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DECEMBER 10, 1909
president will lead to a tariff war. Ho says it
w not likely that the maximum duties will ever
be applied but that wherever occasion seems to
arise "friendly negotiation" will remove all em
barrassment. On uses of the "now tariff board" the presi
dent points out that ho has -appointed a tariff
board of three members and that he thinks that
the work of this board will be of great value
"whenever congress shall deem it wise again to
readjust the customs duty." In this connection
ho makes this more or less interesting state
ment: "If the facts secured by the tariff board
are of such a character as to show generally
that the rates of duties imposed by the present
tariff law are excessive under the principles of
protection as described in the platform of the
successful party at the late election, I shall not
hesitate to invite the attention of congress to
this fact and to the necessity for action predi
cated thereon. Nothing, however, halts business
and interferes with the course of prosperity so
much as the threatened revision of tho tariff,
and until the facts are at hand, after careful
and deliberative investigation, upon which such
revision can properly be undertaken, it seems to
me unwise to attempt it. The amount of mis
information that creeps into arguments pro and
con in respect to tariff rates is such as to require
the kind of Investigation that I havo directed
the tariff board to make, an investigation under
taken by it wholly without respect to the effect
which the facts may have in calling for a read
justment of the rales of duty." .
Referring to the war department the presi
dent says he has required a reduction in the
estimates which will bring the expenses down to
abpufrJ$4G,000,000 less than those last year. He
says he lias directed that all progress in military
matters be suspended for one year and that the
army shall not be recruited up to its present
authorized strength. Referring to the navy he
says that owing to tho necessity for economy he
has directed the curtailment of recommendations
for naval appropriations so that they are $38,
000,000 less thari'those for last yeaT. He adds
that the request for new naval construction will
be limited to two first-class battleships and one
repair vessel.
On theBubJect of "Expedition in Legal Pro
cedure" the president says that the procedure in
federal courts, both at law and in equity, should
be simplified; that the jurisdiction of the su
preme court should be confined almost wholly to
statutory and constitutional questions; and that
the president be authorized to appoint a com
mission whoso business It will be to make recom
mendations with a view to simplifying and ex
pediting federal proceedings.
" On the subject "Injunctions Without Notice,"
the -president recommends appropriate legisla
tion to carry out the party's platform pledge to
more accurately define by statute the rules of
procedure in federal court with respect to the
writ of injunction. He says that no injunction
or restraining order should be issued without
previous notice and a reasonable opportunity to
be heard unless, the court shall be satisfied that
the delay necessary to give such notice and hear
ing would result in irreparable Injury. He adds
tbjvt every injunction issued without previous
notice should, by force of the statute, expire and
be of no effect after seven days unless wlthjn
Buch seven days tho Injunction shall have been
extended.
Referring to anti-trusts and interstate com
merce laws, the president says that the Sherman
anti-trust law and the inter-state law need
amendment. He says he will talk about these
amendments in a special message. The presi
dent recommends an appropriation for remodel
ing the jail of the District of Columbia.
He says that the postofllce deficit is largely
caused by the low rate of postage of one cent
a pound charged on second-class mail matter,
which includes not only newspapers but maga
zines and miscellaneous periodicals. He says
that tho actual loss growing out of the trans
mission of this second-class matter at one cent
a pound amounts to about $63,000,000 a year,
the average cost of transportation being more
than nine cents a pound. He says that the aver
age distance over which the government carries
newspapers is 291 miles, magazines 1,049 miles,
miscellaneous periodicals 1,128 miles, thus the
average haul of the magazine is three and one
half times and that of the miscellaneous periodi
cal nearly four times the haul of the daily news
paper yet all o.f them pay the same postage rate
of one cent a pound. In 1907 second-class mall
matter constituted 63.91 per cent of the weight
of all the mall and yielded only 19.6 per cent of
the revenue. He says: "The figures given are
startling and show the payment by the govern-
The Commoners
ment of an enormous subsidy to tho newspapers.
