Middletown transcript., 1905-01-07
WASHINGTON LETTER

They declare that they have a powerful
ally in the President whose views regard
ing the commission have been consider
ably modified by the report of Col. Sy-
mons who states that after visit to the
Isthmus and thorough examination of
the conditions there he considered the
system OF administration awkward and
inefficient. The law as it stands gives the
commissioners practically continuous ten
ure. The right is reserved to the President
to remove the Commissioners, and it is
plain that he could reduce the Commits
sion by removing them and refusing to
appoint others in their place, but since it
was the Senate which insisted on the
commission and recommended the ap-
pointment of the officers it is not likely
he would make use of this privilege.
| However the law for the administration
of affairs in the canal strip expires at the
close of the present session of Congress
and members of the House it is said will
take advantage of the necessity for re-
enactment to urge provision to extend
the power of the chief engineer and to
curtail that of the Commission. If the
sentiment of the Senate should be too
strongly opposed to this the whole subject
could be thrown into conference for COM
promise. Col. Hepburn, chairman of
T.. 10
one OF the most earnest advocates for
reorganization of the system oI auu.Inis-
tering canal affairs, and is pretty solidly
backed by his committee members of
which visited the lsthmus in body last
summer. The result of that visit was the
unanimous opinion that Chief Engineer
Wallace was the most competent man the
Government had in its employ there and
that he should be given the fullest power
possible in the conduct of affairs.
~
Among the recent callers at the White
House was Representative Robert Hit
who would like to be the successor of
General Porter as Ambassador to France.
Mr.. Hit was first secretary of the Ameri-
can legation in Paris in 1874 and now
that he has acquired wealth and honors
in his own country he would like to re-
turn to the gay city. That its gayety
makes an appeal is doubtful for Mr.. Hit
has reached the uncertain age of seventy
odd summers, and is in poor health.
These disadvantages it will be remember
ed were urged against him last summer
when his name was suggested for the vice
presidency. Mr.. Thomas Walsh the Col
orado millionaire has also been talked of
as the next ambassador to France, where
he made many friends by his lavish en-
tertaining during the last exposition, but
altogether the chances for the appoint
ment are with George L. Meyer of Mass
achusetts, now Ambassador to Italy, who
is a personal friend of the President.
Either of these three men have the means
to establish and maintain fine establish
ment in Paris, where though the charms
of social life great the expense is greater
and fortune behind ones salary is nec-
essary for the position.
~
The interest in the Presidents appoint
ments in all classes increases daily. Now
that the cabinet places are filled attention
turns to the assistant secretaries of de-
partments, and there are as many, persons
convinced of their fitness for these posi-
tions as there are for the higher ones in
the cabinet. In fact the assistant secre- |
taryships are in many respects the more
desirable places. The salaries paid to the |
assistant secretaries range from 81 500 to
81, 900 year, and the prestige Is consi- |
derable. On the other hand an assistant |
secretary if he desires may live modestly
without being exposed to criticism. 1t is |
not necessary that he should have an ey-
pensive establishment in fashionable |
locality or that he should entertain in an |
official way. Indeed can live simply and |
oOhlO OA ehO aoclcpoub cCCt tC6 ududkC Il
to live within their salaries and save some |
thing. Of course there are among the |
wives of these officials who have cards |
engraved with the titles Mrs. third assis- |
taiit secretary Of Blank Smith and who |
drive from house to house in the carriage |
furnished by the government franticalIy
doing society, but these are the excep-
ton, and great number of the appli-
cants will seek the places for the money
that can be saved from the salary, with
the added advantage of living in a city
where their children may be educated.
~
Among the twenty three Assistant
Secretaries now in Office the greater num-
Der served also under President Mckinley
and were of his selection. Of these it is
said many will be retained for the Presi-
dent is averse to changing for the mere
sake Of giving some one else a berth but
there will be still for various reasons, a
number of vacancies which he will have
to ill with his own men. 1t is frequent
remark among those disposed to criticise
the President that he is not very good
judge OF men, and that he has been gen.
orally less fortunate in his appointment
than Presidents who were not SO brilliant
and versatile. If this has been the case
with his selections among the assistant
secretaries it cannot be asserted that hav-
ing seen mistake he is reluctant to ac-
knowledge it for among those who will
be disposed are several who were his
own appointees during the last three
years.