Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-09
At THE WHITE HOUSE
The Cabinet Discusses the
Post Office Investigation.
PAYNE'S STATEMENT T
CAN OUTLOOK IN MARYLAND.
Expresses Confidence of Victory in
November-Appraiser Somerville's
PHght-Explorer Baldwin Calls.

The meeting of the Presidents cabinet to-
day was not a long one. 1t is understood
that part of the time was taken up i'll dis
cussng the post office cases. Postmaster
General Payne announced to the President
and to his fellow cabinet officers that the
work of the Post Office Department in run
ming down offenders In the department had
practically closed, and that the remaining
work in the hands OF the Department
of Justice and the courts. Mr.. Payne stat
ed that there would probably be some dis
missals and other changes resulting from
the investigation, but that the investigation
of violations of law was about closed. MI
Payne made substantially the same state
ment at the close of the cabinet meeting to
newspaper men who asked him as to the
condition of affairs in his department.
At the conclusion of the meeting Mr..
Payne said that it was not tine expectation
that there would be a wholesale dismissal
of clerks and division chiefs of the Post
Office Department as result of the inves-
tigation Some further dismissals might be
made, he said, on the recommendation of
Mr.. Bristow, but thus far it had been the
practice to dismiss offenders as soon as the
evidence of their corruption or incompe-
tency had been obtained. From time to
time employees had been discharged for
cause That plan would be followed in the
future. 1t was decidedly improbable, how
ever, that any large number of clerks; would
be dismissed simultaneously. In fact, no
such proposition Mr.. Payne said, was in
contemplation
Most of the cabinet officers left the White
House about noon, but a few remained
longer with the President.
The Maryland Election.
candidate for governor of Maryland, was a
guest of the President at luncheon this af-
ternocn. S. S. Mcclure, the New York
publisher. also guest. Mr.. Williams
discussed with the President the political
situation in Maryland and expressed con-
fidence in the result in November. He be-
Geves that the republicans are in splendid
shape for a victory. Mr.. Williams re-
manned with the President until late in the
afternoon
Robert C. Morris of New York called on
the President this morning. THE situa-
ton in the city of New York at this time" "
said Mr.. Morris, sis decidedly to the advan-
tage of the fusionists and 1 am confident
they will win a victory. The atmosphere
has been cleared by the election of Grout
and Fornes from the ticket. Tammany is
making an uphill fight and knows it.
Mr.. somerville in Trouble.
There are suggestions in political and
Treasury Department circles that Hender-
son NJ. Somervllle, chairman of the board
of general appraisers in New York, may
lose his position. Mr.. Somervlle, who is
from Alabama, has not made his position
with the President and Secretary Shaw any
more favorable by a recent article in the
North American Review, in which he criti
cised in strong measure the Presidents at
ttude on the negro question. Mr.. Somer-
vile spoke of Mr.. ROOSeveltS course as
unwise and disturbing, and as retarding
the solution. of the race problem.
AppraiS Somerville has been IN conflict
with the Treasury Department for some
time.
The friction grows out of the claim of
the Treasury Department that the board of
appraisers in New York is a part of the
Treasury Department and directly under
the supervision of that department. Mr..
Somerville has held that the board is of a
judicial character, and that it is not depend
ent the Treasury Department Mr..
Somervile holds that the board is analo-
gous to that of a United States court.
The friction resulting from this conflict
has been conSidera BILE, and Secretary Shaw
and Assistant Secretary Armstrong, it is
known. Will not be satisfied until his scalp
has been taken. Il is not understood that
they will use his magazine article basis
on which to ask the President for his re-
moval. but will wait until they have per-
fected their against him along other
lines.
Explorer BALDWIN Calls.
Evelyn Baldwin, the explorer, was at the
White House this morning, supposedly
about plans for another expedition to the
arctic regions. Mr.. Baldwin thought it
wise. however not to reveal the purpose OF
his talk. Mr. Baldwin is hopeful that an
other effort on his part to reach the pole
may be successful A number of the sta
tions that were established in the Baldwin
Zeigler expedition are still intact and can
he used. it is said. With these to aid him.
and with his experience Mr.. Baldwin feels
that the chances of finding the pole would
be better than ever before. Mr.. Baldwin
spoke in encouraging words of the possibil-
tiles of the Peary expedition.
Mr.. Baldwin,, In speaking of the relief eX-
petitions that have gone in search of DIR.
Nordenskiold. who left Sweden October 1y
1901. in search of the south pole, said: II
have no doubt that Mr.. Nordenskiold's ex-
pedition has met with disaster and that his
party is lost. He was inexperienced in
polar explorations, and l can no hope
that he is safe
Three expeditions have now gone in
search of the Swede. One expedition set
out from Argentina yesterday
Detectives Have Been Increased.
The detective force al the executive offices
has been increased by the addition of a
city detective. a plain clothes officer This
increase has taken place since the recent
appearance of cranks at the White House.
The new officer is a big, muscular intelli-
gent fellow, whose business 1t is to watch
out for cranks who may be wanting to
see the President and act promptly in
case he spots one. He is on duty in addition
to two secret service officers who have been
at the White House so long.
Personal Mention.
Mr. Will R. Rose Of the editorial stan OF