therewasnoquestionofcrookednessintheotherofficesintheState，andtheycouldbehandledintheordinarymanner。LegalproceedingswereundertakenagainsthiscolleagueintheSenate，andoneofhiscolleaguesinthelowerhouse，andtheformerwasconvictedandsentencedtothepenitentiary。
　　InanumberofinstancesthelegalityofexecutiveactsofmyAdministrationwasbroughtbeforethecourts。Theywereuniformlysustained。Forexample，priorto1907statutesrelatingtothedispositionofcoallandshadbeenconstruedasfixingtheflatpriceat$10to$20peracre。Theresultwasthatvaluablecoallandsweresoldforwhollyinadequateprices，chieflytobigcorporations。ByexecutiveorderthecoallandswerewithdrawnandnotopenedforentryuntilproperclassificationwasplacedthereonbyGovernmentagents。
　　TherewasagreatclamorthatIwasusurpinglegislativepower；buttheactswerenotassailedincourtuntilwebroughtsuitstosetasideentriesmadebypersonsandassociationstoobtainlargerareasthanthestatutesauthorized。Thispositionwasopposedonthegroundthattherestrictionsimposedwereillegal；thattheexecutiveorderswereillegal。TheSupremeCourtsustainedtheGovernment。Inthesamewayourattitudeinthewaterpowerquestionwassustained，theSupremeCourtholdingthattheFederalGovernmenthadtherightsweclaimedoverstreamsthatareormaybedeclarednavigablebyCongress。Again，whenOklahomabecameaStatewewereobligedtousetheexecutivepowertoprotectIndianrightsandproperty，fortherehadbeenanenormousamountoffraudintheobtainingofIndianlandsbywhitemen。HereweweredenouncedasusurpingpoweroveraStateaswellasusurpingpowerthatdidnotbelongtotheexecutive。TheSupremeCourtsustainedouraction。
　　InconnectionwiththeIndians，bytheway，itwasagainandagainnecessarytoassertthepositionofthePresidentasstewardofthewholepeople。IhadacapitalIndianCommissioner，FrancisE。Leupp。I
　　foundthatIcouldrelyonhisjudgmentnottogetmeintofightsthatwereunnecessary，andthereforeIalwaysbackedhimtothelimitwhenhetoldmethatafightwasnecessary。Ononeoccasion，forexample，CongresspassedabilltoselltosettlersabouthalfamillionacresofIndianlandinOklahomaatoneandahalfdollarsanacre。I
　　refusedtosignit，andturnedthematterovertoLeupp。Thebillwasaccordinglywithdrawn，amendedsoastosafeguardthewelfareoftheIndians，andtheminimumpriceraisedtofivedollarsanacre。ThenI
　　signedthebill。Wesoldthatlandundersealedbids，andrealizedfortheKiowa，Comanche，andApacheIndiansmorethanfourmilliondollars——threemillionsandaquartermorethantheywouldhaveobtainedifI
　　hadsignedthebillinitsoriginalform。Inanothercase，wheretherehadbeenadivisionamongtheSacandFoxIndians，partofthetriberemovingtoIowa，theIowadelegationinCongress，backedbytwoIowanswhoweremembersofmyCabinet，passedabillawardingasumofnearlyahalfmilliondollarstotheIowaseceders。TheyhadnotconsultedtheIndianBureau。Leuppprotestedagainstthebill，andI
　　vetoedit。AsubsequentbillwaspassedonthelineslaiddownbytheIndianBureau，referringthewholecontroversytothecourts，andtheSupremeCourtintheendjustifiedourpositionbydecidingagainsttheIowasecedersandawardingthemoneytotheOklahomastay-at-
　　homes。
　　Astoallactionofthiskindtherehavelongbeentwoschoolsofpoliticalthought，upheldwithequalsincerity。Thedivisionhasnotnormallybeenalongpolitical，buttemperamental，lines。ThecourseI
　　followed，ofregardingtheexecutiveassubjectonlytothepeople，and，undertheConstitution，boundtoservethepeopleaffirmativelyincaseswheretheConstitutiondoesnotexplicitlyforbidhimtorendertheservice，wassubstantiallythecoursefollowedbybothAndrewJacksonandAbrahamLincoln。Otherhonorableandwell-meaningPresidents，suchasJamesBuchanan，tooktheoppositeand，asitseemstome，narrowlylegalisticviewthatthePresidentistheservantofCongressratherthanofthepeople，andcandonothing，nomatterhownecessaryitbetoact，unlesstheConstitutionexplicitlycommandstheaction。Mostablelawyerswhoarepastmiddleagetakethisview，andsodolargenumbersofwell-meaning，respectablecitizens。Mysuccessorinofficetookthis，theBuchanan，viewofthePresident’spowersandduties。
