New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-05
SUPPLY BILL FAILS;
ANOTHER IS VETOED
Indian Appropriation Measure
Talked to Death by Senator
Fall in Last Hours.
TAFT KILLS SUNDRY CIVIL
Retiring President Also Allows
Seamen's Servitude Bill to
Drop, but Signs Public
Buildings Act.

~
Buildings Act.
Washington. March 1.-TWO Of the great
annual appropriatio ton bills necessary 10
the maintenance of the federal govern
ment failed OF passage to-day.
Senator Fall Of New Mexico. talked
the Indian appropriation bill to death in
the closing hours OF the session. with It's
sl2.0DOG00 for the support of the Indian
service. while President Taft wrote his
veto on the sll5UO,00O bill to take care of
the "suudrv civil expenses" OF the gov
eminent.
The House repassed the sundry civil bill
over the veto. but when IL reached the
Senate Senator Poindexter objected 10 any
appropriation for the Washington police
force unless an investigation had been
made Of the riotous scenes attending the
suffrage parade Yesterday and the Senate
did not get 10 vote on the bill Most
Of the appropriations would not take ef-
feet until July I. however, and the new
Congress will pc able 10 prepare new
measure by that time.
The provision 10 which Mr.. Taft OBJ
jacted provided that no funds could be
spent In prosecution of organizations or
individuals for entering into any combi-
nation or agreement having IN view the IN
creasing Of VIZ ges, shortening OF hours or
lettering the conditions of labor" or for
the prosecution of producers OF farm
products and associations Of farmers who
cooperate and organize 10 obtain and
maintain a fair and reasonable price for
their products"
This. Mr. Taft declared. was class leg
isla tion-of the most vicious sort" and II
would undoubtedly he held unconstitu-
tional by the courts.
Reason for the Veto.
Referring to the farmers clause Pres-
dent Taft SAID:
AT a time when there is widespread
complaint of the high cost OF living II
certainly would be an anomaly TO put on
the statute books of the United States
an act in effect preventing the prosecution
OF combinations OF producers Of farm
products for the purpose Of artficially
controlling prices
Although President Taft exercised the
pocket veto" in expressing disapproval
OF the seamens servitude bill. he left
with Congress short memorandum CIV
ing his views OF the measure I'm which
no said:
This bill is so important and conflicts
i'm its operation with the treaty obliga-
tons of the United States and In its pos
Of for
elm countries that i'm the short time that
I have had since II has been presented TO
me do not feel justified in assuming the
responsibility. Of allowing IL to become a
law"
The bill was designed TO improve con-
ditons OF labor and living in the Aneri-
can merchant marine and TO abolish In
voluntary servitude of seamen.
Critic,ses "Pork Barrel"
DESPITE the fact that he signed the
public buildings bill to-day. President
Taft sent 10 Congress with IL memo
randum stating that ne would like 70
have withheld his signature Because OF
many projects in il he held TO he meri-
,orious. he added. he had decided TO ap-
prove IL.
There are in this bill items aggregat-
ing perhaps half a million dollars that
ought not to he IN IL. authorizing the
construction OF public buildings In towns
foo small 10 Justify them" said the
President. and on that ground, for the
purpose Of giving emphasis TO my views
on the subject | should like TO withhold
III
signature from the bill But the Dill
contains authorizations for Improvements
so important In the development-and
cav the unduly delayed development-of
tho cry of Washington that ! cannot
hiring myself to defeat such worthy pro-
iects
THE bill in itself contains certain re-
s,r,ctions upon future appropriations OF
a similar kind that may tend to prevent
the vicious pork barrel feature Of bills
of this character.
President Taft also signed the bill
creating a Department OF Labor. with a
Cabinet portfolio. but he attached
memorandum expressing the conviction
tba, nine departments were enough TO
conduct the government. He said:
81 sign this bill with considerable hest
tation. not because | dissent from the
purpose OF Congress TO create Depart
mont of Labor. but because ] think that
nine departments are enough FOR the
nroper administration Of the government.
and because ] think that no new depart
ment ought to be created without re-
accumulation of all departments i'm the
government and a redistribution OF the
bureaus between them.
Reorganization Needed.
THE distribution OF bureaus between
the existing departments is far from
beiny economical or logical. and If there
"a one thing that is needed in the present
situation IL is reorganization OF our
government on business principles and
with a view To economy In the admins
tration Of the regular governmental ma
chinery.
Il forbear, however. 10 veto this bill
because my motive in doing so would he
misunderstood. There IL no provision in
IN. bill Itself for a recommendation by
the head OF the new department as TO the
rsorganization OF bureaus that may it.
self lead to a general reorganization
rbich is so much to be desired"