Semi-weekly herald., 1910-12-08
Presidents Message
Deals With Many
Important Matters

which was presented to congress at
noon today. The president in the care.
fully prepared document impresses
upon the nations lawmakers the ne
oessity for careful and conscientious
work during the scant three months
remaining of Republican supremacy in
the house. The message runs great
length, over thirty thousand words.
Two portions of Mr. Taft's recon-
mendations were listened to in the
senate and the house with the great
est interest were those relating to tar
iff reform and to the conservation oil
natural resources. His demands for
strict economy in administration also
evidently made deep impression upon
the Legislators.
President Taft after making par
tial defense of the Payne tariff act,
launches into a plea for the continua-
ton of the tariff board. The message
urges congress to enforce antitrust
laws now on the statute books instead
of passing new ones. He demands
strict economy in administration. Sug-
gests subsidy to encourage American
shipping. Asks congress to make a
taIiff hoard permanent and await its
report before attempting revision. Rec
onmends fertilization of the Panama
canal. Deplores pork barrel" meth
oGs in appropriations. Urges estab-
lishment of banking and currency sys-
TEN Wants the government to lease
coal. phosphate and oil lands and wa
ter power sites. Suggests cheapening
and simplifying OF litigation in courts.
Demands vigorous prosecution Of
census padders.
In presenting the subject OF con
servation the chief executive reiter
ates the principles laid down in his
address at st. Paul last September
lie declares in favor of the leasing
system in disposlng of government
owned coal, phosphate and oil lands
and power sites. After outlining need
Of reforming the present statutes. Mr..
Taft recommends:
''First-That limitation now imposed
upon the executive which forbids him
reserving more forest lands in Oregon,
Washington. Idaho. Montana, Colorado
ard Wyoming be repealed.
Second-That coal deposits of gov
ernment be leased, after advertising
inviting competitive bids, for terms
not exceeding fifty years with min
iuium rental and royalties upon coal
mined to be readjusted every ten or
twelve years
Third-That the law should provide
the same separation in respect to gov
ernment phosphate lands of surface
and mineral rights that now obtains
in coal lands and that power to lease
such lands upon terms and limitations
similar to those above recommended
for coal leases with an added con
dition enabling the government to reg
ulate and If need he to prohibit ex-
rort to foreign countries of product.
Fourth--That the laws should allow
\ prospector for oil or gas to have
the right to prospect for two years
over certain tract of land, right 10
be evidenced by license for which he
snail pay small sum; and that upon
discovery lease may be granted upon
terms Sc curing minimum rental and
also conduct of the oil or gas will be
In accord with best method for hns-
banding the supply of oil in the dis
uict.
Fdth-That water power sites be ii
reetly leased by federal government
sfter advertisement and bidding fof
not exceeding fifty years upon prope
rental, and with a condition hxin
iates charged to the public for units
OF electric power, both rental and
rates to be readjusted every ten years
by arbitration or otherwise, with suit
able provisions against assignment to
prevent monopolistic combinations OF
Sr-t.-law shall provide upon applica
tion made by the authorities OF the
state on condition that the state shall
dispose of 1t under terms like those
Just described and shall enforce those
terms or upon failure to comply with
the condition the water power site and
all the plant and improvement on the
site shall be forfeited and revert tC
the United States. the president beinl
given power to declare the forfeitur,
and to direct legal proceedings for III
enforcement. Either of these meth
eds. would, / think. accomplish thu
proper public purpose in respect Il
water power sites but one or the othe
should be promptly adopted"
Ii will be observed that the presi
dent fails to make specific choice be
tween state and federal control o
water power sites.
THE message appears on pages
and of this issue)
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