Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-12-08
X or ASSOCIATED PRESS.
STRONG ENDORSEMENT OF TAFT
MESSAGE,

In the light of the peevish, constant
and undeserved criticisms of President
Taft upon any and all occasions it is
quite refreshing to at last observe a
a large measure of real statesman
ship in the nations chief executive.
In reviewing the presidents message
the St. Paul Dispatch says
If the message of President Taft
may be said to contain a Keynote
and there is no reason why an Ommis-
sion should necessarily subject it to
criticsm-it is found in his emphasis
of the importance OF economy and ef-
ficiency in the administration of the
many departments of the government.
Among the recurring annual prob
lens Of administration, there is
nothing pending that rises to
the dignity of a vital point or critical
issue demanding that consideration
that would make it the dominant note
Of his recommendations to congress.
He has taken advantage Of the fact to
shake up the dry bones of archaic sys-
tems in operation and urge the adop-
ton of methods calculated to reduce
the expense of the governmental ma
chinery and bring it to higher state
of efficiency. Through the somewhat
formidable state document he has
transmitted are frequent occurrences
Of the ACCESSIBILITY of substituting mod
ern ideas for antiquated and cumber-
some departmental systems and al
ways with the emphasis upon the
necessity of reducing cost and improv-
ing results.
If there has been public expecta-
ton of some startling expression con-
corning the two leading questions of
the day-the tariff and the railroads
1t will fail to be realized. Both sub
jects are dismissed with comparative
brevity. The tariff commission has not
acquired the information indispensable
to an intelligent consideration of the
schedules, and there is nothing but
to wait patiently. The question of the
protective principle is up to the peo-
pie, not to congress, not to the adj
ministration. But in this. as in all
other subjects discussed, President
Taft is strong in his faith and firm
in his position. He stands where he
has always stood. If an election storm
has passed over the country it has left
no traces upon the serenity of the
chief magistrate. He renews his ex-
preston of confidence in the results of
the policy of the tariff board inves-
sideration His one warning is against
unsettling business by agitation and
uncertainty.
Upon the trust and transportation
problems his attitude is that of await.
ing developments. The effect of the
enlarged powers of the interstate
commission is yet to be determined,
and the scope of the antitrust act is
regarded as sufficient to meet all
present conditions. Congress is not
pressed, at this time, to the consider
alton of these questions, and Presi-
dent Taft contents himself, in this
connection, with recommending law
that will prevent the trans continental
railways, for obvious reasons, from
controlling the steamship companies
that will benefit by the Panama can.
al, when completed. The canal, by
the way. occupies large and inter-
esting place in the message, the presi-
dent expressing his satisfaction with
both the progress and status, recon-
mending a toll of 81 per net ton to be
charged and emphasizing the advisa-
bility of fortification at cost of $780,.
100000.
A summary of the features of the
message would be fittingly headed by
its strong demand for the 'cheapening
the cost of litigation by simplifying
judicial procedure and expediting fin
Al iudement'-a change from the pres
ent conditions under which the poor