The Colorado statesman., 1910-12-10
PRESIDENT POINTS OUT NEcEs-
SlTY OF cURTAILING EXPEN-
sEs TO LAWMAKERS.
ANNUAL DOCUMENT IS READ
Conservation, ship Subsidy and For
tification Of Panama Canal Lead
iEg Topics Discussed-Has
Little to Say About Tariff.

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
ernment 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 So'
1912. 1 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 It's
other obligations under existing law, ana
that a cut of these estimates would re-
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
ized 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
- f,trr Of ffQ =
ments. bureaus and offices.
Against the estimates OF expenditures
s64O. .4g4, ,013. Il, we have estimated receipts
for next year $3.50 900, making proba-
BILE surplus of ordinary receipts over or
dinary expenditures of about $5O.OOO.OOO, or
taking into account the estimates for the
Panama canal which are s56,92O, S47.69, and
which will ultimately be paid in bonds,
IT will leave deficit for the next year of
about s7,0O0.O00 IL 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
Congress ought to trust the executive
10 use the power of reservation only with
respect TO land most valuable for forest
purposes. During the present administra-
ton e. 100000 acres of land largely nom
timbered have been excluded from forest
reserves. and 3500,OOO acres of land prin-
cipally valuable for forest purposes have
been included in forest reserves. making
a reduction in forest reserves of nom
timbered land amounting to 2,15OOOo
acres"
Wants Canal Fortified.
Regarding the Panama canal. the presi-
dent asserts that unless unexpected OBJ
stacles arise the waterway will be COM
pleted we'll within time limit of Janu-
ary l. 1915, and within estimate of cost.
1915. .0OOO 900. Suggestions for levying OF
tolls and management are made, and re-
garding fertilization OF the canal. he
says:
Among questions arising for present
solution is the decision whether the canal
shall be fortified I have already stated
TO the congress that I strongly favor for
tifcation and I now reiterate this opin-
ion and ask your consideration of the
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
and which could never in any way be alb
solutely safeguarded against desperate
and irresponsible enemy
Ship Subsidy.
The president urges such action as he
believes will increase American trade
abroad. and says:
Another instrumentalfty Indispensable
to the unhampered and natural develop
ment of 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
senger and freight communication quite
so urgent as between the United States
and Latin America. We can secure in no
other quarter of the world such imme-
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 rap
idly increasing appreciation of the reci-
procal dependence of the countries of the
western hemisphere upon each others
products, sympathies and assistance.
II alluded to this most important sub
ject in my last annual message; 1t has
often been before you and need not re-
capitulate the reasons for its recommen-
dation. Unless prompt action be taken
the completion of the Panama canal will
find this the only great commercial ma