Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1902 — MESSAGE FORECAST. [ARTICLE]

MESSAGE FORECAST.

THE PRESIDENT’S PROBABLE RECOMMENDATIONS. Roosevelt’s State Paper Probably Will Ask Restriction of Trusts, Appointment of Permanent Tariff Commission and Arrangement of Reciprocity. President Roosevelt has his annual message to Congress far advanced toward completion. Although the contents of President Roosevelt’s message will be* kept secret until it is forwarded to Congress, enough is known as tp the way in which some of its topics will be treated to enable a forecast of these features to be made. That there has been no change in the attitude of the administration on Cuban reciprocity will be made apparent, but whether the message will urge legislation or will promise the transmission of a Cuban reciprocity treaty to the Senate probably will depend upon the progress that may be made in the next two weeks toward the negotiation of a reciprocity treaty. Probable Action on Trusts, Interest in the forthcoming message is largely centered in what the President may have to say on the subject of trust regulation. The President will urge Congress to consider this subject carefully, with the view to the enactment of legislation which will regulate the trusts without endangering the industries in which they are engaged. He has already indicated that he will favor a constitutional amendment, if such an amendment is necessary, to enable Congress to act effectively. He has been advised, however, by such a capable lawyer as Attorney General Knox that the necessary power already exists, and he will recommend legislation along the lines of the Attorney General’s 'Pittsburg speech. The message probably will refer to the strike in the anthracite mines and to the progress being made toward an adjustment of the difficulties between the mine workers and the mine owners. > There will be nothing in the message savoring of the abandonment of the principles of protection, but this wilLimt prevent him from recommending the reduction, by direct enactment or by reciprocal agreements with foreign nations, es rates of duty which may no longer be needed for purposes of protection. It. has been announced by a member of the cabinet that the message will favor such reductions, and that it will also urge the creation of a permanent commission which can at all times give expert consideration to the needs of the government and of the varying interests, thus enabling it to make recommendations to Congress which will save the committees charged with the preparation of revenue laws a great deal of labor and insure a more, intelligent framing of such laws.

Views on Currency Reform. Closely allied to the question of revenue is the subject of currency and banking reforffi. Secretary Shaw is heartily in faVor of the establishment of a system of asset banking which would give greater flexibility to the national bank currency of the country, and would enable the banks themselves to tide over many periods of monetary stringency, in which they must now appeal to the treasury for help. If the President does not specifically recommend such legislation in his message he probably will call the attention of Congress to the recommendations of the Secretary of the Treasury. \ The message will indorse the recommendations which Secretary Moody will make in his aiinual report for tlie~ increase and improvement of the navy. One of the questions which may not be finally disposed of by. the President until just before his message is .sent to the printers is the reference which he will Thake to the Panama canal. As a result of the report of Attorney General Knox, he will be able to inform Congress that the United States can acquire an undoubted title to the property of the French Panama canal company, and, if the negotiations with the Colombian government had advanced as rapidly as had been hoped, he would be able to announce that the way was clear for the beginning of construction work at once. The Colombian negotiations have dragged along in such an unsatisfactory manner, however, that it is doubtful if he will be able to tell Congress that a treaty has been negotiated complying with the terms of the Panama canal act.