Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-12-19
ALMOST SHORT AND
UGLY WORDIUSED
BY PRESIDENT
v. /. TAFT
Charge by Democrats Of Play
ing Politics" With Post
masters Denounced by Elk
ecutive as Untruth in Mes
sage to Congress.
DEFENDS REMOVAL OF
OFFICIALS FROM POLITICS
ray Leased wire to Evening Hcraldl

tBy Leased Wire to Evening Hcraldl
Washington, Dec. ~. - President
TAFT today gave congress his opinion
OF the charge that he had been play
ing politics In his recent executive
order putting $4,000 fourth -Class
post masters under the CINil service.
| The president made the counter
charge that his uCCuscrs on the moor
of tho house were telling "untruthS
/ and declared that he deeply regretted
the failure of congress To pass lcgis.
lHtiOn which practically would destroy
the "spoils system"
"Crnlclsm has been made ~ this
| order ON the ground that the motive
was political" said the president
| Nothing could be further from the
truth. The order was made before
the election, and In the interest OF
public service. | have several times
| requested congress To give me author
| lty To put first, second and third class
postmHsters, and all other local ON
GERS. including internal revenue of
| ficerE. the customs officers. United
| States marshals and the local agents
| OF the other departments under the
| classification of the civil service law
by taking away the necessity ut con
| tlrming such appointments by the scn-
ate.
"I deeply regret the failure of con
gress to follow these recommends
tons. 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 laws, must always remain
u remnant OF the spoils system"
The presidents advice To- congress
WAS contained IN his third message
OF the year, sent In today. II war de-
voted largely 20 review Of the nc
mental departments not touched upon
1 In previous messages and Ia recon-
mentistiOns for legislation. The pres
ident advocated:
Legislation which would permit
members Of the cabinet to sit In
either house of congress with the
right to enter into debate and an
swer questions but without vote.
The adoption Of the postmaster
generals plan for a rcHdIustmcnt Of
compensation to the railroads carry
Ing malls, especially In view OF the
conditions which VIII exist under the
parcels post.
A revision of the land laws 10 Hc-
cure proper conservation aud AT tho
same time assure prulpt disposition
OF land that should bc turned over tu
private ownership,
| Legislation affecting Alaska which
would provide for leases OF coal lands
and In respect tu mining claims, the
disposition Of oil. phosphate and pot.
ash lands In the United States.
An act Of congress that would lc.
galiIe court authorized tn review
decisions on the pure food law such
as are now made by the Rcmser
boards.
In this connection the president
approved the creation OF tho Ncmsct
board by Former President Roosevelt
but said the time had CON" for con
greHs Ia recognize the necessity fOi
"a tribunal Of appeal" In pure foot
cases.
while "" are struggling to sup
press an OWL OF great proportions lk'
that Of impure food" said the pres
ldent. I'VE must provide the maChin
cry In the law itself 10 prevent III
becoming AN instrument OF oppression
: and we ought To enable those whose
business is threatened with nnnlhila
; ti6n To have HOmo tribunal and some
form Of appeal In which they have
complete day In LOuIt" The prcsl
dent closed his message with u recon
mendatlon that congress provide ia
government building at the Pam
ma-PHClfic exposition AZ San Francis
co ana for The Identification 0f Wash
ington. In his discussion Of the cup
Ital he said that n public utilitlc
| commission WAS needed. The proRi
. dent expressed opposition Ia IN
| granting OF the elective franchise I,
citizens OF Washington aud indOrscl
4 the plans Of the commission Of nm
j arts Tor city Improvement