Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-12-11
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Second Message to Present Congress
Leaves Tariff to Wilson.
TAFT'S LAST MESSAGE
OF GENERAL CHARACTER
Review of Important Problems of
Nation Transmitted by Presi-
dent to Congress, Now
in Session.

W
er effort to have congress reduce the
tariff. In a general message to
congress submitted Friday, the presi-
dent clearly indicated his intention of
leaving further tariff revision to Mr..
Wilson and the congress just elected.
Now that new congress has been
elected on a platform of tariff for
revenue only rather than a protective
tariff and is to revise the tariff on
that basis" said the president, ''it is
needless for me to occupy the time
of congress with arguments or rec
concentrations in favor of protec-
tive tariff"
This message, the second submit
ted by the president since the pres
ent season began, will be his last OF
general character. 1t deals with
every department. of the government
except the state department, recon-
mending much of the legislation
which Mr. Taft previously had urged
upon the attentions of congress, and
took up and discussed at length sew
eral subjects comparatively new.
Mr.. Taft came out strongly against
independence for the Philippines pro-
posed, he said, in a bill now before
congress. He deprecated the new
policy of one battleship a year in
stead of two; and indorsed again the
scheme of currency reform proposed
by the National Monetary commits
sion.
Conservation was lightly touched,
the president recommending the
amendment of bills now before con-
gress SO that water power compan-
les which dam navigable rivers will
contribute to the Improvement on
these streams. .s
He declared that no radical change
in the Sherman antitrust law was
needed, and praised the supreme
court for it's recently announced
changes in rules of equity procedure.
In this connection the president ask
ed congress to pass legislation which
would allow the supreme court to
formulate rules of procedure under
the common law in federal courts and
predicted that such action would fa-
cilitate justice id those courts and
reduce the cost Of litigation to the
public.
The Panama canal was dismissed
in a few words, the president prophe-
sying it's opening in the latter half OF
1913. He took occasion, however,
to declare that congress should re-
ward the work of Colonel Goethals by
an appointment as Major-General
with the provision that he become
chief of engineers when the term of
the present incumbent expires. He
made only brief reference to the
dispute with Great Britain over the
Panama Canal act and said that when
formal. protest was lodged against
that act it would be taken up by the
United States.
The army the president discussed
at some length. He praised the army
legislation Of the last congress, but
said that provision should be made
by law so that the nations foreign
regiments may be always maintained
upon a war footing; and he urged
the passage of the pending militia
pay bill, designed to make service In
the militia more enticing, and show
ed that the home army will be moth
ing more than a skeleton" until
congress provides that 1t be concen-
trated in fewer posts than are now
maintained. He urged also the pas
sage of another bill now before con-
gress designed to raise quickly vol
unteer army in case of war.
I'm the Philippine Islands we have
embarked upon an experiment un-
precedented in dealing with depend
ent peoples" said President Tart
1--WE are developing their conditions
exclusively for their own welfare
Through the unifying forces OF a
common education, OF commercial
and economic development. and OF
gradual participation in local self
government. we are endeavoring to
evolve homogeneous people mt 70
determine, when the time arrives
their own destiny. We are seeking
to arouse national spirit and not
as under the older colonial theory
to suppress such a spirit. But ou'
work Is far from done. Our duty
to the Filipinos is farm from DIS