Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-05

member OF the firm of J. Pierpont Morgan
& Co, in which connection he took an
active part in the Eegotia tions which led to
the settlement of the anthracite coal strike
through the interccssion of President Roose-
welt. Mr. Bacon retired from his connec-
tion with the house of Morgan on account
of failing health. 1t WAS said at the time
that he had been knocked out by the strain
of handling the affairs of the firm during
the panic of May, 1901.
Close Friend of the President.
Mr. Bacon is a Harvard man and has
been a close friend of President Roosevelt
for many years. ON March 3. 1893 the
President offered Mr. Bacon the office Of
subtreasurer of the United States in New
York. Having made plans for a yachting
trip around the world which he could not
abandon without Inconvenience to friends
who had made plans 10 accompany him,
Mr.. Bacon declined
Mr. Bacon is a director In the National
City Bank, the New England Railroad Com
pany, the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany, the United States Steel Company, the
Northern Securities Company, the Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy. the Erie and West
Shore railroads and various other industrial
enterprises, in which he is largely inter-
ested
Mr. Bacon is a lawyer and brings to tho
office to which he has been selected the
dignity of an established reputation and
standing In private and business life. He
is member of the Lawyers Club, and also
belongs to the Union, Racquet Tuxedo and
Riding clubs, all of New York. He Is an
enthusiastic polo player, and in March OF
last year was severely injured in the game.
Mr. Bacon graduated from Harvard in
1885, having been a classmate OF President
Roosevelt. His wife was Martha Cowdin,
daughter of the late Elliott c CowdeH, a
prominent New York merchant. They have
four children, Elliott. Martha B., Robert
L. and Gaspar G. The family home is at
No l Madison avenue. New York city.
Mr. Bacon has been in Washington many
times and his appointment is regarded In
official circles here with the utmost satis-.
faction Particularly is 1t said to be pleas
ing to Secretary Root, with whom it is said
to have been discussed and settled before
Mr. Root left on his trip to Labrador. The
date on which Mr.. Bacon is TO assume his
new duties has not been definitely hxed,
beyond the statement that Ii is to be in
October.
State Department Policies.
Conjecture is rife as to the probable effect
upon the State Departments policies of the
change in the office of the assistant secre-
tary For some time past there have been
rumors to the effect that there was to be
an overhaulng of the department itself,
and considerable changes in its business
methods. SO far can be gathered at
present Secretary Root cherished no such
plan when he left Washington his sum-
of State some years ago. during one of the
protracted spells of illness on the part or
the late John Hay. Mr.. Root had a fair op-
portunity TO look into the workings of .e
Department of State. 1t is known that he
told some Of his friends that he found
much admirable material in the personnel
of the department, and the only thought
that occurred to him touching Its better
ment was that the force should be numer-
ically strengthened. The fact is that while
the work of the department has quadrupled
since 1898, the date that Is commonly re-
garding as marking the advent of the
United States as world power, only trt~
fling additions have been made 10 the force
of employees
Undoubtedly the methods of some of the
bureaus could be recaSt so to simplify
and hasten the departments work. and as
Mr.. Bacon is known to be man or al
fairs of pronounced executive ability it
is fully expected that he WILL after ac-
quainting himself with the needs OF the
Department, make some suggestions Tor lis
Improvement He can scarcely DO more,
no matter how disposed because the state
Department is hedged about at every turn
with statutes prescribing the details of de-
partmental organization and the exact
functions of each bureau. Consequently, IL
there is to be any considerable change In
this respect legislation viii be necessary
to accomplish it,
Selection of Consuls.
Touching the foreign policies of the de-
partment the assistant secretary has very
reverses the established practice the new
official will not be expected to formulate