Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-11-25
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.

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 latter's arrangement for pensioning
ex-Presidents at the present time, and he
feels that Mr.. Carnegie is at least having
a 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-
como a mere ornament to the House or
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-1ourths of the
states Oi the country.
Senator Gu DerSOn of Texas, who was
one Oh President Tafts callers TO-DAY, Is
understood To favor an outright pension
by Congress, without requiring service
Of any sort In either house. He thinks
| ex-tresloents would be aole to take a
| mighty active part in the affairs of the
country by writing magazine and news
| paper articles on current political ques-
tons.
Senator Culberson visited the Presi-
dent in connection with the recent abo-
l.tlon of the Dallas internal revenue
district. Until few months ago there
were two internal revenue collection
tiers at Dallas and the other at Austin
Congress gave authority to the Presi-
dent to consolidate a number of dis
tricts In different parts of the country
sidered advisable. Under that author
ity the President abolished the Dallas
district and continued the one with
headquarters at Austin. Texas bust
trict is insufficient in such a big state
as Texas, and the President is asked to
rescfnd 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, 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 bale of hay.
RepreSentatfve-elect Addison Smith, Of
Idaho. who won seat in Congress on a
straight republican platform, called on
the President. So did Representative
Foss Of Illinois.
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 endeawored
| to interest the President in the propo-
aton to provide for a delegate in Con
gress for the District.
Favors Gallinger Bill.
| ton federation strongly favors the Gal
linger bill as it passed the Senate. and
| he will work hard to have the House
/ CVu1ulLISS Ou tu0 0l6IIlCt TAKE tnlS OIL
| up at the beginning of the coming SEES
| sion and report 1t favorably to that body
| MANY of the members of the HOUSE
District committee have promised me tt
give the Gallinger bill prompt considera
| ton upon the assembling OF Congress.
said Mr.. Clayton. and I do not see any
reason why we cannot get a public utili
ties commission at the coming session. A
| few slight amendments to the Gallingel
bill would not be Objectionable. but II
the main it embodies 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 q delegate IL
l the House from the District withou
change in the present form Of govern
ment.
| The President has not reached Distric
| matters In the dctation 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
l problems.