The Savannah morning news., 1902-03-15
MR.. WILSON WILL NOT RESIGN
DIFFERS WITH PRESIDENT ON RE-
CIPROCITY.

THEIR Relations. However, Are Not
Effort to Dictate the AgricuI-
turaI Appropriations Causing
Much Indignation Among Both
Democrats and Republicans-The
Effort to Slash His Estimates VIII
Be strongly Opposed.
Washington. March 14.-There ap-
pears to be no foundation, in fact, to
the report that Secretary Wilson con-
templates resigning from the cabinet
because of his difference with the
President in the matter of Cuban reci-
procity. True, Mr.. Wilson is an
avowed supporter of the beet sugar
interest, but it is declared by a num-
Der of his very close friends that the
relations of the President and Mr..
Wilson have not become at all strained
because of this difference of opinion,
and that there is no member of the
cabinet more likely to retain his port
folio throughout the present admins
tration than Secretary Wilson. Ger
tainly there is no cabinet closer to the
House than Mr.. Wilson, and it is said
that, aside from his fitness for the Of
flee, the President would be especially
anxious to retain him in his official
family because of his popularity with
the members of the House.
1t is thought likely that the report
Of Mr.. Wilson's retirement may have
started from the friction that is said
to exist between Secretary Wilson and
Chairman Wadsworth of the House
Committee on Agriculture. In his es
Inmates this year Mr.. Wilson has in
Guided appropriations for extensive
soil surveys in a number of states.
Provision is also made for additional
appropriations to extend the work of
the bureau of astrology. In the opin-
ion of Chairman Wadsworth and a GER
tain number of others of the commit
tee Mr.. Wilson's estimates are too ex-
travagant and they have proceeded to
cut them severely in several instances.
This has naturally not conduced to
harmony between the Secretary and
Chairman Wadsworth. Members hear
ing of the matter have decided to
make fight in support of the Sec
retarys estimates when the commit
tee reports the agricultural appropria-
ton bill. Republicans and Democrats
are rallying to the support of Mr.. Will
son, although the fight will be led by
a Republican, Representative Henry, of
Connecticut. Among the most aggres-
sive workers in opposition to Chairman
Wadsworth's cutting down of the Sec
retarys estimates is Representative
Latimer of South Carolina, who is
silently martialling the Democratic
forces to Mr.. Wilson's support. Mr..
Latimer holds that the Secretary of
Agriculture ought to know better than
any one else the needs of his depart
ment. and if he does not he is not the
man for the place. After a long con-
ference with Mr. Wilson in regard to
the appropriation for the department
this year, Mr.. Latimer says he is con-
vinced that the Secretary has cut his
estimates to the lowest desirable figure,
and he does not intend that the Com
mittee on Agriculture shall refuse to
comply with the figures presented by
the Secretary If he is able to prevent
It,
Chairman Wadsworth, it appears
went to see the President not a great
While ago in regard to expenditures in
the department. In the opinion of Mr..
Wadsworth the Department of Agri-
culture is being run on)a scale far too
eXtraVagant. He is said to have ex-
IN a very decided manner. What the
residents opinion is in the matter
does not appear, but the fact that the
secretary did not reduce his estimates
hgure after Chairman Wadsworth's
visit to the White House. would seem
10 indicate that the President approves
MT. Wilson's course. When it be-
came known that Chairman Wads-
worth was attempting to improve on
Secretary =,
needs of the Agricultural Department,
0.leaker Henderson is said to have re-
CelVed great number of letters severe
~ criticising the chairman of the Com
mlttee on Agriculture, and asking that
man more in touch with the farming
interests of the country be substituted
ds chairman of that committee. Sec
Ietary Wilson, hearing of these pro-
tests. is reported to have seen the
SPEAKER and personally requested Mr..
Wadsworth's retention as chairman of
the Agricultural COMMITTEES