Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-12-07
TUESDAY EVENING. DEC. 7. 1912.

reading for the masses, page after page
Of the first section bling a resume Of
foreign relations in which nothing OF 3
series nature Is brought out. This pr.
ton of the document Is suggestive Of
IN esssges of The president OF the United
S a,es q century ago, or OF the neWs-
papers OF that day, which contained but
little cave foreign news, congressional
proceedings and long-winded commonica'
lions ou slate matters. TIE 6rst sixteen
nSees are devoted to the intercourse OF
tine Uaiied States, diplemsic and CON-
mercisI, with Europtau, Asia!ic ard
Gontb American couDtrts. The tenor,
However, is much different from lhst
touud in similar documents from The
fathers Of the republic, Who were gen.
trslly helpless spectators Of the machiIS'
tlops of other governments. The mes
s,Oe ia couched in careful Language, bul
IN words Whicb command more attention
,bsn similar documents sent ont by our
fo,t,sth.rs when The United States, like
thu lac Southern OonfedeTacy, merely
Vanled TO be let tlone. The president
"a might have been expected, fsvOTS the
perpetustion Of the policies Of his patty
refers TO the Monroe doctrine (Which
the president, strange to say THINKS
has ontiiyed its Gay Of usefulOest), and
to existing relations Of the Uni'e1
States With Latin America, Ohins And
Jatau, tcgehsr with the Stsod tie
country has taken 10 lie Intercourse with
all other nations. The president mskes
q long and exhaustive review OF govern
ment expenditures and revenues and
shows. that the expenditures OF the
coming vtar will exceed The estimated
receipts by ga, O75. $40. Add to this
43S 600 600 TO be disbursed for the
Panama canal and 81, 1000. 900 to be
Maid 90 the public debt, the deficit will
rssch S7S 075. $40. The president ap'
proves OF The plan Of the SECRETARY OF the
treasury who desires to sell bonds for
the construction of the Panama canal TO
meet this shortage. Mr.. Taft, In plain
language, shows his diSspproTal OF any
action of Congress looking to The cutting
down Of estimates made by heads oil de-
psrtmens, and Gays:
10 The present estimates the needs OF
ehe departments aud OF The government
nave been cut to the quick, so to SPEAK,
and soy assumption on the part OF Con-
Cre,s, so often made in times past, that
The estimates have teen prepared with
tue expectation thst they may be re-
duced, will result ia seriously hsmperlng
proper administration.
The president commits himself 10
civil pensions, In which connection he
says;
Most OF the great industrial organiEl'
tions. and many OF the Well'cOnducted
railways of this country, are coming to
the conclusion that a system OF pensions
for old en- ployees, and the substitution
therefor OF younger and more energetic
servants, promotes both economy and
efficiency Of administration. l am aware
that there is strong feeling IN both
Houses OF Congress, and possibly in the
county, sgainst the establishment OF
civil pensions, and that this has ma
turslly grown out Of the heavy burden
of military pensions, which 1t has always
been the policy of ouv government TO
assume; bat l am strongly convinced
that no other practical solution of the
difficulties presented by the tuPersn-
uUa.lon of civil servants can be found
than that tf system OF civil pensions.
Mr.. Taft gsDces at the sugar frauds
COW berg ventilated in New York,
takes a cursory glance at the tariff Laws,
and reviews army and navy matters.
10 sptaking OF COST delenses he says;
There is one place where additional
defense is badly needed, aud that is at
the mouth of Chesapeake Buy, where 1t
is proposed TO make sn artificial Island
for fort which shall prevent an euemy's
feet from entering this most important
strategieal base Interpretations on the
whole AilsDtic and Gulf coasts. hope
thst appropriate legislation will be adopt.
ed to secure the construction OF this de-
tense.
The president isVOrs the passage Of
ship subsidy bill.
At the end Of his message Mr. TAFT
throws q sop TO the colOred race In the
following paragraph.
The year 1918 will mark the fIieth
anniversary of the Issuance of the
emancipation proclamation granting
freedom to the negroes. 1t seems fit.
ting that this event should be properly
celebrated. Already & movement has
been started BY prominent negroes, en-.
oouraged oy prominent white people
snd the press The south especially lie
mspilesiing Its interest in this move
meDt. L. is suggested that a proper
form Of celebration would be en- exposi-
tiOo to show the progress the negroes
have made, not only during their period
OF freedom, but also from the time OF
their coming to this country. | heartily
iudotse this proposal, aud request that
the executive be authorized to appoiut
preliminary commission of not more
Than saven nersons IN conaIdar caraIniIv