The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1909-12-17

has led to the passage of the so-called
Sherman Antitrust law" and the
Interstate Commerce law" and its
amendments. The developments in
the operation of those laws, as shown
by indictments, trials, judicial dec1-
sions and other sources of informa-
ton, call for a discussion and some
suggestions as to amendments. These
I prefer to embody in special mes
sage instead of including them in the
present communication.
After earnestly recommending the
passage of a sufficient appropriation
to enable thorough remodeling or
the Jail in the District of Columbia,
postal matters are reviewed.
The deficit every year in the Post
Office Department is largely caused,
AYERS the President, by the low rate
of postage of one cent pound
charged on second class mail matter,
A great saving might be made,
amounting to much more than half
of the loss, by imposing upon maga-
zines and periodicals higher rate of
postage.
The second subject worthy of men,
tion in the Postoffice Department is
the real necessity and entire practical
bility of establishing postal savings
banks. The successful party at the
last election declared in favor OF
postal savings banks, and, although
the proposition finds opponents in
many parts Of the country, 1 am con-
vinced that the people desire such
banks and am sure that when the
banks are furnished they will be pro-
ductive of the utmost good.
Following the course of my distin-
guished predecessor, earnestly rec
ommend to Congress the considera-
tion and passage of a ship subsidy bill
| looking to the establishment of lines
/ between out Atlantic seaboard and
the eastern coast of South America
as we'll as lines from the west coast
of the United States to South Amer
lea, China, Japan and the Philip
pines.
The successful party in the last
election in its national platform de-
clared in favor of the admission as
separate States of New Mexico and
Arizona, and recommend that leg1s-
lation appropriate to this end be
adopted.
with respect to the Territory of
| Alaska, I recommend legislation
| ment by the President of Governor
| and also of an executive council, which
shall have legislative powers sufficient
to enable 1t to give to the Territory
local laws adapted to its present
growth.
In several departments there is pre-
sented the necessity for legislation
| looking to the further conservation OF
our national resources, and the SUBJ
| ject is one of such importance as to
require a more detailed and extended
discussion than can be entered upon
| in this communication.
Mr.. Taft also makes the following
suggestions and recommendations:
| The transfer Of control over the
| lighthouses to a suitable civilian
bureau.
The passage of law to enable the
Secretary of Commerce and Labor to
| unite the Bureaus of Manufactures
and Statistics.
Additional legislation to help sup
press the white slave trade"
That all the bureaus and offices in
the general Government which have
to do with the public health or sub
jects akin thereto be united in bu-
reau to be called the bureau of pub
I lie health.
That a law be passed requiring that
candidates in elections of members OF
! the House of Representatives file in
| proper Office Of the United States
| Government a statement of the con-
| tributions received and of the ex-
penditures incurred in the campaign.
That Congress appropriate suf-
| ficient sum to pay the balance-about
| thfrty-eight per cent. - OF the
amounts due depositors in the Freed
mans Savings and Trust Company.
The year 1913 will make the
fftieth anniversary of the issuance of
the emancipation proclamation grant
ing freedom to the negroes. 1t seems
fitting that this event should be prop
erly celebrated. It is suggested that
a proper form of celebration would
be an exposition to show the progress
the negroes have made.
President Taft concludes as fol-
| lows:
1 have thus, in a Message COM
pressed as much as the subjects will
| permit, referred to many of the legis-
lative needs of the country, with the
exceptions already noted. Speaking
| generally, the country is in a high
state of prosperity. There is every
reason to believe that we are on the
eve of a substantial business expan-
sion, and we have just garnered a
harvest unexampled in the market
value of our agricultural products.
| The high prices which such products
bring mean great prosperity for the
farming community; but, on the
other hand, they mean a very con-
siderably increased burden upon
those classes in the community whose
yearly compensation does not expand
with the Improvement in business
and the general prosperity. Various
| reasons are given for the high prices.
The proportionate increase in the
output of gold, which to-day is the
chief medium of exchange and is in
some respects measure of value, fur
nishes a substantial explanation of at
least part of the increase in prices.
The increase in population and the
more expensive mode of living of the
people, which have not been accom-
panied by a proportionate increase in
acreage production, may furnish
further reason. 1t is well to note that
| the increase in the cost of living is
not confined to this country, but pre-
walls the world over, and that those
who would charge increases in prices
to the existing protective tariff must
meet the fact that the rise in prices
has taken place almost wholly in
those products of the factory and
farm in respect to which there has
| been either no increase in the tariff
or in many instances a very consider
able reduction.
! WILLIAM H. TAFT.