The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1910-12-07
TAFT'S MESSAGE
UP TO CONGRESS-
President Breaks Record For
Length Of Document
DEFENDS PAYNE TARIFF ACT.

| o't etSCio EOoI anu NOn6oT-
vation-Asks For Raise of Judicial
Salaries-Recommendation For Fit
ting Honor For Peary.
Washington, Dec. 6.-The president
sent the following message to congress
today:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
scntatives:
During the past year the foreign re-
lations of the United States have con-
dnucd upon basis of friendship and
good understanding.
The year has been notable as wit
Messing the pacific settlement of two
important international controversies
before the permanent court of The
Hague.
The arbitration of the fisheries dis
pute between the United States and
Great Britain, which has been the
source of nearly continuous diplomatic
correspondence since the fisheries con-
vention of 1918, has given an award
which is satisfactory to both parties.
Peace Commission.
Approaching these enlightened tend
encies Of modern times. the congress
at its last session passed law provid-
Ing for the appointment of a commits
sion of five members "to be appointed
by the president of the United States
to consider the expediency of utilizing
existing international agencies for the
purpose of limiting the ornaments Of
the nations of the world by internation-
al agreement and of constituting the
combined navies of the world an inter-
national force for the preservation of
universal peace and to consider and
report upon any other means TO dlmin-
ish the expenditures of government for
military purposes and to lessen the
probabilities of war"
The work of the international fish
cries commission appointed in 1905
under the treaty of April IL, 1908, be-
tween Great Britain and the United
States, has resulted in the formula
tion and recommendation of uniform
regulations governing the fisheries #
the boundary waters of Canada and
the United States for the purpose of
protecting and increasing the supply
of food fish in such waters.
The Far East.
The center of interest in far eastern
affairs during the past year has again
been China.
1t Is gratifying to note that the ne
gotiations for loan to the Chinese
government for the construction of the
trunk railway lines from Hankow
southward to Canton and westward
through the Yangtse valley. known as
the Hukuang loan. were concluded by
the representatives of the various
financial groups in May last and the
results approved by their respective
governments
Tariff Negotiations.
The new tariff law In section 2 re-
spectlng the maximum and minimum
tariffs of the United States, which pro-
NAoiOho Nbhlt lHNO CutNl Ou 4ADIll u
1910, imposed upon the president the
responsibility of determining prior to
that date whether or not any undue
discrimination existed against the
United States and its products in any
country of the world with which we
sustained commercial relations.
The policy of broader and closer
trade relations with the Dominion Of
Canada which was initiated in tho ad-
justment of the maximum and mini.
mum provisions of the tariff act Of
August, 1909, has proved mutually ben
efcial. 1t justifles further efforts for
the readjustment Of the commercial
relations of the two countries so that
their commerce may follow the chan
nels natural to contiguous countries
and be commensurate with the steady
expansion of trade and industry on
both sides of the boundary line.
The Department of State.
All tariff negotiations, so vital to our
commerce and industry, and the duty
of jealousy guarding the equitable and
just treatment of our products, capital
and industry abroad devolve upon the
department of state.
The efforts of that department to So
cure for citizens of the United States
equal opportunities In the markets Of
the world and to expand American
commerce have been most successful.
The volume of business obtained In
new fields of competition and upon
new lines Is already very great, and
congress Is urged to continue to sup
port the department of state in Its en-
deavors for further trade expansion.
An instrumentallty Indispensable to
the unhampered and natural develop
ment OF American commerce is mer-
chant marine. All maritime and COM
mercia nations recognize the lmpor-
tance Of this factor. The greatest com
merclal nations, our competitors, 1eal-
ously foster their merchant marine,
| alluded to this most important sub
tect In my last annual message. 1t has
often been before you, and | need not
recapitulate the reasons for It's recon-
mendation. Unless prompt action be
taken the completion of the Panama
canal will find this the only great com
mercial nation unable to avail in inter-
national maritime business Of this great
contribution to the means of the worlds
commercial intercourse.