New-York tribune., 1912-08-18
HOUSE STRIKES At TAFT
RepaSSeS Bill Eliminating the
Commerce Court.
PRESIDENT DETERM lNED
Expresses Contempt for Pea
nut" Politics, and Says He
Will Not Recede.
PRESIDENT DETERMINED

Washington. Aug. I.-An exhibition OF
characteristic Democratic statesman
ship" was presented to-day. when the
majority in the House. under the leader
snip Of Representatives Fitzgerald ana
Underwood undertook 10 square matters
With the President because he had vetoed
the legislative. executive and judicial bill
Determined 20 have revenge. even at the
expense OF the efficiency Of the govern
ment. the Democrats struck from this
bill the provisions FOR the Bureau of
Trade Relations and various divisions Of
the Department OF state. because they
knew that both We're close % the heart
OF Mr.. Taft, who had compelled them 20
recedc from their provision for q seven
year tenure for civil service employees.
Realizing that it would be- futile further
10 insist on the seven-vear clause, the
Democrats struck it out but they re-
tained the provision which in effect wipes
out the Commerce Court. This provision
II agreed to by the Senate. Will cause tn
President again 70 veto the bill
Peanut Politics, Says Taft.
The President expressed to-day IN some
what emphatic tones his contempt for the
peanut" politics prsctised by the Demo
cratic leaders and said ne believed thoy
cannot possibly defend their course. He
suggested that II the provisions for the
Bureau Of Trade Relations and divisions
0f the Department Of State Were not wise
and would not make for greater efficiency
OF the department the Democrats had no
excuse for permitting them 10 remain IN
the bin. but H. a. is known 10 be the
fact they were convinced they we're wise.
they now have no excuse Tor striking
them out. II is probable that the Senate
VIII insist that the House recede from its
attitude ir this respect
Nothing viii induce the President 20
approve the blll In the form II passed the
House because it aDoIshes the Commerce
Court M Taft Is convinced that this
court has been and Will continue 20 be
Of infinite value to shippers. who. through
.ts operation. ar able 90 secure tual de-
cis.ous ON any appeals they or the rail
roads rnay take from the decisions OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission within
six months instead OF waiting two years
a. was necessary before the court WAS
created
Furthermore ne is irreyocaDiy opposed
% what be terms the executive recall.
The desire 20 abolish the Commerce Court
grew out OF certain unpopular decisions
rendered oy that tribunal and the belle.
on the part OF politicians that they would
curry favor with the shippers n they de-
stroyed the court which had displeased
them The principle involved the Presi-
dent regards as subversivc % justice and
good government. az inimicai 10 a free
and independent judiciary and az part Of
tina; more or less popular clam0r ior the
recall Of judges aud OF Judic.a. decisions.
%, looks upon thes" matters as ems-
naung far more from the desire OF certain
politicians % promote the!r persona. pO-
l.tlcal welfare than from any we'll con-
sidered command Jy the people
Senate viii Restore Items.
Kepresentativ, Mann. the minority lead
er. Informed the House to-day that there
Wa much IN tho resnaped bill OF which
o.. minority disapproved. but that hc did
nor desir. % delay the adjournment of
Congress by raising points OF order against
various sections OF thc h!l. nor 20 indulge
In extended d,Dat. This attitude OF the
part OF the minority Is due 10 the fact
that the senate IS expected 20 restore
items omitted Dy the House. and the leg
islative bill will again be- whipped into
shape In conference.
In the House biII a. passed to-day no
provision IS made FOR the maintenance
OF the Bureau OF Trade Relations iu the
State Department the place OF counsellor
Is abolished and appropriations are de-
MED n. bureaus on Far Eastern Affairs.
Near Eastern Affairs. Western European
Affairs and the division or Latin-Ameri-
can Affair
Mr. Fitzgerald had dened the President
20 veto this bill declaring that Il he did
the redrawn bill would strike NJ some OF
tho things dear 20 the heart OF the Pres
ident" The refusal 10 appropriate approx
inately $1,000 for the above named ou-
reaus constitutes the Democratic idea OF
getting even" with the Executive.
The bill az repassed Is practically ideu-
teal with the original measure reported
to the House said Representative Gil
lett. Republican member or the Appro-
priations Committee. The Senate will re-
store these items so there should be no
unedsness
il IS certain that the President viii
again veto the legislative bill II the sec
ton aboIishing the Commerce Court -
finally retained. The House will attempt
once more 10 pass the bill over the veto,
and II this should fail that body probably
will yield to the President Little stock
+ taken in the threat OF Mr. Fitzgerald
and other Democrats that the session Will
be prolonged indefinitely in the event OF
another veto.
The army appropriation bill. at the re-
quest OF the House. went 10 further CON
ference to- day. with Senators Du Pont
Warren and Johnson az the senatos ; con
ferrees.