New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-05
TFrom The Tribune Bureau.l


Washington, March 4.
TAFT'S FIRST YEAR--One year ago to-
day William Howard Taft took the oath Of
office as President of the United States
Because the calendar establishes this fact
il seems to be in order briefly to review
the accomplishments of the year, although
the value OF such review is greatly di-
Unfinished by the fact that the first regular
session of Congress in the Taft admins
tration is far from ended, and, therefore,
the Taft legislative programme is still pend
ing. For all practical purposes Mr.. Tafts
first year as President will not be COM
pleted until Congress adiourns. There has
been a special session of Congress at which
a tariff bill was enacted concerning which
opinion varies. and pending in Congress are
a number of important measures to the
promotion of which Mr.. Taft is bending his
energies Those who would form just
estimate of President Taft's work will en-
deayor to understand the view of the Pres
i6ent himself as we'll that OF his critics.
and will also strive to AVOID comparing MI
Taft's first year with the last of his prede-
cessor, difficult as that may be- The duties
OF the Chief Executive of the United States
are becoming more diversified and more
difficult every year. and every unprejudiced
observer must realize that 1t takes time Tor
each new President TO establish himself Sc
curely in the saddle.
THE TARIFF-No one who heard PTesi-
dent Taft's sincere anc anxious discussions
of the Payne tariff bin in the critical hours
of its birth can fail to realize that he
then made a far stronger argument in Its
support than he has ever succeeded IN
making on the public rostrum. First and
foremost in order of Importance he placed
the creation of the Tariff Board and the
imposition OF a corporation tax The mass
of conflicting and ex parte evidence pre-
sented TO the tariff committees OF Con-
gress clearly demonstrated to the legal
mind OF Mr.. Taft the futility of attempting
TO fulfil the platform pledge of the Repub-
lean party to make the tariff equal the diff
ference in the cost of production here and
abroad without at least approximately DEN
mite information as to shese costs. TINS
the proposed commission would furnish,
and therefore Mr. Taft regarded its crea-
ton as the first essential. In view of the
irtense opposition of Congress TO such
commission. its creation constituted a sig
nal triumph for the President. But III ad- !
clifton thereto Mr.. Taft secured the adop- !
ton of the corporation tax, which, II ad-
Judged CONSTITUTIONAL. VIII tOLipti every /
including, of course, all which |
are benefited by the tariff, TO submit to
the government a sworn statement OF their
annual net profits This record viii, i'll /
the opinion of the President, furnish an al /
most indispensable check on the testimony t
which the protected interests may be |
teunted to give before the tariff commit |
tees when the next revision shall be under
check
in oscillations of the Tariff Board. Had
there been no reductions of rates, the long |
stride taken toward that accomplishment /
wct-ld. in the opinion OF the President, have
warranted his approving the measure. But
he did secure in addition Some material re /
ductiOnS in rates, especially on necessities |
which he graphically set forth |
in lis speech IN New York on Lincoln $ |
Birthday And finally, by providing dual
tariff system, the Payne bill has enabled /
the administration to secure for the foreign
trade of the United States concessions the /
extent of which will not be known until
March 81 and even then will hardly be
realized.
PENDING LEGISLATION.-Pres /
Taft has urged on Congress the enactment
OF an interstate commerce bill which IS
the logical development of the policy OF
federal regulation of railroad rates, with
the addition of such federal supervision