Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-24
At THE WHITE HOUSE
May Reduce Panama Canal
Commission.
REP. HEPBURN'S IDEA
HE HAD A CONFERENCE WITH
PRESIDENT TODAY.
Gossip About the Baltimore Post Of
fice-No Thought of Bill to
Increase Hours of Clerks.

ested in the Panama canal to the introduc-
ton of a bill reducing the number of mem
bers of the isthman canal commission.
and no surprise would be occasioned among
them, it is said. If the President should
J agree that such a bin would be wise
Representative Hepburn. chairman of the
! House committee on interstate and foreign
commerce, had a conference with the Presi-
| dent this morning, and the opinion is that
| he adverted to the question of cutting down
the membership of the commission Mr.
Hepburn is credited with belief that the
future of the canal Will be much more sue
cessful with a few commissioners than un-
der the present plan, and his standing I'm
Congress would give strength to anything
he might do I'm this direction. II is de-
clared that Mr.. Hepburns committee is
thlnklng OF repoi ting a bill that will en-
body the views of himself and others the
committee having visited Panama last
| month and obtained some ideas they think
would be valuable.
There has been talk for many months thar
the large membership of the commission
was resulting in lack of harmony in the
management of affairs. How true these
| stories are may be known to the President
| and he Is no doubt well posted as to wheth-
| er there should be a reduction in the COM
mission
| Mr.. Hepburn and others seem to think
| that the chief engineer of the commission
| ought to be given wider authority and held
| to greater accountability, without too much
interference and suggestion from the COM
mission. The charge is made that the chief
| engineer has little opportunity to carry out
| his own views, as matters now stand, and
| that there are too many bosses over him.
Members of the commission have digni-
| fiedly treated all the stories of friction with
unconcern and have made no effort to re-
flute them, feeling, ii Is said, that such an
| important body would naturally be the SUBJ
| ject of much gossip. Friends of the COM
mission and of the present system of build
| ing the canal have declared that there is
harmony, and that the differences that
| arise are healthy and wise, resulting in
| agreement that is for the best interests of
| the country. 1t is likewise pointed out that
| the President, II disposal TO look upon the
commission as too large and unwieldy. has
| a method of reducing the membership with
out act of Congress being necessary.
| This is by failing to fill vacancies that oe-
| cur. Since the resignation from the COM
mission of Colonel Becker no appointment
has been made, but the President offered
the place to Senator Cockfell of Missouri.
and that is taken proof that he is satis-
fled with the commission as 1t stands.
The Baltimore Post Office.
Senator McComas had a talk with the
President today about the Baltimore post
office. The appointment of postmaster for
| that city has been pending a long time but
it is understood that the President will
| make disposition of the case during the
| Christmas holidays. He will also make
number of other appointments, for the con-
| sideration of which he has not had time
| during the rush of the early days of Con-
gress. There are four prominent candi-
dates for the Baltimore office. They are
| John c. Simering, secretary of the republi-
| can state committee; c. w. Snyder MEM
Der of the chamber of commerce and of the
| burned district commission; l.. Riley
Wright an eX-judge of the orphans court
of Baltimore, and J. Stuart Macdonald,
| prominent business man. Senator Mccomas
| said that the President had asked him
about several other men.
In the last few days it is understood that
what is known as the reform wing of the
Baltimore republicans have suggested the
names of several men to the President.
Charles j. Bonaparte and John c. Rose, the
United States Attorney, are said to have
| put forward the new men, and there is talk
| that one of these may be selected The be-
| lief prevails, though, that one Of the four
regular candidates will be chosen. Sem
ator McComas has not made a recommend
alton. He has given the President every
thing he could relating to all the men in
the race. Representative Wachter is
strongly supporting Macdonald and is con-
fdent that the President will look favor
ably upon him. All of the candidates are
high-class men and a selection OF any one
so far named would probably not be
riously objected to.
Mr.. Gillett Denies Story.
Somebody started story week or two
ago that Representative Gilett of Massa-
chrsetts preparing to introduced bill
fixing the hours for work in the government
departments at from clock in the morn
ing until O'Clock in the afternoon. There
were a few uncomplimentary things said OF
Mr.. Gillett when the story had gone the
rounds and had been accepted as true Mr..
Gillett White House caller today. He
said that the story was without truth in any
way, and that he has no idea how it
started.
Senaor Warren of Wyoming, speaking to-
day of the proposition for legislation as 10
interstate commerce, said: There is a
strong sentiment all over the country for
| some legislation. and among members of
CONGRESS there is deep interest in the sub
iect The trouble about handling such an
| important subject is that there is so little
time
Exchange of Christmas Greetings.
Christmas greetings were exchanged by
the President and his callers today. The
visitors We're received. as usual. until after
1 30 o'clock in the afternoon, when the
President went to his luncheon. kilograms
and letters of a congratulatory and holiday
tone were received at the White House
from admiring friends of the President in
different parts of the country. and there
was cordial ring to all of them.
One of the Presidents first visitors was
Secretary Taft who discussed some depart
some time with the chief executive.
Representative Murdoch of Kansas pre-
sented M. NJ. Murdoch, editor of the Wichi-
ia Eagle, and Il. B. Murdock. editor of the
Eldorado Republican.
Representative Rixey of Virginia present.
ed some friends from his district and
Simon Wolf of the District had confer
ence with the President. Representative
McCleary saw the President on personal
matter.
James Il. Garfield, commissioner OF cor
,.~ts1, ha IA.f l.fx.
morning and yesterday. Mr.. Garfield is
keeping track of the criticisms of his rec
concentrations for federal charters and su-
peryison of interstate corporations. These
criticisms are welcome" said Mr.. Garfield.
1--WE want the views of every man on the
subject. because the question is inn
portant one. and deserving of enlighten-
ment and full discussion"
An Invitation to Texas.
Representatives Cooper and Garner of