The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-19
President Replies to Charges of
Playing Politics
In Putting POstmaSters Under
Civil Service Rule.
IN A MESSAGE TO CONGRESS-
He Charges His Accusers With
Telling Untruths.
Suggests a Number of Subjects
for Legislation.

Washington, Dec. 19.-President TAFT
today gave congress his opinion of the
charge that he had been playing poll
tics in his recent executive order put
ting $4,000 fourth-class postmasters
under the civil service. The president
made the counter charge that his ac-
cusers on the floor of the house were
telling "untruths'' and declared that
he deeply regretted the failure of con-
gress to pass legislation which practl-
cally would destroy the "spolls sys-
tenn
Criticism has been made of this or
der 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 efficient public serv-
ice. 1 have several times requested
congress to give me authority to put
first. second and third class postmas-
tiers and all other local officers, in
Guiding internal revenue officers, Gus
toms officers, United States marshals
and the local agents of the other De
partments, under the classification OF
the civil service law by taking away
the necessity of confirming such ap-
pointments by the senate. deeply re-
gret the failure of congress to follow
these recommendations. The change
would have taken out of politics prac-
ticaIiy every local officer and would
have entirely cured the evils growing
out of what under the present law must
always remain remnant of the spolls
system"
The presidents advice to congress
was contained in his third message or
the year, sent in today 1t was oe-
voted largely to a review OF the ac-
complishments of several government
departments not touched in previous
messages, and to Recommendations Tor
legislation. The president advocated:
Legislation Recommended.
LEGISLATION which would permit
members of the cabinet to sit in either
house of congress with the right to
enter into debate and answer ques-
tions but without vote.
The adoption of the postmaster gen.
erals plan for a REIMBURSEMENT of COM
pensation to railways carrying mails,
especially in view of the conditions
which will exist under the parcels post
law.
A revision of the land laws to secure
proper conservation and at the same
time assure prompt disposition of land
that should be turned over to private
ownership. ... r.. ..s.
Legislation affecting Alaska which
would provide for leases of coal lands
and in respect to mining claims, the
disposition of oil, phosphate and
potash lands in the United States.
a court authorized to review decisions On
the pure food law such as are now made
by the Remsen boards.
In this connection the president ar
proved the creation of the Remsen board
by former President Roosevelt but said
the time had come for congress to recog-
nize the necessity for a tribunal of ap-
peaT'' in pure food cases. While we are
struggling to suppress an evil OF great
proportioTs like that of the impure food,
said the president, I'VE must provide the
machinery in the law itself to prevent its
becoming an instrument of oppression
and we ought to enable those whose bust
pess is threatened with humiliation 10
have some tribunal and some form OF
appeal in which they have a complete day
in court"
The president closed his message with a
recommendation that congress appropriate
for a government building at the Panama
Pacific International exposition at San
Francisco and for the Identification of
Washington. In his discussion of the cap
itol, he said that public utilities commits
sion needed. The president expressed
opposition to the granting of the elective
franchise to citizens of Washington and
endorsed the plans of the commission of
fine arts for city Improvement.