The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-12-08

Washington, Dec. Elm the longest
document of its kind ever sent to
congress, President Taft reviews at
length the business of the year in the
various departments of the national
government. The settlement of the
fishries dispute with England through
the Hague tribunal comes in for a
considerable share of the PRESIDENT g
attention. The history of the fisheries
dispute and the establishment of the
tribunal are comprehensively review.
ed.
The president gives a resume of the
foreign relations of the government,
which are declared to be in satisfac-
tory condition.
Tariff Negotiations.
Referring to the negotiation of new
tariff agreements President Taft
says
"The new tariff law, in Section 2,
respecting the maximum and mini
mum tariffs of the United States,
which provisions came into effect on
April 1, 1910, imposed upon us re-
sponsibility of determining prior to
that date whether any undue discrim-
nation existed against the United
States and it's products in any coun-
try Of the world with which we sus-
tained commercial relations.
I'm the case of several countries in
stances of apparent undue discrimina-
ton against American commerce were
found to exist. These determinations
were removed by negotiation. Prior
to April ], 1910, when the maximum
tariff was to come into operation with
respect to importations from all those
countries in whose favor no proclama.
ton applying the minimum tariff
should be issued by the president, one
hundred and thirty-four such procla.
Wations were issued.
This series of proclamations, en-
braceG the entire commercial world
and hence the minimum tariff of the
United States has been given univer.
sal application, thus testifying to the
satisfactory character of our trade
relations with foreign countries.
Marked advantages to the com.
merce of the United States were OBJ
tained through these tariff settle.
nents.
'"The policy Of broader and closer
trade relations with the Dominion OF
Canada which was initiated in the adj
Iustm cent of the maximum and mini
mum provisions of the tariff act OF
August, 1909, has proved mutually
beneficial. 1t justifies further efforts
for the readjustment of the CONNER
cial relations of the two countries SC
that their commerce may follow the
channels natural to contiguous coun
tries and be commensurate with the
steady expansion of trade and indus
try on both sides of the boundary
line"
Ship Subsidy.
The president urges such action as
he believes will increase American
&ade abroad, and says:
Another instrumentality indispen
sable to the unhamapered and natura
development of American commerce il
merchant marine. All maritime anC
commercial nations recognize the i'm
portance of this factor. The greates
commercial nations, our competitors
jealously foster their merchant ma
rine. Perhaps nowhere is the neeC
for rapid and direct mail, passenger
and freight communication quite 81
urgent as between the United State,
and Latin America. We can secur,
in no other quarter of the world sucl
immediate benefits in friendship ant
commerce as would flow from the es
tablishment of direct lines of com
munication with the countries O
Latin America adequate to meet tn,
requirements of rapidly increasin,
appreciation of the reciprocal depen
dence of the countries of the western
hemisphere upon each others prod
ucts, sympathies and assistance.
81 alluded to this most importan
subject In my last annual message; /
has often been before you and neet
not recapitulate the reasons for it
recommendation. Unless prompt &C
ton be taken the completion of tn,
Panama canal will find this the onl
great commercial nation unable t.
avail in international maritime bus
ness of this. great contribution to tn
means of the worlds commercial II
tercourse"
Governmental Expense.
To no one subject does he devot
more space than to the expense @
conducting the various government
departments and the urgent need 70
economy, and in this connection h
says:
Every effort has been made
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