Evening star., 1902-03-01
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Director Merriam Will Prob
ably Succeed Himself.
CLERKS ARE ANXIOUS
IF BILL rs NOT APPROVED SOON
MANY WILL BE DISCHARGED.
A Protest Against an Illinois Candi-
date-"Webb" Flanagan
to Win Out.
CLERKS ARE ANXIOUS

ernOr William X. Merriam as director Ol
the permanent census bureau under the
bill Just passed by Congress and which
will become law when the Presidents sig
nature is placed to it, Senator Quarles OF
Wisconsin, who has been in charge Of the
census bill in the Senate, said today, when
leaving the White House. that it was the
| unanimous desire Of the members of both
houses of Congress that Director Merriam S
| splendid work should be recognized by his
nomination to succeed himself as director
of the permanent establishment.
| Senator Quarles said that the work of
| this office had been most satisfactorily car
ried on, and general satisfaction given un-
der most embarrassing and trying circum-
stances. This was true of the officials un-
! der Director Merriam, and it was hoped
| that they, too, would be retained.
The fact that the House was rot in ses-
| sion today prevented the bill being signed
| by the President of the Senate and Speaker
of the House. This will not be done until
| Monday and the bill will not reach the
| President until Monday afternoon. He will
sign 1t soon after 1t reaches the White
House, as any material delay would result
| in about 500 census employees falling out
side the civil service breastworks.
The dismissal Of these employees is held
up pending the Presidents disposition OF
the bill. If the measure is not signed in
four or 1lNe Gays theSe emptOyeS Will De re-
leased and will thus fail Of the privilege
and right of transfer to other departments
| of the government. The President unGer-
stands this and probably approves Of the
retention of these anxious clerks.
Senator QuarleS says that there are about
LOO employees now in the bureau. VI
these he believes that 1000 will be required
| in the permanent bureau after July 1,
leaving only 100 to be absorbed into the
other branches of government service un-
| der the civil service laws Senator Quarles
| thinks this number can easily be provided d
| for without serious disadvantage to the
eiigibles on the civil service list.
There is a strong belief among numerous
congressman that Director Merriam stands
| a good chance Of entering the cabinet IL
the course of the next year. The talk that
Secretary Hitchcock will leave the cab'ne'
| makes an opening that would it is said. be
appropriate for Mr.. Merriam and for Wh1cf
| he would be strongly backed.
A Protest Against Hogan.
William 8. Warren, president of the Chi
cago board of trade, was presented to the
President today by Representative Hopkins
of Illinois. Mr.. Warren came to Washing
ton to protest against the possible nomina-
ton of Daniel Hogan as collector of inter
nal revenue of the southern district of ILL
nois.
The protest was made, it Is claimed, in
behalf of the entire board Of trade and
business element of Chicago. Hogan was
grain registrar Of Chicago during the ad-
ministration of Gov. Tanner. He was held
in that position by Gov. Yates, and, it is
claimed has the Endorsement of Gov. Yates
Representative Hopkins and Representa-
tive BILLY Lorimer, who are charged with
being in a political combine to overthrow
Senator Mason and nearly everybody else
| in their way. Recently serious charges
have been made of the false grading of
wheat in the registrars office, and some
indictments are pending as a result.
"Webb' Flanagan to Win Out.
| Although a most severe fight has been
made to prevent another term being given
to Webster Flanagan, collector of inter-
nal revenue of the third Texas district, the
President has finally decided, 1t was stated
today. to renominate the redoubtable
Texas politician Flanagan is known all
through the south. He belongs to the re-
publican organization in Texas.
Senator Dubois and ex-senator ShOup OF
Idaho presented Thomas Cobb, editor of
the Idaho Statesman. Mr.. Cobb is on his
way to Europe, but stopped in Washing
ton to say good word for Joseph Perault
surveyor general Of Idaho. Charges Of viO-
lating the civil service are pending against
Mr.. Perault and threaten to prevent his
being again nominated for the office.
Mr.. Oxnard and Sugar.
Henry Oxnard. head Of the beet sugar
| industry in this country, had talk with
the President this morning He urged that
a rebate on Cuban sugar, such as proposed
by Representative Tawney, would accom-
plish the desired relief, and, moreover, have
the advantage over a tariff concession OF
placing the money directly into the pockets
Of the Cuban sugar planters Mr.. Oxnard
also called the Presidents attention to the
report that the Brussels International sugar
conference had agreed upon the abolition OF
all sugar bounties, direct and indirect. and
told him If this report was true 1t would
solve the whole problem by raising the
price of sugar throughout the world. For
this reason Mr.. Oxnard contended that
there is no reason for haste in settling the
Cuban tariff problem.
President Will Be Here.
Ell Torrance commander-in- chief of the
G. A. r.. B. H. Warner and John McElroy
called on the President to day to inform
him that the annual encampment OF the
G. A. r. will be held In. this city the first
week in October and to express the hope
that he would be here. The President said
that 1t would be impossible to keep him
away from Washington on that occasion,
ard that 1t would certainly give him pleas
encampment. The President, in response to
the requests of the delegation, said that
he would gladly cooperate with the people
Of the city and the officials OF the organiza-
hearty assistance in any way desired Of him
The President said that he would have a
| number OF guests during the encampment.
and that the White House. like all other
homes In Washington at that time, would
be filled with visitors
Doesn't Voice Public Sentiment.
Ex-senator M. c. Butler OF South Caro-
| lima called on the President today to ex-
| press the earnest hope that the Tillman-
McLaurin episode and the letter of Lieut.
Gov. James Tillman would not interfere
with any plans he had made about going
| to the Charleston exposition. Gen. Butler
| tod the President in emphatic nneuaxe
that the action of Lieut. Gov. Tillsnnn was
not approved by the people OF lase state,
and that 1t would be q hardshipenot to at
tend the exposition. Gen. Butler said that
! Of all people in the world those at Charles
ton would be the last to cast any Insult
upon the chief executive or to approve an
Insult Sy any one else. The President an
| swered that the letter OF young ulInas,
would not interfere In the least Wish hid