The chronicle=news., 1912-12-19
v. H. TAFT
SCORES HIS
CRIT|CS

Washington. d. c. Dec. IL
President TAFT todny gave run ;r.ss
hi opinion Of the charge that he had
been playing politics In his recent,
cNccltiv. order putting 80 1000 fourth
class postmasters und"r the civil SER
vice. The President made the conn
or charge that his artuscIs on III"
| floor OF the house w.;o telling "un-
ruths and declared that h" deeply
..."ti.d til. failure OF congress TO
pass legislation which practically
would dc1;roy the 'spoils system.
Criticism has been made of this
order ou the ground that til. move
was POLITICAL said the President.
Nothing ocnid be- farther from the
truth The order was mad. bcfor.
the election and In the intcres, of cr-
fici.nt public service, have several
times requested congress to Civ. me
authority To put first. second and
third class post master aud all other
local officers. including international
revenue officers, the customs Officers.
United States mRrshnlIs and the local
der the classification or he civiI scr-
vic" law by taking away the Necessity
of confirming such appointment by
III. senate.
~ deeply regret the failure OF con.
yrcss to follow 'h.s. restrictions.
TIL. change would have taken cut Of
roll'ics practically every local oiilc-
"r and would have entirely cured tn.
evils growing out OF what. under the
present; laws. must a'ways remain a
icmnHr, OF the npo!is systrm."
The Presidents nddr.sg to con-
grcss was contained In his third mes
sag. of the year. sent In today. It
vas devoted largely TO review OF the
OF several govern
-~""' """arimcntx not touched upon
In previous messages and to rcstrIc-
~ ior legislation The president
ad, ocatcd:
LEGISLATION Which would permit
member. of the t1-.n1. to sit In
either hourc Of congress. with the
right to enter into debate and answer
questions but without 4 vot.
TIL" adoption OF the postmaster
generals plan Tor u rcadJustmcni Of
compcnsat tion to railways carrying
mails especially In view of the con-
ditions which will exist under the
parcels post law.
4 revision OF the land laws to sc-
cure proper conservation and at the
sam. time assur" prompt disposition
of land that should be turned over to
private ownership.
Legislation affecting Alaska which
wouli provide for leases OF coal lands
and In respect TO mining claims. the
disposition OF oil. phosphate aud pot
ash lands In III. United States.
IN act OF congress that would l.-
calizr cour, authorized to review
decisions on the pure food law such
boards.
In this connection the President
approved the creation of the Rcmscn
board by former President Roosevelt.
but said the time had come for con-
gress to recognize the necessity for "a
tribunal OF appeal, In pur: food
cases.
While We are struggling to sup
press Rn evil OF great proportions like
that Of impure food said the Prcsi
dent. 1--WE must provide the machin-
cry in the law itself to prevent its
becoming an instrument OF oppression
and We ought to enable those whose
busincss Is threatened with annihila-
tion to have some tribunal and some
form of appeal in which they hav. a
complete day in court.
The President closed his message
with a recommc II dation that congress
provide for government, building at
the Pnnama-Pacific exposition at
San Francisco. for the Identification
OF washington. ~
In his discussion of the capital he
said that a public utilities commits
sion was needed
The Prcsidcu, expressed opposition
TO the granting of the electric fran
chise to citizens of Washington and
endorsed the plans of the commission
of fine arts for city improvement.