The Washington times., 1909-12-07

slstance now; especially If he did not
care 70 go far enough forward to salts
y them
Wants More Time.
Out Of this complexity OF faction and
interest came the determination not TO
send to Congress the recommendations
on the great cardinal policies until there
should have been more light and more
opportunity TO develop the situation in
Congress.
Consequently, trust, railroad. and rec
lamaion legislation are omitted from
the message.
Unavoidably, this holding back Of the
great business Of the sossion-if Il shall
accomplish any great things-has led to
vast variety Of comment It ranges
all the way from criticism which as
sumes that the President is not anxious
to accomplish very much. to commenda-
ton for the care which he mas exercised
In the effort to take no step till he
knows where it viii lead. Public men
who for weeks have been predicting
that the long session will be one of linn
tied accomplishment have nodded COM
placently and assumed that the mes
sage is the proof that little can be done.
Others have taken the view that the
Presidents recommendations will be
in special messages.
For publication. the members Of Con-
rreSs who confessed disappointment
with the message, have not been dis
posed to talk. Ii is pretty plain that
the prOgressiveS among them are gen
orally determined to 90 their own
course, introducing their own bills for
the regulation Of Capitalization. the
valuation of the railroads, the extern
sion of the powers Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, the protection
of the public domain. the conservation
OF natural resources, and the various
other purposes which they have had in
mind
To this end, Senators Cummins and
Dolliver viii both press some inter
state commerce measures they have
prepared, such broader and more compre-
hensive in scope than any the Ad-
nunistration has undertaken to pre-
pare. Messrs. Beveridge and La Fol-
lctte VIII resume effort for a real
tariff commission. While the President
has been assiduous in his efforts to
hold the two factions Of his party un-
der his rein, there is little to indicate
mat either Of them is going to &C
Cept without reserve his program when
IL shall be presented.
Rather more than one-third the con-
tents Of the message is devoted to
foreign affairs. The Central American
imbroglto is dismissed with a statement
OF facts already generally known. and
with the assurance that the Govern
and deliberatiOn to determine the truth
and adopt a proper course consistent
with its obligations and interests.
The President outlines in considerable
detail the efforts to reduce the ex-
penses OF the Government. and warns
that the estimates this time have been
cut TO the quick. and that II will NOT
be SAFE TO assume that they may be
by June 30, 1911, the deficit will have
disappeared.
Customs Frauds.
The sugar customs frauds arc Az
planned, and Congress is urged not 10
interfere with the criminal prosecution
by an Investigation which. by couferrinq
immunity, or In other wise, might pre-
vent the attainment Of desired results.
Concerning the operations Of the tar
if board. the President declares the law
and the necessities Of the case include
within fits duties the study of costs
OF production at home and abroad. and
states that he has set It at work on this /
task
One Of the most important para grsDbs
in the message is the recommendation /
that a commission be authorized. TO |
examine the law and equity procedure |
OF the Federal courts, with a view 20 |
simplifying them and reducing the cost
OF their processes. Legislation is also
asked, 70 carry out the platform pledge |
that in1unctions should not be permitted
10 issue without notice save in cases
where irreparable injury would ensue
Discussing affairs of the Postoffce
Department. the President rather tenta-
lively suggests the Increase Of the nos
tai rate on magazines and periodicals. |
which he says are now hauled for /
cent per pound. while the actual cost
OF the service is cents. He would not
increase the rate for newspapers. There
r. no recommendation as to the revision /
OF contracts with the railroads for use /
OF postal cars or hauling the mails.
Postal savings Sanks are demanded /
IN compliance with the pledge Of the /
Republican platform.