Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-09
PROGRAM OF LEGISLATION
Believed to Have Discussed Party
Measures With President.
COURT VACANCY
Friends of Judge Lurton Beginning
to Worry About His Appointment
Accepts an Invitation.

For more than an hour today Vice Pres
ldent Sherman and Speaker Cannon sat in
the private room of President Taft con-
ferring with the chief executive on mat
ters they said could not be discussed for
the newspapers by them. IL the President
saw fit to give it out they had 10 objec-
tion. The President did not see fit to do SO
Persons familiar with the state OF the
Presidents mind on public questions how
ever, believe they are right in the asser-
ton that the President has laid down a
little program of legislation he is going to
insist upon. and that he has deemed it
wise to inform the leaders of his party
this early of what he believes Congress
should do to satisfy the demands of the
country
Mr.. Taft's trip over the United States
a short time back posted him thoroughly
as to what the people are thinking about,
and his mind is determined that So far
as he can go these desires shall be con-
sidered in party councils and legislation.
Speaker CannonS influence in the House
is undfsputed in spite of insurgents, and
Vice President Sherman is too active
man to be laid aside Shelved from
participation in party affairs. While lie
will maintain the dignity of the Office of
Vice President he does not wish to have
1t understood that the necessary dignity
includes frigid and inactive silence on
subjects of great Importance to his party.
President Taft wants the legislation of
the coming winter to be source of sat
isfaction to the country, something that
may be used as an Offset to the demo-
cratic campaign of disaffection that will
be preached in the congressional elections
next year
A coincidence of the conference was
that Champ Clark. democratic leader Of
the House, who is freely predicting that
the democrats will carry the country
next fall, was waiting in the executive
offices to see the President while the
conference was in progress. If he could
have heard all that was going on across
the hallway he might have profited by
1t in the campaign he will lead against
his opponents.
Economy the Watchword.
The President insists that economy i'm
government expenditures and appropri-
ations shall be the watchword all along
the line. and he has no stronger backer
in this program than Representative
Tawney, chairman of the House COM
mittee on appropriations. who visited
the chief executive this morning.
Next to showing the country that the
administration is earnest in it's intention
to make every dollar of government
TO see real legislation for the strenthen-
ing of the laws regulating interstate COM
merce. meaning the common carriers. His
special message on this subject, to go to
Congress right after the Christmas holi-
days. and possibly before, will advocate
the most important changes in these
laws, changes that will give the govern
ment still greater control of the railroads.
The President will fight the tremendous
opposition that is looming up against
hos oh L. III
something and expects support from the
Senate and House If he doesn't get all
that is necessary ne will appeal to the
country quickly and sharply.
The President feels that a do-nothing
policy in Congress on this and several
other questions of Importance will mean
ammunition for the democrats next No
vember Therefore he wants action and
believes the country will get it.
The President hopes that his recon-
mendations as to injunctions by the
courts will be enacted into law, well
as legislation to cure the "depora BILE de-
.;,Ss' ~ he work OF the federal courts o.
the country.
Today's conference appears to have
been a little utimatum that standing
still' will not be suitable to the Presi-
dent.
Worrying About Judge Lurton.
Friends OF Judge Horace II. L,irton have
begun to worry about u possible slip in
his nomination as associate justice of the
United States Supreme Court III place Of
the late Justice Peckham President Taft
is more sensitive about judicial selections
than any other part of his work and he
IS exceedingly careful in refraining from
any direct statement that he will name
any particular man. 1t has come to be
assumed as positive, however. that Judge
Lurton would be named by the President
and for that reason surprise is manifested
that he has not already been announced.
Friends of the Tennessee 1urist who went
10 the White House today in behalf of
their favorite got no satisfaction from the
President, who said nothing to indicate
his Intentions
These friends included Senator TAYLOR
of Tennessee, Senators Bankhead and
johnson of Alabama and Newell San
ders of Chattanooga, republican state
chairman of Tennessee. Mr. Sanders
said that republicans and democrats in
Tennessee We're heartily for Judge Lur-
ton and had the greatest faith and con-
fidence in him.
Just what the situation is as to Judge
Lurton the callers did not learn the
President giving all to understand that
lie had no objection to receiving them
but that he reserved the right to de-
r" "'n9 these appointments for himself
The situation has been somewhat COM
plicated by the presence in Washington
and in conference with the Pres.den of
Judge John w. Warrington. one of the
three judges of the sixth circuit of which
Judge Lurton has long been a n,emret
Judge Warrington is a guest of Presi 3ent
TAFT at the White House, and will remain
here until this afternoon or tonight
President Taft has received objections
to Judge Lurtons appointment on the
ground that his decisions have been uni
formly favorable to corporations, and
that for years he accepted free passes
from the roads. The President is under
stood to be having a quiet investigation
made to determine the accuracy of some
of the charges.
West Virginia Appointments.
Senator Elkins had with him at the
White House today Judge Hunter II.