Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-05
Taft's Inaugural Address
President Outlines Briefly the Work That is Before the Admins
traion and Gives People an Idea of What His Policies are to Be.

HOJOhNh III AultAkh Countries because / race
or religion.
Foreigners and MObs.
The admission Of Asistic immigrants who
can not be ~amalgamated with our popu-
lation has been made the subject either OF
prohibitory clauses in our treaties and
statutes. or OF strict administration regu-
latlon secured by diplomatic negotiation. 1
sincerely hope that we may continue to
minimize the evils likely to arise from such
immigration without unnecessary friction
and by mutual concessions between self
respecting governments. Meantime, we
must take every precaution 10 prevent, or,
falling that. to punish outbursts Of race
feeling among our people against foreigners
Of whatever nationality who have by our
grant a treaty right to pursue lawful bust
ness here and to be protected against law
less assault or injury.
This leads me to point out a serious de-
feet in the present federal jurisdiction which
ought to be remedied at once. Having as
sured to other countries by treaty the
protection Of our laws for such of their
subjects or citizens as we permit to come
within our jurisdiction. we now leave to
a state or a city, not under the control OF
the federal government, the duty Of per-
forming our International obligations in
this respect. By proper legislation we may,
and ought to, place in the hands of the
federal executive the means of enforcing
the treaty rights of such aliens in the courts
OF the federal government. It puts our
government in a pusillanimous position to
make definite engagements to protect
aliens and then to excuse the failure to
perform those engagements by an eK-
PLANTATION that the duty to keep them is in
states or cities, not within our control. II
we would promise, we must put ourselves
in a position to perform our promise. We
cannot permit the possible failure Of justice
due to local prejudice in any state or
municipal government to expose us to the
risk Of a war which might be avoided IL
federal jurisdiction was asserted by suitable
legislation by congress and carried out by
proper proceedings instituted by the exc
cutive, in the courts of the national govern
ment.
Currency Reform.
One of the reforms to be carried out
during the incoming administration is a
change Of our monetary and banking laws.
so as to secure greater elasticity in the
forms available for trade, and to prevent
tho limitations OF law from operating TO
increase the embarrassments OF a financial
panic. The Monetary commission lately APP
pointed. is giving full consideration to
existing conditions and TO all proposed
remedies. and will doubtless suggest one
that will meet the requirements Of business
and OF public interest. We may hope that
the report will embody neither the narrow
view of those who believe that the sole
purpose OF the new system should be to Sc
cure a large return on banking capital or
of those who would have greater ex-
pansion OF currency with little regard to
| provisions for its immediate redemption
or ultimate security. There is no subject of
economic discussion so intricate and so
likely to evoke differing views and dog
matte statements as this one. The COM
mission in studying the general influence Of
currency on business and Of business on
currency, have wisely extended their in
vestigations in European banking and
monetary methods. The information that
they have derived from such experts as
they have found abroad will, undoubtedly,
be found helpful in the solution of the diff
cult problem they have in hand.
Postal Savings Banks.
The incoming congress should promptly
fulfill the promise of the republican plat
form and pass a proper postal savings
bank bill. 1t win not be unwlse or excessive
paternalism. The promise to repay by the
government will furnish an inducement
to savings deposits which private enter
prise cannot supply, and at such a low rate
of interest as not to withdraw custom
from existing banks. 1t will substantially
increase the funds available for investment
as capital in useful enterprises. 1t will fur
| pfuh fha ahaOlnta aao1ritv Uhtch ,naLas th,
proposed scheme OF government guaranty
of deposits so alluring without its pernici-
Gus results.
Free Trade with Philippines.
l sincerely hope that the incoming con-
gress will be alive. as it should be, to
the Importance OF our foreign trade and
of encouraging II in every way feasible.
The possibility of increasing this trade in
the orient, in the Philippines, and in South
America are known to everyone who has
given the matter attention. The direct eff
feet of free trade between this country
and the Philippines wili be marked upon
our sale of %cottons, agricultural machinery
and other manufactures. The necessity OF
the establishment of direct lines of steam
ers between North and South America has
been brought to the attention Of congress
by my predecessor, and by Mr.. Root before
and after his noteworthy visit TO that con-
tinent, and l sincerely hope that congress
may be induced to see the wisdom of q
tentative effort to establish such lines by
the use of mail subsidies.
The Importance which ne Department
Of Agriculture and OF Commerce and Labor
may play in Kidding the markets of Europe
of prohibitions and discrimination against
the importation of our products is fully
understood. and 1t is hoped hat the use OF
the maximum and minimum feature OF our
tariff law to be soon passed will be effec-
tive to remove many OF those restrictions
anam Canal Project.
The Panama canal will have a most i'm.
portant bearing upon the trade between tbs
eastern and the far western sections OF ouI
country, and will crafty increase the facil-
tiles for transportation between the east.
ern and the western seaboard, and may
possibly revolutioniEe the transcontinenta
rates with respect to bulky merchandise
II will also have q most beneficial effeci
to increase the trade between the eastern
seaboard OF the United States and the west,
ern coast OF South America. and. indeed
with some of the important ports on III,
east coast of South America reached bN
rail from the west coast. The work or