The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-19
GOVERNORS LISTEN
WHILE TAFT TALKS
President, Under Cover of Jest
Ing, Speculates on Our
System of Control.
HALF INCLINED TO FAVOR
METHOD OF ENGLAND
Feels Injustice of the Criticism
That Is Heaped Upon Our
Executive.


ing the conference of governors at the
White house this afternoon President
Taft INDUCED in little good natured
speculation as TO how the English sys-
tenn Of executive authority might worlS
in this country, and especially with re :
spect to giving the executive the right TO
argue matters out with the legislative
branch and go before the people II neccs-
sary. He said he would like to have a
governors as to their methods OF obtain
ing legislation.
Question for Harmon.
II would especially like tc ask Governor
Harmon how he manages with a Republi-
can legislature out in Ohio. said the
AIR, Taft, that there arc struggles even
when you have a congress which nomi-
nally is OF your own party.
ac n ,bs is no n5rH Use mogrning over our
ment in this country. for We can never
have IT, but you governors, as we'll as
], have felt at times the injustice Of
criticism which comes to the executive
because of the lack Of the English sys-
tenn"
President Taft addressed the COVER
fellow sufferers
Governor Hughes of New York and
former Mayor Seth Low. New York City.
spoke at this afternoons session.
lOplCS OlScuSSeQ-
Governor Hughes discussed Governors
Governor Harmon OF Ohio presiding OIL
Ger. introduced the New York governor
as one who has shown qualities VIC all
want 20 see in public life
In view of his recent announcement
that he Is going 10 retire from public
life.' said Governor Harmon. II want TO
say we are all sorry and hope it is a
limited announcement
Governor Hughes suggested that IL was
obvious the next meeting OF the COVER
nors should be held at some state capl-
tai Instead OF in Washington, and urged
state cooperation on matters affecting
the states.
Mr.. Low presented report OF the Civic
federation on the drafting OF uniform
laws. urging uniformity as 10 nego
Instruments, warehouse receipts. bills of
sale. bills OF lading and divorce. II also
called for speedy cooperative action
against the white slave traffic.
Recommendations Made.
The report recommended that pure food
the national law, stamped The warehouse
receipts act as the law Of the Anglo
Saxon world enacted by seventeen states
said thirty-clght states had enacted a
uniform negotiable instrument law and
declared that the uniform divorce leSis-
lation is designed 10 put an end TO mi
gratory and fraudulent divorce.
tonight the governors attended a din
nor given by John Hays Hammond and
the regular reception at the White house.
President Is Jovial.
President Taft told the governors he
would have been glad TO have had them
mold their sessions at the White House.
but that their committee and himself had
concurred in the belief that II would
possibly be better TO hold the sessions in
u neutral place, so TO speak, where they
would feel more independent, and where
things could he said and things
could be done which perhaps might be a
little embarrassing in doing when they
were under the executive shadow.
81 regard this move OF the greatest i'm
portancc. he added. The federal consti-
tuition has stood the test OF more than
100 years in supplying the powers that
have been needed 10 make the central
and with this movement toward uniform
eGlSldtlon and agreement between stales
do not see why the constitution may
lot serve our purposes always. speak
10 YOU as gentlemen who can influence
egislation in the states and who are in
l. sense responsible for IT,
Praises English System.
II have thought that the English sys-
en- presents in certain respects better
.ystcm than ours In Wow of inevitable re-
iponslbilitF of the executive Tor leSiSla-
ion because there the executive is not
,nly the executive, but also has control
,vor the legislative action of the govern
mont. leads the legislature and. indeed.
goes out when, as the party head. he is
lot ahlc TO control the majority OF the
csislatuTc.
'It seems 20 me without hoping OF Sug-
.eStins that there can bc any change IN |
ur system--lor its rlgiditr has adEan |
ages-Still that system would present a |
ood many opportunities thar YOU and / !
would like TO seize upon to argue out |
uestions TO the legislature and not only |
o argue out questions, hut to save them |
inc by giving them much Information on |
,ibjcctS In regard To which they arc not |
dviSod.
which arc TO lead In the end |
0 adjustment OF state legislation that
hall make our country capable OF doing
o much more team work IN The public
ood than We ever have or ever before
bought possible.