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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 1910)
PRESIDENT TAFT'S MESSAGE Resume of the Work of the Various Departments of the Goverment Is Presented to Congress, NEED OF ECOMONY POINTED OUT Has Uttle to Say About the TariffWork on Panama Canal Is Reviewed No Change m Anh-lrust Laws Interstate Commerce Laws Are Discussed. Washington. Doc. C In thn document of Us kind over onf to congress; President Taft Ycvlows at tunBin uio ousiness of tlu yonr in the vnnoua ucpnrtmonts of the imtionnl .Government. Tho settlement of the flshrles disputo with England through tho Hague tjUmnal comes in for a considerable naro of tho president's attention. Tho history of tho fisheries uinpuio ana tho establishment of tho u-iuuuai nro comprehensively review od. Tho president gives a rosumo of tho foreign relations of tho government. n,uuu "r oeciaroa 10 oo in a satlsfac tory condition. Tariff Negotiations. Referring to tho negotiation of now tariff agroemonta President Taft eays: "Tho now tariff law. in Section 2. respecting tho maximum and mini mum tariffs of tho United Statos. .which provisions camo into effect on April 1, 1010, imposed upon us ro- oponsiDinty or dotormining prior to that date whothor any undue dlscrim Ination existed against tho United States and lta products in any coun try of tho world with which wo sus tained commercial relations. "In tho caso of sovoral countries In stances of apparent unduo discrimina tion against Ainorlcan commorco woro found to exist. Thoso discriminations woro removed by negotiation. Prior to April 1, lOio,, when tho maximum tariff was to como into operation with respect to Importations from all thoso countries in whoso favor no proclama tion applying tho minimum tariff Bhould bo Jssuod by ,tho president, ono hundred and , thirty-four such procla mations were' issued. "This series of proclamations em braced tho ontlro commercial world and honco tho minimum tariff of tho United States has been clvon univnr. sal application, thus testifying to tho satisfactory character of our trado roiauons with forolgn countries. '1f fl.U n.lA a "V u uuvuuiuKus 10 mo com, morco of tho United Statos were ob- winca tnrougn thoso tariff settle ments. "Tho policy of broader and closor trado relations with tho Dominion of Canada which was initiated In tho ad justment or tno maximum and mini mum provisions of tho tariff act of August, luua, has proved mutually beneficial. , It Justifies further offorts ior uio reaujustment of tho commor rfnl mlflHnna ft . . uiu ywu countrios so that their commorco may follow tho cnannois natural to contiguous coun tries and bo commensurate with tho sioaay expansion of trado and indus try on both sides of tho boundary each dopnrtmont chief to reduce tho estimated cost of his department for tho ensuing fiscal yonr ending Juno 30, 1912. I say this In order that con gross may understand that thoso ostl mates thus made present tho smallest sum which will maintain tho depart monts, bureaus and oltlccs of tho gov u.uuiuiu nnu meet Its other obllgu noss, due to tho announcement that n now tariff bill Is to be prepared and put In operation will bb nvoldcd by treating tho schedules ono by ono ns occasion shall ariso for a chango In tho ratos of each, and only after n ro port upon tho schedule1 by tho tariff board competent to mako such report. It is not likely that tho board will bo ablo to mako n roport during tho pres ent Bnpston of congress on any of tho schedules, becauso a proper examina tion Involves an onormous amount of uotoii inid a groat deal of care; but I hope to bo ablo nt tho opening of tho now congress, or nt least during tho session of thnt congress, to bring to lis attention tho facta In regard to thoso schedules In tho present tariff that may provo to need amendment." Our