Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-08
TAFT'S MESSAGE
INTERESTS MANY
FOUR VITAL QUESTIONS ARE
REVIEWED
NIcARAGUAN CRISIS AND TARIFF
ALSO Disc 5sED.
Chief Executive Deals with White
Slavery and Sugar Frauds-Con-
gress Eagerly Peruses Docu-
ument as 1t Is Read

annual message of President Taft was
delivered to congress today. 1t was
presented in both houses by Assistant
Secretary Latta, and in both houses
was received shortly after IL o'clock.
In the senate, when the reading or
the message began at 1912 p. M, great
interest was manifested by poth He-
publcans and Democrats.
There was a full attendance of SEN
ators on the floor of the chamber, and
as soon as copies of the document had
been furnished them they riVeted their
attention on the printed pages.
While the secretary of the senate
read the presidents words many SEN
ators hastened over the pamphlet
hunting for subjects in which they
were especially interested.
Others proceeded in the more or
derly way of following the reading
from the desk.
Presidents Message
The presidents message dealt with
the tariff, the Nicaraguan question,
sugar frauds and white slavery"
Perhaps the most important question
presented to this administration is that
of economy in expenditure and sufficl-
ency of revenue says the president who
discusses the methods taken to meet
the deficit. The president declares 1t
unwise to attempt further revision OF
the tariff until the facts are at hand
on which such revision can properly be
undertaken.
Speaking generally he says the coun-
try is in a high state of prosperity
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 con-
tinued on the normal basis of amity
and good understanding and are very
generally satisfactory"
President Taft says the Zelaya gov
ernment of Nicaragua has kept Cen
tral America in constant turmoil. 1T
is unnecessary" he says, Ito rehearse
here the sad tale of unspeakable bar
bartles and oppression alleged to have
been committed by the Zelayan govern
ment.
Execution of Americans
Recently two Americans were put
to death by order of President Zelaya
himself. They were reported to have
been regularly commissioned officers
in the organized forces of a revolution,
and as such, according to the modern
enlightened practice of civilized ma
tions, they would be entitled to be
dealt with as prisoners of war.
He continues:
This government proceeded with de-
liberate circumspection to determine
the exact truth in relation to these re-
ports and upon the course in the prem
ises most consistent with its dignity.
its duty to American interests and its
moral obligations to Central America
and to civilization
Concerning the far east the president
says this government preserves un-
changed its policy of supporting the
open door and adds:
"Our traditional relations with the
Japanese empire continue cordial as
usual. The arrangement of 1908 for
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 further
ance of our foreign trade and of
American interests abroad is recon-
mended.
Perhaps" continues the message,
"the most important question presented
to this administration is that of econ
omy in expenditures and sufficiency of
revenue
Nations Finances
"The report of the secretary shows
that the ordinary expenditures for the
current fiscal year ending June 80.
1870 will exceed the receipts by $54,-
075 $40. If to this deficit is added the
sum to be disbursed for the Panama
canal. amounting to $3S 100000, and
$1,000,000 to be paid on the public debt,
the deficit of ordinary receipts and ex-
penditures will be increased to a total
deficit of $75,075,629 This deficit the
secretary proposes to meet by the pro-
ceeds of bonds issued to pay the cost
of constructing the Panama canal. I
approve this proposal"
The president says the cost of en-
gineering and construction of the canal
which will be completed January l, 1915,
will be $297, 10000, instead of S139, 705,-
200 as originally estimated. Other ex-
penSeS increase the cost by $75, ,435, 600 to
a total of 1915, POI, 900.
The president is advised by the sec
retary of the treasury that the esti-
mate of the expenses of the govern
ment for the fiscal year ending June 30
1911-that is, for the next fiscal year
are less by $55,S63, 900 than the total
of appropriations for the current fis-
cal year and adds:
$50 far as the secretary of the treas
ury Is able to form a judgment as to
future income and compare it with the
expenditure for the next fiscal year
ending June 80, 1911, including the pay
ments on account of the Panama canal
and the public debt. there will be no
deficit In the year ending June 80, 1911,
but small surplus of $712,00o.
Needs Are Reduced
''In the present estimates the needs of
the departments and of the government
have been cut to the quick, so to
gress, so often made in times past
that estimates have been prepared
with the expectation that they may be
reduced, will result in seriously ham
pering proper administration"
President Taft refers with regret to
the sugar frauds recently discovered,
saying the settlement made with the
so-called trust" will not interfere with
or prevent the criminal prosecution of
every one who is found to be subject
to the same. He believes an investi-
cation of the frauds by congress at
present would be inadvisable, saying it
might give immunity and otherwise
prove an embarrassment in securing
conviction of the guilty parties.
President Taft then discusses the
tariff and the operation of the maxi
mum and minimum clause in the act.
He says that in the working of this,
fear has been expressed that the power
conferred and duty imposed upon the
executive are likely to lead to tariff
war.
II beg to express the hope and be-
toe hot