The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-13
Big Problem Must Again Be
 Tackled on Isthmus
.PUHLING QUESTION RISES
Law Makes No Provision for Filling Position of President-EIect In Case of Death, and This May
 Prevent Trip.

Washington, December 12.-(Special.)- visit to Panama before his inauguration. Mir. Taft feels that the completing of the canal is ons of the biggest problems that he has to confront at the beginning of his administration, perhaps the biggest, and he is anxious to make one more visit to the isthmus and go over the operations before he assumes the duties of chief ex- ecutive. Tho plan of the President-elect was preached to President Roosevelt last night, and he and MT. Taft went into the matter exhaustively. Then, today at White House luncheon, Roosevelt and Taft and Secretary of State Root took up the plan again. Both Root and the Pres ident are in sympathy with the Ideas of the President elect but there arises seem ingly grave obstacles which may operate against the proposed trip.
 Long ago the late Senator Hoar of Massachusetts raised the question that while the law provides adequately for the succession in the event of the death of the President, there is no law covering the contingency that would arise in the event of the death of President-eleot.
 As 1t is the plan of Taft to proceed to Panama about the middle of January he will then have already been elected by the electors meeting at the various state capitols. and anything that might Bap1en to him would necessitare a hiatus in gov ernment affairs that would tax the ingen- 1lity of constitutional lawyers.
 Taft and Root were unable to reach any decision and the matter stands. Taft has left tho matter with the President and the Secretary of State. It is believed that favorable decision will be arrived at, and that Taft will accordingly sail from Charleston about January g. About 2G days will be spent on the isthmus. The President has informed Taft that if he decides to go warship will be placed at his disposal
 The news of this trip followed a con ference last night with President Roose- welt and today again at the White House at luncheon, and later with Secretary Root. Further details of the Roosevelt Root conference were not made known beyond the statement of MT. Taft that the selection of his cabinet was thoroughly discussed.
 Mr. Taft said tonight that interviews he had had yesterday and today with Senators Aldrich and Hale had led him to believe that the attitude of these two Senate leaders respecting the tariff re- vision was decidedly favorable to the kind Of a tariff that he has been advocating. A conference with Senator Crane of Massa- chusetts also confirmed this view.
 Chairman Hitchcock, who came to Washington today from New York, saw MT. Taft tonight with James Thomas Williams, Jr., who was connected with the national organization. The Cuban situa- tion was discussed at conference with Governor Magoon. Secretary of War Wright and Gen. Clarence R. Edwards of the insular bureau talked with Mr.~Taf about departmental and Philippine mat ters MT. Taft left Washington at mid night for New York following the dinner at the Gridiron club. Mrs. Taft preceded the Presidsnt-elect to New York, taking an afternoon train. He will there be the guest of his brother, Henry W. Taft, and will remain there until Thursday, when Lc will go to Augusta for several weeks.