Island Posaetstons. "During tho last Bummer, et my request, tho sccrctnry of war visited tho Phllipplno Islands and has de scribed his trip In tho roport. Ho found the Islands In a Btato of tran quillity nnd growing prosperity, duo lurgcly to tho chnngp in tho tariff laws, which haB oponed tho mnrkots of America to tho products of tho Philippines, end has opened tho Phil- i-yiuu uiiuKoiB to American mnmi. facturos. "Tho yoar has boon ono of prosper ity and progress in Porto Illco. Panama Canal. "At tho Instance of Colonel Gooth ftls, tho nrray engineer ofilccr In charge of tho work on tho Panama canal, I havo Just mado n visit to tho Isthmus to Inspect tho work dono and to consult with him on thn ground bb to certain problems which aro likely to arlso In tho near fu ture tho progress of tho work is n J l X1St ,s law- nna that mo8t satisfactory. If no unexpected cut o thoso estimates would result obstacle presents Itself, tho cSnal In ombarrnsslnir tho ovon.fiv.. i,,.,, m i, !. . lU0. . cnnai o its ruIler8nmT,Vn U, Tf?rmnnC Um0 flXCd b' Ctolonil doottata, S opply to tho ru- lTk t005 DOt W,.V JnnUary 1915' aild wlth" tho mato 1 ,",V?r nn,d harbor csU- 09 lmat0 of cost. 1375,000,000. operation than any similar sTstom abroad. Arrangements have bqen por- rtAln. tl... . 'V. . ..... . miuu tu mill ouviiigg UM1K3 Will up opened In some cities and towns on tho 1st of January, and thoro will bo n gradual oxtonslon of tho benefits oft tio plan to tho rest of tho country." "It Is gratifying," says tho president, "that tho reduction In tho postal deficit has boon accomplished without any curtailment of postal facilities. On tho contrary, tho Borvlco has been greatly extended during - tho year in alt Its branches." Second-Class Mall. "In my last annual mossngo I In vitod tho attention of congress to tho Inadequacy of the postal rato lmposod upon second-class mall matter In so far as that Includoa magaxlnoa, and showed by figures prepared by experts of tho postofneo department thnt tho government was rcndorlng n service to tho magazines, costing many mil lions in excess of tho compensation paid. An answer was attempted to this by tho representatives of tho magazines, nnd n reply was filed to thla answer by tho pootofrico depart ment. Tho utter inadequacy of tho answer, considered in its light of tho repiy or the rortofflcc fentrtsunt. 1 think must must arpcal to any fair minded person. Whothor tho nnswer was all that could bo said In behalf of mo magazines Is another question. I agree that tho question is ono or fact; but I insist thnt If tho fact is as the experto of tho postofllco dopartmont show, that wo nro furnishing to tho owners of magazines a service worth millions moro thnn they pay for It, thon Justlco requires thnt tho rato should bo Increased. ,Tho Increnso In tho receipts of tho dopartmont result ing from this chango mny bo dovotcd to increasing tho usofulnoss of tho do partmont In establishing n parcols post and In reducing tho cost of first- class postago to ono cent. It haB boon said by tho postmaster gonoral that a ginning ol this administration there wero withdrawn from nntry for pur posoa of classification 17,807,000 ncrcs. SInco that tlmo there havo boon with drawn by my ordor from entry for classification 78,977,745 acros, making n totnl withdrawal of 90,844,745 acres. Mcantlmo of tho ncrea thus" with drawn 1.0G1.SS9 havo beon classified and found not to contain coal and havo boon restored to agricultural en try, and 4,72(5.091 ncros havo been classified as coal lands; whllo 7,093,239 acres romnln withdrawn from entry nnd await classification. In nddltlon 337,000 ncres hnvo boon clnsslflod ns coal lands without prior withdrawal, thus increasing Uio classified coal hinds to 10,429,37a ncrcs. "Under tho laws provldlmr for tho disposal or coal lands In tho United portatlon, under