The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-11
He PRAISES CONGRESS.
President Taft Says Sixty-First Was
the Best Since the War.

Atlanta, Ga, March 11.-President
Taft in a speech before the closing
session of the Southern Commercial
congress made plea to the young
men of the new south to take up the
political issues of the day from a
broad ana liberal standpoint and to
eliminate from their consideration all
narrow partisanship and sectionalism.
Come fully into our national COM
munion,' said the president, with the
patriotic purpose of stimulating the
progress of our civilization in every
right direction, maintaining our cOun-
try's prosperity and accommodating its
wealth, but always in subordination to
higher ethical standards and to the
promotion of righteousness and JUS
tice.''
The president reviewed briefly the
accomplishments of the Sixty-first
congress, declaring that in its three
sessions it had enacted more helpful
legislation than any congress since
the Civil war. Mr.. Taft asserted that
the greatest accomplishment of the
short session ended March 4, was the
ratification of the Japanese treaty. The
greatest disappointment, he said, was
reciprocity agreement with Canada.
In this connection he referred to his
action in calling an extra session of
congress to convene on April 4.
"My opinion Is" said Mr.. Taft, that
majority of both houses, disregard
ing party lines, will secure so great a
national opportunity and promptly
ratify the agreement before proceed
ing to other business
Here the president paused for a mo-
ment. Evidently he turned over in his
mind the Democratic statement that
several of the tariff schedules would
be considered at the extra session.
If he added, significantly, sit be
l1@, - xr-sc - c-JslT~ 4
to other business
Perhaps unconsciously the president
uttered the hope that the Democrats
of the new house might not deem it
than the ratification of the Canadian
agreement. How far his influence in
that direction will carry weight re-
mains to be seen.
He Gives a Promise.
In the hope, perhaps, that tariff leg
islation may be avoided at the extra
session. the president pledged himself
regular meeting in December a report
from the tariff commission on sched
ule "K' of the Payne-A1drich act
of the wool and woolens schedule.
The president referred to his recent
action in appointing former Repre-
sentative William NJ. Howard of
Georgia and Prof. Thomas w. Page of
the University of Virginia, as the
Democratic members of the temporary
tariff board. He said the sundry civil
bill carrying the appropriation for the
temporary tariff board provided that
the board should devote itself to the
wool and woolens schedule sched-
ule that has not been changed for 80
years and make a report by Deem
Der 1
'I have directed the tariff board"
said the president, ITO make similar
investigation of schedule X and
hope to be able to submit the results
of that investigation on the date men
toned in the act
With regard to ratification of the
Japanese treaty, President Taft said:
1T insures the continued friendship
of most progressive and powerful
have been. intimately connected since
Commodore Perry opened her ports l
greatly rejoice that the cloud OF IN
certainty which hung over the settle
ment of this question upon terms COM
pletely satisfactory to both countries,
has now been removed"
Referring again to the subject of
Canadian reciprocity, the president
said it was one in which the south
as vegetables and cotton seed oil are
both put on the free list by the re-
moval of the rather heavy duties on
both.
But" said the president, 81 don't
ask your support on the ground OF
any local advantage. I do it because
regard the treaty, if adopted, as the
beginning of a new relation between
our rapidly growing neighbor on the
inure to the benefit of both.