The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-12-07

s.eouAAeVons J. DeC. t.-Ino nrSt an.
nual message Of President Taft was
delivered to congress today. It was
presented in both houses by Assistant
Secretary Latta and in both cases
was received shortly after IL O'Clock.
In the senate, when the reading of
the message began at 1912 n. M.
great interest was manifested by
both Republicans and Democrats.
There was a full attendance of sena-
tors on the door Of the chamber, and
as soon as copies of the document
had ben furnished the senator's rivet-
ed their attention upon the printed
pages. While the secretary of the
senate read the presidents words
many senator's hastened over the
pamphlet hunting for the subject in
which the senator's were especially
interested. Others proceeded in the
more orderly way of following the
read;ng from the desk.
Through the message, the pres,-
I'dent has made known to the world his
wishes regarding legislation and his
opinion respecting many questions Of
public interest. The message was
generally favorably commented upon.
The portions which attracted most, at
tentfon were those relating to the
complication with Nicaragua, the dim
mutton OF public expenditures, the
custom house frauds and the tariff
acts. The inildness of the first part
OF the message dealing with routine
European matters led to the opinion
that the new. president would be
comparatively formal: in his treat
ment of the subjects When, how
ever, the reading had progressed fur
ther It was discovered that he could
be- vogirous in the use of Language
when he desired and one senator said
that some Of the expressions had
caused him to doubt whether there
had been change OF administration.
One phrase which attracted most at
tention was found in connection with
the presidents treatments of the
Zelaya incident of which he spoke as
the sad tale of unspeakable, bar
barities." His use Of expression "cut
to the quick" In connection with, the
department y expenditure was also
lcommented upon.sas eltian. n
lao : p. M, the reading Of the mes
sagOewas concluded In the house and
that body adjourned until Friday.
The message, follows:
Presfaent's Message. ~ $
To the Senate and the House of Rep
resentatfves:
The relations of the United States
with all foreign governments have
continued upon the normal basis of
amity and good understanding, and
are very generally satisfactory.
Pursuant to the provisions of the
general treaty of arbitration .conclud-
ed. between the United States and
Great Britain, April 4, 1908, special
agreement was entered into between
1.-THE two countries on January 27, 1909,
for the submission of questions relat-
ing to the fisheries on the North At
lantic coast to a tribunal to be formed
from members of the permanent court
of arbitration at The Hague.
In accordance with the provisions
of the special agreement the printed
case of each government was, on Oc-
tober last, submitted to the other
and to the arbitral tribunal at The
Hague, and the counter case of the
tUnfted States is now in course of
preparation.
f. The American rights under the fish.
cries article of the treaty. of 1878
have been cause of difference be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain for nearly seventy years. The
interests involved are of great i'm
portance to the American fishing in
dustry, and the final settlement of
the controversy will remove source
of constant Irritation and complaint.
This is the first case involving such
great international questions which
has been submitted to the permanent
court Of arbitration at The Hague
The convention providing for the
settlement Of international differences
between the United States and Canada,
including the apportionment between
the two countries Of certain of the
boundary waters and the appointment
of commissioners to adjust certain
other questions, signed on the 18th
day of January 1909, and to the rati-
fication of which the senate gave its
advice and consent on March 3. 1909.
has not yet been ratified on the part
of Great Britain.
/ Negotiations for an international
conference to consider and reach an
dTFdHSemeHI pTOvlulu8 LOT Cn0 pTe6eF.
walton and protection of the fur seals
In the north Pacific are in progress
with the governments Of Great Brit
ain, Japan and Russia. The attitude,
of the governments interested leads
me to hope for satisfactory settle
ment of this question as the ultimate
outcome Of the negotiations.
Congo Trouble.
The question arising out of the Bel
gian annexation Of the Independent
state Of the Congo, which has so long
and earnestly preoccupied the atten-
tion OF this government and enlisted
the sympathy Of oLf citizens, is still
open, but IN "a more hopeful stage.
This government was among the fore
most In the great. work Of uplifting
the uncivilized regions of Africa and
urging the extension Of the benefits
OF civilization, education. and fruit
ful open commerce to the vast do.
main, and ID Q party to treaty engage
mentS Of all the interested powers
designed to carry out that great duty
to humanity. The way to better the