PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 68, 4 December 1902, Page 2

PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE

IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS.

By Telegraph —Press Association—Copyright New York, Dec. 3. President Roosevelt's message to Con gress is strongly Imperialistic in tone. It emphasised the country’s unbounded prosperity, and the necessity in relation to trusts to make a reasonable and effective law against fraudulent over-capital-isation and practices injurious to interstate trade. Reciprocity treaties were desirable in connection with the tariff’ readjustment, which ought to be treated solely from tho standpoint of business needs. A Commission of business experts might indicate to Congress Committee what changes in the schedule were necessary, and how far changes would go without changing the country’s great prosperity or upsetting the fixed eeonomio policy. It recommended the Secretary oi Commerce, with the seal of the Cabinet, to remove the tariff on anthracite coal; -' ! « 0 reciprocity with Cuba, and a convention with Great Britain for reciprocal trade with Newfoundland similar to the plan laid down by Mr Blaine ; also the appointment of a general staff for the army. The enforcement of the Monros Doctrine required a first-class navy, and additional fighting craft would be provided yearly.

Dwelling on the policing of the world the message stated : It behoves us to act as an independent nation ; in America to maintain the internal order and discharge just obligations to foreigners. We have already played a large part in the world, and are bent on making the future part even larger than the events of the past four years have definitely decided. “ For weal or woe our place must be great among nations. We have deliberately made our own certain foreign policies, demanding possession through the navy. The message recommended any future arbitrations at tho Hague rather than arbitrators chosen in special cases,