The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-28
SHAW WILL Get BUSY
NEW SECRETARY WILL MAKE
CHANGES IN TREASURY
DEPARTMENT
WILL TAKE HOLD IN FEBRUARY
New Secretary Will Have Much More
Power and Political Influ-
ence Than Secretary
Gage Had.
WILL TAKE HOLD IN FEBRUAR7

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-No definite
time has been agreed upon when Gov.
Leslie NJ Shaw, of Iowa, will come to
washington to assume the duties OF secre-
tary of the treasury Secretary Gage says
he will be ready to retire whenever Mr.
Shaw is ready to relieve him, either as
early as Jan. / or as late as March l.
Gov. Shaw will not be able to come to
Washington the first of January because
of his official duties at Des Moines. But
it is assumed by treasury ohlcials that
he will be ready to assume his new OFF,
cial duties by the middle of the month
or the first of February.
The selection of Gov. Shaw for the
head of the treasury department gives
general satisfaction, especially to West
ern Republicans. 1t is safe to predict
that his recommendations will receive
more consideration from congress than
have those of Secretary Gage, VINO has
been singularly unfortunate in this re-
spect. Probably no secretary of the
treasury ever had less influence with con,
gress than he has had in the five years
of his incumbency of the office. Mr..
Gage came into this great office with no
political support whatever, and he has
gained none. He came as banker who
was satisfactory to the bankers of the
country, and his recommendations have
Congress in its financial legislation lol-
lowed the recommendations of President
Mckinley and paid no attention to those
of Secretary Gage. Gov. Shaw will come
to Washington as a representative OF
the Republicans of the West He will
have the earnest support of Western Re-
publicans in congress, and he viii also
have the profound respect of Republicans
from the East who have read his speech
es on financial questions and have known
his political record in Iowa. With the
speaker of the house and the father OF
the senate both from his own state, there
will be no disposition to ignore the rec
concentrations of Secretary Shaw in
either branch of congress.
Will Reorganize Department..
There has been demand for a reor-
ganization of the department and it is
believed that Secretary Shaw will find it
advisable to make some changes in the
assistant secretaries and chiefs This will
not be suggested because of political in
fuence, but simply with view to rais-
ing the efficiency of the whole depart
ment. Mr.. Gage and his assistants have
had numerous fads in the department
which We're more irritating than benefi-
cial. They have produced friction rather
than good practical results. Time clocks
to record the arrival and departure OF
clerks was one of these. This simply
made clerks more careful about the time
given to the public service without I'M
proving the character of that service. IL
had the tendency to make martinets o.
small chiefs aud produced such friction
that one Of these was shot by a treasury
clerk and threats were made against the
lives of one or two assistant secretaries
The tendency of administration was to
insignificant formulas to the neglect of
more important details.
Assistant Secretary Spaulding has been
i'll for several months and has been given
an indefinite leave of absence 1t is
doubtful il Mr. Spaulding will ever again
be able to take his old place with the
old-time vigor he had in the beginning OF
the Mckinley administration. His health
is too much impaired to permit of his re-
Stunning such responsible duties, and he
will probably be succeeded by a strong
protection Republican with thorough
knowledge of tariff details. Assistant
Secretary Allies is young and inexperi-
enced in such responsible matters. He
was a stenographer in the department
and was selected by Secretary Gage for
his private secretary after Mr.. Vanderlip
was made assistant secretary. When
Mr. Vanderlp resigned last spring Mr.
Gage secured the promotion of Mr.. Allies
to the vacant assistant secretaryship.-
This was very unsatisfactory selection
10 Republican congressman. not because
of any opposition to Mr.. Allies, but be-
cause of Mr.. Cages method Of selecting
his own favorites for such responsible po-
sitions. There will no doubt be more
experienced man appointed to the place
now held by Mr. allies, because it is next
in Importance to the revenue department.,
controlling the mint and the bureau o1
printing and engraving. Assistant Secre-
tary Taylor. who has CT ntrol of the i'm
migration bureau and public buildings.
has been an efficient officer and he has
the backing of Senator Spconer and the
entire Wisconsin delegation in congress.