The San Francisco call., 1901-11-17
.SECRET TARY CAGE
!. IS IN IGNORANCE
President Fails to Con-
suit Him Concerning
an Appointment.
Head of Treasury Department
Gets First knowledge
From Newspapers
Special Dispatch to The Call.


CALL BUREAU, 1906 G STREET. N.
W., WASHINGTON. Nov. 16.-President
Roosevelt selected Senator N. N. Strana-
han of New York to be George R.. Bid
wells successor as Collector of the Port
without the knowledge of Secretary of
the Treasury Gage. There are several
unusual things about the settlement of
this question, but none quite so unusual
as that Stranahan had been rendered the
position, had accepted it and was acualiy
in Washington for a talk with the Presi-
dent while the Secretary of the Treasury
was in ignorance that a change was pend
ing;
he was to have new Collector under
him after April was given to him by tie
newspapers at his breakfast table. He
was not half as angry over this as the
President was over the premature pub
lication Of the news; 1t had been the in
ter over with Senator Stranahan, bring
Secretary Gage upon the scene, have him
acquiesee In the change and then make
the announcement from the White House
in the usual way. Senator Stranahan's 5
friends talked and Secretary Gage was
thunderstruck when he read the news. In
consequence there Is undeniable friction
All sorts of rumors are afoat to the ef-
feet that Secretary Gage will resign his
portfolio in President Roosevelt's Cabi-
net. 1t is no secret that Secretary Gage
is mortified not over the fact that Bid
we'll is to be retired but because Bidwell' S
successor was selected and the news pub
lished without the Secretarys knowledge.
President Roosevelt is quite as embar-
rassed as the Secretary of the Treasury,
No one can say what Secretary Gage will
do, but his friends do not look for him
to retire from the Cabinet. He is not a
narrow and vindictive man. and not one
to leave an important post in a pet.
Stranahan. after his call upon the Presi-
dent to-day, made the following state
ment: .
President Roosevelt to-day rendered me the
office of Collector Of the Port OF New York
its duties April next. Such an arrangement
would permit to do my winters work at
Albany. l am especially anxious to nnish my
term as Senator in justice to my constituency
and also in the hope that as chairman of the
committee on cities / may be able to aid the
policies OF Governor Odell. The revised char
ter will undoubtedly require attention from the
Legislature. and my work IN connection with
The office of Collector comes to me abso-
utely unsought. and. | may say, with the
cordial concurrence of the President and Sen
ator Platt The Senator undoubtedly desired
the reappointment Of Bidwell. but If this was
not to be done. he is entirely satisfied with
me. No suggestions to my policy in the
office has been made to condition coupled
with the appointment, except that give the
best possible administration in my power. in
be found the greatest advantage to one S
party.
During the afternoon Stranahan called
upon the members of the Civil Service
Commission and had an extended inter
given out, the members of the commits
sion expressed themselves after the con-
ference as being of the opinion that the
strongly in the office of the Collector of
Customs of New York, in which Strana-
han takes his position as the head.