Bill Taft: “A congressional investigation at this time would embarrass the executive department in the continuance and completion of…”

Now, Therefore, I, William Howard Taft, President of the United States of America, do, in accordance with the provisions of the Act of Congress and the joint resolution of Congress herein named, declare and proclaim the fact that the…

I can not close this message without inviting the attention of Congress again to the necessity for the erection of a building to contain the public archives.

Now that they can be studied and understood—all the business men who touch the decision in any way will conduct their business hereafter according to the law.

There is no difference between the reasons which call for the application of the leasing system to the coal lands still retained by the Government in the United States proper and those which exist in Alaska.