The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-11

furious TO the legitimate interests OF
national enterprise and industry; the
daily work of administering these laws
and of endeavoring to carry on the
great, increasingly complex business
of government without perpetual tur-
MOL and commotion. but none the less
efficiently and adequately, is far less
attractive to spectacular Imagination
and can only be done by men who are
content to endure misrepresentation
and misinterpretation of their acts and
to look to the future rather than to
the present for a vindication of their
motives and a justification of their
deeds.
1.-THE administration of President
Taft has been a little more than one
lyear in office. That it has accom-
plished much in that time is abundant
ly attested by the volume of criticism
and by the increasing vehemerce of
attacks upon it.
when any administration fails to
arouse criticism and abuse. especially
from its political opponents, it is GER
tain that it has ceased to perform
any other function than the mere adj
ministration of the ordinary routine
business of government, and has for
feited all claims to be considered an
instrument of progress"
| What Taft Has Done.
| After this fundamental explanation
| of the objects of the administration
and the conditions under which 1t had
| to work he plunged into the heavy Cle-
| mark:
"Now, what has the Taft admins
tration accomplished in the first year
| of its existence ?"
His answer followed:
''In the first place. omprehensively
stated, it has. to the extent of the pos
sible limits of executive action. full
filed every pledge made by the Re-
publican platform of 1908 y
The tariff was first taken up as fol-
lows:
president there has been enacted
tariff bill which is a distinct step to-
ward lower scale of import duties
and which opens the door to the free
exchange of commerce with the Phil
ippines.
by the enactment of the maximum
and minimum provisions of the tariff
law a powerful weapon has been
placed in the hands of our govern
ment for the protection of American
commerce with foreign countries
against unduly discriminatory prac-
tees by those governments, and yet so
temporarily and considerably has this
weapon been used that. contrary to
predictions so freely INDUCED in when
the bill was passed, the executive has
been enabled to apply the minimum
tariff to every country in the world
with which we have trade relations.
'"The establishments of a tariff
board has for the first time in our ma
tional history made provision for the
scientific accumulation and study of
accurate information bearing upon the
questions which lie at the foundation
of our protective system.
1.-THE president has already asked
congress to appropriate $250,000 to
carry on more effectively the work OF
the tariff commission"
Discusses Corporation Tax.
He then discussed the corporation
tax, the deficit resulting from the new
tariff which it was intended to counter
act and the role it was hoped it would
play in giving federal supervision of
the accounts of corporations. which
might be of value in future tariff re-
visions.
"It is believed that the advantage to
the country of obtaining this informa-
ton in this way far outweighs the I'M
Willingness of corporate managers, big
or little, to disclose the financial re-
suits of their business operations. 1t
has been urged, however, on the part
of those Interested in small incorpor-
ated businesses that the information
required to be furnished by them may
be used by their larger competitors to
their detrimelIt. 1t was certainly not
that the information required by it
should be used for any unfair or I'M
lawful purpose, and an amendment
protecting against mere meddlesome
examinations Of returns by those who
have no legitimate interest therein
would in no respect thwart the benefi- |
cent purposes of the law.
Recommendations to Congress.
After mentioning the creation of a |
customs court the various measures
with regard to which che president r
done all in his power, and responsible |
ty for the furtherance of which now
rest on congress, were enumerated |
that:
In a series Of special messages, deal
ing with particular subjects, the presi-
dent has recommended to the congress
the enactment of amendments to the
interstate commerce law:
A law providing for the organization |
under federal charters of corporations |
to engage in interstate commerce.
The establishment of postal saw
ings bank system.
The enactment of laws giving the in
terstate commerce commission the
power to determine upon the uniform
construction OF appliances used by
railroad trainmen i'll the operation of
Amendments making the employers
liability act more easy to enforce.
Laws carrying out with intelligent
the principle of con-
serving the national resources.
The establishment of a national
health bureau
Laws requiring publicity OF cam
paign contributions.
Regulating the procedure in federal
courts concerning the issuance of in
functions.
166dQJuSllIS the COH- |
corning postage on second class mail
matter SO as 20 require magazines and
periodicals to bear their
fair share of the cost of carriage in the
mails.
He then took up the work of the ad-
in fields other than that
of legislation. noting the fostering of
American industries in foreign coun-
tries by the state department, the con-
struction of Argentine cruisers in the
United States, the introduction of civil
service principles into the diplomatic
&c ~--oI kIo nancrYIar carxyfon and |