New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-11

Washington, April 10.
a REIGN OF Somewhere in the
cherished archives OF the nation, probably
in the Constitution OF Massachusetts. is the
assertion that this is 10 be government
NJ law. not men. but much of the comment
70 be heard at this time seems TO indicate
that such a conception has become old
fashioned and no longer meets with popular
approval THE Taft idea" said a former
high Official to-day. lis TO search the stat
utes and nnd II they prescribe action. and
II not. % take none or course. with such
method nothing Is accomplished. The
statement Of the position of this admins
/ tration is not correct II is only a near
truth. Had this man said. The Taft idea
is first 10 search the statutes and find i
I they contain any authorization Of the pro
posed action" he would have been accurate.
Nor is ID true that on this principle nothing
VIII be- accomplished. The Taft idea means
deliberate progress. OF course because II no
authority for a proposed policy is found
the statutes IL is necessary 20 induce Goa
gness TO confer the authority on the Execu-
tive before action is begun. II is admit
tedly wearisome TO those who want quicN
action 20 have 10 await the tedious DELHI
eraticus OF Congress before they see some
cherished Policy undertaken. but there are
some excellent Judges who predict that time
viii demonstrate that any other policy is
unsafe.
JUST FOR INSTANCE.-If the policy OF
pursuing any line OF action not specifically
forbidden by the statutes were strictly adj
hered 30 * would soon become the duty Of
Congress 10 enact only prohbitory statutes
. and every reform would be put in practice
10y the White House. For instance, IL
would not be necessary to ask Congress 10
authorize the establishment Of postal saw
. ings banks for their establishment is not
prohibited by statute The Executive would
establish -he hanks according 10 his own
. ideas, Congress never having thought %
prohibit them. So. too, the Executive would
grant federal charters 10 corporations.
which are not prohibited. Congress might
subsequently prescribe some limitations.
tut the Executive could charter al the
trusts be chose before Congress had time
u act. Convinced that the low postage rate
on magazines vEs responsible for the postal
+ defcit the Executive could prescribe a
higher rate. ON the ground tina: Congress
had never prohibited il. for the determine
ton Of what shall constitute second class
matter rests with the Executive. who need
Only create new claSSlflcailon for maya
zines calling 81. say. fifth class" matter.
OF course. these assertions sound absurd
but they are The logical outcome Of the
adoption 81 a policy which many serious
minded persons maintain the Taft admin
istration should adopt
ROOSEVELT AND INDIANA.-There e
considerable amusement among those init
mate with Colonel Roosevelt al the reports
from Indiana 20 The effect that il Is ex-
rected that the colonel viii hasten 70 the
Hoosier state 10 conduct a campaign for
the reelection If Mr.. Beveridge TO the Sen
ate. These reports are obviously based on
the assumption OF q relationship between
the eX-President and Mr.. Beveridee which
never existed. and on an expectation that
the colonel viii take a view Of the Payne
tariff Jaw which is regarded here as most
unlikely. 40 ore better than Mr.. Roosevelt