Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-10
EXPECT TAFT VETO
Friends of Clerks Predict Blow
to Seventeen Idea.
CHASE DISCUSSES PLAN
Says President Realizes Injury the
Scheme Would Cause.
employees ARE FEARFUL
Hundreds Would Be Unable to Pur-
chase Homes if Provisions Are
Made to Prevail.
CHASE DISCUSSES PLAN
EMPLOYEES ARE Fearful

There is no chance whatever that the
legislative, executive and judicial appro-
pr1ations bill will receive the approval of
President Taft SO long as the measure
contains the legislation adverse to the
Commerce Court, and the clause limiting
the tenure of employees in the classified
service to seven years. is the belief of
P. b. Chase, chairman Of the committee
of 100, an organization formed about a
year ago to look after the interests Of
the committees vice chairman and other
members hold to the same belief. Friends
of the President declare he will veto the
bill when it comes to him with the OBJ
jectionable provisions. They also join
with officials and members Of the commit
tee Of 100 in declaring that the necessary
two thirds majority for the passage of the
bill over the Presidents veto cannot be
secured, and look upon the measure, or at
least it's Objectionable new legislation,
as virtually dead.
Assurances of Veto.
THE committee has definite assurance
that President Taft will veto the bill"
said Mr.. Chase today. IF we did not
know that a presidential veto awaits
the measure we should get busy and take
steps to head the thing off. AS it stands
however, such action is not necessary,
as the bill will never get past the Presi,
dent The veto will not be for political
purposes, but because the President
knows that q seven-year tenure clause,
enacted into law. would work tremendous
injury to the government service. ANY
other president-Col. Roosevelt or Gov
Wilson-would veto such measure just
the same, because OF this fact. and be-
cause of the fact that the country is
wide-awake to the dangers of the bill
and any President who would sign 1t
would surely fail of reelection. The
country simply would not stand for it,
The committee of 100 is opposing the
seven-year tenure idea.
Employees Fearful.
Government employees yesterday were
in a state of panic when it became gen.
orally known that Congress had passed
the appropriations bill. carrying about $685.
100000, with the seven-year tenure clause
and a clause legislating out of existence
predicted that if the President should
sign the bill as it came to him. and the
measure became law, returning the gov
eminent service to the spoils system, the
service would receive blow. that would
set 1t back a quarter of century.
1t was pointed out further that property
values in and about Washington would
be seriously deprecated. because no gov
eminent clerk would think Of attempting
to buy a home, and the development Of
the National Capital and it's suburbs
would receive a setback that would
check growth of all kinds. A clerk, of
the higher grade. in the Treasury De-
partment said today:
in, noVI,vy
suburb, paying for it in monthly INSTALL
ments. The initial payment was small.
and 1t will take about eight years to pay
for the place. Now, II my position is
secure for only seven years. or a shorter
period, as in my own case. / can't buy
that place, and, further, I should not
want to-
Could Not Buy Homes.
"If my position is to be dependent on
the good will of my chief 1 may be re-
appointed and I may not. If 1 lose
my department place there is nothing
else in Washington for me to do. There
fore I could not go ahead and buy
home, only to be compelled, in few
years. to let II go and return to my old
home. And there are hundreds, II not
thousands. OF government clerks In ex-
actly the same position as myself"
frcSlOeut ldIt OppOSiuOu W TIC op
preparation bill as it stands is not con-
fined to the seven-year tenure clause,
however, as he Is said to have given
positive assurance to callers and friends
that he will not approve the summary
dissolution of the Commerce Court. even
if its members are provided for with
federal judgeships. He has heard from
the country in no uncertain terms In
regard to the two provisions. as a deluge
of telegrams has come to the White
House within the last few days. protest
ing against the bills provisions. and
urging him to withhold his approval and
70 veto the measure