PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 281, 5 December 1907, Page 5

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.

MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.

A RECORD DOCUMENT.

Per Press Association—Copyright.

Received Dec. 4, 9.57 p.m. Washington, Dec. 4,

President Roosevelt's message to Oongress occupied, three hours' reading,, and contained 63 paged, the longest on record. It dealt with fifty subjects and contained a few surprises. The President is not opposed to railway pooling, but recommends a suspension of trust companies the same as the banks, and the forbidding of monopolies and trading at a ldss in order to crush competition. He urges the federal control of interState business, the establishment of an emergency currency to be issued under a heavy tax; the establishment of Post Office Savings Banks; graduated income inheritance taxes ; and the extension of the Ocean Mail Act of 1891 to enable the Postmaster to devote the present profit of million dollars on the mail service abroad to the mail service in South America, Asia, Philippines, and Australia, at a rate of four dollars a mile in 16-knot steamships.

The President reoommends that workmen'.s compensation law should be brought up to the standard of European countries.

UNITED STATES AND PROTECTION THE ARMY AND NAVY. PRESIDENT'S FINANCIAL PROPOSALS CRITICISED. Received Dec. 5, 0.46 a.m. Washington, Dec. 4. President Roosevelt affirms that United States is definitely committed to Protection, but the tariff ought to be revised periodically to prevent excessive or improper benefits being conferred, adding: Tho best time for revision is after the Presidential election. He recommends the creation of a larger army, and four of the largest type of battle Bhips this year, also defensive works and coaling stations in the Pacific, which is America's coastline equally with the Atlantic. The President hopes that tintil the Panama Canal is opened the battle fleet will shift from one ocean to the other every year or two. He dwells on the educational value of Admiral Evans's cruise, and anticipates in terms of warm friendliness America's participation in the Tokio Exhibition. The message does not mention immigration.

London, Dec. 4. The Times says President Roosevelt's message contains nothing suggesting a way to real *banking reform. The New York correspondent of the Times describes the disappointment of the leading bankers and financiers. The Financial News says that President Roosevelt's message is valueless. The Financial Times declares that in a time of crisis it was like a man asking for bread being given a tract.