The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-11
''Now that a new congress has be.

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Now that new congress has bee
elected on platform OF tariff Tor
revenue only rather than a protective
tariff and Is to revise the tariff on
that basis" said the president. 'it Is
needless for US TO occupy the time
OF congress with arguments or recon-
msndations In favor OF a protective
tariff"
This message. the second submitted
by the president since the present
session began. will be his last Of
general character. IL dealt with every
department OF the government except
the State department.. recommended
much OF the legislation which Mr..
Taft previously had urged upon the
attention OF congress. and took up and
discussed at length several 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 poll
Icy Of one battleship a year instead
OF two; and indorsed again the
scheme Of currency reform proposed
by the national monetary commits
sion.
Conservation was lightly touched,
tho prssident recommending the
amendment Of bills now before con-
gress so that water power companies
which dam navigable rivers will con-
tribute 20 the Improvement OF these
streams.
He declared that no radical change
in the Sherman antitrust law was
needed. and praised the supreme
court for Its 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 for
mulate rules OF procedure under the
common law In federal courts and
predicted that such action would ia
cilitate justice In those courts and re.
duce the cost OF litigation to the pub
lie.
The Panama canal was dismissed I'm
few words. the president prophecy
Ing Its opening In the latter half OF
1913. He took occasion, however. to
declare that congress should reward
the work OF Col. Goethals by an ap-
pointment as major general with the
provision that he become chief OF
engineers when the term Of the in
cumbent expires. He made only n
brief reference TO the dispute with
Great Britain over the Panama ca
nal act and said that when a formal
protest was lodged against that act II
would be taker up by the United
States
The army the president discussed
AT somc 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 military pay
bill. designed To make service In the
militia more enticing. and showed
that the home army will be nothing
more than Skeleton" until con-
gress provides that II be concentrated
In fewer points than are now main
tained. He urged also the passage Of
another bill now before congress. de-
signed To raise quickly volunteer
army ia case OF war.
President TAFT did not approve the
proposal for immediate autonomy for
the Philippines and Independence i'm
eight years as proposed in bill
pending in congress
'1n the Philippine Islands wc have
embarked upon am experiment unprc-
ccdcntcd in dealing with dependent
people" snid President Taft. "Wc
are developing there conditions cxclu-
sively FOR their own welfare. Through
the uuifying forces OF common cdu-
cation. of commercial ana economic
development. and Of gradual partici-
patton i'm local self government. cc
are Cndcavoring to evolve homo
gcncous people nt TO determine, when