New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
Permanent Tariff Commission and Revision
Schedule by Schedule-Panama
Canal Fortihcation.
ECONOMY IN ADMINISTRATION
Legislation to Regulate Corporations to Stop Until Effect
Of Enforcement of Present Laws Is known-En-
couragemeDt of Capital in Domestic Industries

wzshjruton. Dec 6.-President Taft's :
MESSAGE read to both houses of Con-
or.ss to-day IS as follows
TO The Senate and House of Representa-
tives:
During the last year the foreign relations
cr the United States have continued upon
basis OF friendship and good understanding
Arbitration
The YEAR has been notable as Witnessing
the pacific settlement Of TWO important
fr+e-na tional controversies before the Per-
-7,anent Court Of The Hague.
The arbitration Of the fisheries dispute be
--z-aau the United States and Great Britain.
7-bfoh has been the source OF nearly con-
-i-luoUs diplornatic correspondence since the
Fisheries Convention of 1875 has given an
award which is satisfactory to both parties
This arbitration is particularly noteworthy
-,or only because of the enlinently just re
suits secured. but also because It Is the
e-st arbitration held under the general ar
birration treaty Of April I, 1908. between
--e United States and Great Britain, and
eis0oses OF d controversy the settlement OF
which has resisted every other source OF
5i-Iornacy and which for nearly ninety
Years mas been the cause Of friction be-
tween two countries whose common in
-4rest lies in maintaining the most friendly
ard cordial relations with each other.
The United States was ably represented
before the tribunal The complicated his
tor of the questions arising made the
issue depend more than ordinarily in such
cases upon the care and skill with which
our case was presented. and should be
waning IN proper recognition of great
r.s--5oric service If 7 did not refer to the
lucid historical analysis OF the facts and
re signal ability and force Of argument
~ days in Iength-presented 70 the court
n support Of cur case by Mr. Elihu Root
as Secretary OF State Mr. Root had given
close study to the intricate facts bearing
on the controversy and by diplomatic cor
resQondence had helped 70 frame the issues
Al the solicitation Of the Secretary Of State
and myself. Mr. Root. though hurdened by
his duties as Senator from New York.
undertook the preparation of the case as
leading counsel with the condition in
posed by himself that n view Of his posi-
ton as Senator he should not receive any (
compensation
The tribunal constituted al The Hague by /
-ae governments of the United States and
Venezuela has completed its deliberations, .
and has rendered an award in the case Of
tho crinoco Steamship Company against :
Venezuela The award may be regarded as
satisfactory since it has. pursuant TO the
contentious Of the United States, recos-
r7ized q number Of important principles
making for judicial attitude in the deter
mining of international disputes.
international Prize Court
Tn view of grave doubts which had been
raised as - tho constitutionality Of the
Hague Convention ror the establishment
of Al International prize court. now before
the Senate for ratification. because OF that
provision Of the convention which provides /
that there may be an appeal TO the pro-
posed court from the decisions OF national
courts. this government proposed in an
.dentic circular note addressed TO those
powers VINO had taken part in the London
Maritime Conference. that the powers
=fgratorv 70 the convention, II confronted
with such difficulty. might insert a reser-
walton to the effect that appeals 10 the'I
International prize court IN respect 70 de-
cisions OF its national tribunals should take
the form Of direct claim for cOmpensa-
ton. that the proceedings thereupon 10 be |
taken should be in the form Of trial de
novo and that Judgment Of the court
should consist or compensation for the
:lIegaI capture. Irrespective Of the decision
- the national court whose judgment had 1
f-ls been internationally involved As the
result Of an Informal discussion it was de
Cided II provide such procedure by means
os ? separate protocol which should be
ratihed al The same time as the prize court
convention itself
Accordingly, the government Of the Meth /
erlands a. tI7e request Of this government, /
proposed under date Of Nay q. 1910, TO
tie powers signatorv Il the Hague Con- /
v~ntion the negotiation Of supplemental
TrctocoI embodying stipuiati0ns providing
tor this alternative procedure It is graft /
f~fuE 70 observe that this additional pro-
tocoI Is being signed without objection by
the powers sigratorv to the original con /
vention- and that there Is every reason 70 /
believe that the International prize court /
vii be soon established
The identic circular note also proposed /
that TIE International prize court when
established should be endowed with the
functions Of an ArbirraI Court Of Justice
rgnder and pursuant 70 the recoulrnendation +
adopted by the last Hague Conference I
le replies received from the various /
powers to Jhis proposal inspire the hope /
f7sr this also may be accomplished within l
she reasonably near future
II Is believed that the establishment Of /
these two tribunals ViIl 20 long way 1
+0wsrd securing the arbitration of many /
questions uhicb haze heretofore threatened /
and. ~ times destroyed the peace Of na-
tiorz.