The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-12-14
ECONOMY IS URGED
IN TAFT MESSAGE
PRESIDENT POINTS OUT NECES-
SITY OF cURTA!LING ExPEN-
SEES TO LAWMAKERS.
ANNUAL DOCUMENT IS READ
Conservation, Ship Subsidy and For
= LITIGATION of Panama Canal Lead
ing Topics Discussed-Has
Little to Say About Tariff.

Washington, Dec. ECONOMY in
government affairs is the keynote or
President Taft'S annual message read
before both houses of congress today.
The message approXiTates 4O'OVo
words and is one OF the longest ever
submitted by a president.
Conservation of the public domain,
ship subsidy, fortifcation 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
lettering 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 81,
1912. I say this in or''er that congress
may understand that th> sc estimates thus
IldQe present tie SIlldllCS sum AZ "'f
maintain the departments, bureaus and
offices Of the government and meet It's
othsr obligations under existing law, n
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
ICED contracts. nor does it 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
$40. 494. 0l3. II. we have estimated receipts
70. next year $3.50. ono. 900, making a proba-
BILE surplus of ordirn-y receipts over or
binary expenditures of about 50.noo.Oo0 or
taking into account the estimates for the
Panama canal. which are s5S.92 l,Si,.C9. and
which will ultimately be paid in bonds.
1t will leave a deficit for the next year CT
about SI,CC0. 900, IL congress shall conclude
to fortify the canal"
Wants Forest Limitation Removed.
On the subject OF conservation he de-
votes COTSlitItpIe SDiCe " wal
oil and gas. phosphate lands and water
power sites. AS. to the reservation Of
forest lands he says: 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-. ! am informed by the
department of agriculture that the gov
eminent owns other tracts OF timber land
in these states which should be included
l. &l~ f~.A& Nra~ pNn~1 ".
congress , that the limitation herein i'm
posed be repealed.
Congress ought to trust the executive
to use the power Of reservation only with
respect to land most valuable for forest
purposes. During the present administra-
ton. GO. go. 900 acres of and largely nom
timbered have been excluded from forest
reserves. and 3.5oo.G Coo acres Of land prin-
cipally valuable for forest purposes nav
been included in forest reserves. making
a reduction in forest reserves Of nom
timbered land amounting to 2.I5G.0Go
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-
arv L. 1915. and within estimate of cost.
S375. 900. 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
atnsshs congress that I strongly favor for
tlfication and I now re't"r2te this opin-
ion and ask your consideration Of the
subject in the light Of the report already
before Won made nv a cOrnnateOf hoorJ
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 abb
solutely safegrarded against a desperate
and irresponsible enemv."
Ship Subsidy.
The president urges such action as he
believes will increase American trade
abroad. and says:
Another fundamentally Indispensable
to the ~unhampered and natural develop
ment Of American is merchant
marine. All maritime and commercial! na-
tons recognize the Importance of his
factor. The greatest commercial nations.
our competitors. ieal0usly 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-
date 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 q rap
Idly increasing appreciation Of the reci-
procal dependence of the countries of the
western hemisphere unon each others
products. sympathics and assistance.
II alluded to this most important sub
Ject In my last annual message: il has
often been before YOU and I need not re-
capitulate the reasons for Its
dalton. Unless prompt action be taken
the completion Of the Panama canal will
find this the only great commercial ma