Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-12-15


partment chief to reduce the estimated cos
OF his department for the ensuing shsoa
year ending June 80 1912 These estimatei
present the smallest sum which viii maln'
tain the departments, bureaus and oniees
OF the Government and meet Its Other
| obligations under existing law. and a cut
OF these estimates would result In embarrasS-
ing the executive branch OF the Government
\ in the performance OF its duties This re-
mark does not apply to the rivers and har-
bors estimate. except to those for expenses
of maintenance and the meeting OF oblga-
] tions, under authorized contracts, nor does II
4 apply to the public buildings bill nor the
Navy building programme.
| The President says that as an In
come producing measure the existing
tariff bill never has been exceeded by
any customs bill in the history of the
country" He continues:
The corporation excise tax. proportioned
to the net income of every business corpora
tion in the country, has worked well. The
tax has been easily collected. Its prompt
payment indicates that the incidence of the
tax has not been heavy. 1t offers. more
over, an opportunity for knowledge by the
Government Of the general condition and
business Of all corporations and that means
by far the most important part OF the busi-
ness of the country In the original act pro-
vision was made for the publication of re-
turns. This provision was subsequently
amended by Congress and the matter left
to the regulation OF the President. have
directed the issue of the needed regulations
and have made it possible for the public
generally to know from an examination of
the record, the returns of all corporations,
the stock of which is listed on any public
stock exchange or is offered for sale to the
general public. The returns of those cor
porations whose stock is not so offered for
sale are directed to be open to the inspec-
tion and examination of creditors and stock
holders Of the corporation whose record is
sought.
The President reviews the creation of
the Tariff Commission, created in the
hope that the question of the rate of
a duty imposed shall become more of
business question and less of a political
question, to be ascertained by experts
of long training and accurate knowl-
edge" He indicates that the Board will
not be able to report at this session, but
he hopes to be able to present results
at the opening of the new Congress. He
renews his advocacy of the plan. of which
he says:
1t facilitates the removal of noteworthy
defects in important law without disturb
ance Of business prosperity, which is even
more important to the happiness and the
comfort Of the people than the elimination
of instances of injustice in the tariff.
Whether or not the protective policy is
to be continued and the degree of protection
to be accorded to our home industries,
questions which the people must decide
through their chosen repl lssentatives; but
whatever policy is adopted. it is clear that
the necessary legislation should be based
on an impartial, LAQfOuSA ABQ
study of the facts
The message favors the passage of the
bill amending the Volunteer act and
provision for a commission to determine
a comprehensive policy for the organiza-
tion of the Regular Army, the organized
militia and the volunteer forces. More
officers of the rank Of Cap
tain are needed to teach the new Army,
that it may be prepared in time Of
=, hp a
Of which is urged, is the one providing
for so more Army Engineers. THE short
ness of supply Of such officers" the mes
sage says, delays important river and
harbor work and important fortification
work. I earnestly recommend the pas
sage Of this bill which passed the House
at the last session and Is now pending
n the Senate"
OF fortifcations, the message says
I have directed that the estimates for ap-
1ropriation for the improvement of coast
lefenses in the United States should be re-
iuced to a minimum, while those Tor the
completion of the needed fortifications At
Iorregidor, in the Philippine Islands, and
It Pearl Harbor, in the Hawaiian Islands,
hould be expedited as much as possible.
rhe proposition to make Olongapo and
'ubig Bay the naval base OF the Pacific was
-iven up, and 1t Is to be treated merely -
supply station, while the Qualifications In
he Philippines are to be largely confined
y
nds which command entrance to Manila
BAY. and which are being rendered impreg-
able from land and sea attack.
The Pacific naval base has been trans
erred to Pearl Harbor, in the Hawaiian ISL
nds. This necessitates the heavy fortifi-
alton Of the harbor and the establishment
an important military station near Homo
1lu. urge that all the estimates made
y the War Department for these purposes
e approved by Congressional appropriation.
Completion of the Panama Canal with l
q the time set, January l, 1875 and with
q the estimated cost, $4,000, 900, is as
lred. The slides reported in the Guile t
ra cut are due to disintegration of S
yneous rock in exposure to the air and
ill require additional allowance of TO-
1900 yards Of material to be removed. ,
his offers no serious obstacle, but would &
ave been so grave in the case OF 7
"a level canal as to have taxed the
atience Of the American people" The !
resident reiterates his opinion that the !
anal should be fortified. ]
On the subject of tolls to be charged, c
E quotes the opinion of an expert that n
a dollar net ton would not drive busi- a
ess away from the canal, but that I
gher rate would do So" He adds:
In determining what the tolls should be s
g certainly ought not to insist that for e
mount to enough to pay the interest on n
ie investment Of $400,OOO.O00 which the n
nited States has made in the construction n
the canal We ought not do this at z
rst, because the benefits to be derived by n
le United States for this expenditure are Il
0t to be measured solely by a return upon fl
le investment. II II were, then the con- a
ruction might well have been left to pri- t,
ate enterprise. 1t was because adequate s,
turn upon the money invested could not IL
expected Immediately. or in the near
ture, and because there were peculiar po- II
lical advantages to be derived from the Il
Of the canal, that It neces- g
rily fell to the Government to advance v
le money and perform the work. I,
In addition to the benefit to our naval Il
rength. the canal greatly Increases the p
ade facilities Of the United States. 1t n
IN undoubtedly cheaper the rates Of trans II
,rtation in all freight between the eastern 81
Id western sesboard and 1t will greatly p
crease that trade by reason OF the reduc- II
On in It's cost Then. II We are to have 81
world canal, and II We are anxious that 81
e routes OF the worlds trade shall be is
rough the Panama Canal. We must rec CT
-nizs that We have an active competitor Il
the Suez Canal Then, too. there are IN
her means OF crossing the isthmus-by IN
e Tehauntepec railroad and By other rail- 81
ads ard freight routes In Central Amer
a 10 the Atlantic side. u
In all these cases the question whether y
e Panama Canal Il TO be used and its m
image increased would be determined later az
the charge for Its use. Ny own Impress Of
1n is that the tolls ought not to exceed el
per net ton. On January I. 1911, the u
lis IN the sues canal are to be francs e
lual measurement. which Is q modihca- ol
ln Of Danube measurement dollar y
p will secure under the figures above, a
'osH income from the Panama Canal OF :.
arly 81. 100000. The cost Of maintenance -
"a operation n estimated TO exceed 43,- =
%. 900. Ultimately. Of course. with the :.
lrmaI increase IN trade, the income viii oi
Iproximats the Interest charges upon the