The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-03

WASHINGTON, March s.-This Is
the last day of The first year of the
Taft administration.
The catalogue OF things done and
things begun by PRESIDENT Taft makes
variegated reading. Among other
things. he has smashed TIVE presiden-
tial records. In point of railroad
mileage the present occupant Of the
White House in his first years travel
has topped that of any of his prede-
cessors. Colonel Roosevelt, during the
year in which he made the trip to the
Panama canal, probably journeyed q
greater distance, but not SO far in 4
Pullman sleeper. President Taft has
to date been hauled 20.6sS miles by
locomotive. In addition, he has set a
new mark in automobile mileage.
travelling about 5000 miles In this
fashion, Averaged. he has tourneyed
S. miles for each day In the year
President Tart has MAIDS 10
speeches. Colonel Roosevelt. who
gained quite reputation for loquaci-
ty. made only 24a in the last and most
speechful year OF his administration.
Two important congressional tnves-
legations resulted from conditions
transporting in the first year Of the
Taft regime--the conservation squab-
bic and the high cost OF living.
President Zeiaya Of Nicaragua lost
his Job as the head of the Central
American republic through mourning
the dispieasare OF the washington ad-
minsstration. As a result OF icsndf-
tons discovered by Collector Loeb at
New York. President Taft has weeded
cut those responsible for customs
frauds. and secured the indictmen,
OF sugar trust officials. He has also
ordered a new prosecution of the beef
trust.
During the year President Taft sent
eighteen communications to Congress.
Eight OF these were legislative mes
sages and ten were letters transmit
ting departmental reports or other
matter for the Information of the law
making body.
Action Delayed.
Action has not yet really begun In
Congress on the recommendations
made In the Taft messages To date
the only administration measure of
importance enacted has been the
Payne-Aidrioh tariff bill, with the cor
poration tax appendix. and provisions
for a customs court, tariff board and
maximum and minimum rates. in the
discretion of the executive. The pub
Iicity seature OF the corporation tax
law Is still held In allegiance on ac-
count OF lack OF appropriation 70
make 1t effective. and the customs
court has not yet been established.
With half the present session OF
Congress over. the bills especially rec
commended this year by President Taft
are still strangers to the statute
books. One has passed the House;
several have ben recommended for
passage by the various committees on
both sides, but most OF them have
been laid away until next session or
to a more distant epoch.
The House has passed the Arizona
and New Mexico statehood bill. and
that measure is now Ned up In the
Senate Committee ON Territories. The
Federal incorporation bill Is in charge
Of a subcommittee OF the Senate,
which IL reported to have locked It up
in a burglar-proof safe and thrown
the key away. One conservation bill
has been recommended for passage
out OF nine submitted.
Postal Savings Banks.
The interstate commerce bill. IN
clnding the creation of a commerce
court. will probably be passed by the
Senate and House after hea.y fight.
srroubious times have attended the
postal savings bank bill, but II Is
due to pass the Senate probably late
to-day The higher legislative body
has acted favorably on the measure
to issue 100000 In government
certificates to complete approved re-
clamation projects
On the House side the administra-
TONS amendment to the antt-tnJnnc-
ton laws Is held by the Committee on
Judiciary 1t has the hearty condem-