The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-12-14
TAFT'S MESSAGE
up TO CONGRESS
President Breaks Record foI
Length Of Document
DEFENDS PAYNE TARIFF ACT

S~vs"9O o01SNS SoS Nv SOV
servation-Asks for Raise Of Ju
dicial saiaries-Recommendation fol
Fitting Honor for Peary.
Washington, Dec. 6.-The president
sent the following message to con-
gress today:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
During the past year the foreign
relations of the United States have
continued upon a basis of friendship
and good understanding.
The year has been notable as wit
Messing the pacific settlement of two
important international controversies
before the permanent court of The
Hague.
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.
Heace commission.
Approaching these enlightened ten
6encies of modern times, the congress
at its last session passed a law provid-
ing for the appointment of a commits
sion of five members Ito be appointed
by the president of the United States
to consider the expediency Of utilizing
existing international agencies for the
purpose of limiting the ornaments of
the nations of the world by interna-
tional agreement and of constituting
the combined navies Of the world an
international force for the preserva-
fion of universal peace and to consider
and report upon any other means to
diminish the expenditures of govern
ment for military purposes and to
lessen the probabilities of war"
The work of the international fish
cries commission appointed in 1908,
under the treaty of April II. 1908, be-
tween Great Britain and the United
States, has resulted in the formula.
ton and recommendation of uniform
regulations governing the fisheries of
the boundary waters of Canada and
the United States for the purpose of
protecting and increasing the supply
OF food fish in such waters.
The Far East.
The center of interest in Far East
ern affairs during the past year has
again been China.
1t 10 gratifying to note that the ne
gotiations for a loan to the Chinese
government for the construction of
the trunk railway lines from Hankow
southwark to Canton and westward
through the Yangtse valley. known as
the Hukuang loan, were concluded by
the representatives of the various
financial groups in May last and the
approved by their respective
governments.
Tariff Negotiations.
The new tariff law in section 2 re-
1pecting the maximum and minimum
tariffs of the United States, which pro- |
visions came into effect on April !,
1910, imposed upon the president the
responsibility Of determining prior 10
that date whether or not any undue
discrimination existed against the
States and its products in any
country of the world with which we
commercial relations.
The policy of broader and closer
trade relations with the Dominion of
Canada, which was initiated in the
adjustment 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
ctal relations of the two countries so
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.
The Department Of State.
All tariff negotiations, so vital to
our m and industry, and the
duty of jealousy guarding the eouita.
BILE and just treatment of II products.
capital and industry abroad devolve
upon the department of state.
Inc ellOttS VI ludt department 10
secure for citizens of the United States
equal opportunities in the markets OF
the world and to expand American
commerce have been most successful.
The volume of business obtained in
new fields of competition and upon
new lines is already very great, and
congress is urged to continue to sup.
port the department of state in its en-.
deavors for further trade expansion.
An instrumentality indispensable to
the unhampered and natural develop.
ment of American commerce is mer.
chant marine. All maritime and com.
mercial nations recognize the impor.
lance of this factor. The greatest
nations, our competitors,
jealously foster their merchant marine.
l alluded to this most important
in my last annual message. 1t
has often been before you, and need
aot recapitulate the reasons for its