Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-12-08

new congress. or at least during the
session of that congress, to bring tc
its attention the facts in regard tc
those schedules in the present tariff
that may prove TO need amendment
The carrying out Of this plan, OF
course, involves the full cooperation
OF congress in limiting the considera-
ton in tariff matters 10 one schedule
at time. because If a proposed amend
ment to a tariff bill is to involve q
complete consideration of all the
schedules and another revision then
we shall only repeat the evil from
which the business of this country has
In times past suffered most grievously
by stagnation and uncertainty, pend
ing resettlement Of a law affecting
all business directly or Indirectly, and
the effect OF which no wise business
man would ignore in new projects and
new investments.
The inquiries which the members OF
the tariff board made during the last
summer into the methods pursued by
other governments With reference to
ton of their effect upon trade show
that each government maintains an of
flee or bureau, the officers and en-
ployees OF which have made their life
work the study of tariff matters. OF
foreign and home prices and cost Of
articles imported and the effect of the
tariff upon trade, so that whenever a
change is thought 10 be necessary i'm
the tariff law this office is the source
OF the most reliable information as to
the propriety of the change and it's eff
feet
| am strongly convinced that we
need in this government Just such an
office and that it can be secured by
making the tariff board already an
pointed permanent tariff commission.
with such duties, powers and ernorn
ments as ii may seem wise TO congress
to give. 1t has been proposed TO en-
large the board from three to five The
present number is convenient. bur 1
do not know that an increase of two
members would be Objectionable.
| recommend that congress establish
a commission 10 determine as early as
practicable a comprehensive policy for
the organization, mobilization and ad.
ministration of the regular army, the
organized militia and the volunteer
forces in the event OF war.
Need For Additional Officers.
One of the great difficulties in the
prompt organization and mobilization
of militia and volunteer forces is the
absence Of competent officers Of the
rank of captain to teach the new army.
by the unit of the company, the busi.
ness of being soldiers and of taking
care of themselves so as to render eff
fective service This need of army
officers can only be supplied by pro.
visions of law authorizing the appoint
ment of greater number of army of.
hcers than are needed to supply the
commands of regular army troops now
enlisted in the service.
In order that the militia of each
state should be properly drilled and
made more like the regular army, reg
ular army officers should be detailed
to assist the adjutant general of each
state in the supervision of the state
militia. But this is impossible unless
provision is made by congress for a
very considerable increase i'm the num-
ber Of company and field officers Of
the army.
Fortifications.
l have directed that the estimates
for appropriation for the Improvement
Of coast defenses in the United States
should be reduced to a minimum.
while those for the completion Of the
needed Notifications at Corregidor. in
the Philippine Islands, and at Pearl
Harbor, in the Hawaiian Islands. !
should be expedited as much as posi-
BILE.
Philippine Islands.
During the last summer at my re-
quest the secretary of war visited the
Philippine Islands and has described
bis trip In his report He found the
Islands in a state of tranquility and
growing prosperity, due largely to the
change in the tariff laws which has
opened the markets of America to the
products of the Philippines and has
opened the Philippine markets to
American manufactures.
Panama Canal.
At the instance of Colonel Goethals,
he army engineer officer in charge of
he work on the Panama canal, have
ust made visit to the isthmus to in
'pect the work done and to consult
with him on the ground as to certain
which are likely to arise in
he near future. The progress of the
work is most satisfactory. If no un
obstacle presents itself the
anal will be completed well within the
imc fixed by Colonel Goethals-to wit
Ian. l, 1915-and within the estimate
# cost. S375,OO0.OO0.
Among questions arising for present
olution is the decision whether the
anal shall be fortified. l have already
tated to the congress that l strongly
avor fertilization, and | now reiterate