBe questions which have now been much discussed, and that action may be taken upon them." Alaska. "With reference to the government of Alaska, I havo nothing to add to the recommendations I mado ln my last message on the subject I am convinced that the migratory character of the population, its unequal distribution, and Its smallness of number, which the new census Bhows to be about 50,000, In relation to tho enormous expanse of tho territory, make it altogether impracticable to give to those people who are In Alaska today and may not be there a year hence, tho power to elect a legislature to govern an Immense territory to which they have relation so little permanent" Pensions. "Tho uniform policy of the govern ment in the matter of granting pensions to those gallant and devoted men who fought to save the life of the nation ln the perilous days of tho great civil war, has always been of tho most liberal character. Those men uro now rapidly passing away. The best obtainable official statistics show that they are dying at tho rate of something over throe thousand a month, and, in view of tholr advancing years, this rate must Inevitably ln proportion, rapidly Increase. To the man who risked everything on tho field of battle to save the nation in tho hour of Its direst need we owo a debt which has not been and should not be computed in a begrudging or parsimonious spirit." Bureau of Corporations. Referring to tho report of tho commissioner of corporations, the president says: "TThe commissioner finds a condition In the ownership of tho standing timber of tho United States othor than tho government timber that ca'.ls for Berlous attention. The direct investigation made by tho commissioner covered an nrea which contains SO per cent, of tho privately-owned timber of tho country. "His report shows that ono half of tho timber in this area Is owned by 200 individuals and corporations; that 14 per cent. Is owned by these corporations, and that thero Is very extensive Intor-ownerßhlp of stock, as well as other circumstances, all pointing to friendly relations among thoso who own a majority of mis timber, a relationship which might load to a combination for tho maintenance of a price that would be very detrimental to tho public Interest, and would create tho necessity of remov ing all tariff obstacles to the free Importations of lumber from other countries." Bureau of Labar. "Tho commissioner of labor has been actively engaged In composing tho differences between employers and emplovers n?aged in Interstate trans

portation, under tho Erdman act Jolfltp ly with the chairman of tho Interstate commerce commission. "I cannot Bpcak in too high terms of the success of tho two officers in conciliation and Bcttloment of controversies which, but for their Interposition, would have resulted disastrously to all Interests. Civil Service Commission. "Tbo civil service commission has continued its useful duties during the year. The necessity for tho maintenance of tho provisions of tho civil service law was never greater than today. Officers responsible for tbo policy of tho administration, and their Immediate personal assistants or deputies, should not be Included within the classified service, but In my Judgment, public opinion has advanced to tho point where It would support a bill providing a secure tenure during efficiency for all purely administrative officials. I entertain tho profound conviction that It would greatly aid the causo of efficient and economical government and of better politics if congress could enact a bill providing that tho executlvo shall havo the power to include in tho classified service all local offices under the treasury department, tho department of Justice, tho poBtofTice department, the interior de

partment and the department of commerce and labor, appointments to which now require tho confirmation of the senate, and that upon such classification the advice and consent of the senate shall ceaBe to bo required In such appointments. By their certainty of tenure, dependent on good sorvlco, and by their freedom from tho necessity for political activity, theso local officers would bo induced to becomo more efllcJcnt publlo servants. Economy and Efficiency. "The increase ln tho activities and ln the annual expenditures of the federal government has been so rapid and so great that the time has come to check the expansion of government activities ln new directions until w havo tested tho economy nnd efficiency with which tho government of today is being carried on. Tho responsibility rests upon the head of the administration. Ho Is held accountable by tho public, and properly so. DeBplto tho unselfish and patriotic efforts of the heads of departments and others chargod with responsibility of government, there has grown up ln this country u conviction that tho expenses of government are too great. The fundamental reason for tho exlBtenco undetected of waste, duplication, and bad management Is tho lack of prompt, accurate Information. "I have requested the head of each department to appoint committees on economy and efficiency ln order to bocuro full co-operation in the movement by the employees of the government themselves. "I urge tho continuance of the appropriation of $100.000 requested for the fiscal year 1912. "My experlenco leads me to believe that while government methods are much criticized, the bad results If we do havo bad results are not due to a lack of zeal or willingness on the part of the civil Bervants." Interstate Commerce. "Thero has not been time to teBt the benefit and utility of tho amendments to tho Interstate commerce law contained in tho act approved June 18, 1910. The law as enacted did not contain all the features which I recommended. It did not specifically denounce as unlawful tho purchase by one of two parallel and competing roads of the stock of tho other. Nor did It subject to the restraining Influence of tho Interstate Commerco commission tho power of corporations engaged In operating Interstate railroads 'to lsbuo new stock and bonds; nor did It nuthorlzo the making of temporary agreements between railroads limited to 30 days, fixing the samo rates for traffic between the samo places. "I do not press the consideration of any of these objects upon congress at this session. "Tho Interstate commerce commission lias recommended appropriations for the purposo of enabling It to enter upon a valuation of all railroads. This has always been within tho Jurisdiction of tho commission, but tho requisite funds have been wanting. Statistics to the value of each railroad would bo valuable for ninny purposes, especially If wo ultimately enact any limitations upon the power of tho Interstate railroads to issue stocks and bonds, as I hope wo may. "For tho protection of our own people and tho preservation of our credit In foreign trade, I urgo upon congress the Immediate enactment of a law under which one who, In good faith, advances money or credit upon a bill of lading issued by a common carrier upon an lntorstato or foreign shipment can hold tho carrlor liable for the value of .he toods described ln the bill at the valuation specified In the bill, at least to tho extent of the ndvariccs made In reliance upon It. "I further recommend that a punishment of fine and Imprisonment bo Imposed upon railroad agents and shlppcrB for fraud or misrepresentation in connection with tho Issue of bills of lading Issued upon Interstate and foreign shipments. "Except as above, I do not recommond any amendment to the Interstate commerce law as It stands. I do not now recommend any amendment to the anti trust law. In other words, it teeemfl to mo that tho existing legislation with refcronco to tho regulation of corporations and the restraint of their business has reachod a point where wo can stop for a while and witness the effect of the vigorous execution of the lawB of tho Btntuto books In restraining tho abuses which certainly did exist and which roused ihm public to demand reform."