The Press., 1902-09-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
washington, Sept. 8. 1902.

Washington, Sept 8. 1909.
There is probably no department of the
government which Is less known to the
general public than the department of
ustice, Notwithstanding the fact that
on the accuracy of the work of that divis-
ion OF the executive office depends to q
very considerable extent the usefulness
Of a large share OF that done In all OF the
others. The department of justice, whose
head, the attorney general, is primarily
the legal adviser of the president, the
members of the cabinet and a large num-
Der of the subordinate officials, and In
addition has charge OF the numerous
United States courts, judges, marshals. \
etc. For the performance OF these duties
there are, In addition to the attorney gen.
eral, solicitor general ard four assistant
attorney generals, a solicitor for the state
department, one for the treasury, one for
the internal revenue bureau and attorney
generals for the post Office and interior,
besides large force of clerks. Il
At the present time three important
cases, apart from the regular routine
business Of the department, occupy the
attention Of the attorney general and his
assistants. They are the suits against
the Northern Securities company, the suit
against the beef trust, and the examina-
tion of the title to the property of the
Panama canal company. Whatever may
be thought of the earnestness with which
the attorney general Is carrying on the
suits against the trusts, there Is no ques-
tion but that their preparation and prose-
cution has caused large amount of extra
work in the department of justice, and
were 1t not for the fact that Mr.. Knox
has put into practice some of the business
maxims and principles which he acquired
as corporation attorney. it would have
been impossible for the department to
have accomplished the large amount of
work 1t has recently performed without
large increase in its clerical force.
General Knox, as he Is popularity called
In an attempt to curtail his long title, Is
very popular among his subordinates,
notwithstanding the fact that he has from
the first insisted upon most rigid OBJ
servance of the rules of the department,
and has quietly, but effectively, made lit
tie changes which, In the aggregate, have
/ resulted In securing an increased amount
of work from almost every employe of
his department. There has been nothing
harsh about his administration of the af-
fairs of his office, but he has succeeded
in impressing on every subordinate the
maxim, "the attorney general expects ev-
cry man to do his best," and instead of
spirit which inclined every man to get
through the day with the least possible
effort, there now exists feeling among
the employees that capacity will be gauged
by performance; for 1t would never occur
to the chief to assume that anyone Was-
not giving to the service all that was In
him, and, Of course, If he performs little,
'the old man will think he is capable of
little," which would prove serious in
jury to his pride.
At present General Knox Is abroad,
having gone to Paris to make thorough
and personal examination of the Panama
company's title. How long this will take
no one can tell, but every one who has
! come In contact with Mr.. Knox feels con-
fident that when he has passed judgment
upon it, there will be no question as to
its validity, or the reverse. He has sue
ceeded in inspiring the same feeling of
confidence In the members of the French
embassy in this city, and one of them re
marked recently to your correspondent,
''If the attorney general finds a serious
flaw In the Panama title, will be ready
to accept his dictum, even without exam
lining the matter myself and without ever
asking the grounds on which he bases his
opinion"
| The president passed through WASH
ington on Friday evening on his way
south. He remained In the city but an
hour, driving directly from one station to
the other. He seemed In excellent health
and none the worse for his serious acci-
dent, apart from an ugly looking wound
Il
jury, he said he felt like squirrel with
a large nut in his mouth, and his appear
ance did not altogether belle his feelings.
Secretary Cortelyou showed evidences of
his share In the affair. His nose Is badly
SCARED, and he said he felt worse than
he looked. Mr.. Roosevelt will spend to-
day In Chattanooga, will visit Knoxville
and Asheville and will pass through Wash
ington on his way to Oyster Bay on Wed
nesday. He will remain In Oyster Bay
for about nine days, and will then start
on his western trip, returning to the CAPT.
tai about the 4th of October. By that
time it is expected that the office which
Is building on the white house grounds
will be ready for occupancy, but 1t is
doubtful If the white house will, and, In
all probability, the president will continue
to occupy as residence what Is now
known as the temporary white house on
Lafayette Square.
The apparent disposition of Senator
Platt of New York and of the New York
Sun and other leading republican papers
to repudiate the president, because of his
attitude toward the trusts, Is causing con.
siderable gossip in political circles here
1t Is known that Senator Platt Is poll
tician Of extreme acumen, and it has beer
suggested that his present position, ane
his announcement that the New York re-
publican convention would not indorse