The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1909-03-30
News OF NATIONS
CAPITAL
By Sheldon s. Cline.


Is no section of the Union receiving so
much political attention in Washington
just now as the cotton states Of the
south. President Taft's attitude
toward federal appointments in south
ern states is so novel in a republican
executive that southern senators have
to pinch themselves every now and
then to be sure they are not dreaming.
1t must not be assumed that control
OF federal patronage in southern states
has been turned over to the democratic
senators representing them, but the
views OF senators regarding prospective
appointees will be sought and If they
have any valid objections to offer, aside
from political ones, the appointments
in question will not be made. This is
the most liberal construction any presi-
dent OF any party has ever given to the
constitutional provision that appoint
ments shall be made "by and with the
advice and consent of the senate.o 9th
er presidents have assumed that this
oblibated them to consult with senators
OF their own party before making ap-
pointments, but Mr.. Taft apparently
takes the ground that the trainers of
the constitution regarded senator IN
his official rather than his political
capacity and that q senator loses none
of his constitutional prerogatives by
reason of the fact that he belongs to a
different political party from that of
the executive.
When the Taft plan finally works
out it undoubtedly will be disclosed
that the advice of republican senators
has more weight in the determining Of
appointments than that of their demo-
cratic colleagues, but that the advice
of neither is necessarily final with the
president. We're the president to turn
the selection of federal officials abso-
lutely over to senators, even to repub-
llcan ones, it would be just az much a
violation of the constitutional injunc-
tion as if senators were not consulted
at all before the appointments were
made. 1t is in explanation Of the
president attitude that while he be-
lieves he is constitutionally bound to
seek the advice of senators in the max
ing of appointments he is not bound
IN all cases to accept the advice given,
for if he were it would cease to become
| advice and become mandate.
Though it is rather early to attempt
to pass judgment on the Taft admins
tration, there would seem ample justi-
fication for the assertion that no man
ever assumed the duties of the presi-
dency with keener appreciation Of the
constitutional limitations of his Office
or more determined resolve to keep
within those limitations. Apparently
Mr.. Taft has determined that he will
avoid even the appearance Of encroach-
ment upon the functions of the legisla-
tive or judicial branches Of the gov
ernment, but it is pretty safe guess
that he will be found sturdy fighter
should either of the other coordinate
branches attempt to encroach upon the
executive powers.
The present trend Of the executive.
or that which was present till the be-
ginning of the Taft administration, to
encroach upon the legislature, began
with the exigencies of the civil war
and has continued without noteworthy
interruption, being more pronounced, Of
course, in some administrations than
In Others. Naturally the legislative
branch of the government has resented
this. Friction became 80 common that
matter Of course that the executive
and the legislature should be antago-
nistic instead of co-ouerative, as was
intended by the founders of the repub-
lie. Mr.. Taft has made it plain that
1T will be his aim to restore the proper
balance, and in this he will find con-
gress is eager to cooperate.
That congress should welcome the
Taft policy is only natural, for the
truth is that the legislature has suf-
fered much more than the executive
IN prestige by reason of the conflicts of
recent years. AS a matter of fact.
it had reached a point where congress
was looked upon by many Americans
as public enemy which had to be
closely watched and frequently chas-
tised by strong executive in order to
keep it from betraying the public That
tins was not true of congress made but
little difference, so long as the people
thought it was true
President Taft's attitude toward
southern appointments. however. is not
the only reason why the south is IF