New-York tribune., 1908-03-24
TAFT TO LAWMAKERS.
Discusses State Rights and Legas-
lators' DUTY at Trenton.
EBy telegraph 70 The Tribune ]

Trenton March 2s-Before Secretary Taft had
been In the city more than an hour he had held
an informal reception at the State House, ad-
dressed the members of the Legislature in joint
session given private talk TO the newspa per
correspondents addressed the Chamber OF Com
merce and won for himself place in the hearts
of many Of the Jerseymen. In his speech to the
LEGISLATURE Secretary Taft discussed the subject
of state rights and the duty OF legislators.
Governor Fort was enthusiastically cheered when
In introducing Baron Takahira. after paying tribute
to his eminent qualifications. he said that peace
and accord now existed between the United States
and Japan. and predicted that they would forever
more
Baron Takahira referred to the traditional reia-
tions which had existed between the two countries,
and said they should be strengthened by pro-
motion of the commercial interests of each. He
greeted with enthusiasm.
Secretary Taft paid high tribute to Baron Taxa
hira. Commenting upon the duties OF legislatures.
he said there common belief that 1t was
the business of the Supreme Court to attend to
the Constitution, and that there was no obligation
the part OF the legislator to look back to that
"musty old instrument" This he declared was
erroneous. and the Legislature should work on the
CO Operative plan. He said too frequently legis-
latures satisfied themselves with merely passing
laws and turning over their enforcement TO the
executive. II was much part of the LeSts-
lature 20 procure law with a view to its en-
forcemert and it's enforceabty it of the
Continuing, he said
With respect to the granting of franchises. think
sometimes it takes greater courage to grant fran
chise which is favorable to a corporation than 1t
does to deny such franchise when It really oper-
ates to the benefit of the public by enabling cor
II in such position TO make ii essential that
the corpora tion should defraud somebody in order
that 1t should carry its business with a profit.
Mr.. Taft said he had no sympathy with those
who anxious to have laws enforced that
they believed everything should be done by the
federal government. Taking up the question Of In
terstate commerce. he said:
1t was probable that in the days of Washington
interstate commerce as compared with the state
terstate commerce Is as three to one. and as the
national government has the function of attending
to that interstate commerce. the function that II
performs becomes thus three times as important
with reference to the state as II was one hundred
years ago but that does not change the constitu-
uonal relation. The strength of this country is in
the fact that don't have all the power at Wash
ington. but that the power does rest, great deal
of it. in forty-six different states q
become if everything was centred on the Potomac
in the District of Columbia. The states. the Gov
ernors and the legislatures must not lose their
of responsibility in respect TO their duties
within these functions lest the movement In favor
rf minimizing the states power shall gain in
strength. The great weakness of the states is a
with respect to money and appropriation. OF sub
jects that really ought to be attended to by the
state treasury and state government. That is an
insidious of working in the federal jurisdiction:
but am glad that Congress generally shows
pretty bold front against that. and am glad to
believe that we are maintaining to-day as sacred
laid down they have been by a tribunal as great
the Supreme Court of the United States is, and
not affected by the changes from one administration
to another but having eye to consistent
course from MarshaiTs day to this.