The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-04-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.

The leaders in the House have formu-
/ lated tentative plans for the passage of
the Payne tariff bill and unless these
plans rniscarryth measure will be voted
on about April 18th. Mr.. Payne's hopes
are that the general debate will be allow
led to run until next Wednesday, when
rule will be presented providing for ten
days debate under the FIVE. minute rule;
then three days to be consumed in the
consideration of and votes upon amend.
ments. Republican leaders realize OF
course that the rule must contain some
restrictions upon amendments if the bill
is to be disposed of before the late sum
mer. The present indications are that
there will be no united opposition 10 the
, bill as whole.
~
President Taft has told the members OF
his cabinet that he expects each to as
sumo all responsibility for and exercise
supreme control over his department,
and that each head of department will
be held responsible for the conduct OF
that department. He has emphasized the
| fact that he wants results and has assured
the members of his official family that
they are free to select their own assistants
without personal or political assistance
from the White House. Mr.. Taft thinks
it would be unjust for him to hold his
cabinet officers responsible for results
should he, for political reasons, dictate
the men on whose assistance they must
rely for the success Of their respective
departments While assistant secretary
and similar officers are presidential
officers, the President has indicated his
intention of exercising this prerogative
only in appointing men desired by the
department heads. As result of this
policy. Members of Congress and that
portion Of the public which has to deal
with federal appointments, will soon find
that they must deal directly with the de-
partment heads, if they wish things &C;
complished, instead of carrying every re.
quest and every complaint to the White
House. In this way the President hopes
TO find more time for the important affairs
of the government
| ~
The one question constantly asked at
the Capitol, in every informal discussion
of the tariff is, will the Payne bill raise
a, sufficient amount of revenue?" And
the question of additional revenue is
causing the leaders in both Houses of
Congress no little uneasiness. The In.
heritance tax, possible income tax and
the duty on tea are all criticised and OBJ
jected to. There seems to be a strong
sentiment in the House for the removal
of the duty on tea and its replacement by
an additional fifty cents barrel ON beer.
A number of Representatives are endeavor-
ing to organize movement to demand q
vote on this question, and doubtless all
representatives from prohibition districts
will join in such movement. The sug.
gestion is frequently made. and meets
with favor, that the best way TO increase
the Treasury balance is to cut down the
annual expenditures.
nv
At his own request President Taft has
been elected member of the Legal Aid
Society. Ex-president Roosevelt has been
one of the vice-presidents for many years,
aud among others are Gov. Hughes,
Andrew Carnegie, Joseph H. Choate, Seth
Low, Elihu Root, Jacob H. Schiff. Robert
De Forest, Vim. B Horublower and Mrs
Douglas Robinson, one Of Col Roosevelt's
sisters. This society was organized in
New York City many years ago, and its
chief purpose is to provide attorneys free
of charge for poor persons under arrest or
Indictment who prove after careful in
vestigation to be in need of counsel.
49,
| AT the request of the Maritime League
of New York, Senator Depew has intro.
duced an interesting resolution. It calls
FOR the Secretary of State to send to the
Senate all correspondence between the
State Department and the Republic of
Cuba relating to the question of recog-
niziug coffee roasted in the United
States.
~
Again President Taft has expressed TO
Col, Goethals his earnest desire to see the
Panama canal completed by 1913. and
while the Chief Engineer cannot promise
this accomplishment before 1915. he told
the President that every force would be
put 10 work to hustle things. Some Of
the Presidents friends think that this de.
sire to see the canal completed in January