The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-03-25
TAfT'S FIRST MESSAGE
SENT TO CONGRESS
Asks Immediate Consideration Of
the Ding'ey Act.


Washington, d, G. Especially -
In special message, containing just
$40 words, including address, sig
nature and date line, President Taft
urged upon Congress the necessity
for the speedy enactment of tariff
'evislou law, while at the same time
urging careful consideration of the
schedules to be changed or made.
The President made no detailed
recommendation in the message,
pointing to his inaugural address fos
his views on the subject of revision.
He urged, however, that Congress
dispense with less important legisla-
tion. in the interest of the business
part of the country, which. he said,
is Withholding much of its activity
pending the passage OF the new tariff
law.
Mr., Tafts First Message,
The message, Mr Taft's first com
munication to Congress as President,
is in full as follows;
ITO the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives
Il have convened the Congress In
this extra session In order to en-
able it to give immediate considera-
tion to the revision of the Dingley
tariff act. Conditions affecting pro-
duction, manufacture and business
generally have so changed in the
last II years as to require a read
justment and revision of the import
duties imposed by that act More
than this, the present tariff act, with
the other forces of government rev.
enue, does not furnish income
enough to pay the authorized ex-
penditures. BY July l next the ex
cess of the expenses over receipts
for the current fiscal year will equal
500. 100000.
THE successful party in the last
election is pledged TO a revision OF
the tariff. The country, and the
business community especially, ex-
pect it. The prospect of a change
in the rates of import duties always
causes a suspension or halt in busl-
ness. because of the uncertainty d.
to the changes to be made and their
effect. 1t is, therefore, of the high
est Importance that the new bill
should be agreed upon and passed
with as much speed as possible, con-
sistent with its due and thorough
consideration. For these reasons.
have deemed the present to be an
extraordinary occasion. within the
meaning of the Constitution. justi
flying and requiring the calling of an
extra session.
I'm my inaugural address | stated
in a summary way the principles
upon which, in my Judgment, the re-
vision of the tariff should proceed,
and indicated at least one new source
of revenue that might be properly
resorted to in order to avoid a flu
ture deficit II is not necessary for
me to repeat what then said.
Il venture to suggest that the
vital business interests of the country
require that the attention of the Con-
gress in this session be chiefly devot-
ed TO the consideration to the new
tariff bill, and that the less time given
to other subjects of legislation in
this session the better for the coun-
try.
William II. Taft,
THE White House, March 16, 1903"
The message was read to the Sem
ate Immediately after its assembly.
1t was received with expressions of
approval by the senators, who like
not only it's brevity, but also its ex-
preston of a desire that the business
of the special session should be con-
fined as much as possible to the con-
sideration CT the revision of the tariff.
The message was referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Prolonged applause greeted Secre-
tary Latta when he entered the
| House with the message. During its
reading members listened with the
greatest attention, and at its close
there was a whirlwind of hand-clap-
! ping.
The first business of the House
was the report of the committee ap-
pointed to wait on the President.
Representative Olmstead tRep., Pa
announced that the President desir-
! ed to congratulate the membership
upon their prompt organization.
The message was then read. II
produced even more enthusiasm and
| favorable comment in the House than
| had accompanied its reception and
| 700 dipg in tho ut her. bodV