davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07
America Gets
Square Deal in
Loan for Build
ing New Rail-
road i'm China

settlement Of the terms of this loan
was one Of exact equality between
America, France. Germany and Great
Britain IN respect TO furnishing the
loan and supplying materials for the
proposed railways and their future
In the Russo-Japanese agreement
relating to Manchuria, signed July T.
1910, this government was gratified to
note an assurance Of continual peaceful
conditions IN that region.
The treaty annexing Korea to the
empire OF japan marks the final step
In a process of control of the ancient
empire by her powerful neighbor The
japanese government gave the govern
ment OF the United States assurances
OF the full protection OF the rights of
American citizens In Korea under the
The secretary of war has recently
visited japan and China in connection
with his tour to the Philippines and
large delegation of American business
men are at present travelling in China
while Chinese notables have visited
this country. This exchange OF friend
ly visits has had the effect of further
strengthening our friendly interna-
tional relations.
Latin Americs-The congressional
commission together with special
ambassador, were received with the
highest honors at the Mexican centen-
NAL, which left no doubt of the desire
Of the Immediately neighboring repub-
lie 10 continue the mutually beneficial
and intimate relations which / feel sure
the two governments will ever cherish
The action Of the United States be-
tween Peru and Ecuador, with the CO.
operation Of Brazil and the Argentine
republic, has resulted successfully in
preventing war.
Taft believes Nicaragua will soon
take its rightful place among the law
abiding and progressive countries Of
the world
IT 2ratifes me exceedingly to an
nounce that the Argentine republic
some months ago Placed with Ameri-
can. manufacturers q contract for the
construction Of two battleships and
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07
Secretary Mey-
er's Report on
Navy Yard Con-
CURED In; Rec
OgnitiOn for Pc

cheney of others
l unite with the secretary in the
recommendation that an appropriation
De maze TO construct a suitable crypt
at Annapolis for the custody of the
remains of John Paul Jones'
The success of our country in arctic
exploration should not remain un-
notlSed- The unparalleled achfevem ent
OF Peary In reaching the north pole,
April s. 1909, has added credit upon his
country. l recommend fitting recog-
milton by congress of the great achieve
ment of Robert Edwin Peary
Department Of the Interior-The sec
retary OF the interior recommends a
change OF the law in respect to the
procedure in adjudicating claims for
lands, by which appeals can be taken
from the decisions of the department.
TO the courts of appeal of the district
of Columbia for a judicial considera-
ton OF the rights of the claimant. This
would. / think, Obviate a good deal of
the litigation that now arises in our
western courts. The bill is pending. 1
believe, In the house, and 1 recommend
its enactment.
for radical reform in the methods of
disposing of what are really agricul-
tural lands.
RecIamation-The total sum already
accumulated in the fund provided by
the act for the reclamation of arid
lands is about s69.449 ,05S.76, and of this
all but S6.241,05S.76 has been allotted
to the various projects, of which there
are so.
army engineers, showing what recla-
nation projects are worthy of COM
pletion. will be covered in a Separate
message shortly.
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07
OPINIONS ON MESSAGE ARE AT VARIANCE

