The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-12-08


WASHINGTON Dec. president
Taft today sent his annual message
to congress. The tariff, the Nicaragu-
a nquestion, sugar frauds and white
slavery" are among the questions dis
cussed.
Perhaps the most important ques-
don presented to this administration
is that of economy in expenditure
and sufficiency of ,evenue, says the
president, who discusses the methods
taken to meet the deficit. The presi-
dent declares it unwise to attempt
further revision of the tariff until the
facts are at hand upon which such
revision can properly be undertaken.
Speaking generally, he says the
country is in a high state of prosper
ity. He notes the increase in the cost
of living. but says the tariff is not
the cause. In those products of the
factory and farTI there has been no
increase and in many instances a very
considerable reduction, the president
declares.
In beginning the president says:
with all foreign governments have
continued on the normal basis of am
ity and good understanding and are
very generally satisfactory"
Nicaraguan Crime.
President Taft says the Zelaya gov
eminent of Nicaragua has kept Cen
trail America in constant turmoil 1t
is unnecessary, he says, "to rehearse
here the sad tale of unspeakable bar
barities and oppression alleged to have
been committed by the Zelayan gov
eminent. Recently two Americans
were put to death by order of Presi-
dent Zelaya himself They were re-
ported to have been regularly COM
missioned officers in the organized
forces of a revolution and as such,
according to the modern enlightened
practice of civilized nations, they
would be entitled to be death with
as prisoners of war" He continues:
"This government proceeded with
deliberate circumspection to deter
mine the exact truth in relation to
the reports and upon the course in
the premises most consistent with it's
dignity. its duty to American interests
and its moral obligations to Central
America and to civilization"
Favors Open Door
Concerning the Far East. the presi-
dent says this government preserves
unchanged its policy of supporting
the open door and adds:
"Our traditional relations with the
Japanese empire continue cordial, as
usual. The arrangement of 1908 for
cooperative control of the coming of
laborers to the United States has
proven to work satisfactorily"
Reorganization of the department
of state upon modern lines in further
ance of our foreign trade and of AM
erican interests abroad is recommend
ed.
Perhaps" continues the message,
'the most important question present
ed to this administration is that OF
economy in expenditures and sufficien-
cy of revenue.
About Government Revenue.
"The report of the secretary shows
that the ordinary expenditures for the
current fiscal year ending June 80
1910 will exceed the receipts by s34,-
O75,62O. If to this deficit is added the
canal amounting to $3S,000,000, and
$1,000,000 to be paid on the public
debt, the deficit of ordinary receipts
and expenditure will be increased to
total deficit of $73,075,620. This
deficit the secretary proposed to meet
by the proceeds of bonds issued to
pay the cost of constructing the
Panama canal. | approve this pro-
posal"
Panama Canal Cost.
The president says the cost of en-
gineering and construction of the can
al, which will be completed January
| l. 1915, VIII be $297,766,000 instead
of $139. 705,2 200. as originally estimat-
ed. Other expenses increase the cost
| by 75,435,000 to a total of 1875 =
| POI 900.
The president is advised by the sec
rotary of the treasury that the esti-
mates of the expenses of the govern
ment for the fiscal year ending June
! 80, 1911-that is, for the next fiscal
year, are less by 55,S63.O0O than the
total of appropriation for the current
| fiscal year, and adds:
No Big Deficit i'm 1911.
80 far as the secretary of the
| treasury is able to form a judgment
as to future income and compare 1t
with the expenditure for the next
/ fiscal year ending June 80, 1911 in
Guiding the payments on account of
the Panama canal and the public
debt, there will be no deficit in the
year ending June 80, 1911. but a small
surplus of $712,O0O.
"In the estimate of the present need
Of the departm ents Of the government
/ have ben cut to the quick and any
/ assumption by congress so often made
in time past that estimates have been
prepared with the expectation that
theymay be reduced will result in
seriously hampering the administra-
ton
Regrets Sugar Frauds.
President Taft refers with regret to
the sugar frauds recently discovered
saying that the settlement made with
the so-called trust will not interfere
or prevent the criminal prosecution
of everyone who was found to be sub
ject to the same. He belives that an
investigation of the frauds by congress
at present would be inadvisable, say
ing it might give immunity and other
wise prove an embarrassment in Sc
curing conviction of the guilty parties
Deplores Tariff War.
President Taft then. discussed the