UNITED STATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13613, 5 December 1907, Page 5

UNITED STATES.

MESSAGE TO CONGRESS,

BIGGER ARMY AND NAVY.

UNFAIR TRADE COMPETITION.

By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright. (Received December 4, 9.57 p.m.) Washington, December 4. President Roosevelt, in his message to Congress, occupied three hours in reading 63 pages of closelywritten matter, this being the longest message on record.

Altogether 50 subjects were dealt with. He did not oppose railway pooling, and recommended that trust companies be subjected to the same laws in regard, to suspensions as banks, and the forbidding, of monopolies and trading at a loss in order to crush competition. He also urged the Federal control of inter-State business and the establishment of an emergency currency to be issued under a heavy tax.

Other measures indicated were the establishment of post office savings banks, the imposition of graduated income and inheritance taxes, and the extension of the Ocean Mail Act of 1891 to enable the /Postmaster' to devote the present profit of three and a-half million dollars on the mail service abroad to mail services to South America, Asia, the Philippines, and Australia, at a rate of subsidy of four dollars per mile for 16-knot steamships. • i * The workmen's compensation law should, the President urged, be brought up to the standard of that of European countries. * AMERICA'S FISCAL POLICY. THE PACIFIC CRUISE. '/ (Received December 5. 1 a.m.) Washington, December 4. '■:,.- In his message President R6oseve.lt affirms that the United States is definitely committed to protection, but the tariff ought, he said, to 'be revised periodically to prevent excessive or improper benefits being conferred, adding, " The best time for revision is after the Presidential election."

The establishment of a larger array was recommended, also the construction, of four of the largest type of battleships this year, as well as defensive works and coaling stations in tlie Pacific, which was America's coastline equally with the Atlantic.

Until the Panama Canal- was opened he hoped the - battle fleet would shift from 'one ocean to the other every year or two. He dwelt upon the educational value of Admiral Evans' cruise, and anticipated in terms of warm friendliness America's participation in the Tokio Exhibition, but nothing was said in the. message about Japanese immigration. PRESS OPINIONS. -v.. "A VALUELESS MESSAGE." ' - (Received December -5, 1.10 a.m.) , London, December 4. The Times says that President Roosevelt has nothing to suggest in the way of real banking reform. - ; : The New York correspondent of the Times (Mr. G. W. Smalley) states that great is felt by leading bankers~:and financiers. The Financial News says that President Roosevelt's message is value- ! less. ;.....-..... '•■ . The Financial Times, commenting on the message, declares that in this time of crisis it is like a man asking for bread and being given a tract. ';■•' ■■■;':'::' ; Vv /