The O’Neill Frontier
D. H. CRONIN, Publisher,
O’NEILL, NEBRASKA
The Southern Power company will
erect a 4,000 horsepower plant at Great
rails, S. C., to furnish power for the
manufacture of fertilizer from the air.
Two similar plants are now In success
ful operation In European countries,
one In Norway and the second in Aus
tria, and producing fertilizers and ni
trogen compounds. The process Is an
electro-chemical one, and centers about
the forcing of atmosphere through
Dame at high pressure, thereby produc
ing gaa, which, with the addition of
•water In certain proportions, produces
nitric acid. By subjecting these gases
to limestone a valuable compound used
In commercial fertilizers Is obtained.
The possible saving that may be real
ized through the establishment of such
process can be estimated when It Is
stated North Carolina uses 640,000 tons
of fertilizer last year and South Caro
lina 700,000 tons, or about 1,240,000 tons
In the Carolines. _ _
When he Is working In water In
fested by sharks and other sea mon
tterg likely to do him harm, the diver
as at present to rely for his safety on
the use of the knife, or falling that, on
la quick return to the surface. Now
Icomes the Invention of Captain Grobl,
a German diving Instructor, who has
constructed a rifle which can be fired
jundcr water, and la designed for the
better arming of the diver. The moBt
(remarkable thing about this is that
lit fires, not bulletfe, but water, which
fs propelled with such force that It
(has an extraordinary power of pene
tration. Indeed, the Inventor himself
(has pierced armor plate of medium
ithlckness with <;he water Jet from his
iweapon. Tha rifle has a stout barrel
(and Is loaded with a cartridge cased in
lindla rubber.
I vvnen miss jenmo jL.ee was on tour
[with the dramatized version of "Bleak
[House,” she met with an amusing ex
perience. One night ehe was In the
(midst of the long and harrowing death
.acene of poor Jo. The stage was dark
ened and the limelight Illuminated the
Ijpale features of the death stricken boy.
jBeople were sobbing all over the house.
(Suddenly, to her consternation, Miss
(Lee heard the limelight man address
ing her In a brawny Scotch whisper,
audible to half the house. "Dee quick,
JUlss Lee—dee qulckl” he roared softly.
"The limelight’s gaen oot!” She did die
"quick” but It was for the purpose
of making a speech to that limelight
man which he said he would never
forget.
. Apparently every new Invention
Ibrlngs with It some evil. The British
I Medical Journal points out that among
‘distinctively modem diseases are the
poisoning produced by the fumes of
calcium carbide of acetylene; the head
ache, dyspepsia, cardiac failure and
eensory disturbances traceable to the
manufacture and use of aniline dyes;
the frothing of the blood, known as
[caisson disease, which follows too
.rapid decompression In workers at the
[foundations of bridges; the functional
(neurosis known as telegraphers’ cramp,
[resulting from the use of the Morse
(key, and the numerous affections of the
.skin, lungs, digestive tract and eyes
•due to Irritation by organic or unor
Iganlc dusts of industrial origin.
A dual language law. respecting con
tracts with public utility companies,
mas been enacted In the province of
•Quebec, Canada. It provides that all
passenger tickets, baggage checks,
way bills, bills of lading, printed tele
graph forma and contract forms, made,
[furnished or delivered by a railway,
navigation, telegraph, telephone, trans
portation, express or electric power
[company, as well ns all notices of reg
ulations posted up In its stations, car
’rlages, boats, offices, factories or
•workshops, shall be printed In both
Trench and English.
Miss Sheila O’Neill recently showed
and explained In London a model of a
tandem monoplane which she has Juat
•completed. This exhibition was given
under the auspices of the Woman’s
’Aerial league of London. Miss O’Neill
Is the only woman allowed to drive a
motor car In the Irish reliability motor
trials. She has won many prizes In
motoring, hns patented several inven
tions and In at present perfecting a new
splash device for motors. She went
out as a nurse during the Boer war
and holds medals from both the king
and the queen of England.
Buenos Avres needs a channel of SO
Teet at low tide for large vessels, for a
distance of 22 miles. Four dredges will
■oon he at work; each cost over J252,
£00. and has a capacity of annually
dredging 9.000,000 cubic meters.
■ In the Klondike stenm. hot air and
hot water plants are displacing the
old-fashioned wood stoves esperlallv
Jn hotels and the bigger trading places.
1 Here urn iwo monuments to TTan
■mh Dustin, a heroine of early colonial
New England, One Is at Concord N
and the other at Haverhill, Mass.
As only a little over one acre In 100
In Ireland Is under timber, great re
sults are expected from the reforest
ing movement now In progress.
Hardly a single American advertise
ment can be found in all the news
riapers. Journals nnd other adverti
ng mediums In Uruguay.
, The telegraph companies of this
Xtountrv employ about 30.000 persons
•This does not Include the railroad serv
ice.
