Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-12-28

the finished ship. This is at present thu
case with the single exception Of tho
naval constructors, whom II is now pro
posed to amalgamate with the line.
COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE.
l urge again upon Congress the desi-
ability OF establishing the council OF ma
tional defense The bill to establish THU
council was before Congress last winter
and It Is hoped that this legislation will
pass during the present session. The Dur.
pose OF the council Is to determine tn,
general policy of national defense and t
recommend to Congress and to the Presi.
dent such measures relating to N az 1,
shall deem necessary and expedient
No such machinery Is now provided nv
which the readiness OF the army and
navy may be improved and the program,
OF military and naval requirements shall
be co-ordnated and properly scrutinized
with a view to the necessities OF the
whole nation rather than Of separate de-
partments.
For the consideration OF matters which
are pending or have been disposed Of in
the agricultural department and In the
department Of commerce and labor. I
refer to the very excellent reports Of the
secretaries Of those departments shall
not be able TO submit to Congress until
after the Christmas holidays the aues-
ji,r Of conservation OF our resources aris-
ing in Alaska and the West and the aues-
tion Of the rate for second-class mail
matter in the postoffce department
rho law does not require the submission
IF the reports OF the commission on
economy and efficiency until the 3l.t Of
,1La haI ha obi
submit a report Of the work Of that COM
mission until the assembling OF Congress
after the holidays.
CONTRIBUTORY PENSION SYSTEM.
! have already advocated, in my last
rruial message. the adoption OF a civil.
service retirement system. with a con-
trihutory feature to IL so as to reduce TO
minimum the cost to the government
Of the pensions TO be paid. After con-
-'dcrble reflection. ! am very much op-
posed to n pension system that involves
ro contribution from the employees
think the experience Of other govern
moHts iustifes this view: but the crying
necessity for some such contributory sys-
t.'". with possibly a preliminary govern
- .ntal outlay, in order to cover the initial
cost and 70 set the system at once while
tG" contributions are accommodating, Is
manifest on every side. Nothing will so
delivery service
much promote tho economy and efficiency
Of the government AS such a system.
wish to renew again my recommenda-
ton that ali the local offices throughout
tho country, including collectors Of In
tornsl revenue. collectors OF customs,
rostmasters Of all four classes. immigra-
zion commissioners ana marshals. should
Ho 49," law covered into the classified serv-
lee. the necessity for confirmation by the
@orato 10 renewed. and the President
and the others, whose time is now taken
mp in distributing this patronage under
tho custom that has prevailed since the
lo-iuring Of the government In ac-
cordancc with the recommend p ton OF the
senators ana congressman Of the majority
ratty should be relieved from this
burden
am confident that such a change would
greatly reduce the cost Of administering
tho government and that It would add
greatly TO its efficiency. 1t would take
away the power to use the patronage OF
tho government for political purposes
When officers are recommended BY sena-
tors and congressman from political
motiIos ana for political services rem
der-d. II is impossible to expect that while
N Office the arpointees will not regard
their tenure more or less dependent
Huon continued political service for their
ratrons. and no regula tons. however stiff
or I'D, will prevent this, because such
regulations. in view of the method and
motive for selection, are plainly incon-
s.. ;ont and deemed hardly worthy Of
respect.
WM II. TAFT.
TIL" White House, December 81, 1871.