Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-11-25
TAFT KEEPS SILENCE
Not Likely to Soon Discuss
Carnegie Pension Plan.
BURLESON IDEA OPPOSED
Would Make Ex-Presidents Cloak.
room Gossips, Statesmen Say.
CLAYTON SEES EXECUTIVE
Strong Recommendation in Favor of
Public Utilities Commission for
District Is Urged.
BURLES0N IDEA OPPOSED
CLAYTON SEES EXECUTIVE

| President Taft is not likely to make any
immediate contribution to the discussion
! that is raging over the pensioning of ex-
, Presidents. The President, it is under
stood. thinks too much of his Old per-
sonal friend Andrew Carnegie to oppose
the latters arrangement for pensioning
lex-Presidents at the present time, and he
feels that Mr.. Carnegie is at least having
bushel Of fun over the worldwide in
terest he has stirred in this subject.
Visiting statesmen at the White House
| today were almost unanimously opposed
to the proposition of Representative
Burleson to give ex-Presidents a good
saiary as members of the House, but deny
them the right to vote.
"Cloakroom Gossips."
THAT would simply make them cloak
| room gossips.' was the comment of one
man; mo ex-President would want to be-
| come a mere ornament to the House OF
Senate
The right to sit as a senator or rep
resentative, with voting privilege, could
not be conferred by Congress except as
an amendment to the Constitution ana
Liter approval by three-iourths of the
states Oi the country.
Senator Cu berSOn Of Texas who was
one oI President Iafts callers tooay, Is
understood To favor an outright pension
by Congress, without requiring service
| of any sort In either house. He thinks
ex-fresluents would be aDle to take d
| mighty active part in the affairs of the
| country by writing magazine ana news
paper articles on current political ques-
tons.
Senator Culberson visited the Presi-
DENT In connection with the recent abO-
| l.t1on of the Dallas internal revenue
district. Until few months ago there
were Two internal revenue collection
districts in Texas. one with headquar-
tiers at Dallas and the other at Austin.
congress gave authority to the Presi-
dent to consolidate a number of dis
tr1cts in different parts of the country
f, within his discretion. this was con-
sidered advisable. Under that author
ity the President abolished the Dallas
district and continued the one with
headquarters at Austin. Texas BUSH
ness men now complain that one dis
trtct is insufficient in such a big state
as Texas. and the President is asked to
rescind his action. The President is
willing to hear arguments. but Is said
to be of the opinion that Congress did
not give him authority to restore a dis
trict when once abolished. The views
of Commissioner Cabell Of the internal
revenue bureau have been asked by the
President. who will confer with Senator
Culberson again.
Hay for Campaign Funds.
Senator Curtis of Kansas. a victim of
the bull moose movement, was telling
some stories Of the recent campaign at
the White House today. One Of these
was about the treasurer Of the bull moose
| local committee at Topeka advertising for
funds for running the campaign there.
Somebody sent him a bale of hay.
90 4 Z
Idaho. who won a seat In Congress on a
straight republican platform, called on
the President. So did Representative
FOss Of Illinois.
w. Nick. CLAYTON, chairman of the
committee on utilities Of the Federation
OF Citizens Associations, conferred with
President Taft today about the status OF
the proposed public utilities commission
for the District Mr.. Clayton asked the
President to strongly recommend such a
commission for the District in his com
Ing annual message. He also endeavOred
to interest the President in the propo-
Aton to provide for a delegate in Con-
gress for the District
Favors Gallinger Bill.
Mr.. Clayton says the citizens associa-
ton federation strongly favors the Gal.
| finger bill as 1t passed the Senate. and
he will work hard to have the House
| committee On the District take tbs bill
up at the beginning of the coming ses.
| son and report 1t favorably to that body
MANY of the members Of the House
District committee have promised me te
give the Gallinger bill prompt considera.
| ton upon the assembling OF Congress-
| said Mr.. Clayton, and do not see any
reason why we cannot get public utili.
ties commission at the coming session. A
| few slight amendments to the Gallingel
| bill would not be Objectionable. but ir
the main it embodias the views and ideas
| Of prominent local people who have long
| studied the whole matter
| Mr.. Clayton 10 a member Of the execu
| tive council of the District Delegate AS
ISOLATION. which Is seeking a delegate In
| the House from the District withou
| change in the present form Of govern.
| ment.
The President has not reached District
| matters In the dictatton of his message
! He has completed only an important par
Of that document. bearing upon foreign
| relations, and he may send that to Con.
/ gress as q special message, to be followed
by another or others dealing with othel
| problems.