The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1909-03-24
TAFT MESSAGE
SETS A RECORD
PRESIDENT SENDS TARIFF VIEWS
TO CONGRESS-.
is SHORTEST DOCUMENT
Adheres to Revision Pledge with Tres
tise Of Less Than 400 Word3-
Conditions Changed, He
Says.

Taft's personal messenger arrived at
the capitol Tuesday, supposedly With
the executive message on the tariff
question, groans went up from both
houses of congress. The congressman.
seeing no evidence of message. drew
the quick conclusion that the presi'
dent hadn't written it yet and that it
was to be postponed for another day.
They knew the message was to be
short, but they were thunderstruck
when the messenger pulled 1t out OF
his vest pocket and laid it before the
clerks. 1t was less than 400 words in
length, thus setting new record for
short messages. The messenger had
memorized it on the way over from
the White House, but owing to the
amendment to the old house rules, he
was not allowed to recite it, SO the
clerk read it there.
Get busy" wa sthe theme of the
abbreviated document, the president
simply telling congress that condi-
lions in the past IL years had so
changed that a revision of the present
tariff duties was an absolute neces.
sity. He further called attention to
the fact that in the republican con.
vention at Chicago last June, the party
had promised to revise the tariff II
elected and this must be done.
AS President Roosevelt's messages
were usually long and as the former
occupant of the White House had en-.
gagged in a small war with congress,
there was a general expression Of
satisfaction.
Following is the message:
ITO the Senate and House of Repre-.
sentatives: l have convened the con-
gress in this extra session in order to
enable it to give immediate considera-
ton to the revision of the Dingley
tariff act. Conditions affecting pro-
duction, manufacture and business
generally have so changed in the last
IL years as to require a readjustment
and revision of the import duties i'm
posed by that act. More than this,
the present tariff act, with the other
sources of government revenue, does
not furnish income enough to pay the
authorized expenditures. BY July 1st,
next, the excess of expenses over re-
ceipts for the current fiscal year will
equal 500, 100000.
"The successful party in the late
election is pledged to revision of
the tariff. The country, and the bust.
ness community, especially, expect 1t.
The prospect of change in the rates
of import duties always causes sus-
pension or halt in business because
of the uncertainty as to the changes
to be made and their effect. 1t is
therefore of the highest Importance
that the new bill should be agreed
| upon and passed with as much speed
as possible consistent with its due and
thorough consideration. For these
reasons l 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 revision
of the tariff should proceed, and indi
Gated at least one new source of rev
enue that might be properly resorted
to in order to avoid a future deficit
It is not necessary for me to repeat
what l then said.
II venture to suggest that the vita
business interests of the country re
uuire that the attention of the con
gress in this session be chiefly de
voted to the consideration Of the new
tariff bill, and that the less tim'
given to other subjects of Legislation
in this session, the better for thu
country.
| (Signed) civilian H. TAFT.
"1'he White House, March 16, 1909