Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-12-07

same.
Criminal prosecutions ure now pro-
ceeding against number OF the gov
eminent officers. The treasury de-
partment and the department Of JUS
tice are exerting every effort to dis
cover all the wrongdoers, including the
officers and employees Of the compa-
MES who may have been privy to the
fraud. IL would seem to me that an
investigation Of the frauds by con-
gress at present, pending the probing
by the treasury department and the
department Of justice. as proposed.
might by giving immunity and other
wise prove an embarrassment IN Sc
curing conviction Of the guilty parties.
Maximum and Minimum Clause In
Tariff Act.
Two features Of the new tariff act
call for special reference. In order
that the maximum duty shall be charg-
ed against the imports from a country
1t is necessary that the executive shall
find on the part of that country not
only determinations In Its laws or the
practice under them against the trade
Of the United States, but that the dis
ordinations found shall be undue
that is. without good and fair reason.
No one is seeking q tariff war or con-
dltion in which the spirit Of retaliation
shall be aroused.
Tariff Readjustment.
The new tariff law enables me to APP
point tariff board to assist me in con-
nection with the department of state In
the administration Of the minimum and
maximum clause Of the act and also to
assist officers Of the government In the
administration Of the entire law. be-
lleye that the work Of this board will
be Of prime utility and Importance
whenever congress shall deem 1t wise
again to readjust the customs duties.
If the facts secured by the tariff board
are Of such a character as to show gen.
orally that the rates Of duties Imposed
by the present tariff law are excessive
under the principles Of protection as
described In the platform OF the sue
cessful party at the late election l
shall not hesitate to invite the atten-
ton Of congress to this fact and to the
necessity for action predlcated there
on. Nothing, however. halts business
and interferes with the course OF pros
perity so much as the threatened reyi-
sion Of the tariff. and until the facts
are at hand. after careful and dellber-
ate investigation. upon which such re-
vision can properly be undertaken. 1t
seems TO me unwise to attempt 1t.
War Department.
In the interest Of immediate econ
omv I have required a reductich IN
the estimates OF the war department
for the coming fiscal year when
brings the total estimates down TO an
amount forty-fve millions less than
the corresponding estimates for last
year. This could be accomplished only
By cutting off new projects and sus'
pending for the period Of one year all
progress In military matters. For the
same reason | have directed that the
army shall not be recruited up to Its
present authorized strength. These
measures can hardly be more than
temporary, for | am sure that the In
terests Of the military establishment
are seriously in need Of careful con-
sideration by congress-.
h. nf Oolld attention
to a number of needed changes in the
army, In all of which concur, but the
point upon which / place most en-
phasis is the need for an elimination
bill providing a method by which the
merits Of officers shall have some eft"
feet upon their advancement and by
which the advancement OF all may be
accelerated by the effective elimination
Of a definite proportion Of the least
efficient.
The military and naval joint board
have unanimously agreed that 1t would
be unwise to make the large expendi-
lures which at one time we're contem-
plated In the establishment Of a naval
base and station In the Philippine Is
lands and have expressed their Judg-
ment, in which | fully concur, In IA
vor Of making an extensive naval base
at Pearl Harbor, near Honolulu, and
not In the Philippines.
The Navy.
The return Of the battleship feet
from Its voyage around the world In
more efficient condition than when it
started was q noteworthy event Of In
terest alike to our citizens and the
naval authorities of the world. The
marked success Of the ships In steam
ing around the world in all weathers
on schedule time has increased respect
for our navy and has added to our ma
tional prestige.
1t IS a regrettable fact that the
higher officers are old for the respon-
sibilities of the modern navy, and the
admirals do not arrive at flag rank
young enough to obtain adequate train
ing In their duties as flag officers.
Owing to the necessity for economy
In expenditures, ! have directed the
curtailment of recommendations for
naval appropriations so that they are
thirty-eight millions less than the cor
responding estimates of last year. and
the request for new naval construction
is limited to two FIRST class battleshlps
and one repair vessel.
The secretary Of the navy has inau-
gurated n tentative plan involving GER
tain changes in the organization Of the
navy department. including the navy
yards, all OF which have been found
by the attorney general to be in ac-
cordance with law. have approved
the execution of the plan proposed be-
cause of the greater efficiency and