Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1909-12-17
PRES. TAFT'S
first MESSAGE
Says He wildcat with
Anti=I rust and Inter
state Comm cree Ann
endrnents Separately.
Favors Ship Subsidy, Postal Sa.
wings Banks and Reform in
Judicial Proce dure-De.
nounces ''Unspeal.able
Barb arities"

Washington, Dec. Ia President Taft
transmitted to Congress his first an
nual message. ii is a document 1000
words long. The most signiHcfiant fact
concerning it-at least for the bust.
ness worlds the omission of all CON
s.Geratiun of the antitrust and inter-
state commerce laws. The omission.
however, in reality is merely a post
poncment for he promises early spe.
cial messages dealing with these sub
jects- and makes ii plain that he viii
have amendments to offer. His fail.
uge to deal with these laws at this
time does not come as surprise.
a denunciation Of the "unspeagable
barbari,ies and oppression alleged to
have been committed by the Zelaya
government in Nicaragua" recon-
mendatior for legislation to limit by
statute the writ OF injunction in labor
cases and a strong plea for the ship
subsidy, are Alfee of the striking
points brought out.
President Taft ascribes nearly all
the turmoil in Central America OF re-
cent years to President Zelaya Of
Nicaragua, and recalls the patient ef
forts the United States has taken to
keep the peace between the Central
American republics.
He says the Americans, Groce and
Cannon who were executed by order
OF Zelaya, We're officers of the FeyoIu,
tiOnary forces and were entitled to
treatment as prisoners of war.
Opposition to an immediate inyesti-
cation by Congress of the sugar i'm
portation scandals in New York is
based by the President on the ground
that such an inquiry might, by Civ
ing immunity and otherwise, prove an
-emAarss in securing conviction
OF the guilty parties"
Mr.. Taft is opposed to any further
revision of the tariff at present, but
asks for "A continuation of the appro-
priation for the tariff board.
He expresses confidence that the
duty imposed upon the executive OF
enforcing the maximum rates of the
Payne bill against nations unduly dis
eliminating against the United States
will rot lead TO any tariff war.
The message urges the establish.
ment of a system of postal savings
banks. Other recommendations are:
A subsidy to encourage American
shipping.
Issue Of bonds to meet expenses of
the Panama canal.
Publicity of political contributions
in elections of members of Congress
higher rate of postage on periodi-
calls and magazines.
A fund of $50, 900 to aid in suppress
ing the white slave" trade
A commission to evolve plan to
expedite legal procedure and mitigate
the laws delays"
Construction of an artificial island
and fortidcation in the entrance to
Chesapeake bay, two battleships and
one repair ship for the navy and an
extensive naval base at Pearl island,
Hawaii.
A national bureau of health.
Separate statehood for New Meyi.
co and Arizona and an appointive gov.
ernor and executive council for Alas
ka
Civil control of the lighthouse board
and separation of the national astron-
omical observatory from naval con.
troll.
Our relations with foreign govern
ments, the President reports, are in
the normal state of amity and good
will and in general are very satisfac-
tory.
In conclusion the President re
ports the country in high state of
prosperity and adds there is every
reason to believe we are on the eve
OF a substantial business expansion"
OF the high prices OF living. he
points out that they are world wide
and cannnt he atll,iA1It cd To The ta,iEf