Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-08

| OF the opium question IN this country
| lead me to recommend that the man.
ufacture, sale and Use OF opium and
its derivatives in the United States
should be so far as possible more
vigorously controlled by legislation.
The Department Of State.
| I earnestly recommend TO the IA
4 vorable action of the congress the
| estimates submitted by the depart
ment OF state and most especially the
legislation suggested In the secretary
Of states letter Of this date whereby
Il will be possible to develop and
! make permanent the reorganization
| of the department upon modern lines
In a manner ~ make Il thoroughly
efficient instrument In the furtherance
Of our foreign trade and OF American
interests abroad. The plan 10 have
divisions OF Latin AMERICAN and Far
Eastern Affairs and 10 institute GER
tain specialization in business with
Europe and the Near East will at
once commend itself. These politico-
geographical divisions aud the detail
from the diplomatic or consular ser
vice to the department of number
of men, who bring 10 the study OF
complicated problems in different
parts of the world practical knowl-
edge recently gained on the spot.
clearly is of the greatest advantage
TO the secretary of state in foreseeing
conditions likely to arise and in con-
ductng the great variety of correspon-
dence and negotiation. II should be
remembered that such facilities exist
in the foreign offices of all the leading
commercial nations and that to deny
them 10 the secretary of state would
be to place this government at great
Disadvantage in the rivalry of COM
mercial competition.
The consular service has been
greatly improved under the law OF
April >. 1906, and the executive order
of June q, 1906. ana | commend 10
your conside ration the question of m
hodying in statute the principles
of the present executive order upon
which the efficiency of our consular
service is wholly dependent.
Under provision of the Act of
August 3, 1909. have appointed three
officials TO assist the officers OF the
government in collecting ilformatiC-
necessary TO n wise administration OF
the tariff act of August 3. 1909
Expenditure and Revenues.
Perhaps the most important ques-
ton presented to this administration
is that of economy IN expenditures
and sufiiciepcy OF revenue. The de-
felt of the last fiscal year, and the
certain deficit of the current year.
prompted congress to throw a great
er responsibility on the executive and
the secretary OF the treasury than
had heretofore been declared by sta
tre.
The report of the secretary shows
that the ordinary expenditures for the
current fiscal lear ending June 80
1910, will exceed the estimated re-
ceipts of $34,075.e20. II to this de-
felt is added the sum to be disbursed
for the Panama canal, amounting TO
s3S 900. and 100000 to be paid
on the public debt, the deficit of or
binary receipts and expenditures will
be increased to a total deficit of $751;
075,620. This deficit the secretary
proposes to meet by the proceeds Of
bonds issued TO pay the cost of con-
structing the Panama canal. APP
prove this proposal
Panama Canal.
The policy of paying for the con-
Etruction of the Panama canal, not
out OF current revenue, but by bond
issues. was adopted In the 5pooner
Act Of 1902. and there seems to be
no good reason for departing from
the principle by which part at least
OF the burden of the cost OF the canal
shall fap upon cur posterity who are
to enjoy il: and there is all the more
reason for this view because the act
ual cost to date OF the canal, which
is now half done and which viii be
COMPLETED January /. 1915, shows tina,
the cost of engineering and construc-
ton will be 1921. f6S.G00. instead OF
sl3e. 705. 200. as originally estimated.
In addition to engineering and con-
struction, the other expenses. incluo
ing sanitation and government. and
the amount paid for the properties,
the franchise. and the privilege OF
building the canal. increase the coet
by s75,435eeo. to total of s375.20I,-
0o0.
In order TO avoid deficit for the
ensring fiscal yeaT. | directed The
heads OF departments in the prepara-
ton Of their estimates to make them
as low as possible consistent with i'm
perative government necessity. $50
SO far as the secretary Of the treas
ury is able to form Judgment as tc
future income. and compare Il with
the expenditure for the next ascal
year ending June 90. 1911, including
the payments on account Of the Pana
ma canal and the public dert there