The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-26
PRESIDENT TAFT
IS TIPPED THAT
BRAKES ARE SET
Gets a Quiet Hunch Not to Ex-
pect Much in Way Of Vital
Legislation During the Pres
ent Session.
SERIOUS DEBATE TO
BE WAYS AVOIDED
Leaders in Congress Want to
Go Before the People Next
Time With a Great Record
For Economy.
NV Roderick Clifford)

10y Roderick cIifford)
Washington, Dec. 20 President
Taft has been tipped off, by the
leaders of the House, that so far as
legislation of a vital character is con-
cerned he must not expect this ses-
sion to pass any law that is liable 20
provoke serious debate.
The leaders say, that the best rec
ord to make on which to go before the
country is economy in public expendi-
lures as applied to the executive de-
partments. The preliminary record
is already made in the estimates sub
mitted to Congress. The cut made IN
the estimates by the heads of the de-
partments was done at the order of the
President For this he is entitled to
credit. but Notwithstanding the fact
that the estimates are millions or
dollars less than the estimates OF a
year ago, there is a feeling among the
members that the appropriations will
be nearly as large as those of last
year
Are They Sincere?
But do the members of the House
really believe in cutting down public
expenditures? Are they sincere in
their talks for publication, that this
session will make a record for econo-
my that will meet with the approval
OF the voters next November?
If the members SO believe, they do
hxyt h0ir II
are honest with their constituents,
they are not honest with President
Taft, for they cannot be both. If the
Democratic Congressional campaign
committee keeps it's promise. many a
Republican, who seeks denomination
will have hard work to explain why
his acts do not correspond to his de-
mand for economy. Bills introduced by
Republican members during the extra
session and since the opening OF this
session. involving charges on the pub
lie treasury If enacted into law would
take from the taxpayers of the coun-
try at least half a billion dollars.
This would be outside of the amount
required to run the executive branch
of the government.
As an illustration.
As an illustration, the legislation
sought by ambitious members include:
National highways; pensions of 81 a
day for all Mexican and Civil war vet
Grams: pensions for 81 day for each
day confined for all soldiers and sail
ors who were in rebel prisons during
the Civil War: to allow soldiers 100
acres of government land without re-
curing them to establish a residence
thereon; to credit it and pay to the
several states and territories and the
District of Columbia all moneys col
lected under the direct tax act: a civil
pension list: parcel post delivery; in
crease in pay of letter carriers, rural
delivery carriers, railway mail clerks
and internal revenue gaugers: ito es-
tablish bureal of public highways as
an adjunct to the Department of Ag-
riculture (bill for this purpose appro-
PIRATES the modest sum of $4,000, 900
OF which $S,00O,OO0 is to be available
each year,: to establish a bureau Of
mines and mining; to create Depart
IiieuI VI lIdDOI, dHu " SSIdUilSu d SOui
in connection with the Interstate
Commerce Commission which is one
of President Taft's pet propositions.
Are important Bills.
These are bills Of national charac-
ter. but they are not circumstance
to the bills Of a local character that
have been introduced in the House.
The local bills, it should be borne in
mind. carry appropriations of a suffi-
cient amount to make trading" among
the members most profitable. The ex-
PLANTATION for the activity on the part
of members to get their hands into I'm
Gle Sans strong box. or perhaps it
were better to say. to make the at
tempt is that next summer the men,
bers must appeal to their constituents
for endorsement.
And what is a stronger card than
the record which shows earnest effort
to secure for their district their share
of the pork"