The Montgomery tribune., 1910-12-09
ECONOMY IS URGED
IN TAFT MESSAGE
PRESIDENT POINTS OUT NECEs-
SiTY OF CURTAILING ExPEN.
SES TO LAWMAKERS.
ANNUAL DOCUMENT Is READ
Conservation, ship Subsidy and For
tiflcation Of Panama Canal Lead
ing Topics Discussed-Has
Little to Say About Tariff.

| 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
| bettering 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 by each department chief to reduce
| the estimated cost of his department for
| the ensuing fiscal year ending June 80,
| 1872 l say this in 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 executive branch
of the government in the performance of
Its duties. This remark does not apply
to the river and harbor estimates, except
to those for expenses of maintenance and
the meeting of obligations under author
lied contracts, nor does 1t apply to the
public building bill nor to the navy build
ing program. OF course, as to these con-
gress could withhold any part or all Of
the estimates for them without interfer-
Ing with the discharge of the ordinary OBJ
legations of these functions Of its depart
ments, bureaus and offices.
Against the estimates of expenditures
s640, 494, 013.12, we have estimated receipts
for next year $3.50, 900 900, making a proba-
Bile surplus CT ordinary receipts over or
dinary expenditures of about $50, 900 900, or
taking into account the estimates for the
Panama canal which are $50, 900, SAT. &c. and
which will ultimately be paid in bonds
1t will leave deficit for the next year of
about s7000,000 If congress shall conclude
to 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: 1.-THE law now pro-
hibits 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
ernment owns other tracts of timber land
in these states which should be included
In the forest reserves. I recommend to
congress that the limitation herein i'm
posed be repealed.
to use the power of reservation only with
respect to land most valuable for forest
purposes. During the present adminstra-
tion 62. 600 acres of land !argely nom
timbered have been excluded from forest
reserves. and 3,500,0oO acres OF land prin-
clpaily valuable for forest purposes have
been included In forest reserves, making
reduction in forest reserves of nom
timbered land amounting to 2,750,0Oo
acres"
Wants Canal Fortified.
Regarding the Panama canal, the presi-
dent asserts that unless unexpected oh
stacles arise the waterway will be COM
pleted well within time limit of Janu-
ary l. 1915, and within estimate of cost.
$3l50O,00O Suggestions for levying of
tolls ana management are made and re-
gardng fertilization Of the canal he
says
Among questions arising for present
solution is the decision whether the canal
shall be fortified. 1 have already stated
TO the congress that strongly favor for
tification and I now reiterate this onin
Ion and ask your consideration of tbe
subject In the light of the report already
before you made by competent board
Failure to fortify the canal would
leave the attainment of both these aims
In the position of rights and obligations
Which we should be powerless to enforce
L..
solutely safeguarded against a desperate
and irresponsible enemy"
Ship Subsidy.
The president urges such action as be
believes will increase American trade
abroad, and says:
Another fnstrumentality Indispensable
TO the unhampered and natural deyelop-
ment or American commerce is merchant
marine. All maritime and commercial ma
tions recognize the Importance of this
FACTOR. The greatest commercial nations.
our competitors, jealously foster their
merchant marine. Perhaps nowhere is
the need for rapid and direct mail. pas
senSer and freight communication quite
SO urgent as between the United States
anu at, La.in america We can secure in no
other quarter of the world such imnoe-
diate benefits in friendship and com
merce as would flow from the establish
ment OF direct lines of communication
with the countries of Latin America ade-
quate to meet the requirements Of a ran
idly increasing appreciation of the reci
procai dependence of the countries of the
western hemisphere upon each others
products, sympathies and assistance.
Il alluded to this most important SUBJ
1ect in my last annual message; II has
often been before you and need not re-
capitulate the reasons for its recommen-
dalton. Unless prompt action be taken
a mn
find this the only great commercial ma