Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-06
OBJECTION is TW0F0LD
President Against the Seven Yeal
Tenure Provision.
THINKS IT BACKWARD STEP
Second Reason Is Clause in Measure
Relating to Abolition of Com
merce Court.

President Taft is practically certain to
veto the legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation bin. containing the seven
year tenure provision applying TO civil
service employees. This can be stated on
high authority. The Presidents objec-
ton is twofold. the first being the slap
contained at the clerks of the govern
ment. and the second the abolition of the
Commerce Court. 1t is not probable.
though, that the President would veto
the bill IL 1t did not contain the seven
year tenure scheme. The President re-
CARDS this as a distinct backward move
in civil service and has stated that he
believes In going forward instead of back
ward in the treatment OF clerks I'm the
employ of the government.
Mr. Taft has conferred with Civil Serv-
Ice Commissioners Black and Washburn
about the proposition. Mr.. Washburn and
Commissioner McIlhenny, majority OF
the commission. oppose the provision.
while Commissioner Black is not opposed
to 1t.
1t looks as if the President will have
quite a job in the veto line before Con-
gress adjourns. That he win veto the
tariff bills has already been stated in The
Star. He began work yesterday on some
of these veto messages. On his return
from Ohio he will find one or two of the
tariff bills on his desk awaiting action.
Sends Two Veto Messages.
The President today sent two veto mes
sages to Congress. in addition to an i'm
portant message on the Panama canal.
One Of the vetoes was that Of Senate bill
4S49. entitled IAN act relating to inherited
estates in the five civilized tribes in okla
homa.' The President stated that his
reasons We're the same as those Of Secre-
tary Fisher Of the Interior Department.
also forwarded to Congress The other
veto today was that OF House bin 20S47.
to authorize the construction of a dam
across White river at or near Cotter.
Ark. The White river is a navigable
stream In addition to speaking OF other
dams on this river the President bases
his objection to the bill on the following
grounds:
by a provision inserted into the bill
since its introduction in Congress- IT is
provided that upon the expiration OF the
federal permit the dam shall become the
property Of the state of Arkansas at the
option OF said state. In my opinion. this
provision is likely to introduce serious
complications in the orderly development
OF navigation in the river The lower
river is being improved by a series OF
dams belonging to the federal govern
ment. This dam, situated in the upper
reaches of the river. is. according to the
report or the engineers. capable or De-
coming q part OF this general federal
improvement of navigation. To introduce
a diversity Of titles into a series OF dams
which may all become eventually a part
Of single improvement directed at the
same end would. in my opinion. be highly
objectionable.
Furthermore, the policy Of this provi-
sion would seem to be in conflict with the
policy Of the general dam act OF June q.
1910. by which, at the expiration of such
a permit, the control and title OF such a
dam apparently vest in the federal gov
eminent, as pointed out in the recent final
report Of the national waterways commits
sion, page 81.
Some Other Reasons.
1.-The bill also fails to reserve to the
federal government any right to receive
from the grantee OF this privilege any
compensation therefor to be used in the
interest of furthering the navigation Of
said river This is a subject to which
the national waterways commission has
given much study and made urgent rec
concentrations. and in regard to which
the Secretary OF War has. with my ap-
prevail. written a letter. under date Of
July 30. 1912, to the chairman of the
committee on interstate and foreign COM
merce of the House Of Representatives.
In view. however. of the serious objec-
ton to the bill. contained in the provision
which / have already discussed. l do not
deem it necessary to enter into a discus
sion of this feature OF the bill"