The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-12-17

liou, 1 sudll NOT hesitate 10 invite the
attention of congress to this fact, and
to the necessity for action predicated
thereon. Nothing, however, halts bust
ness and interferes with the course Of
prosperity so much as the threatened
revision of the tariff and until the
facts are at hand, after careful and
deliberate investigation, upon which
such revision can be properly under
taken, IL seems to me unwise to at
tempt 1t. The amount of misnforma-
ton that creeps into arguments pro
and con, in respect to tariff rates is
such as to require the kind of inves.
tigation undertaken by it wholly with
out respect to the effect which the
facts may have in calling for read.
justment of the rates of duty"
reduction in the estimates of the
war department for the coming fiscal
year, which brings the total estimates
down to an amount forty.ive millions
less than the corresponding estimates
tor last year, is mentioned by the Pres.
ident, all progress in military matters
pelng suspended for a year as a conse-
quence. These measures can hardly be
more than temporary, the executive
says. Later he will send a special
message to congress upon military mat
tiers.
Concurring in needed changes in the
Army, he places emphasis on the need
for an elimination bill. "The coast
defenses of the United States proper
are generally all that could be desired
and in some respects they are rather
more elaborate than under present con-
ditions are needed to stop an enemy's
fleet from entering the harbors de-
fended.'
The President concurs in the iudg.
ment of the military and naval boara
IN favor of making an extensive naval
base at Pearl Harbor, near Honolulu,
and not in the Philippines.
The President then discusses the
Navy, the need for reform, economy
in expenditures, etc. He saws: ga
comprehensive plan for the reorganiza
ton of the officers of all corps of the
Navy Will be presented to congress and
l hope it will meet with action shifted
to its urgency"
Appointment of an eminent astrono.
mer as head of the naval observatory
is recommended.
President Taft SAYS that in his iudg.
ment change in judicial procedure
with view to reducing its expense to
private litigants in civil cases and facil
ltatlng the despatch of business and
hnal decision in both civil and criminal
cases, constitutes the greatest need in
our American institutions. A commits
sion to consider reforms in the judiciary
Is recommended. The President recon-.
mends, in compliance with the promise
made in the Republican platform, that
appropriate legislation relating to the
ISSUANCE of injunctions be adopted. Pre-.
vlous notice and reasonable opportu-
mtg to be heard on behalf of the par
ties to be enjoined are urged by the
President with certain exceptions. Pres
ident Taft then refers to antitrust and
interstate commerce laws which will be
discussed in special message.
The President says the actual loss
growing out of the transmission of sec.
ond-class mail matter amounts to about
$63,0OO,OOO year. Congress, he says,
may well consider whether radical steps
should not be taken to reduce the deficit
by imposing a higher rate of postage
on magazines and periodicals.
President Taft says he is convinced
the people desire postal savings banks
and that they will be productive of the
utmost good. He says of them:
They will furnish satisfactory
substitute for the system of govern
ment guaranty of deposits, which, with
Difference to those who advocate it
seems to me to have in it the seeds of
generalization to conservative banking
and certain financial DISASTER
The President earnestly recommended
the passage of ship subsidy bill.
In recommending separate statehood
for New Mexico and Arizona, President
Taft advises that after the adoption
OF constitution, it be submitted to
the people for approval. State officers
should not be elected until after the
constitution has been settled upon.
With respect to Alaska said the
President, 81 recommend legislation
which shall provide for the appoint
ment by the President of a governor
and also of an executive council, the
members of which shall, during their
term of office, reside in the Territory,
and which shall have legislative powers
sufficient to enable it to give the Ter
ritory local laws adapted to its present
growth. l strongly deprecate legisla-
tion looking to the election of a terri.
torial legislature in that vast district"
The President mentions the necessity
for legislation looking to the further
conservation of natural resources and
announces that special message on
this subject including that of water.
ways, reclamation, irrigation, reforest-
ing, etc., will be sent to congress early.
Transfer of control over the light
houses to suitable civilian bureau is
recommended because of frequent fric-
ton due to the absence of any central
independent authority.
White slavery is discussed, the view
being that there is urgent necessity for
additional legislation and greater exec.
utive activity to suppress il.
81 believe it to be constitutional, -
the President says, "to forbid under
penalty the transportation of persons
for purposes Of prostitution across ma,
tional and State lines; and by appro.
priating a fund OF $4,000 10 be used
hy the secretary of commerce aud labor
for the employment of sDecial inenee.