Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-12-09

THE recent visit of delegation of
prominent business men as guests of
the chambers OF commerce of the
Pacific slope, whose representatives
had been so agreeably received in ia
pan, will doubtless contribute to the
growing trade across the Pacific, as
we'll as to that mutual understanding
which leads to mutual appreciation.
The arrangement of 1908 for a cooper
alive control of the coming of labor.
ers to the United States has proved to
work satisfactorily. The matter of
revision Of the existing treaty bet
ween the United States and Japan,
which is terminable In 1912, is already
receiving the study of both countries"
Reorganization of the department of
state upon modern lines in manner
to make 1t thoroughly efficient in
strument in the furtherance of our for
eign trade and OF American interests
! abroad Is recommended.
Economy Is Urged.
Perhaps" continues the message,
'the most important question pre-
scented to this administration is that
of economy in expenditures and eff
cheney of revenue.
THE report of the secretary shows
that the ordinary expenditures for the
current fiscal year ending June 80,
1910, will exceed the estimated re-
ceipts by $34,075,62o If to this deficit
is added the sum to be disbursed for
the Panama canal, amounting to $685.,
100000, and $l,000000 to be paid on
the public debt, the deficit of ordinary
receipts and expenditures will be in
creased to total deficit of sra, 075,620
This deficit the secretary proposes to
meet by the proceeds Of bonds issued
! to pay the cost of constructing the
Panama canal. approve this pro-
posal The president says that the
cost of engineering and construction OF
the canal, which will be completed
Jan. /, 1915, will be S2,97,766,000, in
stead of s139, 705, 200, as originally es-
timated. Other expenses increase the
cost by s75,435,ooo, to total of s375,,
POI 900"
The president says he is advised by
the secretary Of the treasury, that the
estimates of the expenses of the gov
eminent for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1911-that is, for the next ifs
cal year-are less by s55,663,000 than
the total of appropriations for the cur
rent fiscal year, and less by $94,000,000
| than the estimates for that year. $50
far as the secretary of the treasury is
able to form judgment as to future
| income, and compare it with the eX'
penditures for the next fiscal year
ending June 80, 1911, including the
payments on account of the Panama
canal and the pulic debt, there will
4 in thn In
/ 80, 1911, but small surplus of $712,
O00.
In. the present estimates the needs
of the departments and of the govern
ment have been cut to the quick, so te
speak, and any assumption on the part
4 of congress, so often made in times
/ past, that, the estimates have beer
prepared with the expectation thai
they may be reduced, will result iI
seriously hampering proper admins
tration."
Efforts being made to reduce the
cost of governmental administrator
and the question of Diminishing useless
employees are discussed. Mr.. Tai
notes the objection to the establish
ment of civil pensions, but says he Is
strongly convinced that no other prac
tical solution of the difficulties pre-
sented by the approximation of civi
servants can be found than that of ;
system of civil pensions.
The Sugar Schedules.
81 regret to refer to the fact of thu
discovery of extensive frauds in tn
collection of the customs revenue a
New York city, in which a number o
the subordinate employees in tn
weighing and other departments wer
directly concerned, and in which tn
beneficiaries were the American Suga
Refining company and others. TIL
frauds consisted in the payment o
duty on underweights of sugar. TIL
government has recovered from tn
American Sugar Refining company al
that it is shown to have been defraud
ed of. The sum was received in full o
!. the amount due, which might hav
, been recovered by civil suit agains
, the beneficiary of the fraud, but ther
was an express reservation in the cor
tract of settlement by which the SCI
Element should not interfere with, o
prevent, the criminal prosecution 6
everyone who was found to be subjec
+ to the same.
4 ''CrlHlludl pTOSecuLlouS are NJ
t proceeding against number of tn
government officers. The treasury d.
partment and the department of ju:
: tice are exerting every effort to di:
: cover all the wrongdoers, includin
! the officers and employees of the con
, panies who may have been privy t
t the fraud. 1t would seem to me tina
) an investigation of the frauds b
: congress at present. pending the prol
;. ing by the treasury department an
) the department of justice as proposed
: might be giving immunity and othe
f wise prove an embarrassment in s.
e curing conviction of the guilty pa
!. ties"
/ The Tariff Question.
+ President Taft then discusses tn
|. tariff and the operation of the max
{ mum and minimum clause in the &C
|, He says that in the working of thi
d fear has been expressed that til
v power conferred and duty imposed o
S the executive is likely to lead to ia
iff war. Il beg to express the hope an
: | he1ief that no sJlch result need he Al