The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1901-12-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Regular Correspondent.

ashington, December ~, 1901.
Although the statement comes
neither from the President nor
from Secretary Gage, that there
will be new Secretary OF the
Treasury In the Immediate future Is
virtually an assured fact, There
have been numcrour rumors to this
effect ever since Mr.. Roosevelt be-
came President, but the informa-
ton now comes from sources SO
close to the White House that
there Is no room for doubt NJ to its
authenticity. Mr.. Gage himself
has heretofore cmphatically de-
MED that he had any intention of
resignirg, but when seen ycster-
day, he merely refuses to deny or
afliirm the rumor and IL II known
that the President has spoken to
several of the party leaders of the
probability of his having to select
successor. The only names that
have been mentioned for the port
folio, so far, are Colonel Myron 7.
Iicrrick of Cleveland, president of
the American Bankers Associa-
tion and Hon. I. Jefferson Cool
idgc OF Boston, cx-ministcr to
France. The latter Is regarded NJ
most likely to receive an offer of
the position.
The appointment of Mr.. Hcnr v
&. Payne, OF Wisconsin, to sue
coed Mr.. Charles Emory Smith as
Postmastcr-Gcncral is regarded "a
n most happy selection. Mr..
Payne, in addition to being n close
friend Of the President, has had an
cminently successful career as n
business man md has been for
some years politician, but has me-
yer been the subject OF the slightest
criticism even by his political cnc-
mics. His exceptionally capable
management of the post-oillce of
Milwaukee has given him an in
sight into the duties OF his new
Office and his great executive abil-
ity will flt him for the manage
mcnt OF the vast business machine
the Post-Onicc Department has
grown to be. He Is known to ia
vor penny postage.
There have been numerous 9th
crs rumors of Cabinet changes,
but they appear to be pure spccu-
lation. II IL said that Secretary
Long will be the next to resign,
but the rumor Is based merely on
the fact that the Sccctary, In con-
versation with friends, has cx-
pressed solicitudc for his law bus
mess which he fears Is suffering
from his compulsory inattention.
Few people realize that, apart
from the honor, which Is not al
ways unalloycd, the acceptance of
Cabinet portfolio II accompani-
cd by many sacrifices. II Is i'm
possible, even by the most rigid
economy, for a Cabinet minister
to live with his salary. A mem
ber of President Harrison's cabi-
net, whose tastes were most sim
pie and who occupied a residence
entirely unsuitable for the enter
tainments he was combellcd to
give, told me that his annual OK
penses exceeded his salary by
S5, 900 per year and a member of
Mr.. McKinley's cabinet placed
the amount at 5000 per year.
From a business standpoint, there
Is no future 10 n Cabinet position
and politically, II is regarded as
graveyard.
Many people believe that Score
tary Hay will resign In the not dis
tant future, but | am told on ex-
ccllcnt authority that he will do
so only In case his physician
strongly advises it and that the
President Is most anxious that he
shoul d remain. II Is certain, un-
less the most unforeseen circum-
stances should occur, there will be
no other changes unless It be in
the protfolio of the Interior. As q
matter of fact, however, Mr..
Roosevelt is unintentionally and
unconsciously setting a pace
which many OF the elderly gentle-
men who compose his Cabinet find
a little trying. 81 have just come