The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-30
President Taft Has Every Mem.
ber of His Cabinet
Helping Him Prepare His Mes
sage to Congress.
AMONG THE FEATURES
VIII Be Recommendation for I'M
prOvement Of Commerce Law.
And Further Revision of the
Aldrich- Payne Tariff.

Washington, D. c., Nov. 30.-Every
member of the presidents cabinet is
busily engaged on the message Mr..
Taft will send to congress next week.
The secretary of state is preparing
the feature relating to foreign affairs.
The secretary of the treasury will
submit a memorandum in reference
to finance. The attorney general will
discuss amendments to the Interstate
commerce law and the views of the
administration as to the effect of the
Standard Oil decision. The secretary
of war and the secretary of the navy
are writing upon the army and navy.
and the former upon the Panama
canal and the condition of affairs in
the United States dependencies.
The secretary of the interior is
drafting statement relative to the
affairs of his department, including
the conservation of natural resources,
forestry. etc. The secretary of COM
merce and labor is dealing with the
commercial and other matters over
which he exercises administration.
The secretary of agriculture will sub
init an account of the operations of his
department. The postmaster general
will describe the annual work of the
postal service.
First Draft Ready This Week.
With these data in his possession.
the president will be able promptly to
put his message in shape for submis
sion to congress. 1t is believed the
first draft will be ready for discussion
at the cabinet meeting on Friday
The value of delay in the preparation
Of the message is shown according to
the administration. by the decision not
to recommend any amendment to the
thrust law at the coming session of
congress. Had the president completed
the document before the Standard Oil
decision was announced he would have
had to change it and this would have
involved a recall of the paper and con-
siderable confusion. AS it is, the doc
ument, when it is completed this week,
will be up to date in every respect.
The main feature in the presidents
message will relate to the improvement
of The interstate commerce law. This
will be carefully considered, as it is
realized that reconn endationS which
will be made will precipitate q sharp
fight between the conservatives and
progreSsives.
Tariff Revision.
Reference to the tariff and the pro-
posed work of the tariff commission
also will be prepared with utmost de-
liberation. 1t is the intention of the
president to speak of his determination
| to have tariff revision go far beyond
the authority granted by the Aldrich-
Payne law. and make an investigation
| into the operations of the tariff gener-
ally. The president will recommend an
appropriation for the expenses of the
tariff court.
In connection with reform of the jtl-
| dietary, the president will recommend
| the creation of commission to investi-
gate the judicial system and report an
utIine of changes that ought to be
made.
| He will make clear his devotion to
1 the Roosevelt policy of conservation of
natural resources and recommend a
bond issue probably not to exceed $780,
| 900, 600 for the completion of irrigation
| problems which have been begun.