The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-25
xeT PLAYING POLITICS.
TAFT USES PLAIN LANGUAGE TO.
WARD CONGRESS.
frcfers Serious Charges -- Maintains
Members Have Been Giving Utter
s1ces TO Untruths About Re4,ent
POstOffiOe Order.

fOStO0tOe Order.
Washington. Dec. 1s.-Presiden
Taft today gave congress his opinio,
OF the charge that he had been play
Ing politics IL his recent executiv,
order putting $4,000 fourth class post
masters under the civi. service. Tn,
president made the countercharge tha
his accusers on the floor Of the hous:
were telling 'untruths" and declared
that he deeply regretted the failure ot
congress to pass legislation which
practically would destroy the "spoi
system"
| Criticism has been made of thl.
order on the ground the motive Wa,
political" said the president.
Nothing could be further from the
truth. The order was made before the
election and In the interest of ef.
ncient public service I have several
times requested congress to give m.
authority to put first. second and
third class postmasters and all other
local officers. including internal re.
venue officers. customs officers.
United States na-snals ond the local
agents Of the other departments un-
der the classification of the civil ser
vice law by taking away the necessity
OF confirming such appointments py
the senate.
II deeply regret the failure of con-
gress to follow these recommendations.
The change would have taken out OF
politics practically every local officer
and would have entirely cured the
evils growing out Of what. under the
present law. much always remain a
remnant Of the spoils system"
The presidents advice to congress
was continued In his third message OF
the year. sent In today.
The president advocated: Legisla-
tion which would permit members of
the cabinet to sit In either house Of
congress. With the right to enter into
debate and answer questions, but
without q vote.
The adoption Of the postmaster gem
erals plans for a readjustment of
compensation to railways carrying
mails. especially In view Of the condi-
tions which will exist under the pur-
cells post law.
A revision Of the land laws to Sc
cure proper conservation and at the
same time assure prompt disposition
of land that should be turned over
TO private ownersnip.
Legislation affecting Alaska which
would provide for leases Of coal lands
and In respect to mining claims. the
disposition Of oil. phosphate and pot
ash lands In the United States.
An act Of congress which would
legalize a court authorized to review
decisions on the pure food law such
az are now made by the Remsen
board.
In this connection the president ap-
proved the creation Of the Remsen
board by former President Roose-
Welt. but said that the time had come
for congress to recognize the necessity
for tribunal Of appeal In pure food
, cases.
while we are struggling to sup
press an evil Of great proportion like
that Of impure food" said the presi-
dent. I'VE must provide the machinery
In the law itself to prevent Its becom-
ing an instrument Of oppression. and
we ought to enable those whose busi-
ness Ia threatened with annihilation to
have some tributal and some form Of
appeal in which they have a complete
day in court"
The president closed his message
with a recommendation that congress
appropriate for a government build
ing at Panama Pacific Exposition at
San Francisco and for the beautifi-
cation Of Washington. In his dis
cussion OF the capital he said that
n public utilities commission was
needed. The president expressed op-
position to the granting OF the cleo
tive franchise to citizens Of Washing
ton and Endorsed the plans OF the COM
mission of fine arts for city improve
ment.