The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-07

parties.
No Tariff Tinkering Planned.
1t is President Taft's idea that the
| maximum and minimum clause of the
new tariff law is not likely to lead to Z
| tariff war with any other foreign coun-
| try and hat he will do his best to avoid
| any such controversy. On this matter
| of the tariff, he calls attention to the
fact that the tariff boards work will
probably take from two to three years.
and that if it's findings are of such
| character as to show generally that
| the rates Of duties imposed by the pres
ent tariff law are excessive under the
principles of protection as described in
| the platform of the successful party a.
! the late election shall not hesitate to
| invite the attention of congress to this
| fact and to the necessity for action
| predicated thereon" He believes that
it will be unwise for congress to at
tempt any tariff legislation until the
tariff board is able to report.
Army and Navy Affairs.
On army and navy matters the presi-
dent calls attention to the points of
the secretary of war and also the
secretary of tie navy. He endorses
the plans of a joint army and navy
board for the establishment of an ex-
tensive naval base in Pearl harbor,
Hawaiian Islands. rather than in Ma
:lila bay. He also urges the ccnstruc-
ron of additional coast defense at
chesapeake bay and expresses his sym
/ athy with the plans of Secretary
Meyer for a thorough reorganization
CT the navy department. He also joins
Mr.. Meyer in asking congress to au-
th orize the construction of two first
c.ass battleships and one repair ship.
The Laws Delay.
Considerable space is devoted by the
president to the discussion of the laws
delay in this country. He says he does
not doubt that much of the violence
and cruelty exhibited in lynching is
,-irectIv due to the uncertainties and
injustice growing out of the delays in
trials judgments and executions there
of by the courts. He says that both
state and federal courts are defective
in these particulars, but in all prob
ability the defects are less in the fed
eral courts. He says that a procedure
in state courts should generally follow
the procedure in the federal courts,
and he asks congress to authorize MN
to appoint a commission with authority
fo examine the law and the equity
procedure of the federal courts of the
.1rst instance, the law of appeals from
hose courts to the court of appeals and
to the supreme court. and the cost
imposed in such procedure upon prl-
treasury and make recommendation
with a view to simplifying and ex-
Lediting the procedure as far as pos
sible and making it as inexpensive as
may be to the litigant of little means
Issuance of Injunctions.
He calls for the enforcement of his
1,arty's pledge for legislation that Will
'rore accurately define by statute the
procedure in the federal courts with
respect to the issuance OF the writ OF
injunction. He suggests that the IS
suing of such writs be forbidden WITT
cut previous notice and reasonable
pportunity to be heard on behalf or
oil parties to be enjoined unless II
shall appear to the satisfaction OF the
court that the delay necessary TO give
such notice and hearing will result IN
Irreparable injury to the complainant.
he would limit the life of such emer-
sency injunctions to seven days, unless
a full hearing the court should decide
that it was necessary.
The Postal Deficit.
President Taft pays particular at
tention to the postal deficit, and says
it is largely caused by the low rate OF
postage of one cent a pound for sec
ond class matter. He says the actual
cost of transporting this matter is
nine cents a pound. He thinks that
congress should look into the matter
and possibly raise this rate on mag
azines and periodicals because they
are much heavier than newspapers
and contain much higher proportion
of advertising to reading matter.
Other Recommendations.
He advocates strongly the redemp-
ton of the Republican party's pledge
for the establishment of postal saw
ing banks He also favors the ship
subsidy plan and thinks that it might
be started with the governments
profits on foreign mail. He asks for
a $4,000 appropriation to be used by
the secretary of commerce and labor
for the employment of special inspec-
tors to investigate the white slave
fra nd hiring fhnCa rnQnnnGih1n for
it to justice. He thinks there is need
for the establishment of a federal
bureau of health. He also asks for
a law compelling candidates in cleo
ton of members of the house of rep
resentatives and the committees in
charge of their campaigns to file with
the government statement OF the
contributions received and expendi-
lures incurred in the campaign for
such elections, and that similar leg
islation be enacted in respect to all
other elections which are constitu
tionally within the control of con-.
gress.
Reasons for High Prices.
Speaking generally. the country is in
a high state of prosperity" says Presi-
dent Taft in concluding his message
There is every reason to believe that
we are On the eve of a substantial busi-
ness expansion, and we have just
garnered harvest unexampled in the
market value of our agricultural pro-
ducts. The high prices which such pro-
ducts bring mean great prosperity for
the farming community, but on the
other hand they mean a very consider
ably increased burden. upon those
classes in the community whose yearl. ,
compensat on does not expand with
the Improvement of business and tha
general prosperity. Various reasons are
given for the high prices. The proper
tionate increase in the output of gold,
which today is the chief medium OF ex-
change and is in some respects meas
ure of value. furnishes a substantial ex-
planation of at least part of the in
crease in prices. The increase in popu-
lation and the more expensive mode of
living of the people, which have not
been accompanied by proportionat-s
increase in acreage production, may
furnish further reason