Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-04-02
NEWS FROM
WASHINGTON

18th. Mr.. Payne's hopes are that
the general debate will be allowed to
run until next Wednesday, when
rule will be presented providing for
ten days debate under the five min
ute rule; then three days 10 be con
suned in the consideration Of and
votes upon amendments. Republi-
can leaders realize of course thar the
\ rule must contain soms restrictions
upon amendments if the bill is to be
disposed Of before the late summer.
The present indications are that
there will be no united opposition to
the bill as a whole,
President Taft has told the mem
bors Of his cabinet that he expects
each to assume all responsibility for
and exercise supreme control over
his department, and that each head
of department will be held respon.
sible for the conduct of that DEPART.
meat. 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 politi
cal assistance from the White House.
Mr.. Taft thinks IL would be unjust
for him to hold his cabinet officers
r. sponsible for results should he, for
political reasons, dictate the men on
whose assistance they must rely for
the success of their respective de
partments. While assistant secrs
tary and similar officers are "Presi-
Dental officers" the President has
indicated his intention of exercising
this prerogative only in appointing
meR desired by the department
heads. As result of this policy,
Members of Congress and that por.
tion of the public which has to deal
with federal appointments, will soon
fnd that they must deal directly
with the department heads. il they
wish shings accomplished, instead Of
carrying every request and every
fcohpTaint to the White House. In
this way the President hopes to find
more time for the important niIairs
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 amour,
Of revenuep and the question Of ad
ditional revenue is causing the lea
ders in both Houses of Congress no
little uAeasiness. The Inheritance
tax, = possible income tax and the
duty on tea are all criticised and oh
jeoted to, There seems to be a strong
sentiment in the House for the re.
moval Of the duty on tea and its 70
placement by an additional hfty
cents barrel on beer. A number Of
representatives are Ondeavoring to
organize q movement to demand a
vote en- this question and doubtless
all representatives from prohibition
districts will join In such a move
msnt. The suggestion is frequently
made, and meets with favor, that the
BEST way to increase the Treasury
balance lie to sut down the annual
expenditures.
At his own request President Taft
has been elected q member of the
Legal Aid Society. Ex- President
RooEevelt has been one of the vice.
presidents for many years, AMI
among others are Governor Hughes,
Andrew Carnegie. Joseph II. Choate,
Seth Low, Elihu Root, Jacob H
Schiff, Robert De Forest, william b
} Hornblower and Mrs. Douglas Ro.
binson one of Col. Roosevelt's sis.
J ters. This society was organized in
New York City many years ago, and
J its chief purpose is to provide attor-
Aeys free of charge for poor persons
under arrest or indictment who
| prove after a careful investigation tC
} be in need of counsel.
Senator Gore of Oklahoma has
introduced three measures in the
Senate which are considered typical
Of political and economic thought IN
that state. One is a bill to author,
ize national banks to conform to the
laws Of any state where deposits IN
state banks are guaranteed anotheI
is Joint resolution to provide by
eoAstitutienal amendment for the
popular election Of United States
Senators, while the third provides
flor an amendment to the oonHtitu.
ton to authorize tho national gov.
ernment to levy an income tax.
At the request OF the Maritime
League of New York, Senator Depew
has introduced an interesting resolu-
ton. 1t calls for the Secretary OF
State to send TO the Senate all cor
EOSpondsnos between the State De,