To the Senate and House OF represent
D1rins the last year the foreign re-
Iations Of the United States have con-
Iinued upon q basis of friendship ana
Arbffrafion-The year has been no.
table as witnessing the pacific settle
ment OF two important international
controversies before the permanent
The arbitration OF the fisheries dis
pute between the United States and
Great Britain. which has been the
source Of nearly continuous diplomatic
correspondence since the fisheries con-
vention OF 1918. has given an award
which is satisfactory TO both parties.
In view OF grave doubts which had
been raised as TO the consututionality
OF The Hague convention for the estab-
Hshment Of "a international prize court
this government proposed in an iden-
tic circular note addressed to those
powers who had taken part in the Lon
don maritime conference that there is
every reason 10 believe that the inter
national prize court viii be soon estab-
lished
Appreciating the enlightened tenden-
cies OF modern times, the congress at
its last session passed law providing
for the appointment Of a commission of
i've members to consider the expe-
diency OF utilizing internationa agen-
cies for the purpose of limiting the
armaments Of the nations of the world
by international agreement.
/ have not as yet made appointments
70 lLlS COMMISSION. because i nave III
vited and am awaiting the expressions
Of foreign governments as to their will
ingness TO cooperate with US.
Several important treaties have been
negotiated with Great Britain in the
last y months. A preliminary diplo-
matte agreement has been reached re-
garding the arbitration of pecuniary
claims which each government has
against the other. This agreement
with the schedules of claims annexed
viii. as soon as the schedules are ar
ranged, be submitted to the senate for
approval
Lfberia-The negotiations undertaken
for the amelioration of the conditions
found IN Liberia by the American COM
mission viii result within a short time
IN practical measures of relief
Turtzey-Reference is made by the
president to the accession of his majes-
" Mehemet V, emperor of the Otto
mans. and the desire of the United
) States TO contribute TO the larger eco
nomic and commercial development due
20 the new regime in Turkey.
McntenegrO-The president expresses
pleasure in having accorded recognition
of the United States to the new king
dom Of Montenegro.
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07

; One great crying
need in the United
States is cheaper
ing the cost of liti-
cation by simplify
Ing judicial proceed
ure and expediting
final judgment. I'm
der present condi-
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07
As Income Pro-.
ducing Measure.
Present Tariff
Bill Has Never
Been Exceeded


consider the operation of the existing
tariff bills, which became a law Aug
ust 6. 1909. AS an income producing
measure the existing tariff bill has
bill in the history of the country
The corporation excise tax, proper
toned to the net income of every bust
ness corporation in the country. has
worked well. The tax has been easily
collected. It's prompt payment indi-
Gates that the incidence of the tax has
The Payne Tariff Act-The schedules
of the rates of duty in the Payne tariff
act have been subjected to a great
deal of criticism, some of 1T just, more
of it unfounded, and to much inisrepre-
sentation. The act was adopted In pur-
suance of a declaration by the party
which is responsible for it that Gus
toms bill should be a tariff for the pro-
lection of home industries, the meas
ure of the protection to be the differ
ence between the cost of producing the
imported article abroad and the cost of
producing it at home. together with
such addition to that difference as
might give a reasonable profit to the
home producer. The basis for the crit
icism of this tariff is that in respect to
a number of the schedules the declared
measure was not followed. but a higher
difference retained industries and man
cism of the tariff has been directed
against the protective principle above
stated; but the main body of the criti-
the attempt to conform to the measure
of protection was not honestly and
sincerely adhered to.
Tariff Board-The time in which the
tariff was prepared undoubtedly was
so short as to make it impossible for
the congress and its experts to acquire
the information necessary strictly to
conform to the declared measure With
this in view the tariff board resulted.
The board has been diligent in prepar-
ing itself for the necessary investiga-
tion. The hope is that the question of
the rate of a duty imposed shall be-
come more of a business question and
in business and the shock to business.
due to the announcement that a ne.v
tariff bill is to be prepared will be
avoided by treating the schedules one
by one. It is not likely that the board
will be able to make report during the
present session OF congress on any of
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07
Poor Mans In
equality in the
Courts Decried
and Reforms
| Are Urged

ttons the poor man is at a woefuI dis
advantage in legal contest with a
cessity for the reform exists both in
| the United States courts and in all
| state courts.
| No man ought to have as a matter
| OF right review of his case by the
supreme court He should be satisfied
1 by one hearing before q court of first
appeals.
Appeals from the United States court
| IN Porto Rico should run to the circuit
| court of appeals of the third circuit in
stead of to the supreme court.
The American bar associations rec
concentrations have been embodied in
bills now pending in congress. The rec
concentrations are not radical but they
will accomplish much. I earnestly rec
omnend the passaget of the bills en-
bodyfng them.
urgent recommendation made in my
| last annual message in favor of the
passage of a law. which shall regulate
without notice.
Judicial salaries-I further recon-
mend E1e, to congress the passage of the
the. salaries of the federal judges, BY
which the chief justice of the supreme
court shall receive s17.5o0 and the asso-
constituting the circuit court of appeals
shall receive $4,000, and the district
judges $4,000. The cost of living is
sucn, eSpeClaiIy IN the large cities,
that even the salaries fixed in the pro-
posed bill will enable the incumbents
to accumulate little, if anything. to
support their families after their death.
Postal Savings BanksHArrangeme
have been perfected so that savings
banks will be opened in some cities and
towns on the 1st of January, and there
will be gradual extension.
Wiping Out of Postal Deficit am
glad to record the fact that of SIT. 500 :
600 estimated, $11, 100000 were saved
and returned to the treasury by the
postoffice department. The postmaster
general has been able to make his es-
Innate of expenses so low as to keep
within the amount the postal service is
expected to earn.
Classified Service-A large number of
the fourth class postmasters are now in
the classified service. / think 1t would
be wise to put in the classified service
the first, second and third class post
masters. To make this change would
take the postmasters out of politics.
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07

