Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-29
At THE White HOUSE
President Working on His
Message.
ITS LEADING TOPICS
THE STATUS OF THE ISTHMIAN
CANAL NEGOTIATIONS.
Legislative Needs of Alaska, the Up
building of the Navy and
the Postal Frauds.
ITS LEADING TOPICS


The President does not begin his recep-
tion of visitors each day now as early as
during the busy seasons when Congress Is
in session. This is due to two things. One
is that there have not been many visitors.
The other is that the President is working
as long as possible each morning witt Sec
retary Loeb on his correspondence and his
annual message to Congress. The Pres
ident dictates directly to Secretary Loeb,
who is regarded as one OF the most COM
petent stenographers in the country. Mr..
Loeb in turn dictates from his notes to
other stenographers. The President and
Mr. Loeb work together with thorough
understanding of each other. They have
been together so many years that their sit
tings for work are systemadzed.
Last year the President s. leading topic in
the annual message was the public regula-
ton Of corporations and combinations of
corpora tions. Congress enactea some laws
that were satisfactory to the President as
to the trusts, and consequently 1t Will not
be necessary for him to make extensive
recommendations along the same lines this
year. On the contrary, it is thought likely
that the subject will not be discussed, un-
less it is to refer to the work that is being
gotten under way by the department OF
Justice and the Department OF Commerce
of corporations, presided oyer by Commits
sioner Garfield. who has had - number of
talks with the President in the last month
There is not the least idea THAT Congress
will attempt any material truRt legislation
at the coming regular session, and there
would be little use in the President making
recommendations, when the party has
agreed that no more Legislation Will be
placed on the books until the laws Of the
last Congress are given a full and thorough
test.
No Tariff Recommendations.
AS to the tariff. the feeling is strong that
the President will make no suggestions in
his message that might lead Congress to at
tempt legislation on that subject before an
other year. Republican leaders everywhere
have agreed that there shall be no tariff
legislation until after the presidential cleo
ton. The President is understood to be in
harmony with these plans. This being SO,
1t would be hardly worth the effort OF
brains and a busy official to d.seuss a sub
ject that has been shelved in advance, as
this has.
The very absence of important questions
demanding the expression of presidential
views is fortunate for the President on the
eve of a presidential election, and In q
message which might be made the basis OF
a campaign a year from now. Probably
the most important question which the
President must deal with either in his regu-
lar message or in a special message to
| congress VIII pe tEdl OI an lSttiIIidu
Congress and the country will expect en-
lightenment from the President and State
Department on the status OF the canal
negotiations and prospects. and the Presi-
dent will comply with the desires of both
1t is believed that his regular message will
contain a full discussion Of the situation,
probably without recommendations:
The reconstruction of the financial system
to some extent is likely to be topic OF
the message although it is understood that
the President and his party leaders and
friends have agreed that there is little
| necessity at this time for remedial leg:sla-
ton. Action looking toward changes in
and additions to existing currency laws is
to be put off for another year. In his last
message the President said he thought that
additional legislation was desirable. es-
pecially legislation that would automat-
ically supply every legitimate demand.
Conditions in the Philippines Will. 1t is
learned, form considerable portion OF the
Presidents message. He has been obtain
ing information about everything in the
Islands and will have from Governor Taft
and the War Department a mass of facts
and figures that will enable him to treat
Of the needs Of the islands. He will recon-
mend further legislation Of different kinds.
Legislative Needs Of Alaska.
The President has also been gathering in
formation relative to Alaska, and he will
write of this territory and Its needs IN his
| message. This chapter will follow the por-
tions Of his message that Will relate the YER
dict OF the tribunal on the boundary ques-
ton, and he will show that the decision
has given great results IN enabling pros
pectiye business enterprises in the territory
to know just where they stand. The Presi-
dent believes Alaska has a great future.
and his discussion Of the prospects Will be
much aided by the facts he has secured
! from the Senate subcommittee that visited
| the territory this summer.
Considerable legislation for Alaska is part
t1,n h1iroY, int nd
development of the territory depends as
much upon this legislation, the President
will point out. as upon the definite settle
ment OF the boundary question.
Close to the Presidents Heart.
Close to the Presidents heart always is
that Of the upbuilding Of an American
navy, and he Is securing facts from the
Navy Department that willApermit him to
treat this question in an interesting fash
ion. Admiral Taylor. CHIEF Of the bureau
of navigation, has supplied the President
with facts as to the equipment OF the navy
and some Of its immediate needs. The WIN
ter maneuvers of the navy in the Caribbean
sea and Its fitness for duty in case OF war
are some of the facts that the President
has talked over with naval officers. The
President has right along been favorable
to ample FUNDS FOR gun practice and allow
for possible trouble, and he will say and
do whatever lies in his power to prevent
any halt In the building Of the navy into a
great and valuable offensive and defensive
institution.
Irrigation, land laws and the Indians will
be discussed by the President. Bishop
Walker OF the board OF Indian commits
sioners talked with the President today
about Indian matters. The President thor
oughly und srstands the needs Of the red
| man. and In his last message said that IN
dealing with the Indian At should be the
aim Of the government that the Sed man
should be ultimately absorbed into the body
OF the people. He believes, however, that
| this absorption must be slow. The ope-
rations Of the irrigation laws passed by the
last Congress will be referred to.
An important part OF the: message. and
by many regarded as the most important.
will be that referring to the postal frauds
and the punishment Of offenders. It is
predicted that the message viii be SO clear.
and will show that the 6pvernment has SO
fully handled the situation, that Congress
will probably have no REASON to desire to
make an investigation of its own. The
President will. 1t is edad. make public
| everything In the cleareBt and most COM
prehensive manner.
Thought It Was Miss Todd.