Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1912-12-13
CONGRESS HEARS
SECOND MESSAGE
president Tells of Treasury and
Army Affairs.
PHILIPPINES ARE INCLUDED
9iii for Natives Independence De-
nounced as Premature-Proaress
of Panama Canal.

of Panama Canal.
Washington, Dec. 6-Congrsss today re-
ceived from President Taft the second OF
MS messages to the short session. It
ueais with fiscal military insular and
Juolclal affairs and in part is as follows:
Inc condition of the country with ref
srence TO business could hardly be better
w ME the four years of the administra-
non now drawing to close have not de-
Veloped great speculative expansion or a
wide field of new investment. the recoy-
cry and progress made from the depress-
ing conditions following the panic of 1907
nave been steady and the improvement
mas been clear and easily traced In the
statistics. The business of the country is
now on solid basis. Credits are not
unduly extended and every phase of the
situation seems in state of prepared
ness for a period of unexampled prosper
ity. Manufacturing concerns are running
at their full capacity and the demand for
Iaoor was never so constant and growing.
The foreign trade Of the country for this
year will exceed $4,000, 600 900, while the
balance in our favor-that, of the excess
or exports over imports-will exceed $780,
100000. More than half our exports are
manufactures or partly manufactured
material, while our exports of farm pro-
ducts do not show the same increase Of
domestic consumption. 1t Is year Of
bumper crops: the total money value Of
farm products will exceed SO, SOC, 900, 900. 1t
is year when the bushel or unit price
of agricultural products has gradually
fallen, and yet the total value of the en-
tire crop Is greater by over $1,000, 000,O 900
than we have known in our history.
Condition of the Treasury.
The condition of the treasury is very
satisfactory. The total interest bearing
debt is 1868. IT. no, of which s134, 631 $50 con-
stiute the Panama canal loan. The nom
interest-bearng debt is 1878 301. 2S490. In
Guiding $346, ST. 016 Of greenbacks. We have
in the treasury $3.50. 900 in gold coin as
a reserve against the outstanding green
backs; and in addition we have cash
balance in the treasury as a general FUND
of $167, 152 ATS. so, or an increase of $685.
652 over the general fund last year.
Receipts and Expenditures.
For three years the expenditures Of the
government have decreased under the in
fuence of effort to economic. This
year presents an apparent exception The
estimate by the secretary of the treasury
OF the ordinary receipts, exclusive or pos
tai revenues, for the year ending June
80, 1914. indicates that they will amount
to $4,000, 900. The sum of the estimates
of the expenditures for that same year,
exclusive of Panama canal disbursements
and posta! disbursements payable from
postal revenues is s732 100000 indicating
deficit of 500 900, 600 For the year ending
June 80, 1913. similarly estimated receipts
were $667 600, 600, while the total corre-
spending estimate of expenditures for that
year, submitted through the secretary of
the treasury to congress, amounted to
s656 900 O0O This shows an increase Of
SIG, 0OO0O0 in the estimates for 1914 over
the total estimates of 1913 This Is due to
an increase of $25, 900, 600 In the estimate
for rivers and harbors for the next year
on projects and surveys authorized by
congress; to an increase under the new
pension bill of S32 100000; and to an In
crease in the estimates for expenses Of
the navy department of S24OOO,OOO The
estimate for the navy department for the
year 1918 included two battleShips Con-
gress made provision for only one battle
ship. and therefore the navy department
has deemed it necessary and proper to
make an estimate which includes the first
wears expenditure for three battleships
in addition to the amount required FOR
work on the uncompleted ships now under
construction. In addition to the natural
increase In the expenditures for the I'M
completed ships. and the additional bat
tleship estimated for, the other increases
are due to the pay req, ired for 1900 or
more additional enlisted men in the navy.
and TO this must be added the additional
cost Of construction imposed by the
change in the eight-hour law which
makes 1t applicable to ships built In prl-
waite shipyards.
With the exceptions of these three
items. the estimates show a reduction
this year below the total estimates for
1918 OF more than 100000
The estimates for Panama canal con-
struction for 1914 S17,o0o,0o0 less than
for 1913.
The president then explained at some
system recommended by the monetary
commission and urged congress to ex-
anime the plan impartially from all
standpoints and then to adopt some
plan which will secure the benefits de-
sired.
Concerning the tariff he had little to
saw "a view OF the fact that new con-
rress has been elected on platform
of tariff for revenue only.
Army Reorganization.
Our small army now consists of S3,Sos
men excluding the 5000 Philippine scouts.
Leaving out of consideration the coast
artillery force, whose position is hxed In
our various seacoast defenses, ana the
present garrisons of our various insular
possessions, we have today within the
continental United States mobile army
of nn;v about So 900 men. This little force
must be still further drawn upon to sup
ply the new garrisons for the great naval
base which is being established at Pearl
Harbor. IN the Hawaiian islands and TO
protect the locks now rapidly approaching
completion at Panama. The forces re-
,paininy In the United States are now
scattered In nearly fifty posts. situated
for a variety of historical reasons In
twenty-four states. These posts contain
cnly fractions of regiments. averaging
less than zoo men each. In time OF peace
it has been our historical policy TO ad-
minister these units separately by geo
graphical organization. In other words,
o,,r army in time OF peace has never been
a united organization but merely scat
tered groups of companies, battalions and
regiments. and the first task in time or
war has been to create out of these scat
tered units an army At for effective team
work and cooperation.