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The Commoner,
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VOLUME 10, NUMBER 41
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The Commoner.
ISSUED WEEKLY
Entered at .tho Postofllce at Lincoln, Nebraska,
as second-class matter.
WlLIJAM J. llBYAK '
- Kdltor and Proprlotor
RlCIIAIUD L. MliTCAMTS
Awoclato Kill lor
CiiAnx.ns W. Bryan
Publlflhcr
Editorial Pooins nnd IlitRlnoas
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THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb.
President's Message
' President Talt's annual message, delivered in
congress December 6, 1910, is one of the long-,
est in the history of such documents.
In the beginning the president says that the
relations of the United States have continued
upon a oasis of friendship and good under
standing, lie pays a .tribute to arbitration, re
ferring to the settlement at The Hague of 'two
Important international controversies the fish
eries dispute with Great Britain and tho Orinoco
dispute with Venezuela.
He says he has not yet made appointments to
the peace commission because he is awaiting
the expressions of foreign governments as to
their willingness to co-operate.
TARIFF NEGOTIATIONS
Referring to the new tariff law provision re
specting the maximum and minimum tariffs the
president says that discrimination was discov
ered in several countries and removed by nego
tiation Conferences on this line with Canada
will be resumed at Washington in January.
Under the head of "the department of state,
the foreign service," etc., he recommends "such
legislation as will make possible and convenient
tho establishment of American banks and
branches of American banks In foreign coun
tries." Then he takes the pains to recommend
the ship-subsidy, although he refers to it as
"mail subsidy or other subvention adequate
to guarantee the establishment and rapid de
elopment of an American merchant marine, the
restoration of the American flag to Its ancient
place upon tho seas." '
He recommends the enactment into law of
tho general principles of tho existing executivo
regulations respecting civil service as applied
to the diplomatic and consular services.
He urges upon congress the passage of some
measure similar to that favorably reported by
the house committee on foreign affairs February
li, 1910, authorizing the gradual acquisition of
premises for the use of American embassies and
legations.
NEXT YEAR'S EXPENSES
He presents as an estimate of expenditures
for next year $630,494,013,12, as against
$633,068,672.51 ; tnis doe8 not include the Pan
ama canal expenditures which will be something
mor than $56,000,000.
Tho president says that four hundred place
have been abolished in the civil service of tho
treasury department without Injuring the de
partment's efficiency, He recommends "a wiser
method of preparing a public building bill," pre
paring tho measure upon a report by a commis
sion of government dxports.
On the question of revenue ho says tho cor
poration excise tax has worked well.
Of tho Payno tariff act he says that measure
was "adopted In pursuance of a declaVation by
tho party which Is responsible for it that a cus
toms bill should bo a tariff for the protection
of home industries." The measure of tho pro
tection to bo the difference between the cost
of producing the Imported article abroad and
tho cost of producing it at homo, together with
such addition to that difference as might give
a' reasonable profit to the home producer."
Ho says that "the basis for the criticism of
this tariff is that In respect to a number of the
schedules the declared measure was not fol
lowed, but a higher difference retained or in
serted by way of undue discrimination in favor
of certain industries and manufacturers." He
says that little, if any, of the criticism has been
directed against the protective principle, but
that the criticism "has been based on the charge
that the attempt to conform to the measure of
protection was not honestly and sincerely ad
hered to."
In explanation of this he says that the time
in which tho tariff was prepared was too short
for congress and experts to acquire the neces
sary information, but that in order- to avoid
criticism of this kind in the future the appoint
ment of a tariff board was authorized He says
this board is now hard at work, although it is
not likely to make a report during the present
session of congress on any of the schedules.
He hopes, however, that he may be able to givo
to the next session of congress some of the te-
suits of this board's investigation. In this con
nection he recommends that when the tariff is ,
corrected it bo corrected "one schedule at a'
time." He says we ought to have, like other
governments, an offlce or bureau whose busi
ness it would be tosupply "the most reliable
information as to tho propriety of the chango
- (tariff reform) and Its effects."
BANKING AND CURRENCY
He advises congress to- provide for "a non
partisan and disinterested study and considera
tion of our banking and currency system.".. This
would mean the appointment of another com
mission to tell the people just what they ought
to havo in banking and currency "reform. ,
The president tells us that the army numbers.
now' about 80,000 men and he emphasizes the"
need for additional officers for the rank of cap
tain who may be used as teachers for militia
and volunteer forces.
He says that the Philippines and and Porto
Rico are in good condition and he objects to
the provision in the new Porto Rico bill pro
viding for a partially elective senate as unwise.
He declares that the Panairia canal will be
completed by January 1, 1915, within the esti
mated cost of $375,000,000. He recommends
charging toll on the canal and intimates that
a dollar a net ton would be sufficient, as this
will brfng an income of nearly $7,000,000.
' He renews his recommendation providing for
natipnal incorporation of Industrial and other
companies engaged in Interstate commerce.
