Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-08
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Short and Unimuortant Cab
met Meeting.
FEW CALLERS RECEIVED
EX-SENATOR PETTIGREW TALKS
ABOUT THE ROSEBUD LAMBS.
The President Discusses the Political
Situation With Ex-Governor Crane
of Massachusetts.

The President had but two visitors before
the cabinet meeting today, and in this re-
spect spent the quietest morning in months
in his offices Senator Cullom saw the
President about friend who wants to be
postmaster in a southern town and Senator
Fairbanks introduced a friend from In
diana.
The cabinet meeting was also without its
usual attendance. Secretary Wilson and
Postmaster General Payne were both i'll at
their homes, and Secretary CortelyOu. who
has been in New England, found himself
on a late train that would not arrive in
Washington in time for the cabinet session.
Without the basket of post office cases that
Mr.. Payne takes to the White House each
cabinet day. and the departmental work OF
Secretaries Wilson and Cortelyou, much OF
the routine of the cabinet was left off and
the session adjourned early. 1t was stated
that no important matters were discussed,
much of the time being spent in converse
ton. Matters pertaining to the isthmfan
canal and to the situation in the far east
were considered, but no news was de-
veloped.
Will Favor the Symons Resolution.
Secretary Taft has decided that he will
recommend to Congress the passage of the
joint resolution introduced there to enable
Col. T. w. Symons, superintendent of pub
lie buildings and grounds, to accept the
appointment of Gov Odell as a member of
the advisory board that is to improve the
Erie canal. The resolution permits Col.
Symons to serve on this board until such
time as the Secretary of War concludes
that his services are wholly necessary to
the government. Secretary Taft, at the
close of the cabinet meeting today, said he
would communicate with Congress recon-
-
The Rosebud Lands.
Ex-senator Pettigrew of South Dakota
talked to the President about the pending
bill for the opening to settlement Of parts
of the Rosebud reservation in South Da-
kota. Mr.. Pettigrew like many other men
from his state, is opposed to the auction
or sealed bid plan of opening the reserva-
ton to settlement. He says that a price
ought to be fixed. He declares that the
ground is not agricultural. and is worth
nothing except for grazing. He doubts
whether 1t is worth over s1.23 an acre.
Interview With Ex-Gov. Crane.
Former Gov. Murray Crane of Massa-
chusetts was a guest of President Roose-
yelt yesterday at luncheon. The oppor-
tunity was embraced by the President to
discuss with Mr.. Crane, who is one of his
closest friends and advisers, the political
situation 1t is known that the President
would be glad to have Mr.. Crane chosen
chairman of the republican national COM
mittee, but the Massachusetts, man has
indicated that he prefers not to under
take, on account of his health, the active
direction of the presidential campaign.
1t is well assured, however, that he will
be identified with the campaign in some
important capacity 1t is asserted posi-
lively that no choice of a national chair
man yet has been made, and, with equal
emphasis, it is said no choice will be
made for a considerable time