tho Erdman net, Joint ly with tho chairman of tho Interstate c6mmorco commission. "I cannot speak In too high terms of tho success of tho two officers In con ciliation nnd settlement of controver sies which, hut for thofr interposition, would hnvo resulted disastrously to all interests. . i Civil Servlc Commission. ' "Tho civil sorvfeo commission has continued Its useful duties during the year. Tho necessity for tho malnto nanco of tho provisions of tho civil servlco law was noVcr greater than to day. Ofllccrs responsible for tho pol icy of tho administration, and their lmmodlnto personal assistants or depu ties, should not bo Included within tha classified service, but iu tnv iu.lr- States, tho minimum price at which wont' ,publl. OH,n,0 has advanced to lands aro permitted to bo cold Is $10 1,10 J10'"1 w"oro ft wottd support a, bill "Among questions nrlslnc for nrnn. Adjustment might bo-mndo under nn ncro; but tho sccrctnry of tho In- tenor nas tno power to fix a maximum price and to sell at that price. "As one-third of all tho coal antmlv Is hold by tho government, It scorns wlso that It should retnln such con trol over tho minims and tho nnln nn tho rolatlon of lessor to lessco fur-! aitars. providing a sccuro teiiuro durlntr . cloncy for nil purely administrative officials, I ontortaln tho profound coa vlcllon that It would groatly nld tha cause of efficient nnd economical gov ernment nnd of hotter politics If con gress could enact a btjl providing that tho cxocutlvo Bhall hayo tho power to Include In Uio classified dtrvico alt "Tu: secretary of tho intorlnr itiinbx ,oca' oHIcos under tho treasury donart- iuujo aro uimcuuiM In tho way of I"'""' uparimeni Justlco, the leasing public coal lands, which ob jections ho hns sot Torth In his ro port, tho forct or whloh I freely con code. I ontlroly npprovo his Btatlng u luiiBtn iu ins roport of tho objoc- postofllco dopartmont, tho Interior do pnrtmcnt and tho department of com morco and labor, appointments to which now require tho confirmation of tho aonato, nnd that upon ouch tions In ordor tlmt tho wholo subject olnBB,flcntlot ,tho advlco and consent nintcs, except to thoso for rr mnlntonnnco and tho mnntini nr nut i. ..... . b . l. which tho mivortuinn. t -, . ,. -o uu.uiiuii in uiu UeClSIOn WUOtllOr . --.-.... ui mu I '"s 1 ndcr authorized contracts, tho canal shall bo fortified. I havo mn8ai,n should bo charged for at a ?r ,d.?.03 11 apDly t0 tho public build- already stated to tho oonerosn ii,i ront and highor rato from that of nm n ' 9 Ul navy bulIdlne Pro- I strongly favor fortification nnd I ,V'0 rcndl"B n,nltcr- Thl3 woul(l . esso,,C0S',?9'.0Ah? rc,ternte this opinion nnd nsk r.wnK"z!nca Uint - ""u lmn or an your cons deration of tho subloct In ",1'u",";u n wont, nna wouiu of ho estimates for them without in- tho light of tho report already bo- not B,n,t thom 0,lt irom tho uso of tho torfcring with tho discharge of tho or- foro you mado by a SSmnotent bonni ,na,ls by n Prohibitory rato. dlnnry obligations of Mima r..nnin. a5".u ...Vtt comP.otet board. ...vkh roBnnct tn . nnrnnia nn.t T of its departments, bureaus and of- consideration and nosslblo lSnHnn rcsPcu"y rccommond its adoption .OOO.OOO bocnuso thoy do not con- "ubl,0 nUll Properly bo. Dcsplto tho flCCS. I. uuu IIOBSIOIO ICglSintlOn nn it Mi i,,.,... .... .... Inn nnwni- olf. . n.. linnnlnnli nn,l n-tn.. i . "Tho nnni , , . 13 1110 1uestlon of tolls in tho canal. 1110 final CStlmatna fnr M, rr.tn .. . ' ondlnn- Tn nn 1 ' ?Kai muuuu ib necessarily nirectca .