The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-08-06
ADMINISTRATION IS
UPHELD BY TAFT
Many Benefits to People Have
Resulted From Legislative
Enactments, He Says
Continued From Page 1


the United States supreme court He
must organize a commission to investi-
gate railroad capitalization, a commits
sion TO reform business methods in
government departments universal
peace commission. He must appoint
FIVE lawyers as judges of the United
States circuit bench. who shall consti-
tute the court of commerce created by
the recent railroad law. AS one of the
men selected will be a member of the
interstate commerce commission, an
able successor must be chosen.
Nothing in the judgment of the
president is more important than the
appointment of the right man.
In addition Taft desires TO have his
annual message drafted before he re-
turns to Washington. He will have
to consider and pass upon the recon-
mendations of the army board of en-
gineers formed TO select the reclama-
tion projects which shall be carried
without dalay TO completion.
Every department has its large
questions of policy which constantly
are being placed before the president
for decision.
So far as what has been accom-
plished is concerned. the president is
proud of 1T. There ought to be no
doubt on this score. And some of the
pride he feels is founded in the fact
that the legislation enacted was
enacted by the regular vote of the
republican party
1t is true some changes were made
in the various bills at the instance of
the insurgents and democrats, but the
president aserts they were few in
number
The main features with the exception
of the tariff law, were foreshadowed in
speeches he made before congress as
Ii.
MESA ges and in bills which were es-
pecially prepared by his direction for
the consideration of congress.
The way in which the tariff law has
operated has given the president con-
sidera bic satisfaction. He fully justi-
fies the claim he made for it at Winona
that it was the best law of the kind
ever enacted. The value of the law as
g revenue producer is esta blished. With
reference to its effect upon the con-
sumner the president insists that it gem
orally is in his interest. Numerous re-
auctions were made in the duties on
necessities, while the increases related
to luxuries, such as wine and the like
Uroof of this fact and of the falsity
of the claim that the tariff is respon-
sible for the high cost of living has
been furnished the president. An in
Vestigator took the menu of a dining
car, which contained 80 items, applied
the tariff to each item. He found that
20 had been untouched, the duty on Is
had been reduced and there were in
creases on only five. The increases
affected olives, pineapples, sweetcake,
English plum pudding and wines.
PRICES NOT INCREASING
At a hotel where he stopped he took
like action, with the result that out of
the &c items on the menu there was
cfO he sc
and the remainder, % in number, were
untouched. At another hotel the same
procedure with respect TO IS items
showed nine reduction and no in
creases.
$50 far as the necessities of life in
the way of food products being affect
ed by any change from the Dingley to
the Payne bill are concerned" the in
vestigator concluded, ''the changes
made are ali downward. and we need
have no fear Of taking a radical posi-
tion in that respect"
The president never has made any
secret of his dissatisfaction with the
wool schedule and the cotton schedule.
These, by his direction are being scru-
tinized by the board of experts he has
appointed. with the appropriation
placed at it's disposal the board will
be able to make a thorough and com
prehensive inquiry and is certain to
get results, the president believes,
which will be highly advantageous.
He does not favor tariff commits
sion. Such a body, vested by law with
inquisitorial powers. would not, in his
judgment be able to obtain the COM
plete information which is necessary to
reach a correct conclusion, since it
would antagonize merchants and manu-
facturers and dispose them to block
efforts to get at the truth.
OPPOSED TO TARIFF COMMISSION
Moreover, the president, of course,
as he points out, is not the law maker.
Congress, uaGer the constitution, alone
has the right to make laws, and it is
questionable whether 1t could delegate
its power to any body of men.
Professor Emery chairman of the
Taft tariff board. has reported that the
experience of Germany has opposed that
country decidedly to the tariff commits
sion plan.
Real and immediate benefits, in
Taft's view, have flowed from the
legislation enacted. In the regulating
of railroads, the principal improve
ment he thinks, attends the institu-
termination of the legality of orders
made by the interstate commerce
commission.
Heretofore appeals have been taken
through the circuit courts to the
courts of appeals and thence to the
supreme court. This procedure has
lent itself to confusion of interpreta-
ton and to woeful delay. The presi-
dent believes the creation of a single
court, empowered to deal with ques-
tions arising from the action of the
interstate commerce commission, its
members voiced in the principles and
precedents controlling the application
of the interstate commerce laws, will
result in the establishment of a uni
form system of practice, in harmoni-
Gus rules, and in expedition. making
the work of the commission much
more effective than ever before.
PRAISES RAILROAD LAW
The railroad law also gives the com
mission power, of its own motion, to
Investigate the reasonableness of rates,
and if found unreasonable to fiXe those
which will be reasonable.
The commission is empowered to re-
adjust classifcations-a power it did
not have before, or which at least was
doubtful.
The shipper now has the right to de-
naand a written statement of the rates
from the authorized agent of the rail-
road company. The new law author
ICES tn Interstate commerce commits
sion TO suspend the operations of in
,raa ced rates until it can look into the