American Politics.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue XXXXV, 11 December 1903, Page 4

American Politics.

THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. I WASHINGTON, Dec. 8. | President Roosevelt's message at i the opening of Congress was similar to last year's message. It referred to trusts and the relations of capital and labour, and anticipated a a very small surplus for the current year. It recommended the appointment of a a committee of inci'airv into the condition of the mui-cantile marine, expressed su.lsfaclion at the fairness and goodwill i.ntlerlying the Alaska lM>imdary awuul. the growth of improved methods oi settlement implied in the Venezuelan arbitration, emphasised the importance of the fact that China had I opened Mukden ami Aiituug to foreigners, justified the United States' attitude towards Panama, and declared there had been 58 riolous outbreaks on the isthmus during the past 57 years, rvhich proved Colombia's helplessness to govern. In emphasising the need for a strong navy, the message added : •'Americans cannot afford to let up' in this great work."

POLITICAL INTRIGUES. LONDON. Dec. 8. The New York correspondent of the I Times says that an extra session called to discuss,the tj( fjstron of reciprocity with Cuba merged at noon into a regular session. President Roosevelt, acting on the artful advices of Senator Lodge and the lawyers, between the first and last stroke of the clock striking twelve (an appreciable interval), utilised it as a recess, and nominated Brigadier-General Wood (who recently crushingly defeated the Filipinos) as Major-General, and also nominal ed Dr. Crum (a negro), as recess appointments. Mr Roosevelt's previous nomination of Dr. Crum as Collector of Customs at Charlestown raised the question whether colour was a bar to selection to Federal Office, and was strongly resented in certain quarters.

ANNUAL STATISTICS. WASHINGTON. Dec. 9. The report of Mr Leslie M. Shaw, Secretary to the Treasury, estimates a surplus for the current year of 14,000.000 dollars. The revenue lor 1905 is estimated at 704,500,000 •dollars, shoving an estimated deficit of 73,000,000 dollars. The number of steerage, alien, and immigrant passengers to the United States for the year ended June was 857,016—a record. The United States shipping aggregated upwards of 6,000,000 tons. Imports for tIV year were valued at 1,020,719,237 dollars, and exports at 1,420,141,679 dollars. The population numbers eighty mil-