‘ The Inventor of the papler-mach*
fnatrlx process of stereotyping. Wlllarr
p Whitmore, died recently In Wash
ington.
A zigzag arrow has been adopted li
Cermnpy as a danger sign to be dis
played on high tension electrical ap
fparatus.
More coal Is mined a person em
ployed In the United States than li
§my other nation, with Australia rank
lng next.
So radioactive Is the water suppllet
the city of Belgrade that scientists ar<
searching Its source for radium.
The use of electricity for light am
?lower In the United States has mor<
han doubled In the last eight years
Since its opening in I860 the Suez ea
pal has been completely changed so fo
as Its dimensions are concerned.
To read the bible through at the rat'
of a chapter a day would take threi
years and th«ee months.
At present the 2.500,00 topulation o
Manhattan is increased to 3,000,00
during business hours.
, The exertion of riding 50 miles oi
a good bleycle Is about equal to tha
(Df a 15-mlle walk.
The Esqulmos will not allow thel
fcvomen to use tobacco In any form.
New York’s new aqueduct will cos
fl«2,000,000.
PRESIDENT TOUCHES
MANY LARGE TOPICS
IN ANNUAL MESSAGE
Declares It Is Time to Stop
Legislating Against Cor
porations and En
force Statutes.
SHIP SUBSIDY IS URGED
Executive Advises That Tariff Board
Be Made Permanent, but Opposes
Another General
Revision.
Washington, Dec. 6—President Taft's
annual message to congress, which was
delivered today, opens with a discus
sion of the settlement before the Hague
tribunal this year. It takes up the rela
tions of the United States with foreign
countries, and recites the treaties of
various kinds which have been entered
Into during the year. The formation of
the fepublie of Portugal Is touched up
on, together with Its tentative recog
nition by the United States.
Relations with the far east, the Chin
ese railroad loan and kindred matters
are then discussed. The friendly visits
of oriental potentates to this country
are touched upon, as are relations with
Lutin America, particularly the Nica
raguan revolution. Former President
/jemyu in severely lunuciiunu i.»/» mo
alleged acts of maladministration.
Tariff Negotiations.
The first domestic topic discussed in
the message is that of tariff negotia
tions, and on this point the president
says;
The new tariff law, in section 2 re
specting the maximum and minimum
tariffs of the United States, which pro
visions came into effect on April 1, 1910,
imposed upon the president the respon
sibility of determining prior to that date
whether or not any undue discrimina
tion existed against the United States
and its products iri any country of the
world with which we sustained com
metvial relations.
In the case of several countries In
stances of apparent undue discrimina
tion against American commerce were
found to exist. These discriminations
were removed by negotiation. Prior to
April 1, 1910, when the maximum tariff
was to come into operation With respect
to Importations from all those countries
in whose favor no proclamation applying
the minimum tariff should be issued by
the president, 134 such proclamations
were Issued. This series of proclamations
embraced the entire commercial world,
and hence the minimum tariff of the
United States has been given universal
application, thus testifying to the sat
isfactory character of our trade rela
tions with foreign countries.
Marked advantages to the commerce of
the United States wore obtained through
these tariff settlements. Foreign nations
are fully cognizant of the fact that under
section 2 of the tariff act the president
is required, whenever he is satisfied that
the treatment accorded by them to the
products of the United States is not such
as to entitle them to the I mefits of the
minimum tariff of the United States, to
withdraw those benefits by proclama
tion, giving 90 days’ notice, after which
the maximum tariff will apply to their
dutiable products entering the United
States. In Its general operation, this
section of the tariff law has thus far
proved a guaranty of continued com
mercial peace, although there are, how
ever. unfortunately instances where
foreign governments deal arbitrarily
with American interests within their
jurisdiction In a manner injurious and
Inequitable.
The policy of broader and closer trade
relations with the Dominion of Canada,
which was initiated in the adjustment
of the maximum and minimum pro
visions of the tar'.ff act of August. 1909,
has proved mutually beneficial. It jus
tifies further efforts for the readjustment
of the commercial relations of the two
countries so that their commerce may
follow the channels natural to contigu
ous countries and be commensurate with
the steady expansion of trade and in
dustry’ on both sides of the boundary
lino. The reciprocation on the part of
the Dominion government of the senti
ment which was expressed by this gov
ernment was followed In October by the
suggestion that It would be glad to have
the negotiations, which had been tem
porarily suspended during the summer,
resumed. In accordance with this sug
gestion the secretary of state, by my
direction, dispatched two representatives
of the department of state as special
commissioners to Ottawa to confer with
representatives of the Dominion govern
ment. They were authorized to take
such steps for formulating a reciprocal
trade agreement as might be necessary
and to receive and consider any prop
osition which the Dominion government
might care to submit.
Pursuant to the instructions Issued con
ferences were held by these commis
sioners with officials of the Dominion
government at Ottawa in the early part
of November.
