The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-12-20
"UNTRUTHS"
SAYS PRESIDENT
Taft Replies to Accusers in
Connection With Fourth
Class Office.

v
. RECOMMENDATIONS IN BRIEF .
In his message 10 congress y
Yesterday. President Taft recon. .
. mendci: =
Legislation. permitting mem. =
= per OF cabinet to take part in dc. :
oatcs i'll either house.
Adoption Of postmaster gcner- =
: us pan for adjustment Of COM. =
. mail. =
= a revision Of the land laws. y
Lega1izing by congress of a y
court to review pure fuod law de- =
. An appropriation for the con. =
etructt0n OF a government build. :
. ing at the Panama exposition.
. =.
Washington. Dec. 20.-President
TAFT yesterday gave congress his opin-
lon of the charge that he had been
playing politics In his recent executive
ORDER. putting thi.t.l-s.N thousand
Fourth class postmaSiers under the
civil service. The president made the
countercharge that his accus-rs on
the floor Of the house were telling
~."untruths' and declared that he deep
~ regretted the failure of congress
to pass legislation which practically
would destroy the spoils system.
Criticism has been made Of this
order on the ground that the motive
was POLITICAL" said the president.
Nothing could be farther from the
truth. The order was made before
the election. and in the interest of
efficient public service. I have sev-
rral times requested congress to give
me authority to put first. second and
third class postmasters. and all other
omcers. including International revc-
nue. officers. customs officers. United
states marshals and the local agents
or other departments under the clas-
%siiication Of the civil service law by
taking away the necessity Of confirm
ing such appointments by the senate.
l deeply regret the failure of congress
to follow these recommendations. The
change would have taken out of poll
tics practically every local officer and
would have entirely cured the evils
growing out of what, under the pres
ent law. must always remain a REM
nant of the spells SYSTEM"
The presidents advice to congress
was contained in his third message Of
the year sent in today. 1t was de-
voted largely to a review Of the ac-
|complishments Of several government
departments not touched upon in
previous messages and TO recommen-
for legislation.
His Recommendations.
The president advocated q legisla-
ton 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 a vote. The adoption Of the
postmaster generals plan for adjust
ment Of compensation to railways
carrying mails, especially in view Of
the condition which will exist under
the parcels post law; a revision of
the land laws to secure proper con-
servation and at the same time assure
prompt disposition Of land that would
De turned over to private ownership;
would provide fofs leases of coal
lands. and. in respect of mining
claims. the disposition Of oil os-
phate and potash lands In the Unit
states; an act of congress which
would legalize a court, authorized to
review decisions on the pure food
such as are now made by the:
Remsen board. In this connection
the president approved the creation
g. 9 the Renasen board by Theodore
come for congress to recognize the
necessity for "a tribunal Of appeal
in pure food cases.
The president closed the message
with the recommendation that con-
gress appropriate money for q gov
eminent building at the Panama ex-
position at San Francisco and for the
Identification Of Washington. The
president expressed opposition to the
granting Of an elective franchise to
the citizens Of Washington.