New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-10
MESSAGE ALMOST READY.
FORECAST OF SOME FEATURES OF
PRESIDENTS RECOMMENDATIONS.
TRUST LEGISLATION TO BE URGED-REDUC-
TIoN OF SOME DUTIES AND NEW
TARIFF COMMISSION FAVORED.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO the rR1RUxE.I

tBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIRUNE.I
Washington, Nov 9-President Roosevelt
has his annual message TO Congress so far ad-
Vanced toward completion that the single week
which will remain before the assembly of Con-
sress after his return 10 Washington on No
Vember 23. will be sufficient for it's completion
and printing. AS the coming session of Con-
gress will extend only from December I to
March 4, with two weeks out for the Christmas
holiGays, there will he only about eleven weeks
| for legislative work. In that time all of the
annual appropriation bills must he passed. and
1t is not expected that d great amount of i'm
portant new legislation can be initiated and put
through both houses. The appropriation bills
are already well under way as Messrs. Courts
and Cramer, the clerk and assistant clerk to the
House COMMITTEES on Appropriations, have been
at work on them for some time. and have the
| framework of the principal bills sll prepared.
with the amounts written i'm where there is
question as 10 the amount that must be appro-
priated. When Congress meets the Legislative.
Sundry Civil, Pension. Fortifications and Dis
trict If Columbia Appropriation bills will he
ready 10 distribute among the members of the
sub-committees The Pension bill will be ready
to report to the House within few days after
the beginning of the session.
Although the contents OF President Roose-
vet's message will be kept secret until it is for
warded TO Congress enough is known as 70 the
way in which some of it's topics will he treated
to enab forecast of those features to be made.
While the President cannot expect much gen
er4l legislation in the short session his message
will show that he regards the result Of the re-
cent election not merely an Endorsement Of
the Republican administration and of Republi
can policies, but as a mandate from the country
for the continuance of those policies and for the
redemption of the promises made 10 the voters
in the campaign. That there has been no change
in the attitude Of the administration on the sub
ject OF Cuban reciprocity will be made appa-
rent. but whether the message will urge legisa-
tion viii promise the Transmission of Cuban
reciprocity treaty 10 the Senate viii probably
depend upon the progress that may he made in
the next two weeks toward the negotiation of
reciprocity treaty.
TARIFF AND TRUST LEGISLATION.
Interest in the Forthcoming message is largely
centred in what the President may have to say
on the subject of trust regulation. The Presi-
dent will urge Congress TO consider this subject
carefully with the view 10 the enactment of
legislation which will regulate the trusts with
out endanEering the industries in which they
are engaged. He has already indicated that he
will favor a constitutional amendment II such
an amendment is necessary to enable Congress
TO act effectively. He has been advised, how
ever. by such a capable lawyer A. AttfIFHh
General Knox that me necessary powfS ALREADY
exists and he viii recommend legislation along
the lines Of the Attorney Generals Pittsburg
speech. The message viii also probably refer
to the strike in the anthracite mines. and TO the
progress being made toward adjustment Of
the differences between the mine workers and
the mine owners
There will be nothing in the message savoring
Of the abandonment Of the principles of protec-
ton but this will not prevent him from recon-
mending the reduction. by direct enactment or
by reciprocal agreements with foreign nations.
OF rates Of duty which may no longer be needed
for purposes of protection. II has been
nounced by member Of the Cabinet that the
message will favor such reductions, and that II
will also urge the creation of permanent COM
mission which can at all times give expert con-
sideraton to the revenue needs of the govern
ment and to varying interests, thus enabling IL
10 make recommendations to Congress which
VIII save the committees charged with the prep
araton OF revenue laws great deal of labor
and Insure a more intelligent framing Of such
laws.
CURRENCY AND BANKING REFORM.
Closely allied to the question of revenue is
the subject of currency and banking reform.
Secretary Shaw is heartily in favor of the estab-
lishment of a system of asset banking which
bank currency of the country. and would enable
the banks themselves to tide over many periods
of monetary stringency in which they must
now appeal to the Treasury for help. II the
President does not specifically recommend such
legislation in his message he will probably call
the attention of Congress to the recommended
tions of the Secretary of the Treasury.
The satisfactory condition of affairs in the
Philippines will be dwelt upon. and the civil and
military authorities will be commended for the
work which they have done in suppressing the
insurrection, restoring order throughout the
the act passed at the last session of Congress.
Affairs in Porto Rico and Hawaii are moving
along quietly that there is little for the Presi
dent to say about these recently annexed posses
sions except to refer with satisfaction 10 the
progress which they are making under Ameri-
sovereignty.
The work Of the army I'm the Philippines and
elsewhere will certainly find recognition in the
message, and the progress that is being made
toward efficient organization through
the instrumentality OF the War College and the
subordinate schools of instruction and through
the maneuvres at Fort Riley and the joint
manPuVres with the navy will be referred to.
Recommendations for legislation 10 enable the
general staff system. which has been worked
out by the Secretary Of War. TO be put into ef-
feet will be made
PANAMA CANAL DELAY
The message will indorse the recommenda-
tons which Secretary Moody will make in his
annual report for the increase and improvement
Of the navy. President Roosevelt has never lost
an opportunity to insist that the United States
should have the best navy in the world in pro
portion its size. His recommendations will
not only look to continuing the policy of build
ing fighting ships OF the highest efficiency and
the provision of officers and men to man them
but will also refer to the necessity of the thor
ough training OF officers and men. and to the
value to the service of manoeuvres such as those
which were carried on off the coast of New
England last summer and those which are about