Evening star., 1909-05-25
TAFT REvOKES ORDER
Roosevelt's Council of Fine
Arts Abolished.
CAUSED ROW IN CONFESS
President Evidently Not in Accord
With His Predecessor.
COUNTRY COMMISSION NEXT
Believed Mr.. Taft Intends to Comply
Strictly With Provisions of the
Sundry Civil Act.

President Taft has revoked one of the
most celebrated executive orders of his
predecessor This is the order creating
the council of fine arts, requiring all
plans for government buildings to be
submitted TO the council and practically
taking out Of the hands OF Congress the
power to name sites for public buildings.
1t was principally this order that aroused
Congress to the passage of the provision
in the sundry civil act. reluctantly signed
hy President Roosevelt. who appended
30 his signature memorandum declar-
ing his belief that the provision was
null and void and would not be binding
upon any President.
The provision to which Mr.. Roosevelt
referred was section of the sundry civil
act. 1t declared that hereafter no part Of
any public moneys, or any appropriation
made by Congress. shall be used in the
payment Of compensation or expenses Of
any commission. council. board or similar
body unless such body shall have been
authorized by the legislative body Of the
dozen bodies named by President Roose-
Welt, including the fine arts council, the
country life commission and others.
President Roosevelt In his memorandum
said that If he felt section would be
operative he would veto the bill, "but I
have concluded that this section is not
operative to- the extent that its trainers
evidently hoped, and that the mischief it
sufficiently remedied by the action Of the
executive to warrant my permitting the
bill to become law
Mr.. Roosevelt went on to say that the
chief executive could continue to ap-
point these commissions and can make
exactly the use Of them that I have in
the past. although. owing to the Congress,
. greater burden will be put upon Them"
Put Out Of Business.
President Taft Is evidently not in ac-
cord with former President Roosevelt,
and intends to comply with the provisions
of section 9. at least as to the bodies he
thinks were appointed without authority
of law. His executive order puts the
council Of fine arts, composed of leading
architects Of the country. out Of business
and he will doubtless take the same
action as to the country life commission.
AS to the conservation commission, the
work of which was indorsed by the re-
publican national convention. President
Taft will encourage its continuation, but
not at government cost. The members of
that commission never receive pay for
their services, but q number OF govern
ment clerks were detailed to the work and
these were prohibited from doing more.
President Taft has also issued an ex-
ecutive order as to national holidays fall
ing on Sundays. His order authorizes the
closing Of government departments,
Offices bureaus and other establishments
on the Mondays succeeding the Sundays
which are national holidays. This custom
has heretofore been generally observed,
but in some instances has not been uni
form. The order will have the effect of
making the observance general Memo
rial day will fall on Sunday this year. but
on the day following the departments will
be closed.
Br. Bourne's Change Of Mind.
Senator Bourne of Oregon was one of
the visitors in the executive offices to-
day. He is often with the President.
Just a year ago the ardent Oregonian
was leading the attacks upon President
Taft and was proclaiming in all direc-
tions the impossibility Of the election of
the Ohio man, declaring that the only
thing that could save the republican
party from disaster was the nomination
of President Roosevelt for a third term.
But. like a good republican. he did not
sulk long after the nomination. He
found that Mr.. Taft was a mighty good
man, a mighty strong one, and. after
going to Hot Springs and playing golf
with the republican candidate. everHS
where proclaimed his certain election
Having predicted that much he is now
willing to predict q great future for Mr.
Taft and to foresee his retention In office
for many years.
Senator Lodge, Senator Daniel and Will
liam Loeb. jr., former secretary to Presi-
dent Roosevelt, were White House visit
ors. Mr. Loeb's visit was brief. but he
talked over some New York matters with
the President, including the intention of
the Treasury to reorganze the customs