Efla Periodicals. He thinks "ffit a
1 . at0 of, nostaSQ should bo Imposed upon
5R1 w and Per1,?"l'. Tho president says
,?,i if ,unm ndful of o spread of Intelli
gent which a low chargo for carrying news
papers and periodicals assists," but It is difficult
for him to overlook a subsidy in this particular
and so ho says: "I very much doubt, however,
tho wisdom of a policy which constitutes so largo
a subsidy and requires additional taxation to
meet it."
On the subject of postal savings banks tho
president says that there is "real necessity and
entire practicability" for that reform. Ho says
ho Is convinced that the people desire such banks,
that they are not constituted for tho purpose of
creating competition with other banks and that
tho rato of interest upon deposits to which thoy
would bo limited would bo so small as to pro
vent their drawing deposits away from otbor
banks. He says postal savings banks will furnish
a satisfactory substitute for government guaran
tee of deposits, which plan ho says is full of
the seeds of demoralization." He admits that
the question as to the investment of money do
posited in postal savings banks Is a' largo ono
but ho adds that a satisfactory provision for this
purposo was inserted as an amendment to the
bill considered by tho senato at Its last session.
He says that It has been proposed to delay pos
tal savings bank legislation until after tho re
port of tho monetary commission. Ho says this
report is likely to bo delayed and ho does not
see why one should bo tied up with tho other.
He says that a system of postal savings banks
would not Interfere with tho central bank sys
tem and he plainly shows in this paragraph that
he Is in favor of tho central bank, declaring
that the monetary system has learned that panics
are avoided in other .countries by investing In
somo central authority control In respect to re
serves and tho rates of exchange.
If memory is not at fault Mr. Taft Is tho first
republican president to boldly use tho words
"ship subsidy." Heretofore that phrase has
been avoided and ponderous sentences on "mer
chant marine" have advocated the Bhip subsidy
scheme. But Mr. Taft uses "ship Bubsldy" as a
head line and boldly declares in favor of tho
passage of a "slilii subsidy bill," looking to tho
establishment of lines between our Atlantic sea
board and tho eastern coast of South America
as well as, lines from the west coast of tho United
States, South America, China, Japan and tho
Philippines.
Referring to New Mexico and Arizona ho
recommends that thoy bo admitted as separate
states. He says care should bo exercised in the
preparation of legislation affecting each terri
tory to secure deliberation In tho selection of
persons as members of tho convention to draft
a constitution. After that constitution has been
framed by the convention it should be submitted
to tho people of the territory for approval at an
election where there are no other issues, and
no officials to elect.
With respect to Alaska ho recommends legis
lation providing for the appointment by tho presi
dent of a governor and also of an executlvo
council, "tho members of which shall, during
their term of office, reside In the territory." Ho
does not approve of a territorial legislature but
thinks the governor and council which he ap
points should have legislative powers.
Discussing the conservation of resources, the
president says he will send to congress a special
message on that subject and also on the Im
provement of waterways. Then he recommends
a reorganization of the lighthouse board, and the
consolidation of the bureaus of manufacturers
and statistics. He suggests that "additional
legislation" be had and "greater executive ac
tivity" be shown in the effort to suppress the
"white slave trade" which is built upon tho
streams of immigration into this country. Ho
asks that a fund of $50,000 be appropriated to
carry on the fight against this evil.
The president suggests that all the bureaus
in the general government, dealing with tho pub
lic health, bo united in a bureau to be called
"tho bureau of public health." He compliments
the civil service commission upon its work. Ho
renews the recommendation of his predecessors
that congress appropriate a sufficient sum to pay
the amounts due depositors in tho Preedman's
Savings and Trust company.
Calling attention to the fact that the year ,
1913 will mark tho fiftieth anniversary of tho
Issuance of the emancipation proclamation, ho
endorses the proposition that this event be prop
erly celebrated. He says it is proposed to havo
an exposition to show the progress the negroes
have made, and he asks that he be authorized
5
to appoint a preliminary commission to con
Bldor yhothor or not It la wlso to hold such an
exposition.
