Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-02-22
THREE YEARS OF TAFT.

his record and II Is safe to say thai
no president since the Civil war had
better report to give. Just read
1t over:
Arbitration treaties with Grea
Britain and France aimed at wal
have been negotiated and are now
before the senate. Similar negotia-
lions with other powers are pend.
ing.
Great trusts have been made to
feel that the statutes carry penalties
for them as well as for the small
trusts, and for the individual vio-
lator of the law An era OF calm
enforcement of existing law has been
inaugurated. The sugar corporation
was convicted, proceedings brought
against the steel corporation, and
the coal, whiskey. lumber and beef
corporations brought to court. More
than two score prosecutions are pend
ing. The Standard Oil and tobacco
cases have been completed and an
Interpretation of the Sherman law,
many years In doubt, obtained.
When a Democratic house threat
ened to involve the United States
with Russia in a too hasty annulment
of the passport treaty, President
Taft assumed the weight of respon-
sibIlity, and declared, In diplomatic
form, that the treaty would be abro-
gated upon the notice Of one year,
which 1t required.
Scientific tariff revision has been
put in place of political giving and
taking In such legislation. A tariff
board has been created and its in
vestigations have brought recon-
from the president for a
revision and reduction of the wooden
schedule. Other schedules are un-
der scrutiny preparatory to further
recommendation If they be found
to conflict with Republican platform
and his policy looking to
future revision on a scientific sched-
ule by schedule revision, has become
effective. The tariff bill, regarded
by President Taft as step in the
right direction, even though not
perfect measure, has turned a. $751;
900, 900 deficit into $S0,OOO,OOO
surplus. Wool, cotton and so-called'
farmers free list bills, originating
In a Democratic house, have been
vetoed because they violated the
Of the Republican platform,
that revision of the tariff should be
based upon the difference i'm the
cost of production at home and
Abroad difference upon which in
formation at that time was lacking.
The Panama canal has been
brought to a stage approaching COM
pletion, and the date of opening adj
vanced by several months through
systematic work.
The Arizona statehood bill was
vetoed because 1t provided for the
recall of judges. New Mexico has
now been admitted as a state and
Arizona has followed.
The post office department has
been placed upon a self-sustaining
basis.
A difficult situation resulting from
he revolution in Mexico. arousing !
leep feeling in the southern portions
If the United States, was handled /
With diplomacy and tact, and the
United States aided in the estab- i
ishment Of law and order in the !
republic through pre-
serving 1t In our own,
The treasury agents and customs
employees have been reorganized.
raud has been weeded out OF the
;Lstoms service, and many thousands
il dollars lost under fraudulent inn
,ortations have been recovered.
A Bureau of Mines has been
reated. Steps have been taken to-
ward a new employers liability and
compensation act and the
.doption OF additional safety APP
,liances on railroads.
A new policy as to river and har-
'or appropriations has been began,
he old "pork barrel" appropriation
ystem abandoned, and the business
'olicy OF continuing contracts adopt
ID.
Reciprocity with Canada was Of
cred, brought to a successful con-
fusion in the United States. and
allied because Canada evidently
bought the agreement gave us the
dvantage.
A treaty with Japan has been ne
,otiated bringing about genuine