The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-01-26
POSTAL SAVINGS BlNKsLIKELY.
TAFT DETERMINED To MAxr
GOOD PARTY PLEDGES.
President Calls Three Senator's Re.
fore Him, and Asks Why Some of
the Measures Recommended by
Him Should Not be Taken Up by
the Senate Now, and They Promise
To Get Busy.

To Get Busy.
washington, Jan. 21.-President
Tart read in the papers TODAY that
the senate was marking time while
the house Is struggling with its vari-
Gus appropriation bills. So he sent
Tor Senators Penrose, Of Pennsyl-
vania; Crane, OF Massachusetts,. and
Carter, Of Montana. and asked wbv
1t would not be good time for the
senate to get busy on some of the
measures he has recommended"
The President broached the subject
or the postal savings bank bill. All
three OF the senators thus summoned
are members Of the committee on
postoffice and post roads. Mr.. Penrose
Is chairman. Senator Carter is spon-
sor for the measure.
But some senators, it was suggest
ed in reply to the President. are not
warm advocates Of the postal banks.
But. the President argued, the Re-
publican platform called for postal
savings banks, and surely the sena-
tors were going to redeem the party
pledges.
But what about the house? This
was propounded as a poser.
President Taft Is said to have as
sured the senators that they need not
worry about the house It is said
that there is every reason to believe
that the house Is coming around all
right
Every man on Capitol Hill Is
looking for another term and he's
got to do something, and all the Re-
publicans, regardless Of the fight
against Cannon or the rules commits },
tee, are going to vote for Mr.. Taft's
measures" said one Of the Presidents
callers today
So it happened when Senator PEN
rose, Crane and Carter left the White
House. the lattersS acting as spokes-
man for the trio, declared:
"The postal banks, however, win
not be the trst OF the Taft measures
considered. The President ranks Ais.
recomna Qne Ter changes II ma
'1ntsf.stsl llelgs law as 81 drst !
Importance, p he SO indicated his
position to I've senator's this after
noon.
The President told his callers also ,
that he regarded at least one of the
conservation bills he has recommend
ed to congress as Of prime Importance.
This is the bill to validate the with
drawal Of lands containing water
power sites. coal and phosphate.
President Taft believes that the
senate should go ahead with these
three masures at once and then, he
says, the house can get them in some
sort of shape and can put the meas
ures through in short time once the
supply bills are disposed Of
The President is confident that Sem
ator Aldrich will do all he can to fur
ther the purpose of the postal saw
ings bank bill. This bill, it is argued.
will give the leader of the senate an
opportunity to show the people of the
country that they are to get their
share of the benefits of forthcoming
financial legislation. Mr.. Aildrich is
anxious to secure the support Of the
country for the new currency laws
and the central bank Of issue, or
whatever form the legislation may
take, and the President believes that I
the best way to secure this support is
first to provide for the postal banks.
Throughout the remainder Of the
present Congress it is agreed the eau
Gus rule is to prevail in the house Of
representative. This state of affairs
is accredited to the foes Of the Presi-
dent. The power of Speaker Cannon
and the rules committee has been so
far impaired that the caucus has
come as the best and fairest means
Of providing for legislation. Before
each caucus is held the purpose Of
the gathering is to be announced and
no other subject is to be considered.
Regulars and insurgents alike are to
be invited to such caucuses, and in
this way the Administration believes
it is assured Of the support OF all Re-
publicans.