-cj uu, i jiz. ii q inni' iit i twr .1.1. a . . been Kont in m,. -V . ",u i'ouauio tonnngo wuicu bor on " !, , th0 troasury on N'ovom- go through tho canal. uor Lv or r nia tno 1 1. i ... . . . viu, iui iiih on nnrv "in f ntnrm tiinn a-i- harbors, and tho navy building pro- may no nro.mniori r in..,. after n full consideration, for tho rea sons I havo given abovo, I fnvo a leasing Byatcm and rocommood It." Wator pqyor Sltee, "Prior to March 4, 1909, thoro hnd boon, on tho recommendation of tho reclamation service, withdrawn from agricultural entry, because thoy woro regarded ns usoful for power altos which ought not to bo dlsnoaod of nn agricultural lands, tracts amounting to nbout 4.000.000 acres. Tho with drawals woro hastily mado and In cluded a groat dual of lnml thnt wn not usoful for powor sites. Thoy woro nnvo tested tho economy and efficiency intonuca to includo tho powor bUcb W1U which uio government of today Is on 29 rlverB in 9 Btates. Sluco that l,0,nS carried on, Tho responsibility tlmo 3,475,442 acres hnvo boon re- r08tfl UP" tho hoad of tho admlnistra- stored for aottlomont of tho original t,on' Ho ,a hold nccountnblo by tha of tho Bontilo shall conBo to bo re quired J ouch nppolutmonto. By tholr certainty of tenure, dependent on good Borvlcc. and by tholr freedom from tho nocosslty for political activ ity, those local offlcora would bo In ducod to becomo moro offlclont public scrvnntB. Economy and Efficiency. "Tho Incroaao in tho activities and in tho annual expenditures of tho fed ornl govcrnmont has beon so rapid and bo great that tho tlmo has come to check tho expansion of government acUvitlcs in now directions until we on nil rural dollvory routes, and thnt tain power sites; and mcantlmo, now unHnlflsb nnd patriotic offorts of tho 11 pounds tho International limit bo mado tho limit of carriage In such post." gram, amount to ?C30, 194,013.12. This . ,yiH,08.au less than tho an proprlatlons for tho fln ml vnny Ing Juno 30, 1911. it Is $10,883,153.44 ess than tho total .estimates, Includ Ig supplemental estlmnton a.mut.. to congress by tho treasury for tho fw 011, .n!,d.18 5."4.G59.30 loss tbyn thooriglnal ,cstlmntcs submitted ui thqrensury for 1911. Ihcso fiugres do not inriiuin t, Y'iiiopnations lor tho Panama canal, flirt rrtl Ihm t u. ' drawals mado from tlmo to tlmo coyer an tno power sites included In tho Abolish Navy Yards. Tho prosldont calls nttontlon to cor Insist that for n good many years to lnm rforms urged by tho socrotary of como tnoy should nmount to enough U1 nnv' which no recommends for to pay tho interest on tho invest- hl,ontIon' nnd continues: mont nf sion nnn finn wiiini, t.n tt..i..i "TIio rHtimnino nr ....... ,i.. i Staten lmn mnrin in nnn..,.ntin mcnt nro sr. nnn nnn in i.n.. m. "rat wiinurnwals and mauy moro. ou " VUUOUUVHUII T",wwv,wvv viOJ .111111 IJJU !' 1R1 .1,,..,, , ... . . , ' . of tho canal. Wo ought not to do Proprlatlons for tho namo purposo Inst ,,, , oa' TUo d,B tnis, lirst, becauso tho bonofltn to bo Joar, anu included in th s is tho hi.iiii. ' i'uo buub mvoivos uonved by tho United Stated- from in program of tho saino nmount ns this expenditure Is not to bo meas- .tlmt submlttod for your connlderatlon urcd solely by a return upon tho In- Inst year. It la merely carrying -out vostmcnt. If, It wero thon tho con- tho Plnn of building two'battloshlns a ouuuuun iuigui wen navo oeen lert ,llu " " neeaou auxuiaryvos to privatd enterprise HOls. I earnestly hopo that this pro withdrawals Jiavo boon mado which, hoadd 01 dopartmonta and others wun otner restorations based upon cuargoa wun responsibility of govern- field oxnmlniUlon, result In withdraw- mcnt, there has grown up in this coun- als at present effective of 1,218,350 try w conviction thnt tho pxpenscs o ncrcs on vncnut nubile land nnd 202.. Boveramont aro to6 nrcnl. Tho furiT 107 ncros on entered public lnnd, pr a dnmontnl reason for tho oxlstenco un- total or 1,420,553 acres. Thoso with- U0lcclu or waBto, duplication, and bad "My own impression Is that tho Bvam will bo adopted. exceed $1 per not iU0 secretary of tho navy has the policy in respect to winch o to.lught no t Z w uu, uim ib, to spend as munh onnli o t .., ,...1 irlvm nnmnnnl l.i- year nn nn im , ,, .", nuu i nuumu ic-uuiiiiuuiiu mat 1 D" uuiuniiuiuii 10 every fectlvoiv l;! ,, ? l om,cny nd of- within certain limits tho president bo nnvy yd, and lino Btudled tho uses ' ' -If wniuiiui:ii ill I I II 1 1 IP T f ma wvt I I 1 n . . ... I nT .. .1 . 