The negotiations were conducted on
both sides in a Hnirlt of mutual accom
modation. The discussion of the com
mon commercial interests of the two
countries had for its object a satisfactory
basis for a trade arrangement which
offers the prospect of a freer Interchange
ror rne nronucts or me rnitM suites
and of Canada. The conferences were
adjourned to he resumed in Washington
In January, when It is hoped that the
aspiration of both governments for a
mutually advantageous measure of reci
procity will be realized
The Department of State.
All these tariff negotiations, so vital to
our commerce and Industry, and the
duty of jealously guarding the equitable
and just treatment of our products,
capital and Industry abroad devolve up
on the department of state.
The Argentine battleship contracts, like
the subsequent important one for Argen
tine railway equipment, and those for
Cuban government vessels, were secured
for our manufacturers largely through
the good offices of the department of
mate.
The efforts of that department to se
cure for citizens of the United States
equal opportunities in the markets of
the world and to expand American com
merce have been most successful. The
volume of business obtained in new fields
of competition and upon now lines is
already very great and congress Is urged
to continue to support the department of
state in its endeavors to further trade
expansion
Our foreign trade merits the best sup
port of the government and the most
earnest endeavoi of pur manufacturers
and merchants, who. if they do not al
ready in all eases need a foreign mar
ket. are certain soon to become dependent
on It. Therefore, now is the time to se^
Hire a strong position in this field.
I ran not leave this Subject without em
phasizing the necessity of such legislation
as will make possible and convenient the
establishment of American banks and
branches of American banks in foreign
• countries. Only by such means can our
foreign trade be favorably financed, neces
sary credits be arranged, and proper avail
) be made of commercial opportunities in
' foreign countries, and most especially in
1 Iaitln America.
Merchant Marine.
* Arv-:bc*' 11 ‘=U*uw'cr»fn.lhv 'vr<;,'*ny:'Me
I to the unhampered and natural develop
ment of A merit a n eomrncree is merchant
marine. All maritime and commercial »a
» • ti> lee-.-gi •« ihe mip,.rtancc of this
la tor Pin g:c:i:c<: commercial nations,
. ci;r '•oropc(.;or«. v>u.-ly foster their
.v*t . _ r' *n • • r"'where '« the
)i».*♦'»! for rapid and direct mail, passenger
■ a'ad freight > ejrmm nation quite so urgent
a * b* tween the United States and Latin
An n i a \\> i an secure in no other
.quarter of the world such immediate ben
eflts in friendship and commerce as would
flow from the establishment of direct lines
of communication with the countries of
Latin America adequate to meet the re
quirements of a rapidly increasing appre
ciation of the reciprocal dependence of tho
countries of the western hemisphere up
on each other’s products, sympathies and
assistance.
I alluded to this most important subject
in my last annual message; it has often
been before you and I need not recapitu
I late the reasons for its recommendation.
) Unless prompt action be taken the com
pletion of the Panama canal will lind this
i the only great commercial nation unable
to avail in international maritime busi
j ness of this great contribution to the
. means of the world’s commercial inter
l course.
Quite aside from the commercial aspect,
j unless we create a merchant marine
! where can we find the seafaring popula
J tlon necessary as a natural naval reserve
and where could we find, in case of war,
ihe transports and subsidiary vessels
J without which a naval fleet Is arms with
out a body? For many reasons I can not
too strongly urge upon the congress the
: passage of a measure by mail subsidy or
other subvention adequate to guarantee
the establishment and rapid development
of an Amer.can merchant marine, the res
toration of the American flag to Its an
cient place upon the seas.
With our increasing international Inter
course It becomes Incumbent upon me to
repeat more emphatically than ever the
I recommendation which I made in my in
augural address that congress shall at
once give to the courts of the United
States jurisdiction to punish as a crime
the violation of the rights of aliens se
cured by treaty with the United States,
in order that the general government of
1 1 he United States shall be able, when
j called upon by a friendly nation, to re
, deem its solemn promise by treaty to se
cure to the citizens or subjects of that na
tion resident in the United States, free
dom from violence and due process of law
in respect td their life, liberty and prop
erty.
I also, and for the same general rea
sons, strongly commend to the favorable
action of the congress the enactment of
a law applying to the diplomatic and con
sular service the principles embodied in
Section 1763 of the Revised Statutes of
the United Htnteu In thu a,
Act of January 16, 1883, and the executive
orders of June 27, 1906, and* of November
26, 1909.
Treasury Department.
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
' tbat 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 obligations un
der existing law, and that a cut of these
estimates would result in embarrassing
the executive branch of the government in
the performance of its duties. This re
mark does not apply to the river and har
bor estimates, except to those for expen
ses of maintenance and the meeting of ob
ligations under authorized contracts, nor
does it apply to the public building bill
nor to the navy building program. Of
course, as to these congress could with
hold any part or all of the estimates for
them wltnout interfering with the dis
charge of the ordinary obligations of the
government or the performance of the
tunctions of Its departments, bureaus, and
offices.
