The Harrison times., 1911-02-11

congress, President Taft reviews at
length the business of the year in the
various departments Of the national
government. The settlement of the
fishries dispute with England through
the Hague tribunal comes in for a
considerable share Of the president S
attention. The history Of the fisheries
dispute and the establishment Of the
tribunal are comprehensively review
ed.
The president gives a resume of the
foreign relations of the government
which are declared to be in a satisfac,
tory condition.
Tariff Negotiations.
Referring to the negotiation of new
tariff agreements President Taft
says:
THE new tariff law, in Section O.
respecting the maximum and mini.
mum tariffs Of the United States,
which provisions came into effect on
April l, 1910, imposed upon us re,
sponsibility of determining prior to
that date whether any undue discrim.
ination existed against the United
States and its products in any coun-
try Of the world with which we sus-
Gained commercial relations.
In the case Of several countries in
stances Of apparent undue discrimina-
ton against American commerce were
found to exist. These determinations
were removed by negotiation. Prior
to April /, 1910, when the maximum
tariff was to come into operation with
respect to importations from all those
countries In whose favor no proclama-
ton applying the minimum tariff
should be issued by the president, one
hundred and thirty-four such procla.
nations were issued
This series Of proclamations en-
braced the entire commercial world
and hence the minimum tariff Of the
United States has been given univer.
sal application, thus test1fying to the
satisfactory character Of our trade
relations with foreign countries.
Marked advantages to the COM
merce Of the United States were OBJ.
tained through these tariff settle
mentB-
The Holicy Of broader and closer
trade relations with the Dominion OF
Canada which was initiated in the ad-
tustment Of the maximum and mini.
mum provisions of the tariff act of
August, 1909, has proved mutually
beneficial 1t 1ustitles further efforts
for The readjustment Of the CONNER.
ci>t relations of the two countries so
that their commerce may follow the
channels natural TO contiguous coun-
tries and be commensurate with the
steady expansion of trade and indus
try on both sides Of the boundary
line"
Ship Subsidy.
The president urges such action an
he believes will increase American
trade abroad, and says.
Another instrumentality indispen-
sable TO the unhamapered and natural
development Of American commerce Is
merchant marine. All maritime and
commercial nations recognize tho i'm
portance of this factor. The greatest
commercial nations, our competitors,
jealousy foster their merchant ma
rine. Perhaps nowhere Is the need
for rapid and direct mail, passenger
and freight communication quite so
urgent as between the United States
and Latin America. We can secure
IN no other quarter Of the world such
immediate benefits in friendship and
commerce as would flow from the es-
tablishment OF direct lines of com.
municatjon with the countries of
Latin America adequate to meet the
requirements Of rapidly increasing
appreciation Of tho reciprocal depen-
dence Of the countries Of the western
hemisphere upon each others prod.
ucts, sympathies and assistance.
81 alluded to this most important
subject in my last annual message; It
has often been before you and | need
not recapitulate the reasons for It's
recommendation Unless prompt ac-
tion be taken the completion Of the
Panama canal will find this the only
great commercial nation unable TO
avail In international maritime busi-
ness OF this great contribution to the
means Of the worlds commercial in.
tercourse."
Governmental Expense.
To no one subject does he devote
more space than to the expense Of
conducting the various government
departments and the urgent need for
economy, and In this connection he
says:
Every effort has been made by