New-York tribune., 1910-01-18
TAFT ON LAW DELAY
rs FOR UNIFORMITY.
Pinchot, Parker. Lou, Other
Federation Speakers.

Washington, Jan. 17-President Taft and
Clifford Pinchot whom the former recently
removed from his position as head of the
Forestry Bureau. to-day spoke from the
same platform In addressing the National
civic Federation. now in session here TO
discuss problems of uniform state legisla-
ton Both received hearty greetings
Representatives of almost every branch
OF human activity met to-day at the con-
ference TO talk over ways and means for
bringing about uniformity of laws relating
to child labor. marriage and divorces pure
food and pure drugs. conservation of natu-
raj resources and laws relating TO nego-
table instruments. bills of lading and other
matters affecting the business and social
life Of the nation.
President Taft when he appeared at the
morning session. was greeted with rounds
of applause Serious attention was accord
ed the President throughout his speech
which was a careful presentation OF the
needs of uniformity upon the part of the
states in laws looking TO an auelioration
of existing conditions.
Felicitating the Civic Federation for their
good sense in meeting in Washington, es
pecially al the same time as the meeting
of Governors, President Taft said that from
Washington everything radiated TO the
furthermost parts OF the country. And
you are not the only citizens OF the United
States looking in the direction OF Wash
ington-there are others" which statement
was met with round of hearty applause.
CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYER.
In discussing the movement started by
the Civic Federation for uniformity in state
laws, President Taft said that it was the
outgrowth Of a demand on the part of good
cluzens TO bring about better conditions
in the social fabric. He defined a consti-
tutional lawyer, as "a gentleman who has
gone out OF the practice of law and has
gone into politics." which called forth
laughter and applause, and cries of Good -
Good
Tracing the growth of Capitalization of
power in the general government in con-
tradistinction to the power of the states.
he said that the early appointment OF Chief
Justice Marshall made Capitalization pos
sible, because he exercised that power
which a good judge exercised with his col
leagues-"he did not minimize the power
of the Constitution
The President said that there should be
uniformity in judicial procedure and he
the system deserved attack it was the de-
lay that could be obtained by the wealthy
under judicial proceedings. He advocated
such changes in the form of federal court
proceedings which could be taken as an
example by the states. He wanted court
procedure sin1pIihed along the lines of Eng
lish practice. both in equity and criminal
law
CONCERNING CHILD LABOR
Mr. Taft told of the movement for a uni
form law relating TO child labor, and cited
the utterances Of the Governor of Massa-
chusetts in behalf OF a federal law reg1-
lating child laDor because the power OF the
federal government was greater than the
power OF the state
Speaking on the subject of conservat tio,
the President said: The federal govern
ment has no power TO compel owners of
forests TO attend to those forests with a
view to the welfare OF the community of
the neighbors who live there or of those
who are affected by the denudinz of the
land by the trees. That must be done
through state government. II it is done ar
all. So with respect 10 many OF rhe
streams. Indeed II one follows legal rea-
soning If will seem, I think. that there is
more TO be done by the states in the con-
servation of resources even than by the
federal government"
Clifford Pinchot was one OF the principal
speakers at the afternoon session or the
conference. He said that subjects such as
forest preservation had been advocated by
Americans for more than a hundred years,
but that the control of water power uonop-
oily in the common interest was younger
than the present century.
With President Taft as the cen trail figure