New-York tribune., 1910-01-23
TFrom The Tribune Bureau. ]


Washington, Jan. 22-When President
Taft issued his famous executive order
of November 26 he wounded the pride of
many bureau chiefs far more, doubtless,
than he ever dreamed of. This is the
order which forbids subordinate officials to
address communications or make repre-
sentations to members of Congress without
the consent of the head of their depart
ment and it this order which Clifford
Pinchot violated when he sent letter to
Senator Dolliver to be read in the Senate.
Some of Mr.. Pinchots friends insist that
the order was issued solely to curb his
activities. But the fact is that practically
every bureau and division chief in Wash
ington-and there are considerably more
than one hundreds convinced that the
President had him in mind when he penned
the order. and is further convinced that the
head of his particular department inspired
the order. OF course, the President had
In mind no particular bureau or official,
but recognized that such an order was
essential to proper discipline and the pres
entation of a harmonious policy TO Con-
gress.
One OF the first policies enunciated by
President Taft was that of economy in the
executive departments. To that end he in
partments should scale their estimates to
the lowest figure compatible with efT1Cftnt
service, and this was done Mr.. Taft. hav-
ing enjoyed long experience as Cabinet
officer. was fully alive to the fact that
every bureau chief who possesses sufficient
enthusiasm to be of any value entertains
more or less exaggerated idea of the i'm
portance of his particular line of work, and
is convinced that his bureau should be
greatly increased in the number of its en-
ployes and the amount of its appropria-
tions. 1t would have been futile to insist
that the heads of the departments cut their
estimates to the bone, and ther permit
each bureau and division chief to appeal to
his friends In Congress greatly to increase
the appropriation for his pet branch of the
government work. Knowing that. and
being determined to adhere TO a co-ordi-
mated plan with regard to appropriations
and to policies generally Mr.. Taft issued
his executive order, to the intense indigna-
ton of the chiefs. one and all. Only one.
however. dared openly to violate it.
Precisely as navy reorganization COM
pletey fills the horizon of naval staff Of
ficers, however, do trees exhaust the
fertility of the gray matter of the men
in the Forest Service. and to suggest to
them that possibly the President con
sidering either economy or the navy when
he issued his order of November 26 is to
invite such scorn as would completely
crush any individual less self-confdent
than newspaper correspondent In
word, any bureau chief in Washington
will tell you whom President Taft had in
mind when he issued that order. His ex-
panation will involve a long account of the
narrator's personal influence with mem
bers of Congress and present cogent rea-
sons for believing that the Chief EXecu-
tive was moved by an almost uncontroll-
able fear that such influence might be
used to obtain for his particular bureau
an amount of consideration somewhat pro-
portionate to it's importance to the well
fare of the 100000 of American people,
and wholly out of proportion to the mar
row and restricted view of the Cabinet
officer under whom an unwise Congress
has placed its administration. Fortunately
for the President, his time Is so occupied
that he has had no opportunity to learn
the dire fate that awaits the country as
the result of his executive order of No
vember rs and its enforcement. But he
will learn by the time the Republican party
holds its next national convention. every
bureau chief says.
The Senate Committee Postofflces and
Post Roads will meet next Wednesday to
take up the question of postal savings
banks, and every effort will be made 10
report a bill at the earliest possible date
The committee will consider the bills in
troduced by Senators Carter. Burkett and
Borah and it is probable that the commit
tee bill will he combination of the best
features of the three All will not be plain
sailing for any bill of this character in the
Senate, and this appears to be largely due
to the attitude of the insurgents, who led
by Senator Cummns, abetted by Senator
La Toilette. will endeavor to add to the
n easure certain populistic features calcu-
lated TO appeal especially to the peculiar
class of Republicans to which they owe
their political existence IT is entirely prob
able that Senator Carters bill will be so
modified as to place the deposits in the
postal savings banks beyond the reach of
attachment, and il is also possible that the
provision that the funds of the federal in
stitution shall constitute a first lien on
the assets of any institution in which they
are deposited will be waived but i'm that
case it Is probable that only national banks
will be made lawful depostaries. Senator
Cummins insists that the government
should deposit the funds N the localities
from which they are received, in state and
national banks alike, and should exact no