Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-18
At THE White HOUSE
Talking About a Building for
New Department.
Mr.. MERGERS IDEA
MR.. CoRTELYoU TAKES OATH
AND rs A CABINET MINISTER.
President Invited to a Reunion of
Spanish War Veterans-Some
of Today's Callers. .-.

Representative Mercer of Nebraska, chair
man Of the House committee on public
grounds and buildings, had a conference
today with Secretary Cortelyou concerning
a building for the new Department of Com
merce and Labor. The necessity for such a
building is urgent, as the department will
be one of the largest in the government
For some time Secretary Cortelyou has had
| the subject Of accommodations for the de-
partment under consideration, but has ar
rived at no definite conclusion. Figures
have been prepared showing In detail the
amount of floor space which will be neces-
sary for the various bureaus of the depart
ment. These have indicated that building
suitable for the department is not at pres
ent available In the city,
A proposition has been made tentatively
that the government purchase the hand
some building Of the southern railway, at
the corner of Pennsylvania avenue and 18th
street. 1t is one of the most commodious
office buildings in the city. Southern rail-
way officials are understood to be consider
ing an offer to remove the. general offices
of the system to Atlanta, Ca, that city
having offered them special advantages.
For this reason an intiniation has been con-
veyed to the government that they might
be induced to sell their building here to the
United States. 1t Is understood, however,
that some objection to the building has been
made. 1t is not regarded an quite suitable,
either in size or style OF architecture, for
the new department.
Chairman Mercer indicated his preference
for a new building to be erected expressly
for the Department of Commerce. He
thought that, even at the present session, If
fairly adequate plans were presented, the
authorization Of the building might be OBJ
fnf,, wa fr1y No.,
matter of urgency, and, as there is an
abundance of money available, he felt that
the project ought to be- initiated at the
present session. Temporary quarters, of
course, will have to be secured, and it Is re-
garded as not unlikely that. in this connec-
ton. the Southern railway building may be
considered as leased quarters.
Invited to a Reunin. -'.e
Representative Warner of illinois, accom-
panied by Judges Wright and Weldon of
the Court of Claims and JosephGW. Fifer Of
the interstate commerce commission, called
on the President today tor invite him to
visit Bloomington, NJ, on the occasion Of
reunion at that place this summer Of vet
Grams of the Spanish war The date for the
reunion has not beer fixed, and is left open
to suit the convenience of the President,
who does not know whether he will be able
to accept the Invitation f..--
Representative Long OF Kansas presented
Representative-eIect Campbell Of the third
Kansas district Mr.. Campbell succeeds
Representative Jackson, a democrat. "~-~-.-
Representative Greene Of Massa chusetts
presented some constituents, among them
being Rev. Father Provost Of Fall River
and Rev. Father Berube of New Bedford.
Both are in charge, OF French Canadian
ton at Fail River is the third largest in
America. Montreal has,the largest French
Canadian population, with Quebec second
and Fall River third.
Poyl fnff ffIyn Girf6 nd af yfoh
sented his successor in Congress, Mr.. How
ell. - E
Representative Clayton of Alabama pre-
sented some friends. Senator Burrows talk
ed to the President about a pardon case.
Mr.. Cortelyou and Mr.. Loeb Sworn In.
George B. Cortelyou was today inducted
into the office OF Secretary OF Commerce
and Labor, the oath Of office having been
administered in the cabinet room shortly
after II o'clock by Chief Justice Fuller. In
addition to the President there were present
Mrs. Cortelyou and Bruce and Winthrop
Cortelyou, sons of the new Secretary; Miss
Kinds Of Hampstead and Mrs. H. j. Hay
den Of Reading. Pa, sisters Of Mrs. Cortel-
you; Mrs. William Loeb. Robert A. Max
well, former assistant postmaster general,
and all of the members Of the executive
staff Of the White House. Following this
ceremony Chief Justice Fuller administered
the oath Of office to William Loeb, 1r.; as
BILE ceremony was an interesting one.
~ Asking for Appointments.
Secretary Cortelyou has received a num-
ber Of visits during the day from senators
and representatives asking for minor ap-
pointments in his department. He has
made no promises so far, and Is undecided
about the appointments he will make. Sena-
tors Dietrich and Millard of Nebraska and
RenreSpnta ia tive KfpLofd ~ the siYth
district of that state called on Mr.. Cortel
you to ask that he md a place in his de-
partment for Robert o. Fink of Lincoln.
Senator Pritchard called on Mr.. Cortelyou
in connection with departmental position
for r. H. McNeal, who has been Senator
years. Senator Prftchard also saw the
President. 1t is understood that the name
Of DR.. p. T. Person will be sent to the
Senate soon as postmaster at Wilson, N. c.,
instead Of 8. II. Wick, colored.
Conditions in Porto Rico.
Right Rev. James H. Blenik- Of the do
cese of Porto Rico called on the President
today and talked with him sone time as to
conditions in the island. Bishep Blenk says
that careful, prudent management will be
necessary, which will plane thu island on
satisfactory basis all around.
Position Of Assistant Secretary.
Owing to opportunities tho President may
announce at an early data his selection of
an assistant secretary for the Department
Of Commerce and Labor. Despite the fact
that the labor interests % tthe country have
| not presented candidats for the assistant
secretaryshdp in the new Department Of
Commerce, there Is no question that organ
lied labor hopes that the President will
recognize Its claims in making this ap-
AS the President has given recognition to
the railroad branch Of the workers in other
positions. 1t Is hoped by many he may con-
slider representative Of the American
Federation Of Labor IN such an event
| the President would doubtless confer with
Samuel Gompers ana other leaders of that
body before making = final choice as TO the
proper name to be sent to the Senate.
+ Personal Mention.
Former .0oseFnes ID. Russell Brown Of
Rhode Island. edfter of the Providence