He advises the simplification of judicial pro
cedure by empowering the supreme court to do
it through the medium of the rules of the court.
In his opinion no man is entitled -as a matter
of right to a review of his case by the supreme
court. He should be satisfied by one hearing
before a court of first instance.,, and one review
by a court of appeals. Tho supreme court, in.
his opinion, should expound the law and espe
cially constitutional law so as to furnish prece
dents for inferior courts. He advises, there
fore, the relief of tho supreme court from an
unnecessary burden of appeals. These recom
mendations have been embodied in bills pre
pared by the American Bar Association, which
bills are now pending,
He renews his recommendation of a law reg
ulating the Issuing of injunctions without notico.
He recommends the increase of the salary of
the chief justice of the supere court to $17,500;
associate justices, $17,000; circuit judges,
$10,000; district judges, ,$9,000.
He says that arrangements have been per
fected so that postal savings banks will be
opened in some cities and. towns January 1,
and that then the system will be gradually ex
tended to the rest of the country.
He congratulates the country that there is no
longer a postal deficit.
He renews his recommendation as to the In
crease of mail charges upon magazines and
other second class matter and he says that the
Increase. In receipt! resulting from this change
"may- be devoted to increasing the usefulness
of tho department in establishing a parcels post
and In reducing the: dost of first class postage
to one cent;" then he recommends the adoption
of parcels post on rural routes not to exceed
eleven, pounds per package. He adds that this1
should be adopted with a view to the general
extension of tho parcels post "whenthe income
of the postofllce will permit it and the postal
savings banks shall have been fully established."
He recommends the abandonment of certain
navy yards on the ground that they aro un
necessary. He recommends "fitting recognition by con
gress, of tho great achievement of Robert Edwin
Perry," saying- that he reached the north pole
April 6, 1909.
He recommends the adoption of Secretary
Ballingor's suggestion that appeals In land cases
may be taken from the interior department to
the court of appeals of the District of
Columbia.
On conservation he recommends tho repeal of
tho limitation now imposed upon tho president
which forbids him reserving more forest 'lands
in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Colo
rado and Wyoming. Also that tho government's
coal deposits be leased after advertisement in
viting competitive bids for terms not exceeding
fifty years with a minimum rental and royalties
upon the coal mined, to be readjusted every ten
or .twelve years and 2,500 acres of service to, be
the limit for any one lessee. Also similar provi
sion for government phosphate land with the
added condition that tho government might reg
ulate and if need be prohibit the export to, for
eign countries of the product. Also a provi
sion of law whereby a prospector for oil or gas
may have the right to prospect for two years
over a certain tract of government land when
no shall be given a government license upon
discovery of oil or gas; this prospector Bhall be
given a government lease. Also that water
power sites be leased by the government for not
exceeding fifty years with a condition fixing
rates charged by the public and against assign
ment to prevent monopolistic combinations.
Concerning Alaska the president recommends -that
its government be delivered to "a commis
sion with limited legislative powers, this, com
mission to bo appointed by the president. .
He recommends tho creation of a bureau 'for.
the" control of national parks and thp building
of another national park out of the Grand
Ganyon-of the Colorado. The president pays a
tribute to the various departments as operated
under his administration.
He renews his recommendation that a bureau
of health be created and says that those respon
sible for the government can be trusted to se
cure in the personnel of the bureau the appoint
ment of representatives of all recognized schools
of medicine and in the management of the bu
reau entire freedom from narrow prejudice in
this regard.
He renews the . recommendation that the
claims of the depositors In the Preedmen's bank
be paid; also that steps be taken looking to the
holding of a negro exposition in celebration of
the fiftieth anniversary of Mr. Lincoln's eman
cipation proclamation.
On the civil service he recommends a law
providing that the president shall have the pow
er to Include In the classified service all local
office appointments which .now,,, require tho
confirmation of the senate and that upon such
classification the advice and consent of the sen
ate shall cease to be required In such appoint
ments; this would put In the civil service all of
the local offices, such as postmaster, United
States marshal, attorneys, postofllce officials, etc.
He advises the creation of a civil pension sys
tem such as is in vogue in England in the form
of "contributory plan with provision for refund
of their theoretical contributions." This would
In effect be an insurance system. He therefore
recommends the passage of the Gillette bill
amended so that the difference between the an
nuties thus granted and the salaries may be
used for the employment of official clerks at
the lower grade.
He renews the old time recommendation for
safety appliances for the protection of railway
employes.
He asks for reasonable appropriation to en
able the Interstate commerce commission to en
ter upon a valuation of all railroads.
He recommends the passage of a law under"
which one who, in good faith, advances money
or credit upon a bill of lading issued by a com
mon carrier upon an interstate or -foreign ship
ment may hold the carrier liable for the valu
of the goods described In the bill at the valu-
.(Continued on Page 7)
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