Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-12-27
Secretary Wilson to Remain in the
Cabinet.
NO TRUTH In STORY OF COBURN
Secretary Long to Be the Next
to Leave. :
CIVIL SERVICE TALK

4
ceeding the Secretary Of Agriculture. One
of these makes it's appearance today from
the west. It asserts with much positive
| ness and plausibility that F. d. Coburn.
| secretary Of the state board of agriculture
| Of Kansas, has been selected to succeed
| Mr.. Wilson. Although cabinet changes are
coming rather fast, there is no ground here
| for believing that Mr.. Wilson is to leave
the cabinet now or even in the near future
| certainly not by the desire or seeking OF
! the President.
Mr.. Wilson, himself, is not known to
have any inclfnations to leave the cabinet
| circle. The Kansas friends OF Mr.. Coburn
are therefore believed to be decidedly pre-
mature. The coburn story has several
times before come out of the west. as far
| back as year or more ago, and at a time
| when there was not the slightest hkeli-
hood of Mr. Wilson Withdrawing himself
| from official life.
| Secretary Long Next to Go.
The probability, well understood In White
House and departmental circles, is that
! Secretary Long will be the next cabinet
officer to retire from his post. His desire
| to leave Washington dates back TO some
| time prior to the assassination Of President
| Mckinley, and the latter was aware of Mr..
| Longs wishes. Secretary Long has post
|
| dation for the stories that would have been
| occasioned by his hasty exit under the new
| administration.
Some of the stories have made 1t appear
| that Secretary Longs relations with the
! President were not cordial, and early re-
| tirement would undoubtedly have given
| these stories a basis of credit. Secretary
I Long has again extended the time he had
| fixed for retirement because of fresh news
paper attacks on him and demands for his
| resignation. He has told his friends he
| will not retire under fire.
After Secretary Long has left the admin
| istration the prospective changes would in
| clude Secretary Hay and Secretary Hitch
| cock, but these may be some time off.
Secretary Root is the Presidents
closest friend in the cabinet. Next to him
| in favor is Mr.. Knox, who really hates Of
| fetal life and who has no political ambi-
4 tionS. Mr.. Knox came into the cabinet be-
cause his friend Mckinley earnestly want.
| ed him, and his admiration for the dead
! President was such as to prevent his
| fusing the offer to succeed Mr.. Grieee.
| Following the death Of Mr.. Mckinley, Mr..
Knox expected time TO come when hs
| could go back to private life and to his big
| and profitable law practice in Pittsbure.
His buSineSslike handling of official mat
| ters and his deep knowledge Of the law at
| once impressed the new President, with the
result that Mr.. Knox will probably find
| that the President will not permit him to
leave the Department of Justice.
Representative Bowersock of Kansas was
| at the White House today He said that
| he had no knowledge of Mr.. Coburn's prob
able connection with the cabinet, but the
people of Kansas would undoubtedly be for
Mr.. Coburn for the position In case of a va
cancy in the Department of Agriculture,
A Cabinet Meeting Reference.
At the cabinet session today reference
was made to the Coburn story, but the
most emphatic statement was made by
the President that he intended to hold Seq
retary Wilson in the official family. Ali
the cabinet members acquiesced in this
view, and later expressed the opinion that
Mr.. Wilson is one of the fixtures OF the
cabinet in this administration, the Presi-
dent being exceedingly appreciatfve II ie
said. of Mr.. Wilson's work at the head OF
his department.
More Civil Service Talk.
The cabinet meeting was short and pro-
ductive Of little business except an inter-
esting talk about putting number OF
clerks under the civil service. The class of
clerks now under consideration for the pro-
lection of the civil service laws those
who obtained temporary employment in the
various departments as a result of the war
with Spain. There are large number Of
these in the War Department, some in the
Navy Department and considerable num-
Der in the Treasury Department. The Sec
retary of War has recommended that these
clerks, or at least a certain portion OF
them, be made permanent.
done about the clerks In his department. In
the treasury there are thirty or forty on
the internal revenue rolls, a considerable
number in the office of the auditor for the
War Department and a number in the Of
fee of the auditor for the Navy Depart
ment and register of the treasury's office.
Most of these clerks have had over three
years experience, and are considered by
the President as able to be of good service
to the government. The only question in
the Presidents mind is whether he has
10 iDp kSr hN VII
service order or whether the power rests
with Congress. He is going to investigate
the question, and if it is within his power
he will issue an order putting large num-
Der of temporary clerks on the permanent
rolls of the government.
In the case of the clerks in the internal
revenue bureau the repeal of the war rev.
enue taxes would throw many of them,
probably ALL out of work, but IL they
should be placed under the civil service
now they would be eligible to appointment
in other departments.
Gov. Shaw's Coming.
1t is said today to be quite likely that
Governor Shaw will not enter upon his
MANAGEMENT of the Treasury Department
earlier than the middle of February or LIST
of March. The President has been OF the
impression that Secretary Gage desired to
retire about that time, and has evidently
informed Governor Shaw that he will be
wanted along about one of these dates. The
President is said TO be exceedingly sorry
that Secretary Gage is going to leave the
treasury and has repeated his feelings to a
number of his callers.
Commissioner of Immigration.
Col. H. NJ. Porter of New York was at
the White House today and filed an appli-
cation for the position of commissioner of
immigration at New York to succeed Com
missioner Fftchie. who is said to be slated
for retirement. Col. Porter married a niece
of Gen. John c. Fremont, and is the pres-
ident of the Fremont Memorial Association.
Dined by the President.
President Roosevelt last night entertain
ed a party at dinner. The guests were Sec
retary Root, Attorney General Knox, Gen.
Randolph Rear Admiral Robley d. Evans.
Senator Lodge and Justice Clark Of New
York.