Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-01
Makes a Very Strong Plea for
The Arbitration Treaties.
Backs The Constitution Against
All Proposed Reforms.
Urges increased Salaries for the
Judges-.Touches on Patents.

Boston, Aug. 31.-"Arbitration Of dis
putcs between nations is coming Glow
~, but surely coming said Presf-
dent Taft in his address today before
the American Bar Association, which
concluded its 3fth annual convention
in this city tonight. The President
briefly reviewed the proposed general
arbitration treaties with Great Britain
and France and made il plain that in
his nniniGn the objections made To the
treaties were invalid.
President Taft declared emphatically
that there is room for improvement in
procedure in the federal courts. And
upon US" he said falls the burden of
Initiating reform in that respect" The
chief justice of the United states SUI
preme court. tie said has taken that
matter In hand. with his associates and
the district Judges. and has called a cont
ference III Washington whore they will
formulate new rules of procedure. The
President declared this 70 be great
step in The direction of practical reform.
lie said that there was need Of increas-
ing judicial salaries So that "Tho best
mon Of the bar might be secured for
the various courts.
The President motered in from Bev-
erly. and when he appeared in the con-,
vention hall. he vas welcomed with
Hearty cheer No formal introduction
was spoken President Edgar H. Far
rar Of the Bar Association one of the
largest men at the convention. merely
expressed his purpose to retire In favor
of n man who was bigger than he in all
dimensions. After speaking the Pres
ident returned To the. summer White
House.
Beverly. Mass, Aug 91.-President
Taft carried his appeal in behalf OF
The British and French general arbi-
tration treaties to the LAWYERS today.
If could not help getting on my hob
by. he said, as 10 ended his speech.
The President motorea into Boston
from Beverly. spoke for 20 minutes
ut the morning meeting Of the Amer
lean Bar Association on what he
termed subjects of interest To lawyers,
talked for five minutes more on arbi-
tration and then motored away again.
Mrs. Taft came with him on the 20
mile ride through the rain, but stayed
in the White House automobile put-
side Huntington han and did not hear
the speech.
Tho President aimed his argument
for the treaties 81 the Senate foreign
relations committee, which, he said.
took exception TO the part which pro-
vides that the Joint high commission
determine whether q question is''Jls-
tioeable" aud therefore one TO be set
tied by arbitration. Tie committee
held this part of the treaty a deleca-
ton Of powers by the Senate, the Pres
ldent said, and therefore it objected.
There were not, he said, @any
more powers conferred by the censti-
tuition upon the Senate than there
were conferred by the constitution up
on the Executive. | think this is
pretty plain because the Executive
mas to initiate and tho Senate has to
agree TO the treaties before they can
go into force. Now. my proposition
is this, that if the Senate has newer
to ratify an agreement which shall
bind it, and tie government, or rather
which shall bind the government. and
therefore bind it, to consent To The
adjudication of any class of questions
arising in the future by a board of
arbitration, then it necessarily follows
that ii has the right to consent To This
treaty"
Referring TO his hope that the SEN
ate would not modify the treaties the
President compared the nation TO 4
sick Indian. You know they say the
Indians when they ere sick don't Ike
any medicine. except son,ething that
bites. something that is bad to take.
said the President. II don't \thinlL
that We shall really get ahead with
this arbitration business unless Ne
are willing 20 assume an obligation 10
execute a Judgment that may bite and
may be bad for us 10 sal<e. If we
are going To take the position that we
viii wait until the question arises, and
then conclude because we don't think
we can win in the arbitration case
that ii is not snstifiab!e question,
then we have written our promises in
water. and We have made agreements
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