New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-23
WEBSTER DAVIS NOT TO RETIRE
THE ASSISTANT sECRETARY's RELATIONS
WITH THE PRESIDENT Elk
TREMELY CORDIAL.

washington, Jan. % speciaD.-TrustWor'hy
information here does not sustain recent
in regard to the prospective retirement -
the Interior Department of the Assistant SCI
tary Webster Davis, now in South AlIIeS'
These stories have endeavored to make II aP
pear that Mr. Davis's trip to the cape "a ~
forerunner of his retirement TO private ms
1t has been asserted that President Mcr>l'i.1'
was dissatisfied with his administration OF MS
office as Assistant Secretary particularly "i'
rulings with relation to pension claims
These statements need no denial to those VINO
are familiar with the relations between the
Assistant Secretary and the PRESIDENT MI
Davis. after Major McKiney's election an
nounced his candidacy for the place Oh Ohiteu
States Attorney for the Western DlstIlS'
of Missouri and shortly after the Inaugural
ton came to Washington and presented ms
papers The following Saturday ne met tHe
President at one Of the public receptions 10
the surprise of the young Missourian, Mr. NC
Kinley invited him to step behind the line OF the
receiving party. When the reception was over
he accompanied the President to his private
office and to his utter amazement was informed
by Mr.. Mckinley that the latter had alreauy
seen his application for United States Al
torney for the Western District of MISSOURI
but that he would rather have Mr.. Davis accept
another office. The President said that he nao
not then decided what place he could oIer'
Within a week the President informed him that
he had decided TO give him the Assistant Secre-
taryship Of the Interior. Mr.. Davis accepted
the office and his appointment followed Few
days later. From that day the relations between
the young MIssourian and the Chief Executive
have been the most cordial -
Although the youngest man who has ever hlleG
the place OF Assistant Secretary Mr.. Davis mas
accomplished more in that office than any OF his
predecessors, and at the same time mas taken
active part in many pollJlcaI campaigns
Early in 1898 some friction arose between the
Commissioner of Pensions and the Assistant
Secretary of the Interior by reason or the IaCt
that many of the decisions or the PENSION OInce
were reversed by the Assistant secretary Inc
Commissioner of Pensions frequently appedleU
the cases decided by the Assistant Secretary 10
the Secretary of the Interior. In each OF these
cases the decision of the Assistant Secretary
was sustained notwithstanding the fact that
many of the cases referred to the Attor-
ney- General of the United States for judicial
opinion, and many more to the Assistant Attor-
ney- General for the Interior Department Inc
records of the Interior Department snow that
in not a single case has decision OF MT Davis
been reversed, but, the contrary they nave
all been sustained by the Secretary.
After the retirement last March of Cornelius
n. Bliss as Secretary OF the Interior 1t was cur
rently reported that there was friction between
Mr.. Davis and Secretary Hitchcock. But there
has certainly been no friction between the two
in the last six months. On the contrary, the ut
most harmony has prevailed Last fall Mr.
Davis invited and took a prominent part IN
the political campaign in Ohio. As result he
returned to Washington in impaired health, and
at the suggestion of his physician decided TO
take a long sea voyage. The war in South Africa
had begun, and Mr.. Davis concluded to Visit
that country. He called on Secretary Hitchcock
and asked for indefinite leave OF absence,
explaining his reasons therefor. which was
ton Of retiring it is not known to his friends
here.