The San Francisco call., 1904-08-23

OAKLAND. Aug. 22.-Victor H. Met
calf. the latest addition to President
Roosevelt's Cabinet, returned to his
home to-day after having been installed
in his new position in Washington. He
came quietly to his Oakland home,
then went directly to his law Office,
where he spent the entire day dealing
with private business and denying him
self to all save a few friends.
The new Secretary looked as if a
Cabinet officers position were not all
play and as if he had been giving close
attention to the duties of his new office
in a season of trying weather There
have been messages from Washington
from time to time to the effect that the
California Secretary was kept at his
desk early and late. loss of weight
gives proof to the story. Mr.. Metcalf
refused to discuss politics, and was re-
luctant to discuss even the affairs of
his department He said:
1 have come back to Oakland solely in order
to arrange my private business so that 1 can
move my family to Washington. for the pur-
pose of carrying on the work OF my depart
ment Nv trip TO Washington was a hurried
one, so that ! might consult with my prede
cessor, Secretary Cortelyou. and secure from
him some of the valuable information he had
acquired in organizing this department
Mr.. Corteyou's advice has been of inestimable
benefit to me in taking up the details of a
department composed of many bureaus. I
will remain in Oakland for short time. wind
up my private affairs, consult with number
of those interested in the advancement of the
Pacific Coast and then return to Washington
There are many matters of the great
{1%a fO PopiAo in
eral and to the San Francisco Bay dis
trict in particular that come under Mr.
Metcalf's department. He will be in a
position to advance the commercial in
terests of this section very greatly, and
looking toward this end two important
functions have been planned. One is a
dinner to be given Mr.. Metcalf by the
new Union League Club of Oakland. 1t
will be participated in by the Board of
Trade and the Merchants Exchange.
This will be in the nature of a welcome
and compliment to Mr.. Metcalf by his
own townspeople. A larger dinner is to
be given in San Francisco, at which
the various commercial bodies will be
represented to further the commercial
interests of the bay section.
Mr.. Metcalf has under his control all
of the immigration work of the United
States, also the lighthouse department.
He advanced some information upon
these points that is of interest to this
section. He said that immigration
Commissioner Sargent, now in San
Francisco, would present a report upon
the construction Of an immigration sta
ton on Angel Island, which would in
volve the expenditure of about $200, 900.
Mr. Metealf was averse to discussing
the work of his office, saying:
It is true that there are a great many details
to attend to, and that there has been much
work connected with this department but de-
tails cannot interest the general public. One
of the greatest sources of work Is the decision
of the Supreme Court which permits appeals
permission to land by local immigration in
spectors to the secretary OF the department.
This has added greatly to the work of the
department head.
I did not come out here to Edo politics -
as has been said. I came out solely to get a
few affairs in shape. 1 may possibly deliver
one political address. but All that
1 have to say politically concerns the Repub-
lican nomination in my old Congressional dis
trict and there am glad TO see that the party
has made an excellent choice.