Evening journal., 1909-12-07

Tuesday, December 7. 1909
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


THE Message of President Taft is full and
\ plenty, some fifteen thousand words
Those who hoped for brefer document are
disappointed, hut-t must be remembered that
naturally it is very difficult for a Judge to be
brief Judges are trained to look at things from
SO many points of view that when they come to
express an opinion it is hard for them to COM
press, 10 be terse.
The Taft message, of course, reads more or
less like an opinion. There are so many topics
TO be considered that President who wishes to
cover them all must extend his words There is
nothing sensational about the message. steady
head Taft's is, out of which proceed no verbal
pyrotechnics
Our foreign relations are reviewed and the
President seems to think that our good services
might result In an Improvement of conditions in
Congo country that has been cruelty exploited
for many years by the dsreputable Belgian King.
Liberia is of course considered and the President
may send a special message to Congress on that
subject 1t will be recalled that Liberia is a
small country in Africa that was settled by
American citizens of the African race. A com
mission was recently sent there from America to
give the Liberians counsel and advice about
some perpleXing problems and Congress may
take action TO aid Liberia. 1t is to be hoped
that we shall not get ourselves seriously in
VOWED with the little nation--be its guardian
and responsible for it.
Our relations with European and South
american nations dlC reviewed at great length
and the developments in Nicaragua are touched
upon All this IS satisfactory. The President
explains that It is necessary for him to mention
these subjects because the Department OF State
makes no formal report to Congress.
TAFT considers the most important question
presented to his administration is that of econ
omy in expenditures and suf6ciency of revenue
The efforts of the departments to practice econ
omy noted and there is to be a thorough
oyerhaulng OF the different departments with
a view TO preventing waste. The President
recommends a system of civil service pensions
lustiiying his suggestion on the ground that
great industrial organizations and railroad COM
panies are providing for their employees II will,
however be some time before Congress estab-
fishes civil pensions. What a crush of appl-
cants for office there would be If there were civil
service pensions. Almost everybody would be
wanting TO work for the government
The President refers to the new tariff and the
board which he expects will be of great assist
ance to him. Perhaps so. Naturally the Presi-
dent is greatly interested In the Department of
Justice and he touches upon the action of the
American Bar Association in discussing such
matters. The deporable delays in the consid-
Grafton of criminal and civil business cause Taft
TO think that change of procedure is needed.
Defects are great in both Federal and State
courts. aft will render a good service il he
can bring about reform in legal procedure Most
business men avoid the courts as they would
pesulence The delays and expense and
intrioacies Of the courts caused business mems
association of Massachusetts to substitute pri-
vate arbitration among its members for court
proceedings.
Concerning the injunction practice Taft up
nolds the position taken by the Republican Plat
form and would limit restraining orders and
temporary injunctions to seven days This GER
tainly would lessen the complaints of those who
nave been bowling about government by in
junction.
The President touches lightly, perhaps for
want of space" upon the postal savings bank
the ship subsidy, conservation of national re.
sources, all of which he favors. He does no,
mention, as he should have done, we think. the
parcels post service and the express trust will
throw up its hand in glee.
Perhaps criticism that could be made of the
message is that it devotes so much space 60 the
discussion of foreign relations things in which
the everyday man is not much concerned, while
the lesser space is devoted to topics of suggested
legislation, in which persons who take any in.
terest in public matters are concerned.
Ike IL. Ii