Weekly journal-miner., 1909-12-08

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.-President Taft today sent his annual message to congress. The tariff, the Near aguan question, sugar frauds and "white slavery" are among the questions discussed.
 Perhaps the most important ques tion presented to this administration is that of economy in expenditure and suficieney of revenue, 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 under taken.
 Speaking generally, he says the country is in a high state of pros perity. He notes the increase in the cost of living, but says the tariff is not the cause. In those products of the factory and farm there has been no increase in the tariff and in many instances a very considerable reduction, the president declares.
 In beginning the president says:
 "The relations of the United States with all foreign governments have continued on a basis of normal amity and good understanding and are very generally satisfactory
 President Taft says the Zelaya government of Nicaragua has kept Central America in constant turmoil. It is unnecessary, he says, "to re- hearse here the sad tale of unspeak- able barbarity and oppression al leged to have been committed by the Zalayan government. Recently two Americans were put to death by order of President Zelaya himself. They were reported to have been regularly commissioned officers in the organiz- ed forces of a revolution. and as such, according to the modern enlightened practices of civilized nations. they would be entitled to be dealt with as prisoners of war;
 He continues:
 ''This government proceeded with deliberate circumspection to deter mine the exact truth in relation to these reports and upon the course in the premises most consistent with its dignity, its duty to American in teresrs and its moral obligations to Central America and to civilization. ''
 Concerning the Far East, the presi- dent says this government preserves unchanged it's policy of supporting the open door and adds
 "Our traditional relations with the Japanese empire continue cordial as usual. The arrangement of 1908 for a cooperative control of the coming of laborers to the United States has proved to work satisfactorily.
 Reorganization of the department of state upon modern lines in fur therance of our foreign trade and of American interests abroad is recom- mended.
 "Perhaps," continues the message ''the most important question pre- sented to this administration is that of economy in expenditures and suf- ieiency of. revenue.
 "The report of the secretary shows that the ordinary expenditures for the current fiscal year ending June 30, 1910, will exceed the receipts by $34,070,620. If to this deficit is ad. ded the sum to be disbursed for the Panama canal, amounting to $3S,000 900, and $1 100000 to be paid on the public debt, the deficit of ordinary receipts and expenditures will be in creased to a total deficit of 73,075,- 629. This deficit the secretary pro- poses to meet by the proceeds of bonds issued to pay the cost of con. structing the Panama canal. I ap, prove this proposal.
 The policy of paying for the con- struction of the Panama canal not out of current revenue but by bond issues was adopted in the Spoone1 Act of 1902 and there seems to be nc good reason for departing from the principles by which a part at least of the burden of the cost of the canal shall fall upon our posterity who are to enjoy it; and there is all the more reason for this view because the actual cost to date of the canal which is now half done and which will be completed January l, 1915 shows that the cost of engineering and constructing will be S297 ,766, ,00C instead of 139,7O5,2OO a. originally estimated.
 In addition to engineering and con struetion the other expenses, includ ing sanitation and government, and the amount paid for the properties the franchise, and the privilege Ot building the canal, increase the cost by $75,433,0OO to a total of $375,201, GOO.
 The increase in the cost of engin eering and construction is due to g substantial enlargement of the plaI of construction by widening the can al 100 feet in the Culebra cut and by increasing the dimensions of tho locks to the underestimate of the