I  think  I  shall  ask  Mr.  Stimson,  Mr.  Taft's  former  Secretary
of  War,  to  introduce  him,  as  far  as  an  introduction  is  necessary
for  Mr.  Taft.     (Applause.)

Mr.  Stimson. —  Gentlemen  of  the  two  committees  and  other
delegates :  I  don't  think  that  Mr.  Taft  needs  any  introduction
to  this  assembly.  He  has  been  invited  and  has  very  kindly  come
to  speak  of  his  experiences  in  regard  to  the  Federal  budget.  I
think  I  am  not  mistaken  in  saying  that  he  is  the  only  American
President  who  ever  attempted  to  create  a  really  scientific  budget
of  the  Federal  expenditures.  That  is  the  part  of  what  he  has
to  say  that  has  connection  with  the  Committee  on  State  Finances.
He  also  as  an  executive  has  had  experience  surpassing  that  of


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almost  any  other  executive,  considering  his  experience  in  the
creation  of  the  new  government  in  the  Philippines,  his  experience
afterward  in  the  Cabinet  of  President  Roosevelt,  and  afterward
as  the  Chief  Executive  of  this  nation,  and  I  understand  that  on
that  part  he  has  been  asked  to  speak  before  the  Committee  on  the
Governor  and  the  State  Officers,  which  has  charge  of  the  reorgan-
ization of  the  executive  offices  of  this  State.
Mr.  President,  I  am  sure  that  we  feel  greatly  honored  at  your
coming  and  at  your  being  willing  to  talk  to  us  about  those  two
subjects.
Mr.  Tanner. — Mr.  President,  we  have  a  joint  committee  meet-
ing to  consider  the  subjects  pending  before  the  Committee  on
Governor  and  Other  State  Officers  and  the  Committee  on  State
Finances.  If  it  is  agreeable  to  you,  we  would  like  to  have  you
speak  in  the  order  named.