1.1 . Ship Subsidy. Tho president urges such action as hp bcllovos will incroaso Amorlcan trado abroad, and says: "Another Instrumentality lndlspon eablo to tho unharaaporcd and natural dovolopmont of Amorlcan commerco Is morchant marine All mariUmo and commercial nations recognize tho lm jportanco of this factor, Tho greatest commercial nations, our competitors, Uoalously foster their morchant ma rine. Perhaps nowhoro is tho neod for rapid and direct mail, passongor and freight communication quito so urgont ns betwoon tho United Statos and Latin America. Wo can socu.-o Jn no other quarter of tho world such immodlato benoflts In friendship and commerce as would How from tho es tablishment of direct lines of com municaUon with tho countrios of Latin America adoquato to moot tho requirements of a rapidly Increasing appreciation of tho reciprocal dopen donco of tho countries of tho westorn hemisphere upon each other's prod ucts, sympathies and assistance. "I alludod to this most imnorfnnf I nubject In my last unnual message; It has often beon before you and I need not recapltulato tho reasons for its recommendation. Unless prompt ac tlon bo takon tho complotion of tho jl'anama canal will Hnd this tho atily 'great commercial nation unablo to avail In International mariUmo busi ness of thla great contribution to tho moans of tho world'scomraerclal In torcourso." y Governmental Expense. to obtain possession of all tho Power .sites ana to unlto thom undor ono control. Whatever tho evidence of this, or lack of it, at present wo havo had enough oxporlonco to know that i -iiiiiMiiini ifiii ii-iiii in nil ninii w n fiirt hh.i liio .i i " nna aajusi mom to wnat Booms to l"u utoiinw 01 our ncou with a 7. """ i"u'"u'i " iZ ftl. -..,' mo ordinary mo- be commercial necosslty. "nt considerably less than half tho control of a groat number of pow- .own 1,10 xpenso of i cannot closo this roforonco to slzo of Umt of tho British nnvv. wo er nt wl" wUllln cortnln sections. tutmiHuuni UOOS not nnn In - H. . ..... .. M.n.. . ..' .. "IInvvnr Mila mnv Un If nir.n ... -n- iuo ennui witnoui BUKcrostintr na n "' u'W'uu wuiu iimn uouuio tno . . -'w - uu " " I'twi'tlULlUUN III I' T ri 1 TMlM.in.m " I.. . . l'u'l'USC. WlHO ACnlnat thn nntln.ni I 7 .X . . "'tua oi cxpenai- commerco management Is tho. lack of prompt, ac curate Information. "I Jiavo requested tho hoad or each department to appoint committees on economy and efficiency In ordor to sn- ono of tho most dlfllcult questions pro- curo ful1 co-operation In tho movomont Hcntod In currying out prncUcal con- ,u' the omployocs of tho government Horvntlou. . thomsalvos. "Tho subject Is ono that chlls for-! "."rK0 tho vcontlnuanco. of Iho an now legislation. It has boon Uibuirkt fl'prlntlon of,?100,000 roquosted for ... i i i. jy . tnat tnoro was danger of combination 1 " ,,DCtu ynr 1U". nloto tho M " I, -' luiuionzou to nx tuo tolls or tho canal Ul ",u "uv yrus wun rcierenco to bin nmi tZt 1 1 , 1 ns po831- nnd ndJust thom to what bcoius to 1,10 necessities of our flcot "My flxporlonco leads mo to tmiinvn that whllo government methods -are much criticized, tho bad rosultst-lf 'wo do havo bad results aro not duo to u laok of zoal or willingness on tho part of tho civil Bcrvnnts." Interstate Commerce. "Thoro has not boon tlmo to tost the bonofit and utility of tho atnondmonta to tho lntcrstnto commorco law con tained In tho net npprovod Juno 18, amendment to tho Interstate numbor, nnd thoro nro several of thoso plnju duty of