The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-12-15


tariff and the operation of the maxi
mum and minimum clause in the act.
He saws that in the working of this,
fear has been expressed that the pow
er conferred and duty imposed upon
the executive is likely to lead to a
tariff war.
81 beg to express the hope and be-
lief that no such result need be an
ticipated,'' Mr., Taft says. "No one
is seeking a tariff war or a condition
in which the spirit of retaliation shall
be aroused. -
The new tariff board is discussed,
the President saying that their work
will perhaps take two or three years
A continuing annual appropriation is
asked
81 believe,' the President contin
ues, "that the work of this board viii
be of prime utility and Importance
whenever Congress shall deem it wise
again to adjust the customs duties. II
the facts secured by the tariff board
are of such a character as to show
generally, that the rates of duties i'm
posed by the present tariff law are ex
cessive under the principles of protec.
tion as described in the platform OF
the successful party at the late cleo,
ton, | shall not hesitate to 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
4oJI
such revision can be properly under
taken, it seems to me unwise to at
tempt it. The amount of misinforma-
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 a read
justment of the rates of duty
A reduction in the estimates of the
war department for the coming fiscal
year. which brings the total estimates
down to an amount fortvhve millions
less than the corresponding estimates
for last year, is mentioned by the Pres.
ident, all progress in military matters
being suspended for year as 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-
Tended. -
The President eoncurs in the iudg-
ment of the military and naval boaro
| 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 says: g
| comprehensive plan for the reorganiza
ton Of the officers of all corps of the
| Navy viii be presented to congress and
| | hope it will meet with action suited
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 a change in judicial procedure
with a view to reducing its expense to
| private itigants in civil cases and facil-
itating the despatch of business and
final decision in both civil and criminal
cases, constitutes the greatest need in
our American institutions. \ 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 iniunctions be adopted. Pre-
| vious notice and reasonable opportu-
| nifty to he heard on behalf of the par
ties TO be enjoined are urged by the
President with certain exceptions. Pres
ident Taft then refers 10 antitrust and
interstate commerce laws which will be
discussed in a special message.
The President SAYS the actual loss
growing out of the transmission of sec
ond- class mail matter amounts to about