The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-02-04
is A lawyers
ADMINISTRATION
TAFT Regime Puts Emphasis on
Legal End.
Difference ONE OF METHOD,

This Element In the BaIlinger- Pincho
Fieht-Taft Meets a New Form o
Insurgency - Regulars RevoItin!
Against His PoIicies-Federal Ii
cense Bill In Danger.
Washington, Jan. 20. = The funda
mental difference between the Taf
and Roosevelt administrations seems
to be one of methods Not only are
the temperaments of the two men di
verse but their training Roosevelt is
the man of ideals and of action, the
rough rider. Taft is the lawyer and
Judge. With Roosevelt the chief thing
was results. To use phrase that he
himself largely brought into vogue, be
did things'-did them according to
accustomed forms if possible, but any
way did them. With Taft. the judge,
the form is so important that it comes
almost into first place. He, too, may
do things and probably will, but al
ways according to law. If the last
administration was Strenuous" this
one will be legal. One had in view
the work to be done, the other the way
of doing it; one the goal. the other the
road to the goal. The lawyer slant
of this administration became appar-
snt with the appointment of the cabi-
net. 1t has been in evidence most Of
the time since. So much does 1t insist
hot is annnGa6 in
some quarters of being strict con-
structionist. If the BallingerP
controversy is analysed to the bottom
this element will be found the chief
thing in it. Pinchot Is of the Roose-
welt school. He believes in doing
things-by law, if possible, but doing
them anyhow. To put it in his own
way, he tried to do everything for the
people that the law permitted or did
not prohibit him from doing.
Regulars Become Insurgents.
A new form of insure ton Is ap-
ppariug in ,'uI. gress, and this time 1t
comes not from the progressives, but
from the regulars, and Is directed not
against Cannon and Aldrich, but
against Taft Strictly speaking. it is
not new revolt, as Roosevelt had
the same sort of opposition, but 1t is
at least new to this administration. 1t
has put forth its head against the pol
icies advocated in both of the presl-
dents special messages, the points or
attack being the commerce court and
federal license features in the rail-
road message and pretty much the
whole scheme in the conservation mes
sage. 1t had been hoped that opposi-
ton to the conservation program had
practically disappeared from this con-
gress. but such does not seem to be
the fact. Representative Mondell the
chairman of the public lands commit
tee in the house, refuses to introduce
the administration bills because he
does not believe in them. Represent
alive Mann, chairman of the house
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce. declines to introduce the
Taft measures for a railroad court
and federal Incorporation on the same
ground. Thus the president is meet
ing an insurrection which comes closer
home than that directed at Cannon.
Federal License and State Rights.
The opposition to the federal incor-
poration law is so pronounced that the
defeat of the measure is freely pre-
dicted. Outside of any question OF
party the state rights sentiment is
far from dead, as evidenced by the
meeting of the house of governors.
Nor are the state rights people the
only ones who are opposing the federal
license law. The corporations them
selves are against it, possibly on the
ground that they think it easier to
control some state legislatures than
the congress of the United States.
Just how it will fare with the admin
other measures-the postal
savings bank, ship subsidies and the
rest-is not yet settled. but each is GER
tain to arouse a fight My own guess
would be that most of the presidents
measures will pass. as
will also his railroad recommendations
outside of the commerce court and
federal licenses. both of which are In
doubt. The postal savings bank bill
may succeed IL Cannon and Aldrich
are sufficiently cowed, and the ship
subsidies bill in some form may win.
Yet congress has a way of smothering
or sidetracking things that look as If
they would go through sailing. and 1t
Is too early to predict with certainty.
Is MaeVeash Against Central 6ank7
In a New York interview Secretary
Of the Treasury MacVeagh predicts
that the central bank scheme Of Sem
ntor Aldrich's monetary cOmuittee
will not pass congress. OF course the
commission has not yet re-
ported for a central bank. but every
BODY understands that it will do so
In its own good time. When IL comes
II is likely to arouse one of the hottest
fights in the history Of the American
congress. Even when It is merely a
distant prospect parties are forming
for and against II. While Mr.. Mac
veagh did not say in so many words
that he viii oppose the measure, bis
prophecy Of its defeat would indicate
that he will do So Somehow Aldrich
and Macveagh did not hit 1t of at all. /