Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-09-05
TAFT CHEERED
BY POSTAL men
TELLS p. o. EMPLOYEES CIVIL
SERVICE BOON TO EXECUTIVE
IN ENDING sPolLs.
L1MPs ONTO STAGE
Old Hun Sustained on Golf Links 10
Renewed; Crowd Goes Wild 40
Congressman Green ExteIs
Republican Candidate.

Boston, Mass, Sept. 4.--President
Taft last night contrasted the condi-
tions that confronted president ~ the
days Of the spoils system with the
system OF appointment under the civil
service, attacked the democratic house
OF representatives for attempting to
limit the tenure Of government en-
ployes and declared that 90 long as he
has the power no old government clerk
need fear discharge unless the United
States has provided a system OF civil
service pensions to keep him from want
in his old age.
The president spoke In Faneuil hall to
several hundred postoffice employees
now In convention here. He said that
the Job OF president in these days IS not
considered, but the times OF Lincoln, he
added, must have been perfect hell"
More than anything else he has en-
co,ftltered in the white house. Mr.. Tart
said, the filling OF vacancies that are
not under the civil service has proved
irksome and distasteful to him ana
three times ne has urged congress IN
special messages to extend the blanket
OF civil service to all government en-
ployes.
Linps on Stage.
Mr.. Taft motored In from Beverly
three hours before his train LETT for
washington last night to speak to the
clerks. He limped into. NFanueil hali
with his right foot in bandages ana
wearing on it loose felt slipper IN.
several years ago while Mr.. Taft was
playing golf and late Monday he strain
ed It again He was able to stand with
out aid last night and did not use a
cane In walking. 1t was expected that
he will be able to 60 out on the links
again when he returns to Beverly sat
urday.
Ats o'clock last night the president
left for Washington to keep an en-
tional Association Of Applied Chem
istry. He will return by way Of New
York. where he will board the yacht
Mayflower, and on the way back VIII
stop at New London, Conn.,, to address
the Atlantic Deeper Water Ways as
ISOLATION. Charles D. Hilles, chairman
OF the republican national committee,
and George r. Sheldon, Its treasurer,
will be his guests over night Thurs
day on the MayNower. Mrs. Taft prob
ably will take the trip.
President Wildly chsersd.
President Taft was wildly cheered
when he entered Faneuil hall last night.
Congressman Green OF Massacnusetts
had preceded him and had praised the
president for his veto Of the legislative
executive and judicial appropriation
hill when It contained provision to
limit to seven years the tenure OF civil
service employees.
The president began by pralsing the
faithful, skillful. Intelligent" employees
who have built up the machine OF gov
eminent in 1875 years so that no matter
what president or cabinet OFFICER or
bureau chief leaves washington for va
cation. the public business goes on and
the government wheels still turn. He
said ne had personally observed that
machine in operation for many years
and knew its faults and It's good points.
"The charge has been made, he de-
clared with bang Of his fist on the
speakers table, that government EN-.
ployes are overpaid. That IL not true. l
know hundreds Of men in Washington
who are not compensated within hve
times or even ten times OF what they
wn,,Id have received under modern
conditions In other lines. / do not mean
RI saw that I favor an advance in sal
ary Of five or ten times what they get
now. but the government should assure
these men Of permanence OF tenure and
that they will be taken care Of In their
old age
Favors Enforced Pension.
The speaker explained that once he
favored a system Of straight out pen
sions for government employees. After
observation Of the working OF this sys-
- - -