Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-12-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASdlNO lON LIE i AIM
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, D. &C., Dec. Icon
ress has concluded its brief, tempestu-
us ante-holiday session. 1t is not tired,
,ut it will rest for ten days, that is, II
Christmas festivities mean rest for leg
slators or for any body. Those, especl- :,
.lly, whose homes are far away, will
endure life at the. Capitol, because rail-
,oad passes, formerly distributed with ,
such lavish design and purpose, are no
longer available.
Congress, or at least, some Congress
men are as mad as can be. The cleo
tons are over and an unusually large
percentage of seasoned members OF
Congress has been continued in the ma
tional legislature. Those of the Repub-
lican majority have mostly won their
places by vociferating from many |
stumps their unbounded and unquall-
fed faith in the Roosevelt policies, aims,
aspirations, big stick and everything.
But they no sooner got back to Wash
ington than the big stick is fourished
over them and poked in their ribs. This,
of course, not nice. 1t is true that
the President has been doing the same
thug more or less, for seven years and
three months and that the country has
been so delighted with it, that it was
only prevented by strategy from noml-
mating him for third term.
We have entered new political era.
1t is difficult for Speaker Cannon and
for some other much younger men TO
realize the political revolution OF the
last seven years. 1t is said that revolu-
tions do not go backward. 1t may be
said of this one, the end is not in sight
Seven years was too short 3 period tt
mature the radical reforms that have
been outlined, but not completed. The
5 reforms have been bequeathed to asuc
: cessor selected by the man who origin
: ated them, and faith is strong here ant
throughout the country that President
D elect Taft will be able to carry them t
a successful accomplishments. He ha
D profound convictions and it is believed
i that he is not the man to surrende
;. them. One of these convictions Is ab
b solute loyalty to the Constitution. N
# other President has had more varie'
o training for the high station to which
/ the people have chosen him than ha
|, Mr.. Taft.
e In one respect the President-elest ha
s. an advantage over any Of his predeces
sors for the last fifty years He ha
had considerable contact with tn
South and is respessed and trusted b.
that section of the country. While O.
1t the bench, his circuit included her
Il lucky and Tennessee. There he me
J. distinguished men from all sections
h the country and came to know and al
It preciate them as the peers OF anybod
lie in the United States. 1t is more tina
Is probable that he will bestow some {
st the yacancie. on the Supreme Bench
&c which are almost sure to occur durin
Ot his presidency, on one or more dlstll
t. guished jurists FROM the South. III
a President-eleet had his birth and rea
IN ing within stones throw of Soutl
re ern Stnte and OF all the Presidents SIM
n Lincoln, he il best acquainted VII
TT southern character. He knows Il
d. South better than Grant, Hayes, va
de field, Harrison or Mckinley did, I
at their acquaintance with the South W
i'll made amid clash Of arms and not,
[r. in the case of Taft, in temples of j.
ed tice and in polite social intercourse.
of 1t is becoming daily more evide
zee that there will not be much legislatl
beyond the appropriation bills duri
lr the present session, and that mea
ey that important Liquidation that
as been recommended by the E1ecut
cit and approved in the Republican pl
nd form, will be deferred for at least
wear. The special session which is
M be called after the fourth Of March,
,ol- is expected, will eonfinc its attent
He strictly to tariff revision.
.ub The report Of the joint committee
ict- the business methods Of the Postof
md Department., recommending an adm
ant istrative head tor that Department
all der the title of ''Director of Posts"
led including the draft of bill for the
for organization of the Postal Service, ca
ess- I'D before Congress this week.
ter Joint committee has had this rel
,de- under consideration for the past
to wears. The committee recommend
lied director of posts to be given the
in eral management Of the postal ser'
the while the cabinet minister now knit
half as the Postmaster General, will con
lold his attention especially to the pc
ad- finances. 1t is also proposed to
pan AWAY with the offices of the four as
ring ant postmasters-general and TO T
law portion the work under seven seps
d to bureaus. This, of course, Will rev
,ery, tionize and it is hoped, greatly imp
peri the postal service. 1t is beginnin
|. be generally recognized that this
ltion vice in the United States is Jar bel
his the services of ether civilized count
fer esnecially of those of England, Fr
ngle and Germany. Under Inc nc" fes