St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-12-11

the sugar import scandals in the New
York Custom House, and likewise to
any further revision Of the tariff at
present; absence of any specific
recommendation of legislation to for
bid the issuance of judicial injunctiOns
without notice in labor controversies
and for the establishment of system
of postal savings banks, may be con-
sidered the most striking features of
the first annual message of President
Taft to Congress.
The Nicaraguan question, conserva-
ton of the nations natural resources,
needed amendments to the antitrust
and interstate commerce acts, and the
contemplated revision of the Federal
statutes governing the organization
of the armed forces Of the nation in
time of war are all reserved for pos
sible treatment later in special mes
sages.
In his message, which contains some
1900 words, Mr.. Taft reports the
country to be Sin high state of pros
perity," and he adds that "there is
every reason to believe that we are
on the eve of substantial business eX-
pansion, and we have just earned a
harvest unexampled in the market
value of our agricultural products.
The President expresses entire con-
fidence that the duty imposed upon
the executive of enforcing the maxi
mum rates of the new tariff law
against nations unduly discriminating
against the United States will not pro-
woke any tariff war, and he favors no
further tariff tinkering at least until
the new tariff commission shall have
completed it's work of gathering infor-
nation as to the relative cost of pro-
ducing dutiabIe articles in this country
and abroad. This task he expected
will occupy two or three years.
Projects recommended by the Presl-
dent in addition to those mentioned
above, include.
A ship subsidy to encourage Amerl-
can shipping; publicity of political
contributions in elections of members
of Congress; civil pensions; higher
rate of postage on periodicals and
magazines; fund of 5000 to aid in
suppressing the ''white slave" trade;
a commission to evolve plan to ex-
pedite legal procedure and mitigate
the laws delays" construction of an
artificial island and fortifcation in the
entrance to Chesapeake Bay, two
battleships and one repair ship for the
navy, and the establishment i an eX-
tensive naval base at Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii: a national bureau af health;
statehood for New Mexico and Ari-
zona, and an appointive Governor and
executive council for Alaska; civil
control of the Lighthouse Board and
separation of the National Astronoml-
cal Observatory from naval control;
celebration in 1913 of the semi-cen-
tennial of negro emancipation and re-
endorsement of the depositors of the
Freedman's Savings and Trust Com
pany; consultations of the Bureaus Of
Manufactures and Statistics in the
Department of Commerce and Labor;
appropriation for the remodeiing OF
the District of Columbia Jail.
Calling attention to the crisis in
Central American affairs brought
about by. the summary execution in
Nicaragua of two Americans, the
President announces that this govern
ment has terminated diplomatic rela-
tions with the Zelayan administration
in Nicaragua, and intends to take
such further steps as may be founC
most consistant with its dignity, its
duty to American interests and its
moral obligation to Central America
and to civilization.
In opposing any immediate investi
cation of the New York Custom House
scandal, the President takes The
ground that snch investigation might
"by giving immunity and otherwise
prove an Embarrassment to secure
conviction of the guilty parties.
A proposal submitted by the Secre
tarv of the Treasury that the execu
tive departments deficit for the cur
rent fiscal year-estimated at $73, 075,
62O-be met by the issuance of Pana
ma bonds authorized by Congress,
approved by the President. He ex
plains that in order to avoid deficit
for the ensuing fiscal year endin
June 30, 1911, estimates have bee
cut to the bone and instead of deficit
there will be a a-surplds of $35, 93l, 00(
excluding payments on the Panam
Canal, which are expected to be take
care of by bonds.
The President records with pleas
ure the satisfactory arrangement
made for the arbitatration of the in
portant North American fisheries issu
with Canada and the successful prose
cutlon of the work of the commission
adjusting other boundary issues an
the lake fisheries. He urges an inteI
national conference to devise measure
for the protection of fur seals. H
is hopeful of happy adjournment {
the Congo question, and expresses h