The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-12-08

mes VINO may nave b~eil PRIV 7" u
fraud. 1t would seem 10 me that ~
investigation of the frauds by cUn
gress at present. pending the probin-
by the treasury department and tsl'
department Of justice. as proposed
might by giving immunity md other
wise prove an embarrassment In ec
curing conviction OF the guilty parties
Maximum and Minimum Clause In
Tariff Act.
Two features of the new tariff act
call for special reference. In order
that the maximum duty shall be charg
ed against the imports from country
it is necessary that the executive shall
find on the part Of that country not
only determinations In its laws or the
practice under them against the trade
Of the United States. but that the dis
ordinations found shall be undue
that is. without good and fair reason.
No one is seeking tariff war or a con.
dition In which the spirit of retaliation
shall be aroused.
Tariff Readiustment.
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. be-
lieve that the work Of this board will
be of prime utility and importance
whenever congress shall deem It wise
again to readjust the customs duties.
If the facts secured by the tariff board
are Of such a 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
cessful party at the late election l
shall not hesitate to invite the atten-
ton of 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, 1t
seems to me unwise to attempt 1t.
War Department.
In the interest of immediate econ.
omy I have required reduction in
the estimates of the war department
for the coming fiscal year which
brings the total estimates down to an
amount forty-five millions less than
The corresponding estimates for last
year. This could be accomplished only
by cutting of new projects and sus-
pending for the period Of one year all
progress in military matters. For the
same reason l 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
are seriously in need of careful con-
sideration by congress.
The secretary of war calls attention
to a number of needed changes In the
army, in all of which l concur. but the
point upon which | place most en-
phasis is the need for an elimination
bill providing a method by which the
merits of officers shall hav" some eff
feet upon their advancement and by
which the advancement OF all may be
accelerated by the effective elimination
of a definite proportion of the least
efficient.
The military and naval joint board
have unanimously agreed that 1t would
be unwise to make the large expendi.
lures which at one time were contem.
plated in the establishment Of a naval
base and station in the Philippine Is
lands and have expressed their judg'
ment. in which I fully concur. in IA
vor of making an extensive naval base
at Pearl Harbor, near Honolulu, and
not in the Philippines.
Tho Navy.
The return of the battleship flee,
from its voyage around the world ir
more efficient condition than when II
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 weather!
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
admirais do not arrive at flag ranl
young enough to obtain adequate train
ing in their duties as flag officers.
Owing to the necessity for econom!
In expenditures. | have directed thu
curtailment of recommendations TO
naval appropriations 80 that they ar
thirty-eight millions less than the cor
responding estimates Of last year. ant
the request for new naval construction
Is limited to two FIRST class battleship
and one repair vessel
The secretary OF the navy has inau
gurated a tentative plan involving Ger
tain changes In the organization OF th
navy department, including the nav,
yards, all Of which have been foun'