New-York tribune., 1910-12-22
From The Tribune Bureau
WASHINGTON. December


Washington, December Il.
PRESIDENT ENCoURAGED.-Th holi-
day season began In earnest this afternoon
with the adjournment OF Congress for the
holiday recess. The President Will en-
deavor, after the strenuous days he has
experienced ever since his return from
Panama, to spend as much time as possible
with his family until after New Tears.
MI Norton. secretary to the President,
went away tonight to spend the holidays
IN the woods with his family, and members
OF the Cabinet and other high officials are
planning to spend the period from now un-
I'll New Years as much in accord with the
Christmas spirit as their duties will per-
init Best wishes for a merry Christmas
VIII not be offered to President Taft in
vain this year. for he begins the Christmas
season In a spirit of the utmost optimism.
and with hopes high for the success of his
legislative programme and q creditabie
showing for the administration and the
party. A series OF White House confer
ences have greatly encouraged him regard
ing the prospect OF really important iegis-
iation at this session. Thus far he has
discussed the situation largely in general
AS soon as the members of Congress re-
turn from their homes after New Years
ne Will begin to take up specific measures
President Taft does not EXPECT q long list
of legislative enactments but he is In
s1stently anxious for a measure which will
put the Tariff Commission on a permanent
and secure basis, safe from the hostility
OF the Democrats in the House. a hostility
which has been abundantly proved. The
PRESIDENT also wants conservation les,sIs .
ton and some measure of postal subvention
and believes ne will get them. He is most
insfstent that the appropriations shall be
framed IN accordance with the economv
programme Of the administration. and in
that respect, also. he has received much
encouragement. That there will be some
postai legislation also seems probable. and
altogether the situation is one we'll cal
cuiated 70 make the Presidents Christmas
merry ore.
ONLY WANTED LEADERsHIP.-The
PRESIDENT appreciates thoroughly the need
OF the party for leadership He ba. taken
Lns ieao' mas concentrated his efforts first
on tariff commission legislation, and al
ready has met with a measure Of success
Not only members OF Congress. but tho
press Of the country have welcomed Mr.
Taft's stand. and from all sections come
editorial testimonials Of appreciation OF the
actual good the Chief Executive Is doinc
his party by his firm stand and his insist
ence that this session shall not merely
pass the appropriation bills and adjourn s.
The attitude Of the press is having Its ef-
feet on members OF Congress. as is to be
expected. That discoura cement which
naturally followed the election is RAPIDLY
giving way to confidence in the leadership
nf Mr. Tof& rbpy st. /,
| and implacable ''stand-p -patisul" which has
In the past proved such a serious obstacle
to the policies of the President and to the
best interests of the party received such
a severe Jolt on the sth Of November that
even 1t is more tractable, as is abundantly
demonstrated by the attitude of the Senate
leaders toward q tariff commission and the
success of Representative Longworth in Sc
curing support for his tariff commission
bill. So far as the Senate is concerned, II
the Finance Committee does not soon
frame a measure of this character Senator
Lodge will introduce one in accordance
with the President & views.
DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION. - Refyr-
encs has been made to the Democratic op-
r.ozit'on 70 tariff commission. Last ses-
-cn Representative Longworth wa.
4-.LUrlaS 10 secure the appropriation asked
by the President for the continuance of the
labors of the Tariff Board, he summed uK
one section of his speech by saying:
sHThe gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Un.
derwood) the other day made most pow
| erful argument against this kind OF a tariff
commission ] have no doubt that the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr, Clark
agrees with him" To this Champ CLARK
promptly responded Absolutely" It was