The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-07
TAFT SPEAKS OUT
His Annual Message to Congress
Delivered Today.
Document Not as Lengthy as
Similar Ones Before.
OMITS BIG QUESTIONS.
Such as Antitrust, Interstate
Commerce and Conservation.
But These Will Be Handled in
Communications Later.
FOR CIVIL PENSIONS.
President Thinks They Will
Benefit Government Service.
Economy in Expenditures
Strikes Him as Most Important.

President Taft's message to con-
gress. which is printed in full else
where in this issue of the State Jour
nal, is a voluminous document COM
prising some sixteen thousand words
Nearly half of it is devoted to de-
tailed report of the activities of the
department of state since the begin
ming Of the Taft administration. Pres1-
dent Taft explains the devotion of so
much space to state ana1rs by stating
that there is no provision by statute
or custom for a formal report by the
secretary of state to the president or
to congress, and a presidential mes
sage is the only means by which the
conditions of our foreign relations can
be brought to the attention OF con-
gress and to the public.
Except as to the relations between
this government and Nicaragua 1t IS
pointed out by the president that the
United States is on a most friendly
footing with all of the other nations
of the earth.
As to Nicaragua.
Concerning the difficulties with
Nicaragua President Taft says: "Since
the Washington conventions of 1907
were communicated to the govern
ment of the United States as con-
sulting and advising party. this gov
ernment has been almost continuously
called upon by one or another. and
in turn by all of the five Central
American republics, to exert itself for
the maintenance of the conventions
Nearly every complaint has been
against the Zelaya government of
-Szscaragua, which has kept Central
America in constant tension and tur-
moil.''
He says that the efforts of the gov
ernment to promote peace have been
appreciated by a majority of these
countries who are loyal to their true
interests, and that it is unnecessary to
rehearse the sad tale of unspeakable
barbarities and oppression alleged to
have been committed by the Zelayla
government. Continuing, the presi-
dent says: Recently two Americans
were put to death by the order of
President Zelaya himself. They were
officers in the organized forces of a
revolution which had continued many
weeks and was in control of about
half of the republic, and as such. ac-
cording to the modern enlightened
practice of civilized nations, they
were entitled to be dealt with as
prisoners of war" The president
then tells of the termination of diplo-
matte relations with the Zelaya gov
ernment and of his intentions to take
such steps as may be found to be
consistent with this governments
dignity in protecting American in
terests in Nicaragua, and he says it
may be necessary for him to bring
this subject to the attention of con-
gress in a special message. He ad-
vocates legislation which will permit
of the reorganization of the state de-
partment along the lines suggested by
Secretary Knox, which were made
public the other day.
Economy Urged.
President Taft insists that the most
important question presented to the
administration is that of economy in
expenditures and sufficient revenue He
says that on June 80, 1870 the ordinary
expenditures will exceed the revenue
by $34,075,620- If the $3S, ,00O 900 which
Will be expended during the year for
the Panama canal. and the 81, ,000, 900 to
be paid on the public debt. is added
to this sum. it will make a total deficit
of $73,075,620. He points out that the
Panama canal expenditures will be met
by bond issues and that it is now ex-
pected that the total cost of the canal
will be s375,009 900. He says that under
lis direction the estimates for expendi-
tires for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1911 are less than the appropriations
for the current fiscal year by $42, SIS, 900.
] his, with the income expected during
that period and excluding the payments
on the Panama. canal work, will leave
a surplus in the treasury of SS5, ,931. 900
On that date He tells congress that
the estimates have been cut to the
quick and that further pairing down
of them by congress will result in seri
Cusly hampering the proper admins
tration of the departments. He he
heves that much economy in govern
ment administration can be obtained
by a reorganization of the clerical
forces of the government, a reclassifi-
cation OF the kind of work they do.
so that it will be possible for clerks of
high ability to receive more compensa-
ton than others; and the efiu1fnation
from the government service of those
who are inefficient from any cause. land
as the degree of efficiency in all de-
l1artments is much lessened by the re-
tention of all the employees who have
oI1tHved their usefulness, it is indfspen-
sable to any proper system of economy
that provision be made so that their
separation from the service shall be
easy and inevitable. II is impossible TO
make such provision unless there is
adopted a plan of civil pensions"
Sugar Trust Frauds.
The president states hat the sugar
trust frauds are to be probed to the
very bottom; that the department of
Justice and the treasury department are
exerting every effort to discover the
wrong doers in connection with them.
including officers and employees of the
companies who may have been privy
to the fraud. He also states that in
vestigation of these frauds by congress
at present pending the probing going
on by the departments of justice and