New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-20
TAFT DENIES CHARGES
OF PLAYING POLITICS
Asserts in Message to Congress
Accusers in House Are Tell
ing "UntruthS.'
BLOW AT SPOILS SYSTEM
Order Placing 36, 900 Postmas-
tiers Under Civil in Inter
est of Efficient Service,
He Says.

Washington. Dec 19-PTesident Tart
gave Congress his opinion to-day of the
charge that he had been playing politics
I'm his recent executive order putting
5000 fourth-class pOstmasters under the
civil Service The President made the
counter charge that his accusers on the
floor OF the House We're telling uh-
truths" and declared that he deeply re-
GREETED the failure Of Congress to pass
legislation which practically would de-
stroy the "spoils system"
Criticism has been made OF this order
on the ground that the motive was ponu-
cal" said the President Nothing eouio
be further from the truth The orde'
was made before the election, and, In W"
interest Of efficient public service, | have
several times requested Congress TO give
me authority to put first second anc
third class postmasters and all other local
officers. including internal revenue ofii-
GERS. customs officers. United States mar
-shals and the local agents of the other
departments under the classification OF
the civil service law by taking away the
necessity for confirming such appoint
ments by the Senate. | deeply regret the
failure Of Congress TO follow these recon-
mendatio The change would have Ia
ken out of politics practically every local
officer and would have entirely cured the
evils growing out of what under Inc
present law, must always remain a rem
nant of the spoils system
The Presidents advice TO Congress was
contained in message sent In to-day IL
was devoted largely to a review or the
accomplishments of several departments
not touched in previous messages and 70
recommendations for legislation. the
President advocated:
Legislation which would permit mem
hers of the Cabinet TO slt IN either ilG }t.e
of Congress. with the right TO enter INTO
debate and answer questions. but WIN
out votes. -
The adoption of the Postmaster Gener-
ais plan for REIMBURSEMENT OF CoiiIpSn-
sation to railways carrying mails espe-
cially i'm view OF the conditions Which
will exist under the parcels post law
A revision OF the land laws TO secure
proper conservation, and al the same TIME
assure prompt disposition OF lahd tudt
should be turned over TO private owner
ship. 18TH,
Legislation affecting Alaska which
wCuld provide for leases of coal lands,
and i'm respect to mining claims. the dis
position of oil. phosphate and potash
lands I'm the United States
An act of Congress which would legai-
ize a court authorized to review decisions
on the pure food law such as are now
made by the Remsen board. In this con-
nectiOn the President approved the crea-
ton of the Remsen board by eX-Presldent
Roosevelt. but said that the time had
come for Congress TO recognize the neces-
sity for "a tribunal Of appear In pure
food cases while we are struggling
to suppress an evu OF great proportions
like that Of impure food" said the Presi-
dent I'VE must provide the machinery
in the law itself to prevent its becom-
ing an instrument of oppression, and we
ought 10 enable those whose business
is threatened with humiliation TO have
some tribunal and some form of appeal
in which they have a complete day in
court
The President closed his message with
recommendation that Congress make
appropriations for a government building
at the Panama Pacific international En-
position al San Francisco and for the
Identification Of Washington. In his dis
cussiOn of the capital he said that a
public utilities commission was needed.
rhe President expressed opposition 10 the
granting of the elective franchise TO cti-
zens Of Washington, and Endorsed the
plans of the Commission of Fine Arts for
city Improvement.