The San Francisco call., 1910-01-22
TAFT SUGGESTS
THAT SENATOR'S
GET TO WORK
Big Executive Reminds Leaders
That They Are Not at Cap-
itaI for Vacation
Dignified SOlOns Are Humble
and Chastened Bunch After
the Interview

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.-President
Taft read in the papers today that the
senate was marking time while the
house was struggling with the various
appropriation bills. He sent for SEN
ators Penrose of Pennsylvania, Crane
of Massachusetts and Carter of Mon
tana and asked why it would not be a
good thing for the senate to get busy"
on some of the measures he had recon-
mended. Senator Aldrich being absent
from the city was not included in the
summons.
The president broached the subject of
the postal savings bank bill. The SEN
ators summoned are members of the
committee on postoffices and postroads.
Penrose is chairman and Senator Car
ter is sponsor for the measure.
But some senator's" it was suggest
ed in reply to the president, are not
warm advocates of postal banks. In
fact, such states as Massachusetts and
Pennsylvania, strongholds of savings
lhstltulAoiis, dl z iOl a. ali III ldNoi VI
the scheme
But" the president argued. the re-
publican platform calls for postal saw
ings banks and surely you senator's are
going to redeem the party pledges"
But what about the house?" This
was propounded as a poser.
President Taft is said to have as
sured the senators that they need not
worry about the house.
TAFT IN COMMAND
It's a case of water running down
HILL said one of the presidents callers
later. He does not have to go to
the regulars or the insurgents, either
They have got to come to him. Every
man on Capitol hill is looking for an
other term, and he's got to have some
thing to go before the people on. Con-
gress has got to do something, and all
the republicans, regardless of the fight
against Cannon or the rules committee,
are going to vote for Taft's measures"
So it happened when Senators Pen
rose, Crane and Carter left the White
House, the last named, acting as
spokesman for the trio, declared:
THE postal savings bank proposition
will become law at this session"
VIEW OF LAW
The president believes, first of all, |
that the postal banks will not interfere
to any appreciable extent with the
regular savings banks which pay from
3 to per cent interest, as against the
2 per cent interest proposed to be paid
by government banks. He believes
that the government banks will bring
out many millions of dollars now kept
in stockings. He thinks also it will
prevent the great outflow of cash to
European banks each year.
The argument to the banks and
hnanciers is that deposits in the gov
ernment bank will permit the govern
ment to take up the s730,oOO,0 900 OF 2
per cent government bonds issued,
which are drug on the market.
Besides the postal savings banks bill
Taft wants other administration meas
ures enacted. The president ranks his
commerce law as of first
Importance and he so indicated his po-
sition to the senators this afternoon.
FOR CONSERVATION
The president told his callers also
that he regarded at least one of the
conservation bills he has recommended
to congress as of prime Importance.
This is the bill to validate the with
drawal of lands containing water power
sites, coal and phosphates.
The important thing, the president
believes, is to validate withdrawals
made under the former administration
and during the 10 months of the pres
ent administration under the doubtful
power of the discretion of the secre-
tary of the interior. The president
wants this power unquestionable. The
valuable Alaska coal lands are included
in the Withdrawals which Taft is
anxious to have validated.
CAUCUS RULE
Throughout the present congress, it
is agreed, the caucus rule is to pre-
vail in the house of representatives.
This is credited to efforts of the pres
ident The power of Speaker Cannon
and the rules committee has been so
far impaired that the caucus is con-
sidered the best and fairest means of
providing for legislation.
Before each caucus is held the pur-
pose of the gathering is to be an
nounced and no other subject is to be
considered. Regulars and insurgents
are to be invited, and in this way the
administration believes 1t is assured Of
the support of all republicans.