Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-07

tion of their effect upon trade show
that each government maintains an OF
flee or bureau. the officers and en-
ployecs Of which have made their life
work the study of tariff matters, of
foreign and home prices and cost of
articles imported and the effect of the
tariff upon trade. so that whenever q
change is thought to be necessary in
the tariff law this office is the source
of the most reliable information rs to
the rropriety of the change and its eff
feet.
| am strongly convinced that we
need in this government just such an
office and that it can be secured by
making the tariff board already ap-
pointed permanent tariff commission,
with such duties. powers and enolu-
ments as it may seem wise to congress
to give. 1t has been proposed to en-
large the board from three to five. The
present number is convenient, but
10 not know that an increase of two
members would be Objectionable.
tilIt tpIlSSI cSS 20 lNlpiloh
Il commission TO determine as early as
practicable Il comprehensive policy for
the organization. mobilization and adj
ministration OF the regular army, the
organized militia and the volunteer
forces in the event OF war.
Need For Additional Officers.
One of the great difficulties in the
prompt organization and mobilization
of militia and volunteer forces is the
absence of competent officers of the
rank of captain to teach the new army,
by the unit of the company, the-busi-
ness of being soldiers and of taking
care of themselves so as TO render eff
fective service. This need of army
officers can only be supplied by pro-
visions of law authorizing the appoint
ment OF Il greater number of army Of
iccrS than are needed 10 supply the
commands of regular army troops now
enlisted in the service.
In order that tho militia of each
state should Ire properly drilled and
made more like the regular army, reg
ular army officers should be detailed
to assist the adiutant general Of each
state in the supervision of the state
militia. But this is impossible unless
provisielt is made by congress for q
very Cf' siderable increase in the num-
Der OF company and field officers of
the army.
Fortifications.
l have directed that the estimates
for appropriation for the Improvement
Of coast dcfcnseS in the United States
should be reduced to II minimum,
while those for the completion of the
needed Notifications ut Corrcgidor, in
the Philippine Islands, and at Pearl
Harbor. in the Hawaiian Islands,
should be expedited as much as posi-
BILE.
Philippine Islands.
During the last summer at my re-
quest the secretary of war visited the
Philippine Islands and has described
his trip in his report He found the
Islands IN 4 state of tranquility and
growing prosperity. due largely to the
1iit'isSN III ttiG NAlCu LAS
opened the markets Of America to the
products of In" Philippines and has
opened the Philippine markets to
American manufactures.
Panama Canal.
At the instance of Colonel Goethals.
the army engineer officer in charge Of
the work Oh The Panama canal, I have
just made visit to the isthmus to in
spect the work done and to consult
with him on the ground as to certain
problems which are likely to arise in
the near future. The progress of the
work Is most satisfactory If no I'M
expected obstacle presents itself the
canal viii be completed well within the
time fixed hy Colonel Goethals-to wit.
Jan. l, l91---and within the estimate
of cost, $3&75.090.ogO.
Among questions arising for<present
solution Is the decision whether the
canal shall he fortified l have already
stated to the congress that strongly
IavoF fertilization, and I now reiterate
thssop;iHon and. ask your consideration