Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-12-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
al ooRa..rosDssoH OF rHI xosI1oa
Washington. Dec. 23rd, 1901.


neither from the president nor from
8 cretary Gage, tat there will be
new secretary OF the treasury In the
immediat.. future Is virtually an
assured tact. There have been nu-
me- rous rumors to this effect ever
since Mr.. Roosevelt became presi-
dent, but the Information now comes
from sources so close to the White
House that there is no room for
doubt as to it's authenticity. Mr..
Gage himself has heretofore emphati-
c4lIy denied that he had any intention
of resigning, but when nyesterday
he merely refused to deny or affirm
the rumor and it is 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 portfolio, so far, are Colonel
Myron T. Herrick of Cleveland, presi-
dent of the American Bankers Asso-
citation, and Hon. t. Jefferson
Coolidge of Boston, ex-minister to
France. The latter is regarded as
most likely to receive an offer of the
position.
The appointment of Mr.. Henry Q.
Payne, of Wisconsin, to succeed
Mr.. Charles Emory Smith as post
master general is regarded as most
happy selection. Mr.. Payne, in
addition to being close friend of the
preside mt, has had an eminently sue
cessful career as a business man and
has been for a number of years
politician, but has never been the
subject of the slightest criticism even
by his political enemies. His ex-
ceptionally capable management of
the post office of Milwaukee has
given him an insight into the duties of
his new Office and his great executive
ability will fit him for the manage
ment of the vast political machine
the post office department has grown
to be- He is known to favor penny
postage.
There have been numerous other
rumors of cabinet changes, but they
appear to be pure speculation. 1t is
said that Secretary Long will be the
next to resign, but the rumor is based
merely on the fact that the secretary,
in conversation with friends, has eX-
pressed solicitude for his law business
which he fears is suffering from his
compulsory inattention. Few people
realize that, apart from the honor,
viii IN is not always unalloyed, the
acceptance of a cabinet portfolio is
accompanied by many sacrifices. 1t
is impossible, even by the most rigid
economy, for a cabinet minister to
live within his salary. A member of
President Harrison's cabinet, whose
TASTES were most simple and who oc-
cupied residence entirely unsuitable
for the entertainments he Was COM
PEELED togive, told me that his annu Il
expenses exceeded his salary by
So, 900 per year and member of Mr..
McKiniey's cabinet placed the amount
at Sc 900 per year. From business
standpoint, there is no future TO
cabinet position and politically, it is
regarded IS ''graveyard."
Many people believe that Secretary
Hay will resign in the not distant
futur-, but l am told on excellent
authority that he will do SO only in
case his physician strongly advises it
and that the president is most anxious
that he should remain. It is certain
that, unless the most unforeseen cir
cumstances should occur, there will
be TO other changes unless iC should
be in the portfolio OF the interior.
AS a matter of fact, however, Mr..
Roosevelt is unintentionally and un-
consciously setting pace which
many of the elderly gentlemen who
compose his cabinet find a little try
ing. 81 have just come from a cabi-
net meeting and l am little breath
less, said one of them recently. 1--WE
all admire the presidents youthful
energy and have the highest regard
for him. but, unfortunately for US old
fellows, the pace he sets is a little
try ing. 1t makes US very breathless.
There are several of US who AWAY :
leave cabinet meeting painting
On Thursday Congress adjourned
for the holidays and those members
who have not yet brought their fami-
lies to Washington have gone home.
The ratification of the Hay Paunce-
tote treaty and the return of Senator
Morgan's canal bill by the committee
on interoceanic canals have cleared
away a good deal of what might be
termed preliminary legislation and as
soon as the senate reasse bles, it will