The final estimates for the year ending
June 30, 1912, as they have been sent to the
treasury, on November 29 of this year, for
the ordinary expenses of the government,
Including those for public buildings, rivers
and harbors, and the navy building pro
gram, abount to $630,494,013.12. This is $52,
964,88*.36 less than the appropriations for
iU.eo l?,s.<;al year'ending June 30, 1911. It is
$16,882,153.44 less than the total estimates,
including supplemental estimates sub
mitted to congress by the treasury for the
year 1911, and is $5,574,659.39 less than the
original estimates submitted by the treas
ury for 1911.
Thes^ figures do not Include the appro
priations for the Panama canal, the pol
joy in rospect to which ought to be, ami
Is. to spend as much each year as can he
economically amt effectively expended in
order to complete the canal as promptly
as possible, and, therefore, the ordinary
motive for cutting down the expense of the
government does not apply to appropri
ations for this purpose. It will be noted
that the estimates for the Panama canal
for the ensuing year are more than $5(7.
000,000, an increase of $20,000,000 over the
amount appropriated for this year—a dif
ference due to the fact that the estimates
for 1912 include something over $19,000 000
for the fortification of the canal.
Against the estimated expenditures of
$630,494,013.12, we have estimated receipts
for next year of $6*0,000,000, making a prob
able surplus of ordinary receipts over or
dinary expenditures of about $50,(XX),000, or
taking Into account the estimates for the
Panama canal, which are $56,920,847.69, and
which will ultimately be paid In bonds It
will leave a defilcit for the next year of
about $7,000,000 if congress shall conclude
to fortify the canal. The cost of the for
tifications is about $19,000,000. Should there
be no appropriations this year for fortifi
cations, ihen there would be, even Includ
ing the Panama canal appropriation, a sur
plus of about $12,000,000 according to treas
ury estimates.
Public Buildings.
Ill our public buildings we still suffer
from the method of appropriation, which
has been so much criticised In connection
with our livers and harbors. Some meth
od should be devised for controlling the
supply of public buildings, so that they
will harmonize with the actual needs of
the government. Not only are buildings
appropriated for by congress which are
not needed, and buildings left unappro
priated for by congress which are needed,
but when il comes to the actual construc
tion there has been in the past too little
study of the building plans and sites with
a view to tiie actual needs of the govern
ment. Postofflce buildings which are In
effect warehouses for economical hand
ling of transportation of thousands of
tons of mall have been made monument
a 1 structures, anil often located far from
the convenient ana economical spot. In
the actual construction of the buildings a
closer scrutiny of the methods employed
by the government architects or by archi
tects employed by the government have
resulted in decided economies. It is hoped
that more time will give opportunity for a
more thorough reorganization. The last
public buildings bill carried authorization
for the ultimate expenditure of $33,011,500
and I approved it because of the many
good features it contained, just as I ap
proved the river and harbor bill, but it
was drawn upon a principle that ought to
be abandoned. It seems to me that the
wiser method of preparing u public build
ing bill would be the preparation of a
report by a commission of government ex
perts whose duty it should be to report to
congress the government’s needs in the
way of the construction of public build
ings in every part of the country, just as
the army engineers make report with ref
erence to the utility of proposed improve
ments in rivers and harbors, with the
added function which I have recommended
for the army engineers of including in
their recommendation the relative import
ance of the various projects found to be
worthy of approval and execution.
Revenues.
As the treasury department is the one
through which the income of the gov
ernment is collected and its expendi
tures are disbursed, this seems a proper
place to consider the operation of the
existing tariff bill, which became a law
August t». 1909. As an income-producing
measure, the existing tariff bill has never
been exceeded by any customs bill m
the history of the country.
The corporation excise tax, propor
tioned to the net income of every busi
j ness corporation In the country, has
! worked well. The tax has been easily
| collected. Its prompt payment indi
cates that the incidence of the tax
has not been heavy. It offers, moreover,
I an opportunity for knowledge by the
J government of the general condition and
business of all corporations, and that
means by far the most important part
of the business of th* country. In the
• original act provision was made for the
| publication of returns. This provision
j was subsequently amended by congress,
1 and the matter left to the regulation of
I the president. 1 have directed the issue
of the needed regulations, and have made
it possible for the public generally to
! know' from an examination or the record,
the returns of all corporations, the stock
of which is listed on any public stock
exchange or is offered for sale to the
general nubile by advertisement or other
i wise. The returns of those corporations
whose stock is not bo listed or offered
for sale are directed to be open to the
inspection and examination of creditors
and stockholders of the corporation
whose record Is sought. The returns of
all corporations are subject to the in
spection of any government officer or to
the examination of any court, In which
the return made by the corporation is
relevent and competent evidence.
Th© Payn© Tariff Act.