our foreign trade
Plea Made for merits the best
Establishment support OF the govo
| Oh dn American most earnest en-
Merchant Ma. deavor of our
} RIM manufacturers and
merchants.
Now is the time
TO secure a strong position in this
field, as manufacturers are certain soon
to become dependent upon it,
l can not leave this subject without
emphasizing the necessity of such
legislation as will make possible and
convenient the establishment OF Ameri-
can banks and branches of American
banks in foreign countries.
Another instrumentality indispens-
able to the unhampered and natural
development of American commerce is
merchant marine. All maritime and
commercial nations recognize the i'm
commercial nations, our competitors
Jealously foster their merchant marine
perhaps nowhere is the need for rapid
and direct mail, passenger and freight
communication quite so urgent as be-
tween the United States and Latin
america We can secure in no other
quarter of the world such immediate
Dement'S in friendship and commerce as
would flow from the establishment of
direct lines Of communication with the
countries of Latin America adequate TO
meet the requirements OF a rapidly
increasing appreciation of the recipro-
cal dependence of the countries of the
western hemisphere upon each others
products, sympathies and assistance
] alluded to this most important sub
Ject in my last annual MESA ge; it has
often been before you, and I need not
recapitulate the reasons for its recon
mendation- Unless prompt action be
taken the completion of the Panama
canal will find this the only great
commercial nation unable to avail it
self in international maritime business
of this great contribution to the means
of the worlds commercial intercourse.
Quite aside from the commercial
aspect, unless we create a merchant
marine where can we find the seafar-
ing population necessary as a natural
naval reserge and where could we find.
in case of war, the transports and sub
Sldlary vessels without which a naval
feet is arms without a body? For
many reasons l can not too strongly
urge upon the congress the passage of
a measure by mail subsidy or other
subvention adequate to guarastee the
establishment and rapid development
OF an American merchant marine the
ancient place upon the seas.
II becomes incumbent upon me to
repeat more emphatically than ever the
recommendation that congress shall at
once give TO the courts of the United
States Jurisdiction to punish as a crime
secured by treaty with the United
States
The marked improvement in the con-
sular service during the four years
since the principles of the civil service
act were applied to that service in a
limited way is already noticeable.
The president urges the gradual and
lomatic use, especially in the CAPITALS
of I.atin-American states and TT,,rona
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07

The proposed act
provides that no Ia
bOrer or mechanic
doing any part Of
the work cOnten-
plated by a cOntrac CT
with the United
States in the en-
plOy OF the cor
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07
CANAL FORTIFICATION
IS URGENT. NECESSITY
Unprotected Waterway Would Leave
America at Mercy of Any Enemy

