The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-02-11
WASHINGTON NEWS
Wby MIR. Roosevelt Vetoed the
Census Bill.
COUNTRY LIFE COMMISSION

President Recommends Certain Re-
forms for the Uplift OF Country
Life-President-Ele Taft Graft
fled at Progress Being Made on
Panama CanaI-Washingto Max
ing Preparations for the Inaugu-
ration.
Special TO The Caucasian.l
: Washington, d. c., Feb. 9, 1909.
President Roosevelt has vetoed
ground that the bill provided for the
members of Congress to select large
ly the officials and subOrdinates to
conduct this important Government
work
The position of the President is
that the provisions Of the bill are not
only antagOnistic to the Civil Ser
vice policy of the Government, which
provides for the selection of such
officials by examination and on mer-
it, but that this work, to be authen-
tic and Of value, should not be con-
Quoted by persons who are selected
entirely for political reasons and
without regard to their Qualifica
tiOns.
The President, in his veto mes
sage referred to the effort of the pro-
fessiOnal politicians of both parties
in trying to secure patronage for
themselves at the expense of the eff
ficiency of this work, which, to be of
value, must be accurate. The lam
guage used by the President has been
objected to by number of Congress-
men and Senators almost as much
as the language which he used with
reference to the action of Congress
in limiting the operations of the Sc
cret Service, effecting fraud and vic
latiOn of the laws.
There is some talk of an effort to
try to pass the bill notwithstanding
the Presidents veto
The Country Life Commission.
The commission to Investigate and
make a report on the conditions Of
country life and the remedies for the
general uplift in such conditions, al
ter finishing their investigations
have made their report to President
Roosevelt, and the President to-day
transmitted the report to Congress
with his recommendations
The report is comprehensive and
recommends reforms, some of which
can be brought about by the Nation
al Government, and others which are
in the nature of suggestions for the
action of the Legislatures in the re-
spective States.
The necessity for good roads is
strongly emphasized, and while this
work will have to be handled in the
States. and often locally, yet the
building of a few great national
highways by the National Govern
ment, not only because they would
be most valuable as such highways,
great object lesson to the States and
counties in carrying on similar work
within their borders.
The condition of the public school
system in the various States is also
discussed, the remedy for which will
lie with the State Legislatures.
The reforms which they recon-
mended which will fall exclusively
within the province of the Federal
Government, is the parcels post and
better means of communication which
will probably mean an extension of
the rural free delivery. Of course
these reforms will be strongly Op-
posed by certain interests
Taft and the Panama Canal.
1t is understood here that Presi-
dent-elect Taft has been very much
gratfied at the progress being made
on the Panama Canal, and that with
the amending of the project as to
somewhat widening of the canal, that
the work will be rapidly pushed to
completion.
Mr.. Taft is expected to arrive in
New Orleans tonight or tomorrow
and will be a guest of the city for
few days on his way back home for
the approaching inauguration.
Washington Getting Ready for the
Inauguration.
The building of stands for the re-
view of the grand parade on the
fourth of March on Pennsylvania
Avenue along the front of the White
House sharply reminds one of how
near is the approach of the change in
the head of the greatest Republic on
earth, and is a further reminder of
how smoothly and wonderfully our
system of Government, expressive of
the will of the people, changes hands
and continues with all of its stability
of a monarchy without any of the at
tending evils which marked that old
world form of government.
Prominent Business Man of Charlotte