Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-19
State Executives Received
By President Taft
Also Attend Dinner al White
House in the Evening.
Gov. Hughes and Seth Lowe Speak.
ers tuesday Afternoon.

Washington, Jan. 18.-In welcoming
the conference of Governors at tke
White House this afternoon. President
Taft INDUCED in little gOod-natured
speculation as to how the English sys-
TEN of executive authority might work
III this country, especially with re-
sDect to giving the executive the right
to argue matters out with the legisla-
tive branch ard go before the people if
necessary. He said he would like to
Lave heart to heart talk with some
of the governors as to their methods
of procuring legislation. Il would es-
pecially like to ask Gov. Harmon how
he manages with a Republican Legis-
lature out in Ohio said the President.
Il can assure him that there are strug
giles even when you have a Congress
which nominally is Of your own party.
There is no use mourning over our
| lack of the English system of govern
| ment in this country, for we can never
| have it, but you governors. as well as
| !, have felt at times the injustice of
criticism which comes to an executive
because OF a lack of the English sys-
| tenn"
Il regard this movement as of the ut
| most Importance said the President.
The federal Constitution has stood the
| test more than 100 years in supplying the
powers that have been needed to make
the central government as strong as it
ought to be, and with this movement to-
ward uniform legislation and agreement
between the states l do not see why the
Constitution may not serve our purpose
always-I speak to you as gentlemen who,
can influence legislation in the states and
T'ho are in a sense responsible for it.
II have thought that the British sys-
TEN presents in certain respects better
system than ours, in view Of inevitable
responsibility of the executive for legis-
lation, because there the executive is not
only the executive but also has control
over the legislative action of the gov
crnment, leads the Legislature and indeed
goes out when the party head is not able
to control the majority of the Legislature.
ut seems to me, without ever hoping
or suggesting that there can be any
change in our system, for it's rigidity has
advantages, that still as a system would
present a great many opportunities that
you and I would like to seize upon to
argue out questions to the Legislature,
and not only to argue out questions but
to save them time by giving them consid
cradle information on subjects in regard
to which they are not advised 1t short
ms, am sure, the course of legislation
but we have not got that system, we
,aven't it in any state, and we are not
going to have it, so there is no need of
mourning over the fact that we cannot
have it.
1T is because you do have such great
influence in molding the legislation that
your meeting to secure uniformity of
laws is so important and significant
Il feel that this is the beginning of
conferences that are sure to lead in the
end to an adjustment of the state legisla-
ton that shall make our country capable
Of doing so much more work in the public
God than we ever have before thought
possible.
President Taft addressed the COVER
| !ors as MY dear fellow executives and
| elbow sufferers"
Governor Hughes of New York and
'~rmer Mayor Seth Low, of New York
| ity were the speakers at this after
loOn's session.
| Governor Hughes suggested that it
| vas obvious the next meeting of the
Governors should be held at some state
,apital instead of in Washington and
| urged state cooperation on matters
Gffecting the states.
Mr.. Low presented report OF the
Civic Federation on the drafting OF
Uniform laws, urging uniformity as to
negotiable instruments, warehouse re-
ceipts, bills of sale, bills of lading and
divorce 1t also called for speedy CO.
operative action looking to suppression
# the white slave evil so that no state
should be a harbor of refuge for white
slaves from another state.
The report recommended model in
ternal pure food and drug legislation
| after the national law. protested
| against Legislatures make such amend
ments to spoil the uniformity of legis-
alton intended to be uniform, stamped
the warehouse receipt act as the law
Of the Anglo Saxon world enacted by
II states including New York, where
it had been most opposed, and said SO
states had enacted uniform nego-
liable instruments laws and declared
that the uniform divorce legislation
through the procedure it prescribed
was designed to put an end to migra-
tory and fraudulent divorce.
General Lewis Wagner of Philadel-
ohia urged on the convention the send
ing Of representatives from the yari-
| GUS states to join with the r.Fiftieth
| anniversary of Gettysburg commission
in arrangements for observance of the
battle day in July, 1913
Tonight the governors attended a
dinner at the White House Governor
Pothier of Rhode Island will nreside
at the session tomorrow.
TOTAL 9,744,0oo BALES.