ducing the cost of first class postage
to one cent.
Parcels POst-With respect to the
parcels post / respectfully recommend
its adoption on all rural delivery
routes, and that IL pounds-the inter
national limit-be made the limit of
carriage in such post, and this with a
view to its general extension when the
income of the postoffice will permit it
and the postal savings bank shall have
been fully established
Navy Department-In the last annual
report or the secretary of the navy and
IN my annual message. attention was
called TO the new detail of officers in
the navy department by which officers
o! nag rank were assigned to duty as
aldS TO the secretary in respect to
naval operations, personnel. inspection.
mendation
The secretary recommends that the
MAJOR general commandant of the
marine corps be appointed for a four
years term, and that officers of the
adJutant and inspectors department be
detailed from the line. He also asks
Tor legislation to improve the condi-
tlons now existing in the personnel of
the navy, particularly with regard to
the age and experience of flag officers
and captains, and points out that it is
essential to the highest efficiency of
the navy that the age of our officers
De reduced and that flag officers par
t1cularly, should gain proper expert
ence as flag officers in order to enable
them to properly command fleets. /
tion.
ment are S5,000,000 less than the ap-
propriations for the same purpose last
year, and included in this is the build
ing program of the same amount as
that submitted for consideration last
year. 1t is carrying out the plan Of
building two battleships a year. with
q few nRadRd anNilfar.1r rracrnIc
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07

tory should be included in another ma
tional park. 1 refer to the Grand can
yon of the Colorado
Pensions-While we should be actu-
ated by a benevolent spirit to the so1-
dier himself, care should be exercises
not to go to absurd lengths or dfs-
tribute the bounty Of the government
to classes OF persons who may, at this
late day. from q mere mercenarv mo
tive, seek to obtain some legal reIs-
ton with an old veteran now totter-
ing on the brink of the grave.
Department of AgricuIture-The ra
port Of the secretary of agricuItnre
shows the agricultural products Of this
country amount in all to $8,926. 600 ,0o1
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07

certain additional naval equipment.
Tariff NegOtiatIOns-In the case OF
several countries instances of apparent
determinations were<removed by ne
gotiations.
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07

Eight Hour Day
Law Should Be
Enlarged, but
New One Not
Necessary
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07

1t seems to me
there ought to be
legislation creating
a bureau for their
care and control.
The greatest nat
ura1 wonder Of this
country and the
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07
Changes Advo-
Gated in ReVe-
nue. Department
Through Reduc-
of Force

customs revenues, a very great I'M
provement has been effected. By the
detection of frauds in weighing sugar
upward of S3,400,000 have been recov
cred from the beneficiaries of the fraud,
the possibilities of such abuse has been
devised.
There would seem to be no reason
at an why the surveyor of the port,
who really acts for the collector
should not be a subordinate of the
collector at a less salary and directly
under his control. and there is. but
little reason for the existence of the
naval officer, who is kind of local
auditor The naval officers in the varf-
Gus ports are presidential appointees
many of them drawing good salaries,
and those offices should be abolished
or with reduced force made part of the
central auditing system
There are entirely too many customs
districts and too many customs collect
ors. These districts should be con-
Solidated and the collectors in charge
of them, who draw good salaries,
should be abolished, or treated as mere
branch offices.
AS an illustration, the cost of col
lecting one dollar of revenue at typical
was 5000. At the port of Annapolis
Nd. it cost $309.31 to collect one dollar
of revenue; at Natchez, s52.76; at Alex
andria, Va, S12249.
1t is not essential to the preventing
of smuggling that customs districts
should be increased in number The
violation OF the customs laws can De
quite as easily prevented, and much
more economically. by the revenue cut
ter service and by the use of the special
agent travelling force of the treasury
department
Very great improvements have been
made in respect to the mints and assay
Offices, and this years estimate of ex-
penses is 1926, 900 less than two years
ago There is an opportunity for fur
ther saving in the abolition of several
mints and assay offices that have now
become unnecessary.
Public Buildings method should
be devised for controlling the supply Of
public buildings. Not only are build
ings appropriated for by congress which
are not needed and buildings left un-
appropriated for by congress which are
needed; but when 1t comes to the actual
construction there has been in the past
too little study of the building plans
and sites with a view to the actual need
of the government.
Postoffice buildings have been made
monumental structures, and often To-
Gated far from the convenient and eco
nomical spot.
It seems to me that the wiser method
of preparing a public building bill
would be the preparation of a report by
a commission of government experts.
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07
Failure to Forti-
fy Canal Would.
Leave Country
Open to Any
Enemy

canal will be completed well within the
time fixed by Colonel Goethals, to wit,
January 1, 1915, and within the esti-
mate of cost. $S75, 100000.
Among questions arising for present
solution is the decision whether the
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07

