The Washington times., 1911-12-21
DOCUMENT. SENT TO !
CONGRESS. CONTAINS
MANY SUGGESTIONS
Recomnpl Made for
Mary, Departments and
for Panama Canal.
CONTINUED from First pase.)

d
with the President. certainly until 1t
can be determined by experience what
b an equitable toll to charge He does
made free. %
The President does urge, however.
that American ships be given the free
use Of the canal by a system of remit
ting. in the form of a subsidy, all
charges collected. He points out that
the canal was built by American money
and that American business interests
should be given an advantage In the
use OF the waterway.
Rivers and Harbors. !.
In discussing river and harbor i'm
provements under the War Department,
the President urges, Il t those projects
nov started efcoTnp ted before any
new improvements arr appropriated for.
The fact that the Postoffice Depart
mont 10 now on Z paying basis is COM
mended to Congress, and in this con-
nection thd President asks. for an in
itial appE iation for a parcels post.
He says {, time has come to try out
such f&tsity and that $4,000 is need
Cd to Coz the expense Of experiment
1u0 Will ku0 pO6l Oh AoutCo.
In taking up naval affairs. the Pres
dent concurs in Secretary Meyers plan
for the abolition Of the smaller navy
yards and in the scheme for the ANAL
gamation of the stan corps with the
line. He Also says that the bill estab-
fishing q council of national defense
should be passed by Congress.
IN concluding his message the Presi-
dent again urges that all collectors of
internal revenue. collectors Of customs,
postmasters of all four classes, immigra-
Hon commissioners, and marshals should
be placed under the civil service. He
|06ys that. at present much of the time
OF a President Is taken up in distribut-
ing patronage. In this connection the
President says: IS A.
sThis plan would take away the
power to use the patronage Of the Gov
eminent for political purposes. When
6fficer3 are recommended by Senators
aad Congressman from political motive
and for political services rendered. it
u Impossible to expect that while In Of
NC the appointees will not regard their
tenure as more or less dependent upon
continued political service for their pa
irons. and no regulations, however still
q rigid. will prevent this.'' ,..
To-the Senate and House OF Represen-
tatives: 5" ~
Tho financial condition Of the Govern
ment, as shown at, the close Of the last
1scal veal: June g: 1911. was very salts As
factory. The ordinary receipts into the
general fund, excluding postal revenues
Asnounted to S701, 372. 37499. and the dis
burBements from the general fund for
current expenses and capital OUTLAWS
AA--@ AL. - t,
bursements. including the interest on
the public debt, amounted to $654. 49,
s07.s9. leaving a surplus Of 81, 234,S7710.
A calculation of the actual increase in
the expenses of Government arising
the general expansion of Governmental
functions, except those of the Post
office. for q number Of years shows a
normal increase Of about per cent a
year. BY directing the exercise of
and the estimates we have succeeded in
reducing the total disbursements each
year. T.. 3, e."
Credit of. the United States.
The credit Of this Government was
shown to be better than that of any
other Government by the. sale of. the
Panama Canal s per cent bonds. These
bo3,ds did not give their owners the priv
iiege Of using them as basis for bank
ndte circulation. nor was there any
other privilege extended to them which
WOULD affect their general market value.
T1eir sale. therefore, measured the
credit OF the Government. Tho premium
which was realized upon the bonds
made the actual interest rate of the
transaction 2,sos, per- cent. -.
VS. Monetary Reform. - 49,
"A matter Of first Importance that will
come before Congress for action at this
session is monetary reform. The Con-
gress has itself arranged an early intro
duction Of this great question through
the report Of its monetary commission.
This commission was appointed to
recommend a solution Of the banking
and currency problems so long con-
fronting the nation, and to furnish the
facts and data necessary to enable the
Congress to take action. The commits
sicu Wac appointed when an impressive
ana urgent popular demand for ,legisla-
tive relief suddenly arose out OF the
dietressink situation of the people
caused by the deplorable panic of 1907.
The Congress- decided that while 1t
could not give Immediately the relief
required, It would provide q commission
to furnish the means for prompt action
at q later date, -,.f-,..
In order to do its work with thorough
ness and precision this commission has
taken some time to make its report. The
country Is undoubtedly hoping for as
prompt action on the report as the con-
venience of the Congress can permit.
The recognition of the gross Imperfect
tions and marked inadequacy of our
banking and currency system even In
our most quiet financial periods is of
long standing; and later there has ma
tured a recognition of the fact that our
system Is responsible for the extraordi-
nary devastation. waste, and business
paralysis OF our recurring periods of
panic. Though the members of the
Monetary Commission have for a con-
siderable time been working In the open,
and while large numbers of the people
have been openly working with them,
and. while the press has largely noted
and discussed this work as IT has pro-
ceeded. so that the report OF the COM
mission promises to represent a ma
tional movement, the details of the re-
port are still. being considered I can
not. therefore. do much more at this
time than commend the immense import
ance OF monetary reform, urge prompt
consideration and action when the COM
missions report Is received, and ex-
press my satisfaction that the plan to
be proposed promises to embrace main
features that, having met the approval
NJ la % ha