　　Forexample，undermyAdministrationwefoundthatoneofthefavoritemethodsadoptedbythemendesirousofstealingthepublicdomainwastocarrythedecisionoftheSecretaryoftheInteriorintocourt。Byvigorouslyopposingsuchaction，andonlybysodoing，wewereabletocarryoutthepolicyofproperlyprotectingthepublicdomain。Mysuccessornotonlytooktheoppositeview，butrecommendedtoCongressthepassageofabillwhichwouldhavegiventhecourtsdirectappellatepowerovertheSecretaryoftheInteriorintheselandmatters。ThisbillwasreportedfavorablybyMr。Mondell，ChairmanoftheHouseCommitteeonpubliclands，aCongressmanwhotooktheleadineverymeasuretopreventtheconservationofournaturalresourcesandthepreservationoftheNationaldomainfortheuseofhome-
　　seekers。Fortunately，Congressdeclinedtopassthebill。Itspassagewouldhavebeenaveritablecalamity。
　　IactedonthetheorythatthePresidentcouldatanytimeinhisdiscretionwithdrawfromentryanyofthepubliclandsoftheUnitedStatesandreservethesameforforestry，forwater-powersites，forirrigation，andotherpublicpurposes。Withoutsuchactionitwouldhavebeenimpossibletostoptheactivityofthelandthieves。Nooneventuredtotestitslegalitybylawsuit。Mysuccessor，however，himselfquestionedit，andreferredthemattertoCongress。AgainCongressshoweditswisdombypassingalawwhichgavethePresidentthepowerwhichhehadlongexercised，andofwhichmysuccessorhadshornhimself。
　　PerhapsthesharpdifferencebetweenwhatmaybecalledtheLincoln-
　　JacksonandtheBuchanan-Taftschools，intheirviewsofthepoweranddutiesofthePresident，maybebestillustratedbycomparingtheattitudeofmysuccessortowardhisSecretaryoftheInterior，Mr。
　　Ballinger，whenthelatterwasaccusedofgrossmisconductinoffice，withmyattitudetowardsmychiefsofdepartmentandothersubordinateofficers。MorethanoncewhileIwasPresidentmyofficialswereattackedbyCongress，generallybecausetheseofficialsdidtheirdutywellandfearlessly。IneverysuchcaseIstoodbytheofficialandrefusedtorecognizetherightofCongresstointerferewithmeexceptingbyimpeachmentorinotherConstitutionalmanner。Ontheotherhand，whereverIfoundtheofficerunfitforhispositionI
　　promptlyremovedhim，evenalthoughthemostinfluentialmeninCongressfoughtforhisretention。TheJackson-LincolnviewisthataPresidentwhoisfittodogoodworkshouldbeabletoformhisownjudgmentastohisownsubordinates，and，aboveall，ofthesubordinatesstandinghighestandinclosestandmostintimatetouchwithhim。Mysecretariesandtheirsubordinateswereresponsibletome，andIacceptedtheresponsibilityforalltheirdeeds。AslongastheyweresatisfactorytomeIstoodbythemagainsteverycriticorassailant，withinorwithoutCongress；andasforgettingCongresstomakeupmymindformeaboutthem，thethoughtwouldhavebeeninconceivabletome。Mysuccessortooktheopposite，orBuchanan，viewwhenhepermittedandrequestedCongresstopassjudgmentonthechargesmadeagainstMr。Ballingerasanexecutiveofficer。ThesechargesweremadetothePresident；thePresidenthadthefactsbeforehimandcouldgetatthematanytime，andhealonehadpowertoactifthechargesweretrue。However，hepermittedandrequestedCongresstoinvestigateMr。Ballinger。Thepartyminorityofthecommitteethatinvestigatedhim，andonememberofthemajority，declaredthatthechargeswerewellfoundedandthatMr。Ballingershouldberemoved。
　　Theothermembersofthemajoritydeclaredthechargesillfounded。
　　ThePresidentabodebytheviewofthemajority。OfcoursebelieversintheJackson-LincolntheoryofthePresidencywouldnotbecontentwiththistownmeetingmajorityandminoritymethodofdeterminingbyanotherbranchoftheGovernmentwhatitseemstheespecialdutyofthePresidenthimselftodetermineforhimselfindealingwithhisownsubordinateinhisowndepartment。
　　TherearemanyworthypeoplewhoreprobatetheBuchananmethodasamatterofhistory，butwhoinactuallifereprobatestillmorestronglytheJackson-Lincolnmethodwhenitisputintopractice。
　　ThesepersonsconscientiouslybelievethatthePresidentshouldsolveeverydoubtinfavorofinactionasagainstaction，thatheshouldconstruestrictlyandnarrowlytheConstitutionalgrantofpowersbothtotheNationalGovernment，andtothePresidentwithintheNationalGovernment。Inaddition，however，tothemenwhoconscientiouslybelieveinthiscoursefromhigh，althoughasIholdmisguided，motives，therearemanymenwhoaffecttobelieveinitmerelybecauseitenablesthemtoattackandtotrytohamper，forpartisanorpersonalreasons，anexecutivewhomtheydislike。Thereareothermeninwhom，especiallywhentheyarethemselvesinoffice，practicaladherencetotheBuchananprinciplerepresentsnotwell-thought-outdevotiontoanunwisecourse，butsimpleweaknessofcharacteranddesiretoavoidtroubleandresponsibility。Unfortunately，inpracticeitmakeslittledifferencewhichclassofideasactuatesthePresident，whobyhisactionsetsacrampingprecedent。Whetherheishighmindedandwrongheadedormerelyinfirmofpurpose，whetherhemeanswellfeeblyorisboundbyamischievousmisconceptionofthepowersanddutiesoftheNationalGovernmentandofthePresident，theeffectofhisactionsisthesame。ThePresident’sdutyistoactsothathehimselfandhissubordinatesshallbeabletodoefficientworkforthepeople，andthisefficientworkheandtheycannotdoifCongressispermittedtoundertakethetaskofmakinguphismindforhimastohowheshallperformwhatisclearlyhissoleduty。
　　OneofthewaysinwhichbyindependentactionoftheexecutivewewereabletoaccomplishanimmenseamountofworkforthepublicwasthroughvolunteerunpaidcommissionsappointedbythePresident。Itwaspossibletogettheworkdonebythesevolunteercommissionsonlybecauseoftheenthusiasmforthepublicservicewhich，startinginthehigherofficesatWashington，madeitselffeltthroughouttheGovernmentdepartments——asIhavesaid，IneverknewharderandmoredisinterestedworkdonebyanypeoplethanwasdonebythemenandwomenofallranksintheGovernmentservice。ThecontrastwasreallyextraordinarybetweentheirliveinterestintheirworkandthetraditionalclericalapathywhichhassooftenbeenthedistinguishingnoteofgovernmentalworkinWashington。Mostofthepublicserviceperformedbythesevolunteercommissions，carriedonwithoutacentofpaytothementhemselves，andwhollywithoutcosttotheGovernment，wasdonebymenthegreatmajorityofwhomwerealreadyintheGovernmentserviceandalreadychargedwithresponsibilitiesamountingeachtoafullman’sjob。
　　ThefirstoftheseCommissionswastheCommissionontheOrganizationofGovernmentScientificWork，whoseChairmanwasCharlesD。Walcott。
　　AppointedMarch13，1903，itsdutywastoreportdirectlytothePresident“upontheorganization，presentcondition，andneedsoftheExecutiveGovernmentworkwhollyorpartlyscientificincharacter，anduponthestepswhichshouldbetaken，ifany，topreventtheduplicationofsuchwork，toco-ordinateitsvariousbranches，toincreaseitsefficiencyandeconomy，andtopromoteitsusefulnesstotheNationatlarge。”ThisCommissionspentfourmonthsinanexaminationwhichcoveredtheworkofaboutthirtyofthelargerscientificandexecutivebureausoftheGovernment，andpreparedareportwhichfurnishedthebasisfornumerousimprovementsintheGovernmentservice。
　　AnotherCommission，appointedJune2，1905，wasthatonDepartmentMethods——CharlesH。Keep，Chairman——whosetaskwasto“findoutwhatchangesareneededtoplacetheconductoftheexecutivebusinessoftheGovernmentinallitsbranchesonthemosteconomicalandeffectivebasisinthelightofthebestmodernbusinesspractice。”
　　TheletterappointingthisCommissionlaiddownnineprinciplesofeffectiveGovernmentalwork，themoststrikingofwhichwas：“Theexistenceofanymethod，standard，custom，orpracticeisnoreasonforitscontinuancewhenabetterisoffered。”ThisCommission，composedlikethatjustdescribed，ofmenalreadychargedwithimportantwork，performeditsfunctionswhollywithoutcosttotheGovernment。ItwasassistedbyabodyofaboutseventyexpertsintheGovernmentdepartmentschosenfortheirspecialqualificationstocarryforwardastudyofthebestmethodsinbusiness，andorganizedintoassistantcommitteesundertheleadershipofOvertonW。Price，SecretaryoftheCommission。Theseassistantcommittees，allofwhosememberswerestillcarryingontheirregularwork，madetheirreportsduringthelasthalfof1906。TheCommitteeinformeditselffullyregardingthebusinessmethodsofpracticallyeveryindividualbranchofthebusinessoftheGovernment，andeffectedamarkedimprovementingeneralefficiencythroughouttheservice。TheconductoftheroutinebusinessoftheGovernmenthadneverbeenthoroughlyoverhauledbefore，andthisexaminationofitresultedinthepromulgationofasetofworkingprinciplesforthetransactionofpublicbusinesswhichareassoundto-dayastheywerewhentheCommitteefinisheditswork。ThesomewhatelaborateandcostlyinvestigationsofGovernmentbusinessmethodssincemadehaveservedmerelytoconfirmthefindingsoftheCommitteeonDepartmentalMethods，whichwereachievedwithoutcostingtheGovernmentadollar。
　　TheactualsavingintheconductofthebusinessoftheGovernmentthroughthebettermethodsthusintroducedamountedyearlytomanyhundredsofthousandsofdollars；butafarmoreimportantgainwasduetotheremarkablesuccessoftheCommissioninestablishinganewpointofviewinpublicservantstowardtheirwork。