The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-12-14

lust. more Of L unfounded. and too much
Misrepresentation. The act was adopted
in pursuance of a declaration by the par
" which is responsible for it that GUS
toms bill should be a tariff for the pro-
t"ectiCa of home industries. the measure
ct TIE protection to be the difference be-
tween the COS; Of producing the imported
article abroad and the cost OF producing
il at home. together with such addition to
that difference rs might give a reasonable
profit to the home producer. The basis
for the cri-'cism Of this tariff is that in
respect to a number Of the schedules the
declared measure was not followed. but a
higher difference retained or inserted by
way OF undue discrimination in favor of
certain industries and manufactures. Lit
TIC. II any. Of the criticism of the tariff
mas been directed against the protective
principle above stated: but the main body
Cf the cri::c'r~1 has been based on the at
tcG'at to conform to the measure of pro-
lection was not honestly and sincerely
adhered to-"
The president also refers to the appoint
rnc2t OF a board of experts to investigate
the cost Of production Of various articles
included in rho schedules Of the tariff,
and concludes:
whether or not the protective policy Is
IN be continued. and the degree Of protec-
ton to be accorded to our home indus
tries. are questions which the people must
decide through their chosen representa-.
tivcs. But whatever policy is adopted. 1t
is clear that the necessary legislation
shorld be based on an impartial. thor
ough and continuous study of the facts"
Recommends Parcels Post.
The adoption Of the parcels post Is
again adopted. On this subject President
Taft says: with respect to the parcels
post. l respectfully recommend its adop-
ton on all rural delivery routes, and that
II p~ounds-the international limit-be
,rade the limit of carriage in such post.
TIE same argument is made against the
parcels post that was made against the
nost"l savings bank-that 1t Is introduce
ing the government into a business which
sl1culJ he conducted by private persons
end is paternalism. The postoffice depart
ment raS q greet plant and a great or
ganization. reaching into the most remote
hamlet of the United. States. and with
this machinery 1t is able to do a great
many things economically that If a new
organization were necessary 1t would be
impossible to do without ~extravagant ex-
| pe%nditures."
Department of Justice.
Discussing the affairs Of the department
of Justice. the president says:
"I invite especial attention to the prose-
cutions. under the federal law of the so
called bucket shops and Of those
| schemes to defraud in which the use Of
the mail is an essential part Of the
fraudulent conspiracy. prosecutions which
have saved ignorant and weak members
of the public and are saving them hun
| dreds of millions of dollars. The VIOLA
t, rs Of the antitrust law present per-
hars the most important litigation before
the department. and the number of cases
fled shows the activity of the govern
| mant in enforcing that statute
IN a SPECIAL message last year I
brought to the attention of ongress the
propricty and wisdom of enacting a gen.
eral law providing for the incorporation
of Industrial and other companies engaged
in interstate commerce. and I renew my
recommendation in that behalf"
The crying need in the United States
Of c%hcapening the cost of litigation by
simplifying judicial procedure and ex-
pediting final judgment is pointed out and
action looking TO correction Of these evils
is urged.
The president recommends an increase
in the salaries ot federal judges.
Postal Affairs.
In regard to postal matters the presi-
dent points with pride to its present eff
cient management and the recer: reduc-
ton in the deficit. The present unre-
stricted frankins privilege comes in for
comment with n suggestion for the adop-
tion of better methods for its regulation.
Abolish Navy Yards.
The president calls attention to certain
reforms urged by the secretary Of the
navy which he recommends for adoption,
and continues:
9TH secretary of the navy has given
..@-l
and has studied the uses of the navy
yards with reference to the necessities
OF our fleet. With a fleet considerably
less than half the size Of that Of the
British navy. we have ~shipyards more
than double the number, and there are
several Of these shipyards extensively
equipped with modern mchinery, which,
after investigation the, secretary of the
navy believes to be entirely useless for
naval purposes. He asks authority to
abandon certain Of them and to move
their machinery to other places, where It
can he made Of use"
Speaking Of our foreign relations the
president says: During the past year
The foreign relations Of the United States
have continued upon a basis of friendship
and good understanding.
Tie year has been notable as witness
ing the pacific settlement of two impor-
tant international controversies before the
permanent court of The Hague.
THE arbitration of the fisheries dispute
between the United States and Great
Eritain. which has been the source of
nearly continuous diplomatic correspond
ence since the fisheries convention Of 1918,
has given an award which is satisfactory
to both parties. This arbitration is par
ticularly noteworthy not only because Of
the eminently just results secured, but
also because it is the first arbitration held
under the general arbitration treaty Of
April 4. 1905. between the United States
and Great Britain. and disposes of a con-
troversy the settlement of which has re-
sisted every other resource of diplomacy
and which for nearly ninety years has
countries whose common interest lies in
maintaining the most friendly and cordial
relations WITH each other.
President Taft makes a few recommen-
dations for changes in the interstate COM
merce law and says:
Except as above, + do not recommend
any amendment to the interstate COM
merce Law as II stands. I do not now
recommend any amendment to the anti
trust law. In other words, IT seems to
me that the existing legislation with
reference to the regulation Of corpora
tons and the restraint of their business
has reached a point where we can stop
for a while and witness the effect Of the
vigorous execution of the laws of the
statute books in restraining the abuses
which certainly did exist and which
reused the public to demand reform"
~th. - A-t- IIn