St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-12-15
President Taft'S Message.

The message OF President Taft at thu
opening of Congress has been accepted
by many papers as very safe and sant
document without any especially strong
features. There are however some state
ments that must be recognized as un
usual and that indicate determination
on the Presidents part to serve well the
interests of the people. After showing
that there willbe deficit of $73, O75 go
at the end of the current fiscal year the
President says
In order to avoid a deficit for the en-
suing fiscal year | directed the heads of
departments in the preparation of their
estimates to make them as low as pOss-
ible consistent with imperative govern
mental necessity. The result has been.
as am advised by the secretary of the
treasury, that the estimates of the ex-
penses of the government for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1911-that is, for
the next fiscal year-are less by $50, $685.
600 than the total OF appropriations for
the current fiscal year are less by 1884,
100000 than the estimat for that
year. So far as the secretary of the
treasury is able to form Judgment as
to future income. there will be no deficit
in the year ending June 80, 1911, but a
small surplus of $4,000.
In the war department the estimates
have been cut to $45, 100000 less than
for the present year and the President
says
This could be accomplished only by
cutting off new projects and suspending
for the period of one year all progress in
military matters. For the same reason
have directed that the army shall not
be recruited up to its present authorized
strength.
Speaking of the navy department he
says
Owing to the necessity for economy in
expenditures. have directed the curtail-
ment of recommendations for naval
appropriations so that they are thirty
eight millions less than the correspond
ing estimates of last year, and the re-
quest for new naval construction is
limited to two first class battleships and
one repair vessel.
Another important statement is in
regard to injunctions in which he says
We believe that the rules of proce-
dure in the federal courts with respect to
the issuance of the writ of Injunction
should be more accurately defined by
statute and that no injunction or tenn
porary restraining order should be
issued without notice. except where
irreparable injury would result from
delay, in which case a speedy hearing
thereafter should be granted"
recommend that in compliance with
the promise thus made appropriate leg
islation be adopted Moreover, every
such injunction or restraining order
issued without previous notice and op-
portunity by the defendant to We heard
should by force of the statute expire and
be OF no effect after seven DAYS from the
issuance thereof or within any time less
than that period which the court NAV
fix unless within such seven DAYS or
such less period the injunction or order
is extended or renewed after previous
notice and opportunity to be heard.
His recommendation regarding politi-
cal contributions is
l urgently recommend to congress
that law be passed requiring that
candidates in elections of members of the
house of representatives and committees
in charge of their candidacy and cam
paign tle in proper office of the United
States government statement of the
contributions received and of the expend-
itures incurred in the campaign for such
elections and that similar legislation be
enacted in respect to all other elections
which are constitutionally within the
control of congress.
1t must be admitted by all that the
President has taken the strongest stand
of any executive of recent years for a
careful expenditure of the government
revenues, that he has put an effective
quietus on any spirit of jingoism that
develops with the enlargement of the
army and navy and that the country is
likely to experience an off year in war
scares. His position on the question of
injunctions is in advance of that taken
by any other president and is one that
would prevent any further abuse of that
privilege. Publicity of political contri-
buttons and expensesi is another bold and
righteous position for the chief executive
to assume and is a distinct advance in
the cause of pure politics. In all of these
things one can see the determination of
calm man to meet without equivocation
the duties that are before him without
an appeal to popular clamor but to act
upon those principles which will give his
accomplishments greater strength and
permanency
New Possibilities in Enractrv