The independent-reporter., 1910-12-08
PRESIDENT TAFT'S MESSAGE LONG AND
FULL Of WISE Recommendations
Conditions Favor Farming Communities Large
Crops Ensure Prosperity

The splendid crops amounting 10
s8,926.000 900 for the year promise
well for the business OF the country.
President Taft states in his message
10 Congress. He finds that by "a
greater diyersifcation OF crops the
south is ar, y inc: @1l its pro-
perity and SIC hs oi - .uelcial o.
suits obtained from the experiment
stations and the instruction given in
the agricultural schools. aided by the
government He points out that the
present conditions are very favorable
70 the farming community quoting
dgures from the Department Of Agri-
culture to show that on the average
since 1891 farm products have in
creased in value y per cent, while
the things the farmer buys have in
creased but u per cent
THE PAYNE TARIFF ACT.
The schedules of the rates OF duty
III the Payne tariff lct have been sub
)ected TO great de,l OF criticism
some OF it just, more of it unfounded
md TO much Misrepresentation but
little, If any, of the criticism of the
.aliff has been directed against the
protective principle.
1t is not likely that the board will
be able to make a report during the
presen, session of Congress OH any o.
the schedules, because q proper ey-
I q n. i11t
amount of detail md a great deal OF
care. but hope to be able at the op
ening of the new Congress. or at leas,
during the session of that congress. r.
bring TO its attention the facts in re
gard to those schedules in the present
tarin that may prove to need amend.
ment.
The carrying out of this plpn, o.
course. involves the full cooperation
of Congress in limiting the consider
alton in tariff matters to one schedule
! at time.
SHIP SUBSIDY.
For many reasons | cannot toe
strongly urge upon the Congress tbs
passage Of a measure by mail sub.
sidy or other subvention adequate tC
guarantee the establishment and rap
! i'd development of an American mer
chant marine. the restoration of the
American flag to its ancient place
upon the seas.
THE ARMY.
recommend that Congress establish
a commission TO determine as early a!
practicable comprehensive policy
| For ho
administra tion of the regular army
the organized militia and the volun
teer forces in the event of war
PANAMA CANAL
Among questions arising for pres
ent solution is the decision WhetheI
the canal shall be fortified have al
ready stated to the Congress that
strongly favor fortification and nov
reiterate this opinion.
In determining what the tolls in tn
canal should be we certainly ougn
years 10 come they should amount I,
enough to pay the interest on the in
vestment.
The next question that arises is a
to the maintenance, management an
general control of the canal after il
completion. 1t should be premise
that it is an essential part of our nay
establishment to have the coal. oi
and other ship supplies, a drydoc
end repair shops conveniently locete
with reference to naval vessels pass
ing through the canal. Now. if tn
government for naval purposes is I
undertake TO furnish these convenien
ces to the navy, and they are conve
niences equally required by CONNER
cial vessels. there would seem to b
strong reasons why the government
should take over and include in it