The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-11-20
TAFT'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
A Forecast of the Important Features
of His Annual Message.


coming session of congrtss, and in
fact the remaining days of the ad-
ministration, will be strenuous in fact
as we'll as by inheritance Is evident
from the program which the presi-
dent outlined In his many speeches
during his encircling tour. From the
gist of his public utterances it may
be inferred that his message to con-
gress will urge legislation in some If
not all the following subjects:
The establishment of a national
bank of issue controlling the treas
ury reserve. the object of which will
be to prevent currency stringency.
The creation of a postal savings
bank system restricting it's application
to trade monopolies, not to railroad
combinations.
Temporary suspension of the agi-
tation of the tariff question.
The adoption Of an income tax
amendment to the constitution, to be
resorted to however, only in time of
war or national stress.
The subsidation of the merchant
marine with the ulterior object of the
education Of q large number of
American seamen to be available for
national defense.
Federal legislation governing the
issuance Of injunctions and to pro-
hibit the boycott.
Further conservation of national
resources. including forests, mines
and waterways.
Inttrnal waterways improvements,
improving the navigation of only such
streams as can be made navigable
and contemplating an internal canal
system roughly parallel with the At
lantic coast line.
congressional committee to con-
slider the subject Of the dilatory and
slovenly practice in the courts and
to devise plan for securing more
prompt and economical justice in the
federal courts, with the expectation
that the initiative by congress may
be followed in the State legislatures
to the end that the disgraceful non-
administration Of justice in this coun-
try may be reformed.
1t will be readily seen that this
legislative and administrative pro-
gram Is an ambitious one, but that
1t Is urgently necessary. every we'll
informed American knows It is,
however, becoming more end more
difncult to carry out administrative
reforms. The congress Of the United
States has grown to be a heavy and
unwieldly body. Antagonisms and
internecine wars discomfit legislation
on the floors of both the house and
the senate. There is less antagonism
between the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties on the floors Of con-
gress than there has been in perhaps
forty years. but there Is antagonism
In the Republican majorities of both
houses. while the personal hatreds
OF some senator's. frequently senators
from the same States. is said to be
exceedingly bitter.
The members Of the cabinet are
now busy In the preparation of their
several reports to congress and 1t has
been emphasized that an endeavor
will be made to cut down expenses.
The postmaster general has said that
he Intends to make his department
self-supporting. There Is every rea-
son why 1t ought to and might be
self-sustaining. The postoffice de-
partment Is the greatest public car
rier In the world. 1t is presumably
monopoly but the express companies
rob 1t of the cream of the carrying
profit and they are the chief opposers
OF the parcels post system--a system
long established in other civilized and
even semi-civilized countries. Since
Senator Root now holds the place in
the senate long occupied by Senator
Platt. the president and attorney for
the express companies, it is to be
hoped that something may be done
for all the people Of the United
States, In spite Of the entertainments
of these outrageous trusts.
The postofflce department employs
tens of thousands of common carriers
In city and rural delivery and these
public carriers. without a dollar of
increase In public expense should
bring to hundreds OF thousands OF
homes packages that are now de-
lvered by the express companies, or