The schedules of the rates of duty in
the Payne tariff act have been subjected
to a great deal of criticism, some of it
just, more of it unfounded, and to much
misrepresentation. The act was adopted
in pursuance of a declaration by the
party which is responsible for it that a
customs bill should be a tariff for the
protection of home industries, the meas
ure of the protection to be the difference
between the cost of producing the im
ported. 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 tnis tariff
is that in respect to a number of the
j schedules the declared measure was hot
I followed, but a higher difference retained
or Inserted by way of undue discrimina
tion In favor of certain industries and
manufactures. Little, If any, of the
criticism of the tariff has been directed
against the protective principle above
stated; but the main body of the criti
cism has been based on the charge that
the attempt to conform to the measure
of protection was not honestly and sin
cerely adhered to.
Tariff Board.
The time in which the tariff was pre
pared undoubtedly was so short as to
make It Impossible for the congress and
its experts to acquire the information
necessary strictly to conform 10 the de
clared measure. In order to avoid crit
icism of this kind in the future and for
the purpose of more nearly conforming
to the party promise, congress at its last
session made provision at my request
for the continuance of a board created
under the authority of the maximum and
minimum clause of the tariff bill, and
authorized this board to expend the
money appropriated under my direction
for the ascertainment the cost of produc-.
tion at home and abroad of the various
articles included in the schedules of the
tariff. The tariff board thus appointed
and authorized has been diligent in pre
| paring itself for the necessary investi
gations. The hope of those who have
advocated the use of this board for tariff
Purposes is that the question of the rate
of a duty imposed shall become, more of
ical question, to be ascertained by ex
perts of long training and accurate
knowledge. The halt in business and
the shock to business, due to the an
nouncement that a new tariff bill is to
be prepared and put in operation, will
be avoided by treating the schedules one
by one as occasion shall arise for a
change In the rates of each, and only
after a report upon the schedule by the
tariff board competent to make such re
port. It is not likely that the board will
be able to make a report during the
present session of congress on any of
the schedules, because a proper exam
ination involves an enormous amount of
detail and a great deal of care; but I
hope to be able at the opening of the
new congress, or at least during the
session of that congress, to bring to its
attention the facts in regard to those
schedules in the present tariff that may
prove to need amendment. The earry
0<pUtiiO^ P*an> course, involves
f« 11 , co-operation of congress in
limiting the consideration in tariff mat
ters to one schedule at a time, because
if a proposed amendment to a tariff bill
* *£ involve a complete consideration
of all the schedules and another revision,
then we shan only repeat the evil from
which the business or this country has
in times past suffered most grievously
by stagnation and uncertainty, pending
a resettlement of a law affecting all
business directly or Indirectly, and the
effect of which no wise business man
would ignore in new projects and new
investments. I can not too much em
phasize the importance and benefit of
the plan above proposed for the treat
ment of the tariff. It facilitates the re
moval of noteworthy defects in an im
portant law without a disturbance of
business prosperity, which is even more
important to the happiness and the com
fort of the people than the elimination
of the injustice in the tariff.
The inquiries which the members of
.Jnc tariff board made during the last
summer into the methods pursued by
other governments with reference to the
,°^ tariffs and the determination
of their effect upon trade, show that
each government maintains an office or
bureau, the officers and employes of
which have made their life work the
study of tariff matters, of foreign and
home prices and cost of articles import
ed, and the effect of the tariff upon
trade, so that whenever a change is
thought to be necessary In the tariff law
this office is the source of the most re
liable information as to the propriety of
the change and its effect. I am strongly
convinced that we need in this govern
ment Just such an office, and that It can
be secured by making the tariff board
already appointed a permanent tariff
commission, with such duties, powers
and emoluments as it may seem wise to
congress to give. It has been proposed
to enlarge the board from three to five
The present number is convenient, but
I do not know that an increase of two
members would be objectionable.
Whether or not the protective policy is
to he continued, and the degree of pro
tection to be accorded to our home in
dustries, are questions which the people
must decide through their chosen repre
sentatives; but whatever policy is adopt
ed, it is clear that the necessary legisla
tion should be based on an impartial
thorough and continuous study of the
facts.
Banking and Currency.
The method of impartial scientific study
by experts as a preliminary to legislation
which I hope to see ultimately adopted
as our fixed national policy with re
spect to the tariff, rivers and harbors
waterways and public buildings, also is
being pursued by the non-partisan mon
etary commission of congress. An ex
haustive and most valuable study of the
banking and currenoy systems' of for
eign countries nas Doen completed.
A comparison of the business methods
and institutions of the country arc sure
to be of immediate value. I urge upon
congress the importance of a non-parti
san and disinterested study anti consid
eration of our banking and currency sys
tem.
It is idle to dream of commercial' ex
pansion and of the development of our
national trade on'a scale that measures
up to our matchless opponents unless
we can lay a solid foundation in a
sound and enduring banking and cur
rency system. The problem is not parti
san, is not sectional—It Is national.
Organization of Army.
