Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-09-05

his right foot in bandages and wearing on
it q loose felt slipper instead Of shoe
The foot was injured several years ago
while MIR. Taft was playing golf and late
yesterday he strained 1t again. He was
able to stand without aid tonight, and
did not use a cane in walking. The Presi-
dent left for Washington at eight o'clock
to- night to keep an engagement there to-
morrow with the international Associa-
ton of Applied Chemistry. He will re-
turn by way of New York, where he will
board the yacht Mayhower and on the
way he will stop at New London, Conn,
to address the Atlantic Deeper Waterways
association.
LUSTY CHEERS FOR TAFT
The President was wildly cheered when
he entered Faneuil hall tonight. Con-
geessman Greene of Massachusetts had
preceded him and had praised the Pres!-
dent for his veto of the legislative. execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bill when
it contained a provision to limit to seven
years the teure of civil senrvice employees
Congress tried to put Mr.. Taft in a
hole said Mr. Greene. Hes pretty
big man and it takes pretty big hole to
put him in.
The President began by praising the
faithful skillful intelligent" en-
ployes of the government who have
built up the machine of government
in 125 years. so that no matter what
President. or cabinet officer or bureau
chief leaves Washington for the va
cation. the public business goes on
and the government wheels still turn
He said that he had personally OBJ
served that machine in operation for
many years and knew its faults ana
its good points
Tine charge has been made" said
the President with a bang of his fist
on the speakers table, that govern
ment employees are overpai1. That Is
not true know hundreds Of men IN
/ Washington who are not compensated
within FIVE times or even ten times OF
what they would have received under
modern conditions in other lines. DO
not mean to say that favor an ad-
vance in salary Of five or ten times
what they get now. hut the govern
ment should assure these men OF per
manance Of tenure and that they will
| be taken care Of in their old age"
JOINT PENSION SYSTEM
The President explained that once he
favored a system Of straight-out pensions
for government employees. After observa-
ton Of tho working Of this system abroad
however he had come to the conclusion
that it was not the best and that /,
made for smaller salaries and less rapid
advancement for the worthy.
And now" he continued. II believe
in a system that might be called an EN-
forced system of pension where the gov
eminent pays part and the employees con
tribute as we'll"
Mr.. Taft gave his reasons for the veto
Of the legislative bill. He said that no
only did he oppose 1t, because 1t was un
fair and because it was placed before hin
in an improper dress. because 1t would
have accomplished nothing but mad'
the life of congressman and president
concerned in reappontments unbearahle.
1.-THE bill would have accomplished
nothing good said the President III
would just he like beating the devi
around the BUSH
With a picture of how many appoint
ments were made in the days before civil
service the President concluded his ad
dress:
1T must have been a perfect hell IL
those days he said. Il speak witt
emphasis because ! do not know any
thing connected with the government
that so interferes with the administra
ton Of the office as the application
and the pressure that are brought u
hear to m those offices that are no
now under the civil service"
Before boarding his private car 10
Washington. the President was a CUES
at dinner of Congressman Weeks
Massachusetts,.