tho Bovornmont to boo i- . .. ... I ulilnvnrilu Xviii.ioli.nl.. 1 ....... I td it that In thn Iltl1l7nl'nn nmi ilnt-nl. 11111.0, tl)HI,iai,U13.12. WO hnvn nDtlmn. l-l- i. . . mnilnrn mnnhtnni-. ..,1.1.1. ...! I OnniOIlt Of nil thin Imninnun nmminf 1910. Tllfl IllW no nnnr-ln.l .11,1 nt UU rCCClUtS IOr nnrr vtni. tun Mnnn. I . .... I n.tln. il. - . ... .1 nt wnlni. nntunK l...ti ... I Inln nil tli.. fnnl. ...i.i.i. y mnbinir i i i fow,uuu,uuu, owning or controlling snips engaged u' outrowry oi uio navy bo- "u,v' wuhiuu nm uu i " "" i recom- "f n Probablo surplus of ordinary In tho trado through tho Panama l,.ovca to bo entirely useless for naval ,mPoscd tha will provont extortion- mended. It did not specifically do- nhnn ?rn nnn nnn ' u-M'UHuiiurcs or canal. I bollovo such a provision pur,y0BL8, "o asKs autnorlty to aban- "lu u'bi "ro uio usual ac- . " umuwun mo purcnaso uy count thVoXni ur,iaK nK "'to ac- may bo needed to Bavo to tho peoplo a?" cortaln of thom and to movo tholr ennni T,ii T-l " 1 anaraa or tho United States tho benefits of '""cumory to otner places, whoro It whic will ,, imninir, .y.' and tbo competition In trade betwoon tho cm 00 mnao so WI110I Will Ultimately bO paid in bonds, nnntnrn nn,1 woalnm ,nnl,nr.1n ,.,.1. "TllO COmD OtO ailCCena of our ,.n. year of nhm,t t L f. tbo noxt th,s canal was constructed to secure." tr ,n arcUo exploration should not ro lblllnaLX,U.wom Department of Justice. . ma, unnoticed. Tho unparalleled snau conclude to fortify tho canal." Discussing tho affairs of Alio do- achlovomcnt of Peary in reaching tho Tne Tariff, partmcnt of Justice, tho -prosldont .u i-jcaiuoiu ucvotc8 but little snys- spaco to tho subject of tho tariff law, " Invito cspoclnl attention to tho and of It ho Bays: prosccutI6ns under tho federal law "Tho schedules of tho mix. f of tho so-called 'bucket shons.' nnd in tho Pnyno tariff act have beon sub- of tuoso schomes todefraud in which country. I rccommond fitting recogni Jected to a groat deal of criticism tuo uso ot tho mall Is nn essential t,on by congress of tho groat nchiovo- Bomo or it Just, moro of It unfounded pnrt of tno Irnudulont conspiracy, luvul 01 """ort isuwm Peary." nnd to much mlsronresontniinn tiJ prosecutions wMIch havo saved Itr- Conservation. . .- u i . .... . . . ... r mm.. - i . .. norant unu wqaK merauora or tno pub- A" buojuci oi tno conservation of He nnd are saving thom hundreds of 'ho public domain has commanded tho millions of .dollars. Tho violations of attention of tho peoplo within tho laBt tho anti-trust law present perhaps tho two or "ireo years most Important lltlgntlon boforo tho dopartmont, and tho numbor of cases north polo, April 0, 1909, approved by critical examination or tho most ox port scientists, has added to tho dis tinction of our navy, to which ho be longs, and reflects credit upon his To no ono,mibjcct doos ho dovoto more Bpacjy than to tho oxnonso of conducting tho various government departments and tho urgent need for economy, and in this connection ho says: "Every offort has been mado hv act was adopted In pursuance or (jnnlfll lll Inn l.ir t.n .....i.. ... . . . ,7. ' I'uuy which la ro- Djiuumuio ior It that nnnfnmo .ni should bo a thrift for tho protection of homo Industries, tho measure of . muiuQHon to oo tho dlfferonco bo tweon tho cost of producing !. ported article abroad and tho cost of muuuuiuB it at iiomo, togother with such additloii to that ilirrnmn might givo a reasonable profit to tho nomo producer. Tho basis for tho" ittuuisui oi mis tariff is t int in rn. spect to n number of tho schedules tho declared measure was not follow ed, but a highor dlfforenco retained or nserted by way of unduo lfscrlmlna- huh H, mvor or cortaln Urdustrios and manufactures. Little. At nnv nt criticism bt tho tariff' has been diroct- "KHinHl IHO nrotOCt VO nrlnnl, ubovo