The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-12-08

charging the functions imposed upon
the executive show that | have the
power to direct the tariff board to
make a comprehensive glossary and
encyclopedia of the terms used and ar
ticles embraced in the tariff law and to
secure information as to the cost of
production of such goods In this coun-
try and the cost of their production in
foreign countries. | have therefore
appointed a tariff board consisting OF
three members and have directed them
to perform all the duties above de-
scribed. This work will perhaps take
two or three years, and ask from
congress continuing annual appro-
priatlon equal to that already made
for its prosecution 4 believe that the
work of this board win be of prime
utility and Importance whenever con-
gress shall deem it wise again to read
just the customs duties. If the facts
secured by the tariff board are of such
character as to show generally that
the rates of duties imposed by the pres
cnt tariff law are excessive under the
principles of protection as described in
the platform of the successful party at
the late election | shall not hesitate to
Invite the attention of congress to this
TACT and to the necessity for action
predicated thereon. Nothing. however.
halts business and interferes with the
course of prosperity so much rs the
threatened revision Of the tariff, and
Until the facts are at hand. after care
| fni and deliberate investigation, upon
! Which such revision can properly be
| undertaken. it seems to me unwisp TO
attempt it, The amount of misinfor-
mntion that creeps into arguments pro
aLd con in respect to tariff rates is
| such as to require the kind of investi-
CATION that | have directed the tariff
board to make, an investigation under
taken by it wholly without respect to
| the effect which the facts may have in
| calling for Il reimbursement of the rates
| OF duty,
War Department.
In the interest of immediate econ
ory and because of the prospect of
! NNhNiL hdNS iGJdii tu ltuuCLlOIl III
the estimates of the war department
Tor the coming fiscal year which
brings the total estimates down to an
amount fortyivc millions less than
the corresponding estimates for last
year This could be accomplished only
by cutting off new projects and sus-
pending for the period of one year all
progress in military matters. For the
same reason ! have directed that the
army Shall rot be recruited up to its
present authorized strength These
measures can hardly be more than
temporary last until our revenues
are in better condition and until the
whoie question Of the eSpediency of
adopting a definite military policy can
be submitted to congress-for | am
sure that the interests of the military
establishment are seriously in need of
careful consideration by congress. The
laws regulating the organization Of our
armed forces in the event of war need
TO be revised in order that the organi
cation can be modified so as to produce
Il force which would be more consist, |
entity apportoned throughout its nu-
merous branches. To explain the cir |
cumstaneeS upon which this opinion Is |
based would necessitate lengthy dis |
cussion, and | postpone it until the |
first convenient opportunity shall arise
TO send to congress a special message
upon this subject
The secretary of war calls attention
TO Il number of needed changes in the
army. in all of which concur. but the
point upon which place most EN-
phasfs Is the need for an elimination
Dill providing Il method by which the
merits of officers shall have some eff
feet upon their advancement and by
which the advancement of all may be
accelerated by the effective elimination
OF Il definite proportion of the least eff
cient There are in every army and
certainly in ours Il number of officers
who do not violate their duty in any
such way rs to give reason for court
martial or dismissal. but who do not
show such aptitude and skill and char
acter for high command as to Justify
their remaining in the active service
to be promoted Provision should be
made by which they may be retired on
a certain proportion of their pay, In.
with their length of service at
The time Of retirement. There is now
a personnel law for the navy witch it.
self needs amendment and to which
shall make further reference Such II
law is needed quite as much for the
army
Coast Defenses.
The coast defenses of the United
states proper are generally all that
could be desired, and in some respects
hey are rather more elaborate than
ui.Jer present conditions are needed
to step an enemys feet from entering !
the harbors defended There is, how :
ever, one place where additional de-
Tense is badly needed. and that is at
the mouth of Chesapeake bay, where
It II proposed to make an artificial Is
land for q fort which shall prevent an
onemy's fleet from entering this most
important stratesical base of opera
tons on the whole Atlantic and gulf
,oastS, hope that appropriate legis-
ation VIII be adopted to secure the
construction of this defense.