The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-01-19
TAFT LIKES
SYSTEM USED
IN ENGLAND
Addresses Governors on the
English System of Exec
utive Authority

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.-In well
coming the conference of governors at
the White House this afternoon, Pres
ident Taft INDUCED in little good
natured speculation as to how the
English system of executive author
ity might work in this country, es-
pecially with respect to giving the ex-
ecutive the right to argue matters out
with the legislative branch and go
before the people if necessary. He
said he would like to have a. heart to
heart talk with some of the gov
errors as to their methods of obtain
ing legislation.
Il would especially like to ask Gov
ernor Harmon how he manages with
a republican legislature out in Ohio"
said the president. Il can assure him,
that there are struggles even when
you have a congress which nOminally
is of your own party.
There is no use mourning over
our lack of the English system of gov
eminent in this country, for we can
never have it, but you governors, as
we'll as /, have felt at times the in
justice of criticism which comes to
the executive because Of the lack of
the English system"
President Taft addressed the gov
errors as MY dear fellow executives
and fellow sufferers
Governor Hughes of New York and
former Mayor Seth Low of New York
city, spoke at this afternoons ses-
sion.
Governor Hughes discussed "Gov-
errors Conferences-Their Scope and
Purpose" Governor Harmon of Ohio.
presiding officer, introducing the New
York governor as one who had shown
qualities we all want to see in public
life"
I'm view of his recent announcement
that he is going to retire from public
life" said Governor Harmon, 81 want
to say we are all sorry and hope it
is limited announcement"
Next Meeting Elsewhere.
Governor Hughes suggested that it
was obvious the next meeting Of the
governors should be held at some
state capitol, instead of lin Washing
ton, and urged state cooperation oil
matters affecting the states.
Mr.. Low presented a report of the
civic federation on the drafting OF
uniform laws, urging uniformity as to
negotiable instruments, warehouse re-
ceipts, bills of sales, bills of ladlng
and divorce. 1t also called for speedy
cooperative action against the white
slave traffic.
The report recommended that pure
food and drugs legislation be modelled
after the national law, stamped the
warehouse receipts act as the law of
the Anglo-Saxon world enacted by
II states, said SO states had enacted
a uniform negotiable instruments law
and declared that the uniform divorce
legislation is designed to put an end
to migratory and fraudulent divorce.
Hammond Gives Dinner.
Tonight the governors attended a
dinner given by John Hays Hammond
and the regular reception at the White
House.
President Taft told the governors
he would have been glad to have had
them hold their sessions at the White
House, but that their committee and
himself had concurred in the belief
that it would possibly be better to
hold the sessions in a neutral place,
SO to speak"
Il regard this movement as of the
utmost Importance" he added. 1.-The
federal constitution has stood the test
Of more than 100 years in supplying
the powers that have been needed to
make the central government as
strong as it ought to be, and with this
toward uniform legislation
and agreement between the states,
do not see why the constitution may
not serve our purposes always.
Il have thought that the English
system presents in certain respects
better system than ours in view of
inevitable responsibility of the ex-
ecutive for legislation, because there
the executive is not only the execu-
tive but also has control over the