The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-10-16
Senators and Representatives
informing Public that This
Divine Feast Is to Go by the
Boards.
PRESIDENT TAFTiS
IN ARMS AGAINST n
And He Is Being Assisted in His
Fight by Senator Carter of
Montana-Gossip from the
Capital.
eY SIDNEY EsPEY.

Washington, Oct. 15.-If President
Taft succeeds in reforming the pork
barrel system, by which name the
rivers and harbors appropriation bill
is familiarly known, he will do what
his predecessors have tried to do and
failed. Just at this season of the
year many of the national law makers
are telling the people through the
newspapers that hereafter there will
be no more pork barrels" for Presi-
dent Taft has signed the death war
rant for this species of legislative log
rolling
This kind of talk frightens the
folks who believe in liberal appropria-
waterways. and the effect is to make
them get busy and flood their con-
gressmen with petitions urging an
appropriation for the improvement of
Fish Harbor," but it is always be-
fore the short session of congress that
the cry against the pork barrel is
raised. and it 10 generally successful
in that congress seldom enacts water
way legislation then unless 1t be what
is known az an emergency river and
harbor bill carrying perhaps $8.OOO,-
600 or $4,000. 900. OF course such an
emergency measure II always indors-
ed by the board OF army engineers
snl->R..a A.
Another thing that operates against
the pork barrel at the short session
of congress Is that the opportunity to
trade" is not so potent as during the
long sessions, when members seek re-
nomination. The river and harbor
bill has always been known as a most
persuasive measure to assist house
leaders in securing legislation that is
backed by the administration 1t is
the great vote getter, and the treas
ury watch dogs" in the house often
fall asleep when the big waterway
budget is reported from the rivers
and harbors committee.
Senator Carter OF Montana is one
Of the presidents supporters in the
fight to reform the method of prepar-
ing the river and harbor bill. 1t is
but few years since that the Mon
tana senator talked to death a river
and harbor bill that had passed the
house by good majority If the
house ignores the presidents recon-
mendation next December in the mat
ter of correcting abuses to be found
in the river and harbor bill, and an
attempt is made to put through the
house such a measure at the short
session it can be set down that the
bill will be talked to death, an easy
matter at the wind up of a congress.
To Ask Authority.
According to the talk heard about
the civil service commission Offices,
President Taft takes a different view
of his power regarding the extension
Of the classified service than was en-
tertained by former President Roose-
welt, who issued the order converting
into the classified service some $4,000
fourth class postmasters as an exper-
iment
President Taft instead of issuing an
executive order to exempt from the
pie counter presidential postmasters
as has been suggested. will ask con-
gress for the authority 1t was point
ed out today that to place presidential
postmasters under civil service would
be an invasion of the rights of the
senate. as that body must pass on
all nominations. and a successful ap-
plicant for postmaster, who has been
certified by the civil service commits
sion for confirmation, might be repect-
ed by the senate and would have no
redress. To carry out the suggestion
OF this extension Of civil service will
require legislation and with the
known antipathy OF congress to the
civil service law ii is a pretty safe
prediction that nothing will be accom-
plished In this direction during the
short session OF congress.
1t will be recalled that former Pres
ident Roosevelt attempted to place
United States consuls in the classi-
fed service, but as the appointees had
to be confirmed by the senate the ex-
tension could NOT be made in the man
ner applying to other positions. To
get around the objection raised Roose-
welt issued an order to the effect that
all applicants recommended for con-
suls would have to pass an examina-
ton to determine their fitness, and
those who made the best showing
would be selected for appointment.
This order proved successful, and
state department officials say the SER
vice has been greatly improved by
reason Of the fact that a higher
(COQfiuued on Payo T~oN