Tho proaldont concludes hla mossago in thcao
"Speaking genorally, tho country la in a high
atato of prosperity. Thoro la every reason to
bellovo that wo aro on tho evo of a substantial
bualnoBB expansion, and wo havo Just garnorod
a harvest unexampled In tho market valuo of
our agricultural producta. Tho high prices
which such products bring mean great prosperity
for tho farming community, but on tho othor
hand thoy mean a very conalderably increased
burden upon thoso clasaea In tho community
whoao yearly compensation does not expand with
tho improvement in bualnoaa and tho general
prosperity. Various reasons aro given for tho
high prices. The proportionate incroaao In tho
output of gold, which today la tho chlof medium
of oxchango and la In somo reapecta a mcaauro
of value, furnlahoa a aubafantial explanation of
at leaat part of tho incroaao in prlcoa. Tho in
crease in population and tho moro oxponslvo
modo of living of tho pcoplo, which havo not
been accompanied by a proportionate increaa
in acroago production, may furnish a furthor
reason. It Is woll to noto that tho Incroaao in
tho coat of living la not confined to this country
but provalle tho world ovor, and that those who
would chargo increases in prices to tho existing
protoctivo tai-iff must moot tho fact that the rise
in prices has taken placo almost wholly In those
products of tho factory and farm in respect to
which thoro has beon olthor no Increase in tho
tariff or In many instances a vory conaldorablo
roduction."
GAMBLING MUST GO
Clomenceau, representing tho government, has
Introduced a bill in tho Fronch chamber of
deputies abolishing lottorIcak Good for Franco!
Hero is another evldonce that tho moral awakon
ing la world-wido. Wo stopped tho lottory in
tho Unitod States ycara ago and aro juat now
engaged in abollhhlng raco track gambling. An.
attack should now bo mado on gambling in Us
citadel, namely, in tho stock exchange, tho
chamber of commerce and tho board of tra.de.
Thoso institutions aro tho training achooht for
embezzlers and the cause of a multitude of
suicides.
Gambling la ono of tho worst vices that af
flicts tho race; it ia easier to reform a con
firmed drunkard than a confirmed gambler, for
gambling diseases tho morals while drink dis
eases tho body.
Hero is a theme for tho minister; he ought
to speak out against evory form of gambling
the "Boclal game," tho "rafTlo" (which Is only
a baby lottery), "dice-throwing" at the cigar
counter, the "gueaslng contest" and speculation
on tho market. Ho ought to proclaim the
dlvlno law of rewards, which measures com
pensation by service and builds accumulations
on Industry and intelligence. Evory child should
bo taught to shun "got rich quick schemes"
they all appeal to the gambling apirlt and tho
gambling spirit will, If indulged, unfit one for
honest and prolonged effort.
GUESSING AT A TARIFF
"The true principle of protection," aays tho
republican platform, "is best maintained by the
Imposition of such duties as will equal tho dif
ference between cost of production at home and
abroad." That has long been tho cardinal
theory of protection. So It would seem that,
In framing a tariff bill on true protective prin
ciples, the first step would bo to ascertain the
difference between cost of production at homo
and abroad.
No such step has ever yet been taken. All
the tariff bills have been based substantially
upon the ex parte testimony of Interested per
sons. Even after it was well settled that a new
bill would be framed in 1909, the protectionist
party in congress refused to authorize a scien
tific investigation of the facts in the case. Even
now the country Is without authoritative in
formation as to the relation between a given
duty and the difference In cost of production
at homo and abroad. It may have Mr. Gary's
statement on one side and Mr. Carnegie's on
the other, or a glove manufacturer's allegations
and the contradictory allegations of a glove im
porter; but there Is no impartial, determinative
finding to which It can turn. Saturday Evening
POBt.
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