The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-20
Presid e n t Indignantly
Denies That He Is
Playing Politics.
COUNTERCHARGE
MADE IN MESSAGE
He Deeply Regrets Failure oil
Congress to Wipe Out 'Spoils
System" and 1t Was to That
End He Placed $4,000 Fourth
Class Postmasters Under
Civil Service.

! Washington. December le-Presi-
dent Taft to-day gave Congress his
/ opinion OF the charge that he had been
playing politics in his recent execu-
tive order putting 5000 fourth-class
pOstmasters under the civil service.
The President made the eountercharge
! that his accusers on the floor Of the
, House were telling "untruths." and
declared that he deeply regretted the
! failure Of Congress 10 pass legislation.
which practically would destroy the
"spOis system"
Criticism has been made OF 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
efficient public se~vice. have several
times requested Congress TO give me
authority 10 put first. second and third
class postma sters. and all other local
officers. including internal revenue Of
fcers. customs officers. United states
marshals and the local agents of the
other deps rtments. under the classih-
cation of the civil service law ~
taking away the necessity for con-
NJ ming EUcH appointments DN Inv .'S-AT
ate deeply regret the failure of
Congress 10 follow those recomme nda-
tions 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 Law. must always remain
remnant OF the spoils system.
Third Message Of Year.
The Presidents advice to Congress
was contained in his third message OF
the year. sent in to-day 1t was de-
voted largely to a review Of the ac-
complishmsnts OF several government
departments not touched In Previous
messages and TO recommendations for
! legislation The President advocatea:
Legislation which would permit
members Of the Cabinet TO sit in eth
/ or House OF Congress. with the right
TO enter into debate and answer ques-
lions. but without vote.
The adoption Of the Postmaster
Generals plan for readjustment al
( compensation 10 railways carrying
mails. especially in view OF the con-
dftions which Will exist under the par
cells post law
revision of the land laws To secure
proper conservation and at the same
time assure prompt disposition OF land
I
Ow nership.
LEGISLATION affecting Alaska which
v 1uId provide for leases Of coal lands
and in respect TO mining claims. the
disposition Of oil, phosphate and pot
ash lands in the United states
An act OF Congress which void legal
ize a court authorized 10 review decis-
! ions on the pure food law such as are
+ now made by the Remsen Board In
this connection the President approved
the creation of the Remsen Beard by
J former President Roosevelt. bat said
that the time had come for Congress
I To recognize the necessity for "a tri-
! DunaI Of appeal" in pure food cases
I "WfHle We are struggling To sup
/ press an evil Of great proportions
( like that OF impure 70 ID. said tho
I President we must provide the ma
/ chinery in the law itself 10 prevens
I its becoming an Instrument Of oppres-
| sion. and we ought TO enable those
whose business is threatened with
: humiliation 10 have some tribunal and
some form Of appeal in which they
/ nave a complete day IN court"
Oppose. Elective Franchise.
; The President closed his message
with a recommendation that Congress
appropriate for government building
Al the Panama Pacific international
Exposition at san Francisco and for
! tho beartifcation OF Washington In
his discussion Of the capital he said
that public utilities commission Wa
needed. The President expressed op7
position to the granting OF To cleo
[ tive franchise 10 citizens OF Washing
ton and Endorsed the plans OF the Com
.e.-s