I further recommend that congress es
tablish a commission to determine as
early as practicable a comprehensive
policy for the organization, mobilization
and administration of the regular army
the organized militia, and the volunteer
forces in the event of war.
One of the great difficulties in the
prompt organization and mobilization of
militia and volunteer forces is the ab
sence of competent officers of the rank
of captain to teach the now armv, bv
the unit of the company, the business of
being soldiers and of taking care of
themselves so as to render effective
service. This need of army officers can
only be supplied by provisions of law
authorltng the appointment of a greater
number of army officers than are need
ed to supply the commands of regular
army troops now enlisted In the serv
ice.
Philippine Islands.
During the last summer, at my request
the secretary of war visited the Philip
pine Islands and has described his trip
In his report He found the Islands in
a state of tranquility and growing pros
perity. due largely to the change In the
tariff laws, which has opened the mar
kets of America to the products of the
Philippines, and has opened the Philip
pine markets to American manufactures.
Rivers and Harbors.
I have already expressed my opinion to
1 congress in respect to the character of
j the river ami harbor bills which should
i be enacted Into law: and I have exercised
as much power as I have under the law in
directing the chief of engineers to make
his reports to congress conform to the
needs of the committee framing such a bill
in determining which of the proposed im
provements Is the more Important and
ought to be completed first, and promptly.
Panama Canal.
At the Instance of Colonel Goethals, the
army engineer efttcer in charge of the
"T
work on the Panama canal, I have jus
made a visit to the isthmus to inspect th<
work done and to consult with him or
the ground as to certain problems whicl
are likely to arise In the near future. Th<
. progress of the work is most satisfactory
I If no unexpected, obstacle presents Itself
I the canal will be completed well wlthir
I the time fixed by Colonel Goethals, to
j wit, January 1, 1915, and within the esti
mate of cost, $375,000,000.
] Among the questions arising for pres
I ent solution is the decision whether th<
canal shall be fortified. I have alreadj
; stated to the congress that I stronglj
j favor fortification and I now reiterate this
J opinion and ask your consideration of th<
! subject in the light of the report alreadj
before you made by a competent board,
j If, in our discretion, we believe moderr
fortifications to be necessary to the ade
quate protection and policing of the canal
then it Is our duty to construct them. We
have built the canal. It Is our property,
i By convention we have Indicated our de
sire for, and indeed undertaken, its uni
j versal and equal use. It is also 'well
. known that one of the chief objects In the
! construction of the canal has been to in
crease the military effectiveness of oui
j navy.
! Failure to fortify the canal would leave
the attainment of both these alms In the
position of rights and obligations which
| we should be powerless to enforce and
which could never in any other way be
absolutely safeguarded against a desper
ate and irresponsible enemy.
National Incorporation.
In a special message last year I brought
to the attention of congress the propriety
and wisdom of enacting a general law pro
viding for the incorporation of industrial
and other companies engaged in inter
state commerce, and I renew* my recom
; mendation in that behalf.
Judiciary Procedure.
I One great crying need in the United
States is cheapening the cost of litigation
bj* simplifying judicial procedure and ex
pediting final judgment. Under present
conditions the poor man is at a woeful
disadvantage in a legal contest with a
corporation or a rich opponent. The nec
essity for the reform exists both in United
States courts and in all state courts. In
order to bring it about, however, it natur
i ally falls to the general government by
[ its example to furnish a model to all
; states. A legislative commission appoint
ed by joint resolution of congress to re
vise the procedure in the United States
courts has as yet made no report.
Under the law the supreme court of
the United States has the power and is
! of procedure which are to obtain in the
federal courts of first instance. In view
of the heavy burden of pressing litigation
which that court has had to carry, with
one or two of its members incapacitated
through ill health, it has not been able
to take up problems of improving the
equity procedure, which has practically
remained the same since the organization
of the court in 1789. It is reasonable to
expect that with all the vacancies upon
the court filled, it will take up the ques
tion of cheapening and simplifying the
procedure in equity in the courts of the
United States. The equity business is
much the more Important in the federal
courts, and! I may add much the more ex
pensive. I am strongly convinced that the
best method of improving judicial pro
cedure at law is to empower the supreme
court to do it through the medium of the
rules of the court, as in equity. This is
the way In which it has been done in
England, and thoroughly done. The sim
plicity and expedition of precedure in the
English courts today make a model for
the reform of other systems.
Several of the lord chancellors of Eng
land and of the chief justices have left
their lasting impress upon the history of
their country by their constructive abil
ity in proposing and securing the passage
of remedial legislation effecting law re
forms. I can not conceive any higher duty
that the supreme court could perform than
in leading the way to a simplification of
procedure in the United States courts.
Relief of Supreme Court.
