The daily sentinel., 1909-12-07

and that to deny them to the secre-
tary OF state would be to place this
government at a great disadvantage
in the rivalry OF commercial compe-
tition.
The consular service has been
greatly improved under the law OF
April 5. 1906. and the executive or
der of June 27. 1906, and | commend
to your consideration the question OF
emhodyins in a statute the princi-
pies of the present executive order
upon which the efficiency Of our con-
.sular service is wholly dependent.
In modern times political and
commercial interests are inter-related
and in the negotiation of commercial
treaties. conventions and tariff agree
ments, the keeping open of opportun-
tiles and the proper support of Amer
lean enterprises, our diplomatic SER
vice is quite as important as the con-
sular service to the business interests
of the country. Impressed with this
idea and convinced that selection af-
ter rigorous examination, promotion
for merit solely and the experience
only to be gained through the con
tinuity of an rganized service are
indispensable to a high degree of ef-
ficiency in the diplomatic service.
have signed an executive order as the
first step toward this very desirable
result. Its effect should be to place
all secretaries in the diplomatic ser
vice in much the same position as
consular officers are now placed and
tend to the promotion of the most
Efficient to the grade of minister.
generally leaving for outside appoint
ment such posts of the grade of am
bassador or minister as 1t may be ex-
pedient to fill from without the SER
vice. 1t is proposed also to keep the
practice instituted last summer of
giving to all newly appointed secre-
taries at least one months thorough
training in the department of state
before they proceed to their posts
This has been done for some time in
regard to the consular service with
excellent results. =
Under a provision of the act OF
August 5. 1909, / have appointed
three officials to assist the officers of
the government in collecting infor-
nation necessary to a wise admins
tration of the tariff act of August
5, 1903. AS to questions of customs
administration, they are cooperating
with the officials Of the treasury de
partment, and as to matters of the
needs and the eXigencies of our man
ufacturers and exporters. with the
department of commerce and labor,
in its relation to the domestic aspect
of the subject of foreign commerce
In the study of foreign tariff treat
ment they will assist the bureau of
trade relations of the department OF
state. 1t is thus hoped to coordinate
a hrinor tp to act ,,,,-
portant subject all the agencies of
the government which can contribute
anything to its efficient handling.
''As a consequence of section OF
the tariff act OF August 5. 1909, 1t
becomes the duty of the secretary of
state to conduct as diplomatic bust
ness all the negotiations necessary
to place him in position to advise
as to whether OF not a particular
country unduly discriminates against
the United States in the sense OF the
statute referred to. The great scope
and complexity OF this work, as well
as the obligation to lend all proper
aid to our expanding commerce, as
met by the expansion of the bureau
of trade relations as set forth in the
estimates for the department of state.
Other Departments.
81 have thus in some detail de-
scribed the important transactions of
the state department since the be-
ginning of this administration for
the reason that there is no provision,
either by statute or custom for n for
NAL report by the secretary of state
to the president or to congress, and
a presidential message is the only
means by which the condition of our
ION ra1 To-, 10 ~ - . 10
tention of congress and the public.
In dealing with the affairs of the
other departments, the heads of
which all submit annual reports, II
shall touch only those matters that
seem to me to call for special men
hon on my part without minimizing
in any way the recommendations
made by them for legislation affect
ing their respective departments. in
all of which | wish to express my
general concurrence.
Government Expenditures and
Revenues.
Perhaps the most important ques-
tion presented to this administration
is that of economy in expenditures
and sufficiency of revenue. The def
icit of the last fiscal year, and the
certain deficit OF the current year
prompted congress to throw a greater
responsibility on the executive and
the secretary of the treasury than had
heretofore been declared by statute.
This declaration imposes upon the
secretary of the treasury the duty OF
assembling all the estimates of the
executive departments. bureaus and
Offices, of the expenditures necessary
in the ensuing fiscal year, and of
making an estimate of the revenues
of the government for the stated pc
riod; and, If probable deficit is thus
shown, it is made the duty of the
president to recommend the method
by which such deficit can be met.
The report of the secretary shows
that the ordinary expenditures for the
current fiscal year ending June so,
1910, viii exceed the estimated re-
reipts by $34,075,62O If to this def
icit is added the sum to be disbursed
4