American History

The Taft Administration

William Howard Taft was known to be moderate , judicious and prudent owing to his legal background . As president , Taft was a progressive leader who paled in comparison to his aggressive predecessor , Franklin Delano Roosevelt . During his tenure , Taft was noted for his in-depth study of legislation and implementing policies . His politics was not what it took to set into action the means to achieve his set agenda His presidency was marked with astounding successes in busting trusts railroad reform as well as reform in the civil service . All those

were pushed aside in the public 's consciousness when he failed miserably in the tariff and conservation issues

Trust-busting by the Taft administration was on the good side initially . There were more anti-trust suits in his time than during Roosevelt 's . Most notable victories were those against Standard Oil of New Jersey and American Tobacco Company , which were carried over from Roosevelt 's time , and the Sugar Trust and the U .S . Steel . In the early part Roosevelt was supportive but later on he remarked that Taft could not tell a good trust from a bad one . By 1911 trust-busting was negatively affecting the economy . He began to slowly withdraw from taming the trusts and allowed giant businesses freer rein , on the instance of his conservative advisors

To regulate business , Taft had Congress passed the Mann-Elkins Act strengthening the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission . The Act allowed the ICC to stop or adjust railroad rates , extended ICC oversight on the control of radio , telephone and telegraph facilities , and the creation of Commerce Court to try disputes arising from ICC decisions The court was abolished in 1913 . By virtue of the Mann-Elkins Act of 1910 , the ICC became a very influential body

In the Taft administration , thru Congressional action , Labor became a separate department , independent from Commerce . It showed that Labor issues had earned national awareness and the administration had taken steps to acknowledge them

Tariff reformers pushed for the ratification of the 16th Amendment of the constitution which authorized federal income taxation , as a buffer measure for the downward revision of the tariff . Amendment 17 provided for the direct election of senators was likewise passed during Taft 's incumbency

New Mexico and Arizona were added to the Union in 1912 . Taft also sought security of tenure for civil servants especially the postmasters whose appointments were terminated at the end of every administration Congressional reforms were also undertaken by Congress itself under Taft 's administration

In 1909 a Tariff Bill was adopted which was a modified version of one sponsored by the House which called for reduced rates and a counterpart from Senate with few downward revisions and many increased rates . The final bill moderated the high rates and Taft hastily signed the bill It lowered by 5 of general tariff rates , increased rates on animal hides , iron ore and coal . 650 items were lowered , 220 were raised and left 1 ,150 untouched . What drew public displeasure were...