stated; but tho main body of tho criticlsnxlias beon based on tho attempt ta-conform to tho measure of jiroiociiOT waH not honestly and sin corelBdhorcd to." y The Tariff Board. Tho president rcfora to tho appoint ment of a board of exports to investi gate tho cost of production of various articles included In tho schedules of tho tariff, and says: "Tho tariff board thus appointed and authorized has boon dillgont In preparing itself for tho necessary In vestigations. Tho hopo of thoso who havo advocated tho uso of this board for tariff purposes is that tho question of tho rato of a duty Imposed shall becomo more of a buslnoss question and less of a political question, to bo ascertained by exports of Jong train ing and accurate knowlodgo. Tho halt in buslnoss and tbo shock to busl-1 Ltho propriety and wisdom of enacting ln tho ecml-arld regions filed Bjlowa tho activity of tho govern montln enforcing thnt ntnintn "In a special message last year I brought to tho attention of congress "Thoro is no need for radical ro- form in tho mothods of dlsnoslnir of wnai aro really agricultural lands. Tho present laws havo worked well. Tho enlarged homoBtcnd law has encour. aged tho successful farming of lands a genornl law nrovldlnir for thn In corporation of Industrial and other companies ongagod In interstate com morco, and I renew my recommen dation In that behalf." tho crying need In tho United Statos of cheapening tho cost of liti gation by simplifying Judicial proced ure and expediting final Judgmont Is pointed out nnd action looking to cor rection of thoso evils Ib urged. Tho president recommonds an In croaso In tho salaries of federal Judges. Postal Savlnos Banks. "At Its last session congress mado p revision for tho establishment of savings banks by tho postofllco do partmont of thla government by which undor gonoral control of trustees, con slstlng of tho postmaster gonoral, tho secretary of tho treasury and tho at torney general, tho system couhi hn begun In a fow cities and towns, aud enlarged to covor within its opera tions as mauy cities and towns and as largo a part of tho country as seomnil wlso. Tho initiation and establish mont of such a oystem hns required a groat doal of study on tho part of tho exports in tho postofllco and trens- ury departments, but n nystoni has now boon devised which Is bollovmi tn bo more economical and simpler In its "Nothlng can bo more Imnortnnt In tho" matter of conservation than tho trentmont of our forest lands. It wus probably tho ruthless dontructlon of forests In tho older statos that first caiioa attention to tho necosslty for a nan in tuo wasto of our resources, "in tho present forest reserves thore are lanus which nro not pronoriy for est, and which ought to bo sulJoct to nomestoau entry. This has caused Borao local Irritation. Wo aro care fully eliminating such Innds from for est reserves or whoro their elimina tion is not practical listing thom for entry unucr tho forest homestead act compnulmont of monopoly, rho question of conservation Is not n partisan ono, and I sincerely hopo that oven In tho abort tlmo of tho present scbsIou consideration may bo glvon to thoso questions which havo now boon much discussed, aud that action may bo takon upon thom." Alaska. "With roforonco to tho go-rnmont of AlnBka, I havo nothing to add to tho rocommondatlons I mndo In my Inst message, on tho subject. I am convinced thnt tho migratory charac ter of tho population, its unoqual dis tribution, and Its Btuallncss of num ber, which tho now consus shows to bo about 50,000, In relation to tho enormous expanso ot tho territory. mako it altogether impracticablo to givo to thoso peoplo who aro In AlnBka today and mny not bo thoro a year henco, tho powor to elect u leg islature to govern nn immonso tor- rltory to which thoy havo rolatlon ho llttlo pormanont." Bureau