The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-12-16

ernment officers The treasury de-
partment aud the department Of jus
tice are exerting every effort to dis
cover all the wrongdoers, including the
officers and employees Of the compa
MES who may have been privy to the
fraud. 1t would seem to me that an
investigation Of the frauds by con-
gress at present. pending the probing
by the treasury department and the
department of justice. as proposed.
night by giving immunity and other
wise prove an embarrassment in Sc
curing conviction Of the guilty parties.
Tariff Act.
Two features uf the new tariff act
call tor special reference. In order
that The maximum duty shall be charg
ed against tie imports from country
1t Is necessary that the executive shall
ind OIL the part of that country not
only Determinations III it's laws or the
practice under them against tue trade
of the United States. but that the dis
EXAMINATIONS found shall be undue
that is without good and fair reason.
No one is seeking a tariff war or a con-
dition In which the spirit Of retaliation
shall be aroused.
Tariff Readjustment.
The new tariff law enables me to ap-
point tariff board to assist me In con-
nection 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. l be-
!eve that the work of this board will
be OF prime utility and Importance
Wneievf~ congress shall deem it wise
again 70 readjust the customs duties.
IL TIE facts secured by the tariff board
are Il such Il character as to show gen.
orally that the rates OF duties imposed
by the present tariff law are excessive
under the principles of protection as
described in the platform OF the sue
cessful party at the late election l
shall not hesitate to invite the atten-
ton CT congress to this fact and to the
necessity for action predicated there
on. Nothing. however. halts business
and interferes with the course of pros
perity SO much as the threatened revi-
sion Of the tariff. and until the facts
are at hand. after careful and deliber-
ate investigation. upon which such re-
vision can properly be undertaken. It
seems to NE unwse to attempt it.
War Department.
In the interest of immediate econ
omy I have required a reduction In
the estimates of the war department
for the coming fiscal year which
brings the total estimates down to an
amount forty-6ve 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 not be recruited up to its
present authorized strength. These
measures can hardly be more than
temporary, for l am sure that the in
terests of the military establishment
sideration by congress.
The secretary of war calls attention
to number Of needed changes in the
army. in all of which concur, but the
point upon which | place most en-
phasis is the need for an elimination
bill providing 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 definite proportion of the least
efficient.
The military and naval joint board
have unanimously agreed that it would
be unwise to make the large expendi-
lures which ut one time were contem-
plated in the esta Adjustment Of q naval
base and station in the Philippine Is
lands and have expressed their judg-
ment. in which fully concur, in IA
vor Of making an extensive naval base
at Pearl Harbor, near Honolulu, and
not in the Philippines.
The Navy.
The return Of the battleship feet
more efficient condition than when it
started was a noteworthy event of in
terest alike to our citizens and the
naval authorities Of the world. The
marked success Of the ships in steam
ing around the world in all weathers
on schedule time has increased respect
for our navy and has added to our ma
tional prestige.
1t is regrettable fact that the
higher officers are old for the respon-
sibilities of the modern navy, and the
admirals do not arrive at flag rank
young enough to obtain adequate train
ing in their duties as flag officers.
Owing to the necessity for economy
In expenditures. | have directed the
enrichment of recommendations for
naval appropriations so that they are
thirty-eight millions less than the cor
responding estimates of last year, and
the request for new naval construction
is limited to two first class battleships
and one repair vessel.
Tho secretary of the navy has inau-
gur;sted Il tentative plan involving GER
tain changes in the organization Of the
navy department. including the navy
yards. all Of which have been found
by the attorney general to be in &C .
cordance with law. l have approved
the execution of the plan proposed be-
cause Of the greater efficiency and
economy it promises.
Department Of Justice-Expedition In
Legal Procedure.
The deporable delays in the admin
istration Of civil and criminal law have
received the attention of committees of
the American Bar associa ton and of
many state bar associations as well as
the considered thought Of judges and
Jurists. In my judgment a change In
public procedure. with a view to re-
ducing its expense to private litigants
In civil cases and facilitating the dis
patch OF business and final decision in
both civil and criminal cases. consti-
tuteS the greatest need in our Ameri-
can inSttnl ions. | do not doubt for
one moment that much of the Iawless
violence and cruelty exhibited in lynch