No man ought to have, as a matter of
right, a review of his case by the supreme
court. He should be satisfied by one hear
ing before a court of first instance and
one review’ by a court of appeals. The
proper and chief usefulness of the supreme
court, and especially of the supreme court
of the United States, is. in the cases which
come before it, so to expound the law, and
especially, the fundamental law'—the con
stitution—as to furnish precedents for the
Inferior courts in future litigation and for
the executive officers in the construction
of statutes and the performance of their
legal duties. Therefore, any prbvisions
for review' -of cases by the supreme court
that cast upon that court the duty of
passing on questions of evidence and the
construction of particular forms of instru
ments, like indictments, or wills, or con
tracts, decisions not of general applica
tion or importance’, merely clog and bur
den the court and render more difficult its
higher function, which makes it so import
ant a part of the framework of our gov
ernment. The supreme court is now car
rying an unnecessary burden of appeals
of this kind, and I earnestly urge that it
be removed.
The statutes respecting the review by
the supreme court of the United States
of decisions of the court of appeals of the
District of Columbia ought to be so amend
ed as to place that court in the same
position with respect to the review of its
decisions as that of the various United
States circuit courts of appeals. The act
of March 2. 1907, authorizing appeals by
the government for certain judgments in
criminal cases where the defendant has
not been put in jeopardy, within the mean
ing of the constitution, should be amend
ed so that such appeals should be taken
to the circuit courts of appeals instead of
to the supreme court in all cases except
those involving the construction of the
constitution or the constitutionality of a
statute, with the same power in the su
preme court to review.' on certiorari as Is
now exercised by that court over deter
minations of the several circuit courts of
appeals. Appeals rrom me uniieu mares
court In Porto Rico should also run to
the circuit courts of appeals of the third
circuit Instead of to the supreme court.
These suggested changes would, I am ad
vised, relieve tile supreme court of the
consideration of about 80 cases annually,
and would be In harmony with the theory
of review which led to the establishment
of the circuit courts of appeals and which
I have state above.
Injunction Bill.
I wish to renew my urgent recommenda
tion made In my last annual message in
favor ol the passage of a law which shall
regulate the Issuing of Injunctions in
equity without notice in accordance with
the best practice now In vogue in the
courts of the United States. I regard this
of especial importance, first because it
has been promised, and second because it
will deprive those who now complain of
certain alleged abuses In the improper
Issuing of injunctions without notice of
any real ground for further amendment
and will take away all semblance of sup
port for the extremely radical legislation
they propose, which will he most perni
cious if adopted, will sap the foundations
of judicial power, and legalize that cruel
social instrument, the secondary boycott.
I ftirther recommend to congress the
passage of the bill now pending for the
Increase in the salaries of the federal
judges, by which the chief justice of the
supreme court shall receive $17,500 and the
associate Judges $17,000; the circuit Judges
constituting the circuit court of appeals
shall receive $10,000, and tile district judges
$!i,ooo.
Postoffice Department.
At Its last session congress made pro
vision for the establishment of savings
banks by the postofflee department of this
government, by which, under the general
control of trustees, consisting of the post
master general, the secretary of the treas
uary and the attorney general, the sys
tem could be begun in a few cities and
towns, and enlarged to cover within Its
operations as many cities and towns and
as large a part of the country as seemed
wise. The initiation and establishment of
such a system has required a great deal
of study on the part of experts In the
postofflee and treasury departments, b*t
a system has now been devised which Is
believed to be' more economical and sim
pler In its operation than any similar sys
tem abroad. Arrangements have been per
fected so that savings banks will be
opened In some cities and towns on the
1st of January, and there will be a grad
ual extension of the benefits of the plan
to the rest of the country.
Wioing Out of J)eflcit.
As 1 have said, the postofflee department
la a great business department, and I am
...—.. '
1 glad to note the fact that under its pres
i ent management principles of business,
economy and efficiency are being applied
For many years there has been a deficit
in the operations of the postoffice depart
ment which has been met by appropria
tion from the treasury. The appropria
tion estimated for last year from the
treasury over and above the receipts of
the department was $17.000,000. I am glad
to record the fact that of that $17,600,000
estimated for, $11,500,000 were saved and
returned to the treasury. The personal
efforts of the postmaster general secured
the effective co-operation of the thous
ands of postmasters dnd other postal of*
ficers throughout the country in carrying
out his plans of reorganization and re
i trenchment. The result is that the post
master general has been able to make his
estimate of expenses for the present year
so low as to keep within the amount the
postal service is expected to earn. It is
gratifying to report that the reduction in
the deficit has been accomplished without
any curtailment of postal facilities. On
the contrary the service has been greatly
extended during the year in all its branch
es. A principle which the postmaster gen
eral has recommended and sought to have
enforced in respect to all appointments
has been that those appointees who have
rendered good service should be re
appointed. This has greatly strength
ened the interest of postmasters through
out the country in maintaining efficiency
and economy in their offices, because they
believe generally that this would secure
for them a further tenure.
Extension of the Classified Service.
