The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-12-14
ECONOMY IS URGED
IN TAFT MESSAGE
PRESIDENT POINTS OUT NEcES.
slTY OF cURTAILING ExPEN-
SEES TO LAWMAKERS.
ANNUAL DOCUMENT is READ
Conservation, Ship Subsidy and For
LITIGATION of Panama Canal Lead
ing Topics Discussed--Has
Little to Say About Tariff.

ItIltC 70 Gay f%oOoN 81 "'
Washington, Dec. Economy in
government affairs is the keynote OF
President Taft'S annual message read
before both houses of congress today.
The message approXimates 10000
words and is one of the longest ever
submitted by president.
Conservation of the public domain,
ship subsidy. fortification of the Pana-
ma canal and the continuation OF the
present tariff board are the leading
subjects touched upon He also re-
views the work of the various gov
eminent departments and concurs in
recommendation. tending toward the
lettering of the service. made by sew
eral of the members of his cabinet.
Economy Is Urged.
In dwelling on the urgent need for
economy IN government expenditures. the
president says: Every effort has been
made 10y each department chief to retiuc"
thu. estimate, cost Of his department for
the ensuing fiscal year ending June 30.
1872. ! say this I'm order that congress
may understand that these estimates thus
made present the smallest: sum which Will
maintain the departments. bureaus and
offices Of the government and meet its
other obligations under existing law. and
that a cut of these estimates would re-
suit in embarrassing the eXeCu tive bra nch
o1 The government In the performance ar
Its duties. This remark does not apply
10 the river and harbor estimates, cEccp:
Ia thos. for expenses of maintenance and
The meeting of obligations under author
lied contracts. nor does il apply 10 the
public building hill nor 10 the navy build
ing program. OF course as 10 these con-
grcss could Withhold any part or all OF
the estimates for them without tnterfcr-
ing with the discharge Of the ordinary Oh
legations Of these functions of its depart
ments. bureaus and offices.
Against the estimates OF expenditure.
$3.50 iSi. dl3 l.. ". have estimated receipts
for next year SsSO. 1DG go. making a proba-
bls surplus of ordinary receipts over or
binary expenditures of about $50. GO GOO. or
taking into account the estimates FOR the
Panama canal which are Sc 90. S4.. g. and
which willoultimately be paid in bonds.
II will leave "A deficit for the next year OF
about $..Go0.01o If congress shall conclude
Ia fortify the canal
Wants Forest Limitation Removed.
On the subject of conservation he de-
votes considerable. space To forest coal
oil and gas. phosphate lands and water
power sites. As to the reservation Of
forest lands he says: The law now pro-
hihitS the reservation of any more forest
lands in Oregon. Washington. Idaho.
Montana. Colorado and Wyoming. except
by act Of congress. I am Informed by the
department OF agriculture that the gov
eminent owns Other tracts Of timber land
I'm these states which should be included
In ia" forest reserves. I recommend to
congress that the limitation herein I'm
posed bc repealed
Congress "ugh; To tr;Ist the executive
20 us" the power Of reservation only with
respect Ia land most valuable for forest
purposes. During the present administra-
lion. 6H..5o.oo1 acres Of land largely nom
timicred have heen excluded from forest
reserves. and $500. Go0 acres Of land prin-
Cipally valuable for forest PURPOSES have
been included IN forest reserves making
n reduction in forest reserves of non
timh"red land amounting to 10000
acres"
Wants Canal Fortified.
Regarding the Panama canal the presi-
Dent asserts that unless unexpected oh
st:.C.s arise the waterway will be com
plrt"d well within time limit 81 Janu-
airy !. 1915. and within estimate Of cost
s3I'."w'.'hn Suggestions for levying Of
tolls and management are mad. and re-
sar,linc fortiiica:ion of the canal he
SAWS:
Among questions arising fo- present
solution is the decision whether the canal
shah lee fortified. have already state..
"a the congress that strongly favor for
tiiication and I now reiterate this opin-
Ion and ask YOUR consideration Of th-
subject In the light of the report air. :tdy
before You made hv a competent board
Failure to fortifv the canal would
i"av" the attainment OF both these aims
In TN" position OF rights and obligations
which "" should be ppwcrlcss 10 enforce
and which could never In any way he alb
s"iutely saf"grarded against a desperate
and Irresponsible enemy"
Ship Subsidy.
The president urges such action rs D..
believes will increase American trade,
abroad. and says:
Another instrumentalitv Indispensable
20 the unhampcred and natural devotion.
fn' nj OF American commerce is merchant
marine. All maritime and commercial ma
Toms r""""iiz" the Importance" 81 this
factor. TIL" greatest commercial nations
our competitors. jealousy foster their
merchant marine. Perhaps nowhere is
IN" need for rapid and direct mail. pas
s''ns'r and freight communication quit,
sn Urgent as between the United States
and Latin America. We can secure In no
other quarter az the world such irnmc-
tii;'t'' benefits in Friendship ard COM
mere" as would flow from the establish
r:"nt II direct lines OF communication
with The countries of Latin America ado
uuatr Ia meet the requirements of 4 ran
idly increasing appreciation of the reel
POO al dependence of the countries Of the
western h"'niSnher" upon each others
products. sYmparhi,.s and assistance
Il alluded Ia this most important sub
tert in my last annual message: ii has
often been before You and need not re-
rapitulate III" reasons for IT'S rrcOn.merl-
Gailun. Unless prompt action he taken
the COMP, ton If the Panama canal VIII
find This the only great commercial ma