Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-03
TAFT IN GREAT RUSH
Works Nearly All Night and Is
Crowded Today.
EMBRACES GOV. SULZER
Explains Hesitancy in Approving
Department of Labor Bill.
SIGNS HIS NAME 1000 TIMES
Many Congressional Measures Be-
come Law Through His
Signature.
SIGNS HIS NAME 1000 TIMES

President Tafts last full day in the
white House began early this morning
after hard nights work Sunday night
Mr. Taft did not retire until 3 o'clock this
morning. AT that hour he had finished
signing his name nearly 1000 times. He
signed 800 commissions of army navy
and other officers, whose nominations had
been confirmed by the Senate; then add.
ed his autograph to more than 500 letters
photographs, albums. ETC., that had &C.
cumulated for number of days.
AS he entered the executive offices, JUS,
after 10 O'Clock this morning. the waiting
rooms and Railways were filled with PEG.
pie anxious to bid him good-by and in
the grounds outside were a crowd of spec
tators. the band Of LIST Infantry, Nationa
Guard Of Minnesota, playing Yankee
Doodle and Dixie" and the officers and
privates of that regiment, more than $50
desiring to say farewell to him
Various organizations In the city to take
part in the inaugural procession marched
into the grounds in the hope of getting
access to the President. His day in the
NIT many.
Gen. Wood and staff Of the army and
the chiefs Of bureaus of the War Depart
ment, Capt. McCully and the officers OF
the Presidents yacht Mayfower, Gov
Dunno of Illinois and party, Gov. Sulzer
of New York and party, thirty members
Of the Delaware legislature and hundreds
of others. including senators and repre-
sentatives, filed through the executive
offices to bid farewell. all Of them eN-
pressing deep regret at saying good-by.
Hugs Gov. Sulzer.
Hello, Billy" called the President, as
he got glimpse of the slim form of Gov.
Sulzer, and then he rushed over to
Sulzer, caught him around the body and
gave him a squeeze that tickled the chief
executive OF New York and others i'm
mensely.
Mr.. President. said Gov Sulzer, 81
came not only to tell you good-by and to
bid you God-speed wherever you may be,
but to urge you to sign the bill creating
the Department of Labor. l consider
that my bill, as for Years l urged its
passage through Congress. l can't under
stand the opposition of Secretary Nagel
to it. While Mr. Nagel presides over the
Department of Commerce and Labor
there is absolutely no recognition OF
labor in that department except in the
title
President Undecided.
The President explained to Gov. Sulzel
that he is undecided what he will do
with the bill. II he fails to sign it. that
means a veto and no additional cabinet
officer for the next administration. The
President said he felt that he ought to
veto the bill, as an emphatic protest to
Congress against creating new depart
ments without a complete reorganization
Of all departments. There are bureaus
In various departments. he said, that
really do not belong there, but in other
departments. There should be a COM
departments SO as to bring the business
OF each into closer relation with the de-
partment to which it belongs
With Gov. Sulzer were Samuel Gompers
and Frank Morrison Of the Federation
of Labor. They admitted that the gen.
eral argument of the President was prop
er and that there should be a rearrange-
ment Of bureaus to suit developments
Of recent years, but they also thought
that Encouragement could come just as
well after the Department of Labor be-
comes a reality as now. They argued
bill.
Sits in Wilson's Chair.
Turning from hand-shaking the Presi.
dent went into the last cabinet meeting
a special gathering arranged to conside,
congressional and other business that is
now before the President and which he
wishes to dispose of before tomorrow, il
possible. The President sat in the new
cabinet chair that will be used by Presi'
dent-elect Wilson and the cabinet officers
occupied the new chairs placed there fol
the Wilson cabinet.
During the four years Of Mr.. Taft in
office there have been two pictures in
the Presidents Office. One, his father
.Alonzo Taft, hung to his left as he sat a,
his desk; the other. Theodore Roosevelt
once his friend. on his right. Both are
framed alike. The President has taken
down the portrait OF his father and has
had it shipped to New Haven. That OF
Theodore Roosevelt he will leave hang
ing on the wall, not that it belongs tc
the government but that he prefers tina,
1t should not go with him.
During all the months of the Presiden-
tial Campaign the President permitted
the picture to remain on the wall, having
a strong aversion to destroying it OIL
turning its face to the wall. AS his per-
sonal property he could have done with
1t as he wished. What the new President
will do with it will be of interest
Removes Law Books.
The President has also removed . num-