Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-10
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
The Cabinet in Session Nearly Three
Hours.
MANY MINOR MATTERS TAKEN UP
Appointment Of an Interstate Com
merce Commissioner
ENG ON. FIFER CHOS EN-

The cabinet was in session. nearly. three
hours today. but it was asserted by several
Of the M mbers that the discussions We're
on matters hacking vital interest. Post
master General Smith talked for long
time about international postal treaties,
and then there was considerable talk about
minor details in Cuba and the Philippines.
kilograms from Gen. Otis describing the
work being done We're read.
Secretary Gage discussed the alleged
slrinEency Of money matters in New York.
Reports have been in circulation that COM
mittees of New York bankers have been
here TO request that something be done to
relieve the situation This, however, is in
correct Secretary Gage gave It as his
opinion that the condition of affairs will
adjust themselves without serious conse-
quences.
No Action at Present.
Secretary Gage will take no action at
present, as he does not think anything is
necessary. The Secretary, however, will
act promptly in case of need. He could
adopt several methods to relieve the strin-
gency. one would be the deposit of in
ternaI revenue receipts in the New York
banks instead Of their transmission here.
thus increasing the cash balances of the
banks. Suli another plan would be the
way this could be done would be for the
government to GO into the open market
and buy its own bonds. 1t is probable that
this would be the last thing resOrted to- as
ii is appreciated that the holders of bonds
would attempt to raise the price as soon as
1t became known that the government was
a purchaser.
Secretary Cages annual report to Con-
gresS has been practically completed. Be
sides discussing the regular departmental
matters the Secretary will again make rec
concentrations as to financial legislation.
These Will differ little from the recon-
mendations made ,ast year. The Secretary
will advocate the passage by Congress of
laws making the gold standard permanent.
Civil Governor for Cuba
There was no discussion of a civil gov
eminent for Cuba That question was set
tied some time ago, as then stated In The
Star, and the President is waiting to get
man suited to the position of civil governor
of Cuba. In some circles it is believed that
Gen Wood will be appointed governor but
It Is declared that if this had been the
Presidents intention he would not be look
ing around for suitable people The trOu-
bic about such a position for Gen. Wood is
that It might cause ill-feeling in army cir
cles. the commander at Santiago holding
only the rank of captain IN the regular
army.
The civil governor will be Invested of
military functions. but he will be the su-
preme ruler. ana in case he gave a COM
lndnd it would have to be Obeyed by the
army officers on the island.
Gen. Lee. Gen Ludlow, Director Rath-
bone and a number of others have been
spoken of for the place.
Domestic Postage in the Philippines.
There We're some exchanges of opinion
upon the result of the elections, all the
members regarding the result an In
dOrsement of the administrations policy.
1t was decided to establish domestic post
age in the Philippines as it has been estab-
Iished in Porto Rico and Cuba, and Post
master General Smith again brought up
the question of the postal union. He is in
vestigating the subject thoroughly and will
report at d later cabinet meeting.
New Interstate Commerce Commits
siOner.
President Mckinley today appointed Jos.
W. Fifer of Illinois member of the in
terstate commerce commission, to succeed
". ]. Calhoun of Illinois, resigned. The
appointment was some time ago foreshad-
owed in The Star.
Mr.. Calhoun has for years been one of
the Presidents oldest friends He was a
special commissioner to Cuba before the
Spanish-American war. The President de-
sired him to come to Washington, and he
did SO, but Mr.. Calhoun recently decided to
go back to Chicago and resume the prac-
tice of law
Mr.. F'ifer was elected governor Of Illinois
in 1892 and became one of the most pop
ular officials the state ever had. He was
defeated in 1892, when President Cleveland
carried the state. although he polled 1000
more votes than President Harrison. After
that Mr.. Fifer partially retired from poll
tics
Gov. Voorhees, of New Jersey. accompa-
MED by Adjutant General Stryker. Col Rob
ert NJ. Thompson and Col. Olirhant were
at the White House today and paid their
respects TO the President. They are on their
way to Annapolis to visit Admiral McNafr
Meaning of the Election Results.
Senator Gallery of Louisiana was also a
caller at the executive mansion. The Sen
ator, who is ranked as a gold democrat
was asked for his view as to the recent
elections. He said: The elections undoubt-
| eddy sustained the republican adninistra-
ton, especially in its Philippine policy. The
results also mean that Mckinley will be
nominated by the republicans and Bryan
by the democrats. and that the outcome
will be the same as in 1885,