New-York tribune., 1912-03-05
THEDA AVINWASHINGTON

iponressinp on Congress the necessity ioI
the LEGISLATION he urges and to educating
public sentiment 10 a point where 1t would
co,,nol SIC renresentatives In the national
,ogielat,ra IN act In the opinion Of Mr..
Taft. such legislation would not only re-
move all possible suspicion regaruihe "'e
selection Of delegates from the ooutie' u
states but il would make Tor marKeu
economy in the public service ana "ouiu
save the Chief Executive from an cNacune
demand on his time which Is Whoiy oiS-
proportionate to It's importance.
LODGE AT PRINCETON. - Senator
Lodge will speak at Princeton on MAJ
on the initiative, the referendum anu w
recall. and those who have learne" soiii.
thing of the character of the Senator au-
dress believe the young nen OF t'@' i'
tuition have a treat IN store FOR theh'' @oii'
curiosity has beer expressed by thosc N"o
90 not know the Senator from Massacnu-
eetts as IN whether he would mOdly MS
views I'm the light of the columbus speech
or might oven seek To cancel his engage
ment. lie will. Of course. do neither y"
deed, it is quite probable that the ldc' ''d'
upwarranted opinions on these lSsueS ~
receiving wide circulation has only serNeu
10 impress upon Mr.. Lodge the ne'esslE
for telling the truth as ne sees u IN 'i'e
clearest and most explicit manner ana |"
an audience which is likely TO prove lai
more receptive than most of those WHICH
face a public speaker. Regarding the re-
call Of judges as inimical TO American lhsu-
tltions. the Senator from Massachusetts
regards the recall Of Judicial decisions a.
oven more abhorrent, and there Is no uoup'
that he will handle tho subject At Princeton
with his CUSTOMARY clarity and fearlessheSs'
4 GOOD BILL-Thero are few measures
before Congress moro deserving OF genera
supnort than that introduced by Represent
ative Martin. Of South Dak'I. Vhich IS ue-
signed to relieve the new riios raPI1IS
growing up in connection with the govern
ment reclamation projects from a naIuShlp
,hey must endure until sucn legislation lS
passed Mr. Martins bill would authorize
the Secretary of the Interior |" oeNot'
half Of the proceeds from the sale OF iots
in the towns established in connection W''h
the irrigated tracts to the development ana
Improvement of such towns. This was the
eNpectation Of those who passed the re-
clamaton act, which provided for the set
ting apart of certain areas as town SITES
their sale in small parcels, etc, hut ade-
ouate provision for the use OF part OF the
proceeds for the Improvement Of the towns
was not Incorporated In the law. Many of
these towns have been built up. They are
by government owned land, sub
iect to irrigation, but not taxable until
It is taken up. Nor are the unsold lots
20 \ "A
consequence. the entire expense of supply
ing improvements building schools, ETC.
falls on the pioneers and becomes a heavy
and an unnecessary burden. The town oI
Powell. Wyo, furnishes an example. The
site consists II 60 acres. Scventy-three
acres have been sold in town lots. and the
ueopIe arc in need Of Il school. waterworks
fire protection. etc, but can assess taxes
only on tho soventy-threc acres, tho re-
naming 567 being exempt, a condition the
continuance Of which must prove hard
ship to the pioneers and serious deterrent
TO further growth.
INAUGURATION DAY. -- Once more
March I in Washington has demonstrated
its unhtness as the date for great open
air ceremony like the Inauguration ~ the
President of the United states. II has been
an overloaded. raw and disagrecablc day.
when exposure in the open air for any con
siderable time would have proved not only
hardship but menace 10 health. The
weather conditions served 10 revive the talk
AT the Capitol Of the necessity Of taking
steps to change tho date. although with the
mind Of every member Of Congress so pre-
occupied with politics the subject is likely
10 end in talk II is commonly remarked
that only some great catastrophe. such as
the death from exposure OF a newly elected
President or Vice-President, will serve 10
make sufficient impression on Congress 20
effect n change. G. G. n.