The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-08

body OF experts on river and harbor
work The President would have a com
mission to prepare a scheme for the inn
proyement Of the military establishment,
including the coordination of the army
and the National Guard.
New York Evening Post: II is a dis
appointing form which President Taft
has given his annual message 10 Con-
gress. In the first place, it is inordi-
nately long 1t can be neither generally
read, nor even printed. But the second
criticism which must be made Of the
message is more serious 1t Is not in
spring; it gives no positive lead This
will be the more depressing TO tire Pres
ident's party because in the hour Of
defeat and in a time of great confusion,
il would nave welcomed a vigorous mi
tiative, would have hailed a new watch
word
Instead of issring a call to action,
Mr.. Taft has written a tedious judicial
review. There are excellent positions
taken in it. and many sound principles
are laid down; but it is not the produc-
ton Of a born leader. scanning the polit-
ical field and seeing where broken ranks
k4l Ut lbIEifl again anu Hush NfdA I
put into discouraged men.
Dissecting out from the mass of the
Presidents recommendations and dis
cussi0ns the matters on which attention
ought to be fixed. we note with pleasure
that Mr. Taft persists in his efforts 10
bring about a thoroughly businesslike
and economical administration of pub
lie affairs. What he has done and pro
20 Ia "a eliminate Off
extravaganza, and heighten efficiency de-
serves nothing but praise and support.
New York Tribune: President Taft s
remarkable success in obtaining from
of practically all the important meas
ures he recommended leaves him in a
position 10 say with peculiar propriety
| that the laws already enacted should be
| tested in the light Of experience before
/ any further legislation along the same
| lines is attempted IF this test" he
writes, develops a need for further
| legislation, well and good, but until
/ then let as execute what we have"
Accordingly the President does not
urge upon Congress any proposals in
/ which the business Of the country will
feel such a degree OF interest as II has
! fet m the recent amendments of the
| interstate commerce act and in the vari-
Gus attempts TO amend the Sherman
antitrust act. The regulative policies
Of the administration the President re-
CARDS as -clinched." for the present al
least. and he turns away 10 less exciting
| themes--tO the subject OF conservation
/ for example. To that Of legislation re-
I Al
| simpli1catiOn OF judicial procedure
/ which Is always present 20 his mind
! and, among the foremost, 10 the neces-
sity OF economy. to which he constantly
recurs as different departments Of the
Federal government and different topics
| are discussed In this all-embracing mes
| sage.
over and over again the need o.
economy is enforced.
New York Journal Of Commerce: Pres
ident Taft's annual message is so in
terminably long and is so far devoted Z
a discursive review of the government.
foreign relations and the affairs OF tn,
I administrative departments that it pre-
sents few salient points for pertinent
comment, ana We prefer to conhne oul
attention 10 such as relate 70 the trade
interests OF the country. He says that our
foreign trade merits the best support
of the government and the most earnes
endeavOrs OF our manufacturers and mer
chants, who. If they do not already il
all cases need foreign market, are Ger
tain To become dependent upon it," bu
be displays a very limited conception O
how foreign trade is best to be promotes
and foreign markets are 10 be obtained
More satisfactory is the President
reference 10 domestic trade interests
He favors legislation which shall max
bills OF lading a safe security for bank
ing advances and punish fraud in thei
issue: and he refrains from recommend
ing any further amendment OF the inter
state commerce or antitrust statutes 20
the present. II seems 10 him, as IL la
come 10 seem 10 many others. that 9Th
existing legislation with reference to tn
regulation of corporations and the re
straint Of their business has reached
point where We can stop for a while an
witness the effect of the vigorous execu
ton of the laws On the statute books i
restraining abuses which certainly di
exist and which reused the public 10 de
mand reform