The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-08

recommendation regarding the crisis in
Nicaragua, and actual recommendation
of legislation to forbid the issuance of
judicial injunction without notice in labor
controversies and for the establishment
OF system of postal savings banks may
he considered the most striking feature
of the frst annual message of Presi-
dent Taft to Congress-
The Nicaraguan question, conservation
of the nations natural resources, needed
amendments to the antitrust and inter
state commerce acts. and the contem-
plated revision of the federal statutes
governing the organization OF the armed
forces of the nation in time of war are
all reserved for possible later treatment
in special messages
In his message. which bulks some 1900
words. Mr.. Taft reports the country to
be sin a high state of prosperity and
he adds that there is every reason to
believe that we on the eve of
substantial business expansion, and we
have just garnered a harvest unexam-
pied in the market value OF our agricul-
tural products
Maximum Tariff.
The President expresses entire conf
dence that the duty imposed upon the
executive of enforcing the maximum rates
of the new tariff law against nations I'M
duly discriminating against the United
States will not provoke any tariff war.
and he favors no further tariff tinkering,
al least until the new tariff commission
shall have completed its work of gather
ing information as to the relative cost of
producing dutiable articles in this coun-
try and abroad. This task he expected
viii occupy two or three years
Projects recommended by the Presi-
dent in addition to those mentioned above
include:
A ship subsidy to encourage American
shipping.
Publicity of political contributions in
elections of members of Congress.
Civil pensions
A higher rate of postage on periodicals
and magazines.
A fund of $4,000 to aid in suppressing
the white slave trade.
A commission to evolve plan to expe-
dite legal procedure and mitigate the
flaws delay
Construction of an artificial island and
Fertilization In the entrance to Chesapeake
bay, two battleships and one repair ship
for the navy, and the establishment of
an extensive naval base at Pearl larbor,
Hawaii.
A. national bureau of health
Statehood Question.
: Statehood for New Mexico and Arizona,
and an appointive governor and execu-
tive council for Alaska.
Civil control of the lighthouse board
and separation of the national astronomi-
cal observatory from naval control.
Celebration in 1918 of the semi-centen-
NAL of negro emancipation, and reim-
bursement of the depositors of the de-
funct Freedman's Savings and Trust COM
pany.
Consolidation of the bureaus Of manu-
features and statistics in the department
of commerce and labor.
Appropriation for the remodeling of the
District of Columbia jail.
Nicaraguan Affairs.
Calling attention to the crisis in Cen
trail American affairs brought about by
the summary execution in Nicaragua of
two Americans, the President announces
that this government has terminated dip
lomatic relations with the zelayan gov
eminent in Nicaragua and intends to take
such further steps as may be found most
consistent with its dignity, its duty to
American interests and its moral obliga-
ton to Central America and to civilza-
ton.
In opposing an immediate investigation
of the New York custom house scandal,
the President takes the ground that such
investigation might by giving immunity
and otherwise prove an embarrassment
in securing convictions of the guilty par
ties"
proposal submitted by the Secretary
of the Treasury that the executive de-
partment's deficit for the current fiscal
year-estimated at $73.076 620-be met by
the Issuance of Panama bonds authorised
by Congress Is approved by the Presi-
dent He explains that in order to avoid
deficit for the ensuing fiscal year end
ing June 80. 1911. estimates have been cut
to the bone and instead OF deficit. there
will be a surplus of $35931.0 900 exclud
ing payments on the Panama canal,
which are expected to be taken care of
by bonds.
Fisheries Question.
The President records with pleasure the
satisfactory arrangement made for the
arbitration Of the important North Amer
loan fisheries issue with Canada and the
successful prosecution of the work of the
commissions adjusting other boundary is
sues and the lake fisheries. He urges an
International conference to devise meas
ures for the protection of fur seals. He
is hopeful of happy adjustment Of the
Congo question and expresses his desire
to AFFORD larger measure of protection
to the little negro state of Liberia Sat-
isfaction is expressed with the declaration
by Japan and Russia in favor of tho
''open door, and appropriations are asked
for the expense of the Pan-Amertcan
congress to be held in Buenos Ayres and
for participation in the Belgian exposition,
both scheduled for next year.
President Tafts message in full is as
follows:
To the Senate and the House Of Repre-
sentatives:
The relations of the United States with
all foreign governments have continued
upon the normal basis OF amity and good
understanding, and are very generally
satisfactory.
Europe.
Pursuant to the provisions Of the gen.
eral treaty of arbitration concluded be-
tween the United States and Great Brit
ain. April 4, 1908. a special agreement
was entered into between the two coun-
tries on January 81, 1909. for the submits
sion of questions relating to fisheries on
the North Atlantic coast to tribunal
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