Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-02
COMING MESSAGE
Topics to Be Discussed by the Pres
ident.
GREAT PART DEVOTED 10 PHILIPPINES
Future of Cuba, China and a Mer-
chant Marine.
REGULATION TRU SITS

Word from Canton IS that the President
IA not giving much time thought to pol
itics and politicians. and that he Is doing
much on his forthcoming message to Con-
gress. In many respects this message Will
be a more important one than that of last
year. The great problem Of establishing
civil government in the Philippines and of
fixing the relations of the archipelago to
this country must either be decided at this
session of Congress put in such shape
= that a decision can soon be reached when
Congress meets year from next Decem-
her. OF almost equal Importance will be
the matter of Cuba's future, and of the set
tlement of the trouble in China.
Discussing the Philippines.
The President must necessarily devote a
great part of his message consideration
of the Philippines and the many problems
connected with them. The results of the
occupation of the islands by the United
States and the present conditions must be
described The President is now getting to-
gether much of the matter he will in
:. this connection. He will give many inter-
testing facts reported to him by the commits
sion headed by Judge Taft. Republican Of
fcials ana administra ton officials here be-
leve that the President will be able to say
to Congress that the islands last in
peaceful condition. This belief under ex-
lel!DS circumstances would appear peculiar
but for the confidence of the administration
that the fighting in the Philippines will i'm
mediately cease on news of the reelection
of the President and a republican triumph
in this country.
Every returning citizen or soldier and
every letter from the Philippines is en-
phatIc in the assertion that the activity
of the insurgents now is due to the hope
that its effect in this country may be to
bring about the election of Mr.. Bryan. The
predictions of hundreds of men of common
sense VIII tail II this does he
the case. II is believed that by the 10Th of
= November in case of the success of the
republicans, practically all the bushwhack-
ing and fighting Will cease and that the
FiIpinps will accept the inevitable
In Case OF IL Democratic House.
The possible election of a democratic
House OF Representatives will not it is be-
Hevcd. give hope to the Filipinos. They
Will know that whatever important legisla- !
ton in regard to them is desired will be put
through at the coming short session. The
President himself may make more definite
recommendations as to legislation concern
y ing the islands should the result of the
election next week show the selection of a
democratic lower house. Such house |
would stand in the way of whatever plans |
the republicans might have after the 4th |
Of March The President would realize
this and would exert himself TO aid the
accomplishment of certain ends that would
= fail if left II a Congress half of which
was controlled by his political supporters.
the Future of Cuba.
Despite the great Importance of the Chi
nese question, the President may make it
secondary in his message to the matter of
Cuba's future. On the other hand how
ever will be the fact that the constitution
al convention of Cuba will be in session at
the time Congress meets and the Presi-
dents message goes IN. Its deliberations
and conclusions Will greatly influence the
recommendations the President will ult-
mately make 70 the future of the is
land The President has always had in
View the promise of Congress that this
country would retire from the island when
a stable government has been secured there |
but whether such government can be had
from among the people Of the island may
be determined TO some extent by the work
of the constitutional convention.
The discussion as to China will. it is
stated, be more voluminous than pointed |
The President will review the history of
events in the big empire and narrate what
action was taken by this country. He viii |
send to the Senate all the correspondence |
that can he made public He will show |
that the efforts of the United States have
been given TO the protection of the interests |
anu citizens of this country and to main |
tanning the integrity of the Chinese empire |
ana the open door of commerce In his |
lateSt message the President urged an an |
preparation To provide for d commission TO |
study the industrial and commercial condi-
Tons OF the Chinese empire He may re- |
new TINS recommendation, although such n |
commission for some time to come would |
be unable 10 make headway
Discussion of Trusts,
Administration officials believe that the
ffeS4deht VII! again give the subject of
trusts conspicuous place in his message
and that he will renew his earnest recon- |
mendations that Congress give the matter |
satteHtion. The President is not so fertile
In plans for the abolition of the trusts as |
Mr.. Bryan, but it is conceded thar h.. is !
Just as candid as the democratic ca nddate
in his desire TO see legislation that will cur |
tail their powers. 1t is claimed that the |
President viii make as great effort for
Hesitation III this direction as would Mr.
Bryan. if elected. In his last message the
president referred to the trust views of
President Harrison in his annual message
OF December 3. 1883, and to the message Of
President Cleveland of December T. 1896.
i. Mr. Cleveland strongly urged that the in
suffcienCy of the existing laws against
trusts be remedied by further legislation
He said ne recognized that all federal legis-
iation might fall short of the desired end
and recommended effective state legislation
10 supplement the federal.
President Mckinley believes that the
question Is not one To be lightly considered
and thinks that Congress has power to
pass laws that will afford some relief
The Alaskan boundary Question.
The President will put before Congress
the modus vivendi as to the Alaskan
boundary. The agreement he will Indicate
ought to settle for number of years at
least the dispute over the boundary. The
facts he will present will show that this
country has made no concessions of value
but has simply done its duty.
War Taxes.
The strong condition Of the treasury will
form one of the chapters of the message
This will he in conjunction with the chief
executives ideas of the continuance of
prosperous conditions throughout the
Seountry. The President has not decided |
whether he will urge a stated reduction of
the war revenue tax. He will probably wait
for while longer before attempting to
express his views to how much of this
tax can be cut off. II conditions in the
Philippines become better and permit the
withdrawal Of a good part of the army
and its mastering out Of service the war
revenue taxes be reduced $40 600 600
or $50,OOO,0OO a year. If the large army
is continued, and China remains to be
looked after by a small army, the amount
of the reduction cannot well be determined