The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-06
SUMMARY OF DOCUMENT.

s
Washington. Dec. demanding the
restoration of the American flag to-
it's ancient place upon the seas. Presi-
dent William H. Taft, In his annua.
message delivered to congress today
urged strongly that legislation be en-.
acted to establish ship subsidy or
otherwise guarantee the establish
ment of a rapid development OF mer-
chant marine in this country.
Aside from eager appeals fof the en-.
largement of the regular army: re-
construction OF American court pro
cedure and the prohibition Of traffic
through the Panama Canal Of ships
owned by Interstate railroads the mes
sage might be summed up In the fol-
lowing trinity:
National economy. the enlargement
of opportunities for foreign trade and
the strengthening OF confidence Of
capital and domestic investment. The
entire message Is a safe and. sane"
document, strong In It's conservatism.
For Merchant Marine.
The Presidents most urgent recon-
mendation Is In favor OF legislation
for the institution of mercantile
marine service and possibilities for
its expansion before the Panama canal
is finished and one paragraph OF the
speech in this connection reads:
II alluded to this most important
subject in my last annual message
-. Unless prompt action be TAX
en- the completion of the Panama canal
will find this the only great CONNER
cial nation unable to avail in internar
tional marine business of this contri-
button. to the means Of the worlds
commercial intercourse: Where could
we find in case Of war the transports
and subsidiary vessels. without which
naval fleet is arms without body!
For many reasons cannot urge too
strongly upon this &C the pass
age of a measure by mail subsidy or
other Intervention to develop the
American marine"
/ Next In the rank OF importance and
urged only a little less strongly than
the plea for merchant marine is tho
demand that the trained fighting force
of the United States be increased by
missioned officers and through closer
cooperation between the National
lGanrds OF the various States and the
Regular standing army.
Fortify Panama Canal.
The President urges the fortificA-
Ition OF the Panama canal declaring
that America is building 1t and that
la ChN
Itect it. Mr.. Taft is anxious that the
lcanal become paying enterprise.
Suggesting that the toll Of one dollar
Iper net ton be charged ships passing
Through.
| However, he adds that this Is the on
lily tentative. He says that rats
I, should be established which would re-
turn fair profit upon the investment
of 800 600. 900.
President Taft takes a strong stand
lin the matter OF disposing Of public
LANDS bearing coal. urging that the
government not sell these valuable
mineral tracts but lease portions OF
1.-THE public domain containing 1.000.-
O00, ,000, 900 tons OF coal. Mr.. Taft de-
clares in favor of making $500 acres
the maximum. He frankly admits that
iSecretary Bailinger OF the Interior OPP
poses this plan; having set forth bis
objections in his annual report.
The President believes that Con-
gress ought to prohibit interstate COM
Imerce railroads from owning or com
trolling ships doing a business through
1.-The canal, such course being urged
to save the people of the United
States the benefit of legitimate com
petition This enactment must come
4 sooner or later, the President points
" Proud, Of Econeml1S.
The President points 0nt with pride
tContInued on Fs8e Twelxel
se