New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-28
rFrom The Tribune Bureau.l

Washington. Ma "a
PRESIDENT STILL OPTIMISTIC
President Taft ia still optimistic regarding
the success Of his legislative programme.
He has expressed to friends to-day his con-
foence that the railroad bill, the statehood
bill. the conservation bill and the postal
savings bank bill will pass. Anti-injunc
ton legislation he expects TO see go over
until next session. II Mr.. Taft actually
secures the enactment of even two OF the
measures on his legislative programme he
viii be accomplishing considerably more
than any of his predecessors. for. although
# is natural to see past administrations
only In the perspective. examination of
the records reveals the fact that few OF
them have succeeded in obtaining the
actual enactment Of any measure OF inn
rortance during the hrst regular session OF
Congress after their inauguration. This
was notably the case in the administration
Of President Roosevelt II was not Until
he had educated public sentiment. as well
as that in Congress. in favor of the meas
ures which he advocated that he secured
the enactment of any of Importance.
OF course those Presidents who have
called special sessions of Congress to enact
a tariff law have obtained legislation on
that subject. but that is in class by
itself Rarely have others secured legisla-
ton on which the preliminary work had
not been all done before they entered office.
Mr.. Taft will regard the enactment Of the
pending interstate commerce bill az nota-
BILE achievement, even # 1t be shorn OF the
provisions authorizing traffic agreements
and requiring federal control over railroad
securities. and the thinking public will
agree with him. AS has been pointed out
{,, Thn Trfh 10
clinchils the policies of a predecessor is
not the less necessary because 1t is less
spectacular, and those who have taken the
trouble to study the subject realize that the
legislation contained In the railroad bill as
IL will pass the Senate Is essential TO the
clinching Of the Roosevelt policy Of federal
control of railroad rates.
RAILROAD SECURITIES.-The Presi-
dent takes the view that il is still too early
to give up hope that the sections of the
interstate commerce bill which provide for
federal supervision Of railroad securities
may be enacted. The House has amended
these sections. and while they have been
stricken out in the Senate, there is little
doubt that the House conferrees will make
earnest effort to save them, an effort
which may be successful, as the President
heartily favors them. and the Senate
may prove more willing to accept con-
ference report which contains them than ii
TO vote for the proposition in detail.
The President Is confident that an accepta-
bic postal savings bank bill will be enacted
and indicates a preference for the House
measure TO that which passed the Senate.
He believes the comprehensive but supple
conservation BILL the withdrawal bill. which
has already passed the House. will be
amended by the Senate, and thinks this can
be accomplished by taking il up immedi-
ately after the railroad bill is sent to con-
ference and before the statehood bill. 1t is
obviously the policy of the President to hold
! out for all the measures on his legislative
programme to the end. possibly with the
hope that he will get at least half. AS has
been said, even half would constitute a
notable showing for the first regular ses-
sion after his Inauguration.
THE ROOSEVELT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
passed just one really important measure
during the session which succeeded Mr..
Roosevelts accession TO the Presidency
the Panama Canal bill. That was the first
canal bill. although the subject had been
debated in Congress for several years. The
bill passed in that year delegated to the
President the authority to choose between
the several routes proposed. There was
some Philippine legislation. The war taxes
were repealed, Chinese exclusion was re-
enacted, not at the demand of the Presi-
dent but rather against his best judg-
ment; the excessive tax on oleomargarine