The Ordway new era., 1909-12-10

vs. might never be applied In any case.
Dut That the power to apply them would
enable the president and the state DEPART
m"nt through friendly negotiation to ne- |
cure the elimination from the laws and
the practice under them of any foreign
country OF that which is unduly discrim
ihntory. No one Is seeking IA tarir war
or condition In which the spirit of re-
thlihtion shall be aroused.
lhe new thrin law enables me to an
point tarin board to assist me in CON
hecton with the department of state In
the administration OF the minimum and
maximum clause OF the act and also TO
assist officers of the government in the
administration Of the entire law. An ex-
animation of the law and an understand
| ing OF the nature of the facts which
should be considered In discharg-
| ing the functions imposed upon the execu-
| I'VE show that have the power to direct
| the thrin board To make Il comprehensive
| glossary and encyclopedia of the terms
| used and articles embraced In the tariff
| law. and to secure Information as to the
| cost OF production of such goods in this
| country and the cost OF their production
In foreign countries, ] hav. therefore ap-
pointed IA tariff board consisting OF three
| members and have directed them to p.r-
| form all the duties above described This
| work will perhaps take two or three
| years. and ask from congress Il continu-
| Ing annual appropriation equal to that al
| ready mude for Its prosecution. | believe
| that the work Of this board will be OF
| whenever
| congress shall deem II wise again TO re-
| adjust the customs duties. II the facts
secured by the tariff board ARE OF such II
| character ns to show generally that the
| rates OF duties Imposed by the present
| tariff law are excessive under the prIn-
| clples OF protection as described In the
| platform OF the successful party at the
late election. ! shall not hesitate to In
| Wit" the attention OF congress to this fact
| and to the necessity for action prcdIcnted
| thereon. bul
ness and interfcrcs with the course OF
| prosperity 80 much ns tho threatened re-
| vision OF the tnrin. and until the facts are
at hand. after careful md deliberate in
ycstigatlon. upon which such revision can
| properly be undertaken. II seems to me
unwisc to attempt It, The amount OF mis-
Information that Crecps into arguments
pro and con In respect to thrin rates IL
such as to require the kind OF invcstIgn-
uon that | have directed the tariff board
To make. an Investigation undertaken by
II wholly without respect to the effect
which the facts may have In calling for a
rcadJustment Of the rates Of duty.
War Department.
In the interest OF immediate economy
and because Of the prospect OF deficit.
| have required reduction In the csti-
mates Of the war department for the
coming fiscal year. which brings the to-
tai estimates down to an amount forty
Nv" millions less than the corresponding
|
be accomplished by cutting on new
projects and suspcndInE for the period
| OF one year all progress In military mat
tcrs. For the sam" reason | have direct
cd that the army shall not be recruited
| up To Its present authorized strength,
These measures can hardly be more than
tempOrary-to last until our revenues are
In better condition and until the whole
question OF the cNpcdicnCy OF adopting
definite military policy can be submitted
I a fnr n m he In - r.
csts OF the military establishment are Sc
riously In need OF careful consideration by
congress. The laws regulating the organ
izntion OF our armed forces In the event
of war need to be revised In order that
the organization can be modified so as
to produce II force which would he more
consistently apportioned throughout Its
numerous branches. To explain the cir
| CunistanCcs upon which this opinion IL
based would ncccssitate n lengthy discus
sion. and postpone II until the first con-
vcnicnt opportunity shall arise to send to
congress special message upon this sub
. | jcct.
or the changes recommended by
; the secretary of war, the president
especially urges the passage Of bill
, that will permit the elimination of the
, less efficient officers. He concurs in
: the opinion of the military and nava
, , joint board in favor of making an ex
: tensive naval base at Pearl Harbor
near Honolulu. and not In the Philip
pines.
l The Navy.
= The return OF the battlcship fleet from
: It's voyage around the world. in more eff
5 ticicnt condition than when 1t started. wa,
, n noteworthy event OF interest alike t,
our citizens and the naval authorities O
the world Besides the beneficial and far
: reaching effect on our personal and dip
{ lomatic relations in the countries
which the fleet visited. the marked sue
cess Of the ships in stcamng around thu
!. world In all weathers on schedule TIM
has increased respect for navy an,
has added to our national prestige
/, Early in the coming session a compre
: hcnsivc plan for the reorganization of tn
, officers OF all corps of the navy Will b
- presented to congress. and hope it vii
, meet with action suited to its urgency.
Owing to the necessity for economy IL
:, expenditures. l have directed the curtnil
. ment OF dations for naval ap
:, proprntions so that they are thirty cgh
millions less than the corresponding es
Inmates of last year. and the request 70
- new naval construction is limited to tw
a first-class battlcships and one repair YES
:, | sci.
. Mr.. Taft urges upon congress tina
( the naval observatory be dedicated t,
d science under control OF some emf
. nent astronomer.
Expedition in Legal Procedure.
, The dcplorable delays in the admins
- | tration OF civil and criminal law have re
:, ceived the attention of committees OF tn
> American Bar association and of man.
= | state bar associations. as well as the con
- sidered thought of Judges and jursts. Ii
:, my Judgment change in judicial pro
= | cedure. with view to reducing its eX
= pense to private Iirigants in civil case
q and facilitating the dispatch of busines
=. i and final decision in both civil and Grim
: inal cases constitutes the greatest nee'
. | in our American institutions. I do no
| doubt for one moment that much OF tn
4 lawless violence and cruelty exhibited
J, in lynchings is directly due to the uncer
tainties and injustice growing out of th
}, | delays in trials, Judgments and the exc
. i cutions thereof by our courts. OF cours