Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1909-12-15

that this power was reposed in the presi- |
dent with the hope that the maximum du- |
ties might never be applied in any case, |
but that the power to apply them would |
enable the president and the state depart |
ment through friendly negotiation to Sc
cure the elimination from the laws and
the practice under them of any foreign |
country of that which is unduly discrim-
lnatory. No one is seeking a tariff war
or a condition in which the spirit Of re-
taliation shall be aroused.
The new tariff law enables me to APP
point a 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. 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-
tive show that 1 have the power to direct
the tariff board to make comprehensive
glossary ard 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. / have therefore ap-
pointed a tariff board consisting of three
members and have directed them to per-
form all the duties above described. This
work will perhaps take two three
years, and ask from congress a continu-
ing annual appropriation equal to that al
ready made for its prosecution. believe
that the work of this board will be of
prime utility and Importance whenever
congress shall deem it wise again to re-
adjust 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 present
tariff law are excessive under the prin-
ciples of protection as described in the
platform of the successful party at the
late Il. I shall not hesitate to in
vite the attention of congress to this fact
and to he necessity for action predicated
thereon. Nothing, however, halts BUSH
ness and interferes with the course OF
prosperity so much as the threatened re-
vision of the tariff, and until the facts are
at hand, after careful and deliberate in
vestigation. upon which such revision can
properly be undertaken, 1T seems to me
unwise to attempt 1t. The amount of mis-
| Information that creeps into arguments
pro and con in respect to tariff rates Is
| such to require the kind of investiga-
! ton that I have directed the tariff board
] to make, an investigation undertaken by
| 1t wholly without respect to the effect
which the facts may have in calling for a
readjustment Of the rates Of duty.
War Department.
In the interest of immediate economy
and because of the prospect of deficit,
I have required a reduction in the eSti-
| mates of the war department for the
coming fiscal year. which brings the to-
tai estimates down to an amount forty
five millions less than the corresponding
| estimates for last year. This could only
be accomplished by cutting off new
projects and suspending for the period
of one year all progress in military mat
tiers. For the same reason have direct
ed that the army shall not be recruited
| I'm 70 ff0 or
These measures can hardly be more than
temporary-to last until our revenues are
in better condition and until the whole
question of the eXpediency of adopting
a definite military policy can be submitted
to COM ess, for / am sure that the inter
ests Of g military establishment are Sc
riously in need of careful consideration by
congress. The laws regulating the organ
ization Of our armed forces In the event
of war need to be revised in order thai
the organization can be modified as
to produce a force which would be more
consistently apportioned throughout Its
numerous branches. To explain the cir
cumstances upon which this opinion Is
based would neceSsitate lengthy discus
sion, and postpone it until the first con
venient opportunity shall arise to send tt
congress special message upon this sub
ject.
OF 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 il
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.
The Navy.
> The return of the battIeship fleet from
: its voyage around the world, in more eff
ficient condition than when 1t started, wa
, a noteworthy event of interest alike t
our citizens and the naval authorities o
the world Besides the beneficial and far
reaching effect our personal and dip
| lomatic relations in the countrie
which the fleet visited. the marked sue
cess Of the ships in steaming around tn
/. world in all weathers schedule tim
has increased respect for our navy an
has added to our national prestige.
Early in the coming session a compre
hensive plan for the reorganization of tn
4 officers of all corps of the navy will b
: presented to congress. and I hope it wi
. meet with action suited to its urgency.
Owing to the necessity for economy
4 expenditures, I have directed the curtai
. ment of recommendations for naval az
4 preparations so that they are thirty-eigf
: millions less than the corresponding es
= Inmates of last year, and the request fC
II new naval construction is limited to tw
= frst-class battleships and one repair We:
a sci.
= Mr.. Taft urges upon congress thu
4 the naval observatory be dedicated I
d science under control of some EN-
:. nent astronomer.
Expedition In Legal Procedure.
4 The deplorable delays In the admins
"a tration of civil and criminal law have n
" ceived the attention of committees of tt
l. American Bar association and of man
70 state bar associations. as well as the col
% sdered thought of judges and jurists.
n my judgment a change in judicial pr
II cedure, with a view to reducing its e,
3 pense to private litigants in civil cas-
" and facilitating the dispatch of bushes
l. and final decision in both civil and erin
r inal cases constitutes the greatest nee
10 in our American institutions. I do n
: doubt for one moment that much of Il
lawleSS violence and cruelty eXhibitt