; The general plan
for an army of the
United States at
peace should be
that of a skeleton
organization with
an excess of
trained officers and
thus capable of
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07

The unrestricted
manner in which
the franking privi-
lege is now being
used by the several
federal services and
by congress has
laid 1t open to
serious abuses ~
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07

The auditing SyS-
tenn in vogue is as
old as the govern
ment and the meth
DDS used are an
tiquated.
Again. in the col
lection of the reve-
-nues, especially the
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07


suit in embarrassing the executive
branch of the government. This re-
mark does not apply to the river and
harbor estimates, except to those for
expenses of maintenance, and the meet
Ing of obligations under authorized
contracts. nor does II apply to the
public building bill nor the navy build
ing program.
The final estimates for the year end
ing June 80, 1912, as they have been
sent to the treasury, on November 29
of this year, for the ordinary expenses
Of the government, including those for
PUBLIC buildings, rivers and harbors.
and the navy building program, amount
to $630,494,013. This is $52,96A.Ss7 less
than the appropriations for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1911. It is S16.-
SS3,153 less than the total estimates.
including supplemental estimates sub
mitted to congress by the treasury for
the year 1911, and is $5,574.659 less than
the original estimates submitted by the
treasury for 1911.
These figures do not include the ap-
propriations for the Panama canal, the
policy in respect to which ought to be.
and is. to spend as much each year as
can be economically and effectively ex-
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07

for this year. This amount Is larger
than that of 1909 by sSo5,O0GOOO. The
existence OF such a crop indicates
good prospect for business throughout
the country.
Forest Service have urged. as I
do again, the removal of the limitation
upon the power Of the executive to re-
serve other tracts of land in six west
ern states in which withdrawal for
this purpose is now forbidden.
I recommend suitable legislation to
enable the secretary of agriculture TO
meet the moral obligations OF the gov
ernment, where forest rangers are in
Jured or killed while performing their
duty
The Census Bureau-The secretary
believe, and / concur. that the census
will be more thorough and accurate
than any census heretOIOre taken. but
il is not perfect The motive that
prompts men with false civic pride
to induce the padding OF census re-
turns in order to increase the pOpula-
tion of a particular city has been
strong enough to lead to fraud in re-
spect to a few cities in this country.
and I have directed the attorney gen.
eral to proceed against those who are
responsible for these frauds.
Bureau of COrpOratiOns-The COM
missioner of corporations has found the
standing timber Of the United States
other than the government timber Is
held in a way which requires serious
attention. His investig cation covered an
area which contains 80 per cent OF the
privately owned timber of the country;
and report shows that half of the tim
ber In this area is owned by 200 in
dtvidualS and corporations; that IA per
cent is owned by three corporations.
and that there are other corporations
which might lead to a combination for
the maintenance of a price that would
be very detrimental to the public in
terest and would create the uecessity
of removing all tariff obstacles TO the
free importations of lumber from other
countries.
to the very serious injury caused to
all those who are enga ged in the manu-
facture OF phosphorus matches.
Matches can be made from other ma
terials entirely innOcuOus. believe
that the injurious manufacture ought
to be discouraged by the imposition OF
heavy federal tax.
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07

, The p r e S / d e n {
cOncurS in { h g
recommendation of
Secretary Of [ h g
Navy George Won L
Meyer in regard to
the abandonment of
certain navy yards
and increase in eff
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07

At the Instance
of Colonel Goethals
I have just made a
visit to the isthmus.
The progress of the
work is most salts
factory. If no un-
expected obstacle
presents itself the
~ sLr
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07

AS Tie IItdS UT Y
department is the
one through which
the income of the
government is col
lected and its ex-
penditures are dis.
bursed. this seems
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07

1t is gratifying 10
note that the nego-
tiations for a loan
to the Chinese gov
ernment for the
construction of the
trunk railway were
concluded.
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-07

Every effort has
been made to re-
duce the estimated
cost of the treasury
department for the
ensuing fiscal year
ending June 80,
1912. A cut of these
egtfr01 fQg WouId ra