The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-12-14
MESSAGE
CONTINUED from page 81

usual AS the representative of Jap
an, His Imperial Highness Prince Kuni
visited the Hudson-Fulton celebration
The recent visit of a delegation of
prominent business men as guests OF
the Chambers of Commerce of the Pa
cifc Coast slope whose representatives
! had been so agreeably received in
Japan will doubtless contribute to the
growing trade across the Pacific as
well as to that mutual understanding
which leads to mutual appreciation,
| The arrangements of 1906 for CO.
operative control of the coming of la
borers to the United States has proved
| to work satisfactorily. The matter OF
a revision of the existing treaty be-
tween the United States and Japan
which is terminable in 1912 is already
receiving the study of both countries.
The Department of State is consider
ing the revision in whole or in part,
of the existing treaty with Siam,
which was concluded in 1856 and is
now in respect to many of its provi-
sions, out Of date.
Most of the great Industrial organ
izations and many of the well-conduct-
ed raj ways. of this country are COM
| ing to the conclusion that a system of
pensions for old employees, and the
substitution therefor of younger and
more energetic servants, promotes both
economy and efficiency of administra-
ton.
| | am aware that there is a strong
feeling in both houses of Congress,
and possibly in the country, against
the establishment of civil pensions and
that this has naturally grown out of
the heavy burden of military pensions,
which it has always been the policy
| of our government to assume; but |
am strong y convinced that no other
practical silution of the difficulties
presented by the approximation OF
civil servants can be found than that
Of a system of civil pensions.
FRAUDS IN THE COLLECTION OF
CUSTOMS.
l regret to refer to the fact of the
discovery of extensive frauds in the
collection of the customs revenue at
New York city in which a number of
subordinate employees in the weighing
and other departments were directly
concerned, and in which the beneficial
ries were the American Sugar Refining
Company and others. The frauds con-
sisted in the payment of duty on I'M
derweights of sugar The government
has recovered from the American Su-
gar Refining Company a | that it is
shown to have been defrauded Of The
sum was received in full of the amount
due, which might have been recovered
by civil suit against the beneficiary OF
the fraud, but there was an express
reservation in the contract of settle
ment by which the settlement should
not interfere with, or prevent the Grim
inal prosecution of everyone who was
/ found to be subject to the same.
Criminal prosecutions are now pro-
/ ceeding against a number of the gov
eminent officers. The Treasury De-
partment and the Department of JUS
/ tice are eXerting every effort to dis
cover all the wrongdoers, including the
officers and employees of the COM
panies who may have been privy to the
fraud. 1t won seem to me that an
investigation of the frauds by Con-
gress at present pending the probing
/ by the Treasury Department and the
Department of Justice as proposed,
might, by giving immunity and other
wise prove an embarrassment in Sc
curing conviction of the guilty parties
/ MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM CLAUSE
IN TARIFF ACT.
, Two features of the new tariff act
call for special reference. By virtue
oft he clause known as the maximum
and minimum" clause, it is the duty
| of the executive to consider the laws
and practices of other countries with
reference to the importation into
those countries of the products and
merchandise of the United States
anu IL Ine executive nndS such laws
and practices not to be unduly dis
criminatory against the United States,
the minimum duties provideA in the
bill are to go into force. Unless the
President makes such finding then
the maximum duties provided in the
bill, that is, an increase of twenty
/ five per cent ad valorem over the
minimum duties, are to be in force.
Fear has been expressed that this
power conferred and duty imposed on
the executive is likely to lead to
tariff war I beg to express the hoIe
and belief that no such result need
be anticipated
The discretion granted to the eX-
ecutiVe nv the terms 'undu1v discrin,.