Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-09
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Oppose Including Bureau Of
Labor in New Department.
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
WANT AN INDEPENDENT CABI-
NET OFFICER.
Apostolic Delegate the First Caller on
President Today-New Col
lector at Nogales.
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS

lector at Nogales.
President Roosevelt has decided to send
to the Senate the name of Edwin Baker as
collector Of customs at Nogales AriZ., prob
ably the most difficult position of Its kind
in the country. by reason Of the temptations
that surround an honest man. A vacancy
in the collectorship was caused recently by
the death of Collector Doan, who was son
Of r. E. Doan of this city. There has been
hard fight for the vacancy, many we'll
backed men being presented to the Presi-
dent. The selection of Mr.. Baker is one of
merit entirely. and it will be received with
satisfaction by many employees of the
treasury who remember Mr.. Baker when
he was a clerk there.
Mr.. Baker was originally from West Vir-
glnia, and prior to the Spanish-American
war was employed in the United States
express office located in the treasury build
ing. When number of extra clerks were
being appointed in the treasury he was
given a place, and was assigned to the Of
nee or the auditor for the War Depart
ment. He made a most creditable record
there, and when his health began to fail
the employees of the office unanimously
asked MS transfer to some position in Ari-
quest was granted, and Mr.. Baker was
made an immigrant inspector at Nogales.
He had not been there long before he dis
covered an immense conspiracy for the ad-
tickets.
The work he did revealed that the col
iector of customs was a party to
the admission of the Chinese on their
matter was the dismissal of the collector
and an overturning of the entire office after
the treasury had thoroughly investigated
the facts laid before it by Mr.. Baker Be
cause of his fine work Mr.. Baker was dp-
pointed deputy collector of customs and in
this position he has served most creditably
HIS promotion now is reward for merit
honesty and integrity. The Nogales office
mas been the source of much trouble in
past years because of the attempts to
brlbe officials to commit conspiracy against
the government.
What the Labor People Want.
Labor organizations and their leaders
throughout the country will, it is said to-
day ON good authority, oppose the incor-
poratlon or the bureau Of labor under the
proposed department of commerce. not only
before Congress, where the bill is now pend
ing, but will carry the fight before the
President, should the bill become law with
the department Of labor included. Labor
organizations oppose this transfer CT the
labor bureau to new department. because
they feel that there should be department
of labor. and have come to the conclusion
that their desires will not be gratified in
many years in this direction if the present
bureau Of labor is placed under a regular
department. The question is likely to he
come more or less political, it is said, and
IL IS the intention of labor people, should
the department of commerce bill pass as
recommended to the House, to put the
question before President Roosevelt with a
request that he veto the measure alto
gether.
fight for partial legal recognition by asking
the establishment Of a department of la
Dor. There have been number of fights
IN Congress over the matter, and the out
come OF all of them was the placing Of the
present labor bureau on the basis 1t now
occupies in government service, one of in
dependence of other departments The la
Dor men argue that the interests of labor
ana its gigantic Importance in the affairs
or the country should be properly regarded
by the creation of a department of labor
which would be presided over by cabinet
officer, with the right to sit at cabinet
meetings and confer with the President on
matters of vital interest to labor. The la
Dor leaders are still fighting for this princi-
pie, and expect to be able to defeat the
proposition pending in the House for the
transfer of the bureau of labor, which is
now presided over by Carroll d. Wright to
the proposed new department of commerce.
Hc idDOI expect TO receive
the solid backing Of the democrats in their
opposition, by reason of the fact that the
platform adopted by the last national con-
vention Of the democratic party pledged it
self to the establishment of a bureau of la
Dor. The democrats, therefore, are pledged
to department.
Apostolic Delegate Calls.
Monsignor Falconio, the apostolic dele
gate to the United States, paid his first
call on the President this morning. He
was accompanied by Rev. F. 2. Rocker,
secretary Of the apostolic legation. Mon
signor Falconio was the first person re-
ceived by the President this morning. The
distinguished representative Of the Catho-
Ii" church was cordially received.
Carroll D.. Wright made short call on
the President to inform him of the progress
of the work OF the coal strike commission.
Mr.. Wright returned to Philadelphia to-
day to resume his work with the commits
sion.
Senator James K Jones called on the
ter.
Representatives Tayler of Ohio and Cor
liss of Michigan presented friends to the
President.
Cadetship for Knoxville Boy.
The members of the Tennessee delegation
in Congress, headed by Representative Glib
son, called on the President today with
Booth Mckinney Of Knoxville, a young
man who has aspirations to become an
officer in the navy. The delegation re-
quested the President to appoint young
Mckinney as a cadet at Annapolis, and
the President said it would please him to
give the request consideration.
Harlem River Improvements.
President Roosevelt today received a
delegation from the North Side Board OF
Trade and Taxpayers Alliance, organiza-
tions of the borough of Bronx, New York
Representative Pugsley and Representa-
tive-elect Goulden presented the delegation,
which is in Washington to appear before
the rivers and harbors committee Of the
House to urge additional appropriations for
the Improvement Of the Harlem river, the
Harlem ship canal and the Bronx kills
The delegation consists of Albert Z. Davis
Charles StoTghton Seward Baker Matthew
Anderson, Charles W. Steurer and c. W.
Stoughton.
The Cabinet Meeting.
For nearly two hours today the cabinet
was in session, all the members except
q l.