The Billings gazette., 1909-12-10
The Presidential Message


tonal congress; not so much in what he says in
the things which are left unsaid and which the
president says will be treated in special messages
In effect the message it went to the two houses
Of the national legislature yesterday, had been dis
counted by the public utterances of Mr. Taft upon
his bong swing around the circle.
One of the matters in which the people were very
much interested and upon which they desired to
obtain the views of the president was the sug-
gested changes in the interstate act This
is one of the matters which the president prom
ises to treat later. Another matter was the re-
ported suggestion of changes in the Sherman anti
trust act, peculiar significance being attached to
this because Of the recent decision against the
Standard Oil company. Again the desires of the
public for information concerning the views of the
executive, together with possible line upon what
congress will do in the matter, were disappointed
for it will require special message to enlighten
the public.
One of the matters which will interest the public
is the portion Of the message regarding the esab-
iishment of a system of postal savings banks. 1t
had been understood possibly through the intma-
ton given out by Mr.. Taft, that nothing in rela-
tion to the reform of the monetary system of the
country could be expected at the present session
Of congress because Of the fact that the commits
sion which had been selected to investigate the mat
ter had not progressed sufficiently with its work
to be able to render report. From this the pre-
sumption naturally arose that without it being
definitely known just what sort of a system would
be established or how far the proposed reforms Of
financial system would go there would be
nothing done in the way Of the establishment of
postal banks.
In discussing this, the president holds that there
would be nothing in the operation of postal saw
ings banks which in any degree would bring them
into competition with existing banking institutions
and that therefore there was no reason why such
banks should not be established even though our
monetary and financial systems should be given
a material modification. Just what it is proposed
to do with the moneys deposited in such banks is
not clear from the message, the president refrain
ing from suggestion, although it is known that Mr..
Taft believes that it ight be wise to the funds
SO secured for taking up the low-priced bonds
which, because of the fact that they draw less, in
terest than can be secured in the ordinary run of
business are drug upon the market.
The situation in China is treated in highly
diplomatic and thoroughly satisfactory manner in
the message and it is probable that but little in
iatlon to American claims in the Orient will de-
velop in the proceedings of congress. The recon-
mendations for sweeping changes in the navy de-
partment whereby the power of the bureaus will
be materially curtailed, is in full support of the
recommendations of Secretary Meyer previously
published and commented upon in these columns
Our fore gn relations, with the exception of those
with Nicaragua are as usual, decidedly satisfactory
The president in relation to the Central American
republic, calls attention to the fact that diplomatic
relations have been broken off and with this, the
whole matter is passed up to congress.
In the matter of conservation, the president is
exceedingly brief while in the matter of questions
Of authority between the interior department and
the forestry service of the department of agricul
ture the president is wisely silent. 1t is promised
that this matter will be treated in special message
which may be expected soon
1t is not to be expected that all of the matters
upon which the people are thinking could be
treated in this message which otherwise would
have caused the document to be unduly bulky. AS
the session progresses other messages will be sent
in and it may be taken for granted that within the
future the public will be completely taken into
the confidence of the chief executive
. y &@
New York hotel keepers have decided to serve
champagne in popless bottles This is a terrible
blow to So a week clerks who are trying to con-
vince the balance of mankind that they are spend.
thrifts.
What Knox said about Zelaya was plenty What
ZeIaya said about Knox was too hot to come over