Upon the recommendation of the post
master general, I have included in the
classified service all assistant postmasters,
and I believe that this giving a secure
tenure to those who are the most im
portant subordinates of postmasters will
add much to the efficiency of their offices
and an economical administration. A large
number of the fourth class postmasters
are now in the classified service. I think
it would be wise to put in the classified
service the first, second, and third class
postmasters. It is more logical to do this
than to classify the fourth class post
masters, for the reason that the fourth
class postoffices are invariably small, and
the postmasters are necessarily men who
must combine some other business with
the postmastership, whereas the first, sec
ond, and third class postmasters are paid
a sufficient amount to justify the require
ment that they shall have no other busi
ness and that they shall devote their at
tention to their postofflce duties. To clas
sify first, second, and third class post
masters would require the passage of an
me UICIUUU U i lilt'll tlJJ
pointment so as to take away the neces
sity for the advice and consent of the Sen
ate.
The Franking Privilege.
The unrestricted manner In which the
franking privilege Is now being used by
the several federal services and by con
gress has laid it open to serious abuses,
a fact clearly established through in
vestigations recently instituted by the de
partment. While it has been impossible
without a better control of franking to
determine the exact expense to the gov
ernment of this practice, there can be no
doubt that It annually reaches into the
millions. It Is believed that many abuses
of the franking system could be prevent
ed, and consequently a marked economy
effected, by supplying through the agen
cies of the postal service special official
envelopes and stamps for the free mail
of the government, all such envelopes and
stamps to be issued on requisition to the
various branches of the federal service
requiring them, and such records to be
kept of all official stamp supplies as will
enable the postoffice department to main
tain a proper postage account covering
the entire volume of free government mail
As the first step in the direction of this
reform, special stamps and stamped en
velopes have been provided for use in
stead of franks in the free transmission
of the official mail resulting from the
business of the new postal saving:, system.
By proper recording the issuance of such
stamps and envelopes accurate records
can be kept of the cost to the govern
ment of handling the postal savings mail,
W’hieh Is certain to become an important
item of expense and one that should be
separately determined. In keeping with
this plan it Is hoped that congress will
authorize the substitution of special of
ficial stamps and stamped envelopes for
the various forms of franks now used to
carry free of postage the vast volume of
departmental and congressional mail mat
ter. During the past year methods of ac
counting similar to those employed in the
most progressive of our business establish
ments have been introduced in the postal
service and nothing has so impeded the
department's plans in this regard as the
impossibility of determining with any ex
actness how far the various expenses of
the postal service are increased by t he
present unrestricted use of the franking
privilege. It is believed that the adoption
of a more exact method of dealing with
this pr’oblem as proposed will prove to be
of tremendous advantage In the work of
placing the postal service on a strictly
businesslike basis.
Second-Class Mail Matter.
In my last annual message I invited the
attention of congress to the inadequacy
of the postal rate imposed upon second
class mail matter In so far as that In
cludes magazines, and showed by figures
prepared by experts of the postoffice de
partment that the government was ren
dering a service to the magazines, cost
ing many millions In excess of the com
pensation paid. An answer* was attempt
ed to this by the representatives of the
magazines, and a reply was filed to this
answer by the postofflee department. The
utter inadequacy of the answer, consid
ered in the light of the reply of the post
office department, I think must appeal to
any fair-minded person. Whether the an
swer was all that could be said in behalf
agree that the question Is one of faot; but
I Insist that if the faot is as the experts
of the postofflce department show, that
we are furnishing to the owners of maga
zines a service worth millions more than
they pay for it, then justice requires that
the rate should be increased. The in
crease in the receipts of the department
resulting from this change may be de
voted to increasing the usefulness of the
department in establishing a parcels post
and in reducing the cost, of first class post
age to one cent. It has been said by the
postmaster general that a fair adjustment
might be made under which the advertis
ing part of the magazine should be
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 the
malls by a prohibitory rate.
Parcels Post.
With respect to the parcels post. I re
spectfully recommend its adoption on all
rural delivery routes, and that 11 pounds—
the international limit—be made the lim
it of carriage in such post, and this with
a view to its general extension when the
income of the postofflce will permit and
the postal savings banks have been fully
established. The same argument Is made
against the parcels post that was made
against the postal savings bank—that it is
introducing the government into a busi
ness which ought to be conducted by pri
vate persons, and is paternalism. The
postofflce department has a great plant
and a great organization, 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 neces
sary it would be Impossible to do without
extravagant expenditure. That Is the
reason why the postal savings bank ran
be carried on at a small additional cost
and why it is possible to Incorporate at
a very inconsiderable expense a parcels
post in the rural delivery system. A gen
eral parcels post will involve a much
greater outlay.
Abolition of Navy Yards.
The secretary of the navy has given per
sonal examination to every navy yard and
has studied the uses of the navy vards
with reference to the necessities of our
fleet. With a fleet conskierahlv 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 machinery, which after investiga
tion 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.
In making these recommendations tht
geeretary is following directly along pro
gressive lines which have been adopted in