Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-01-19
ON CONSERvATION
Subjects Considered by Cover
nors Have to Do With Ma
tional Resources.
HEAR SEVERAL ADDRESSES
President Opens Meeting and Cover
nor Hughes Points Out Its Linn
its and Possibilities.

Washington. Jan. 19.-The conserva-
ton of resources was the topic con-
sidered To-Day by the governors now
in conference here. Governor Crothers
of Maryland made the first address,
speaking of good roads. Governor
Quinby of New Hampshire spoke on
forts. Martin S. Decker, president pf
the National Association Of Railway
Commissioners. discussed uniformity
of railway legislation
Taft welcomes Governors.
Washington, Jan. 19.-In welcoming
the conference of governors at the
White house yesterday afternoon Taft
INDUCED in a little good natured spec
ulation on how the English system Of
executive authority might work in this
country, especially with respect to
giving executive right TO argue mat
tiers out with the legislative branch
and go before the people if necessary.
He said he would like to have heart
to heart talks with some of the gov
ernors on their methods of procuring
legislation.
Refers to RarmOn's Troubles.
81 would especially like to ask Gov
ernor Harmon how he manages with
the republican legislature in Ohio"
said the president. 4 can assure him
there are struggles even when you
have a congress which is nominally
of your own party.
There is no use mourning over lack
of the English system of government.
We can never have it, but you govern
ors. as we'll as I. have felt at times
the injustice of the criticisms which
come to the executive because of lack
of the English system
Hughes and Low Speak.
Governor Hughes of New York and
former Mayor Seth Low of New York
city were the speakers at the after
moons session of the conference.
Hughes discussed Governors confer
ences: Their Scope and Purpose" and
Governor Harmon. introducing Hughes
said: TN view of his recent announce
ment that he was going to retire from
public life, we are all sorry and hope
it is a limited announcement"
OONC4 ALOl I1uS5lACS oeil4 III Pal
Governor Hughes said in part:
when President Roosevelt called a
of governors of the states
to meet at the White house in May,
1908, he gave impetus to a movement
which could not be confined within its
original bounds. BY the action of the
governors then present provision was
made for a committee with power to
arrange for a further conference, and
this meeting is the result.
The present conference of COVER
nors is held on their own initiative
and is not limited to any one subject
Great as will be the interest attaching
to the question of conserving our nat
ural resources, and to the subjects
which may be presented for discussion,
the matter of fundamental importance
I believe TO be the consideration of the
potential advantage of these confer
ences and the best means Of securing
the full benefit they are able to be-
stow.
Limits for Efforts.
AT the outset the relation and prop
er limitations of our efforts should be
recognized We are here in our own
right as state executives. We are not
here. assume, to deal with questions
which are admitted to be of exclusively
national concern. These are matters
to be dealt with by the federal govern
ment. The people of the states, in
their capacity as citizens of the United
States. are represented by the presi-
dent and congress. We are not here
to accelerate or to develop opinion
with regard to matters which have
been committed to federal power. How
the federal administration shall be
conducted is not a matter which con-
Germs state governors in their official
Whether congress shall pass
a law or not is for congress to decide
and with respect TO this it is the presi-
dents prerogative to make recommend
ations. If congress acts within it's
power as defined by the constitution.
neither its authority nor the wisdom
of it's acts is the subject of challenge
by state officers, as such. If congress
and the supreme court of the
United States may so declare it.
Let Congress Take Own Course.
1--WE are not here to direct the in
fuence of the high Office to which we
have been chosen in the several states
toward matters outside our official cog
nizance 1t would be unfortunate in
my Judgment if there should be con-
fusion in the public mind with regard
to the proper agencies of national &C
ton. or if we should endeavOr to de-
velop in a meeting of the governors of
the states an extra constitutional body
to deal with questions which are mot
the conc Germ of states, as such Our in
fuence, l believe, will be enhanced,
and the gains to be derived from our
mutual intercourse will be far greater,
if we confine ourselves to those mat
ters which lie within our respective
spheres as state executives
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