of Corporations. Iloforrlng to tho report of tho com. mlsslonor of corporations, tho wresl- dent says: Tho commissioner finds a condi tion In tho ownership of tho standing timber of tho United Statos othor than tho govornmont tlmbor that calls for Borlous attention. Tho direct In vestigation mndo by tho commissioner covered an nrca which contains 80 por cent, of tho privately-owned tlm- her of tho 'country. "Ills report shows that ono half of tho tlmbor In this area is owned by zuu inuiviuuais and ono or two parallel and competing roaus or tno stock of tho othor. Nor did It nubject to tho restraining influ onco of tho lntcrstnto Commerce com mission tho powor of corfToratlonBon gngod In oporatlng interstate railroads to lssuo now stock and bonds; nor did it nuthorlro tho making of temporary agreements botweon railroads limited to 30 days, fixing tho samo rates for traffic botween tho snmo placoH. "I do not press tho consideration ot any of thoso objects upon congress at this session, "Tho interstate commerco commis sion hns recommended appropriations for tho purposo of onabllng it to enter upon a valuation of all railroads. Thla has always boon within tho Jurisdic tion of tho commission, but tho requl slto funds havo beon wanting. Statis tics to tho valuo of each railroad would bo valuablo for many purposoa, espe cially if wo ultimately enact any lim itations upon tho powor of Uio Inter state railroads to lssuo otocks and bonds, as I hopo wo may. "For tho protection ot our own peoplo and tho preservation of our credit In foreign trado, I urgo upon congress tho lmmedlato enuctmont of a law undor which pno who, In good faith, advances monoyor credit upon a bill of lading Issued by a common carrlor upon an Interstate or foreign shipment can hold tho carrlor liable for tho valuo ot tho poods described In tho bill at tho valuation specified In tho bill, at least to tho extent ot the advances mado In rollanco upon It. "I further recommend that a punish ment of flno aud Imprisonment bo lm posod upon railroad agents nnd ship pers for fraud or misropresentntloa la corporations: flint 11 nnn mnt la niirnirl l Congress ouiriit to tn.at ih ...: .,' "7 r.:"""" " luUBO tlvo to uso tho power of re on ox ten wlt of hills of only with respect to land most valu- Zlu ?h r iS.L!to hdlB isBued upon interstate and for- -.wMi.ii.ii.utra, mi pointing to friendly relations among thoso who own a majority of this tlm bor, a relationship which might load to a combination for tho maintenance .f - ...U Hint .,,....1.1 1. . . . miiklne n m,1n.(nn l " -" W0U1(1 crCatO IHO HOCOBBIty Of roniOV- nuio ror roro3t purposes. During tho present administration, 02,250,000 acros of land largoly non-timborod, havo been oxcludod from forest ro. serves, anu 3,600,000 acres of land making a reduction in forest rcsorvos of non-Umborod land amounting tn 2,750,000 acres," Coal Lands. "Tho noxt subjoct, and ono most lm- portnnt for your consideration, Is tho disposition of tho coal lands In tho United Statos and Alaska. At tho be ing all tariff obstacles to tho freo lm- elgn shipments, "Kxcopt an abovo, I do not recom mend any amendment to tho Interstate commerco law as It standB, I do not now recommend any amondmont to tho anti-trust law. In othor -nords. It soems to mo that tho existing legisla tion with roforonco to tho regulation of corporations and tho restraint ot portatlon. of lumber from other coun- rhelr buiiness h reached n T point wuoro wo can Btop ror a whllo and wit- tries.1 Bureau of Labor. "Tho commissioner of labor has boon actively engagod In composing tho dif- roronces betwoon employers and om. ployoes engaged in Interstate trans- noss tho effect of tho vigorous execu tion ol tho IawB ot Uio statute books tn restraining tho abuses which cen talnly did exist and whloh roused tha public to demand reform."