Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-11-18
A NEW CABINET OFFICE.
LIKELIHOOD OF CREATION OF DE-
PARTMENT Of INSULAR AFFAIRS.
Field Covered by Secretary OF War
Considered Too Wide - President
May Suggest Change 20 Congress.

Since the war with Spain. the enor-
nous growth Of the business or tne
War Department has given rise To an
oft expressed opinion lu high govern
ment circles that the time is fully ripe
Tor the creation 81 another executive
department. TO handle the control OF
the island affairs ~ the government.
IL is predicted that the President VIII
make some such suggestion ia bis
forthcoming message to Congress.
Following the Spanish War the War
Department naturally took control OF
the island possessions that came % the
United States as 81 Tr~ult of tnHt con-
nict These i~ln nd SO uN1. Porto lico
and the philippines, fen % the care OF
the War Department as long as they
were under military rule, but when
civil government fuok tho place ot
martial law they were stiH left with
/ the War Department
Kept From State Department.
1t would seem natural for them 60
1 belong tO the Dcpa rtmsut ut State. Dui
1 they have been purpo-ely Kept from
1 the province OF that department lu or
| der that foreign powers might not
| have "a chance to Sly anything about
them. The bureau OF insular affair.
| was created Co attend to questions
tancctinE our island possessions. hu
this bureau has been under the imme
diatc control of the Secretary of War
and ont of reach Of foreign represent
lauveS.
With the turning OF Cuba over e
/ the tuhuu~ uud fne passing OF iorn
! Rico Co the state Department au'
Guam and Tuuiila 90 the navy De
partmenf. matters became even NOR
involved.
Burden Too Great.
Almost Of greater Importance "a
| present. thuu thc Philippines. Us OF.
canal zone. Secretary Tart tried
/ Shmf this burden to fIr shoulders 0
Secretary Root. but failed I'm his al
| Tempt tc d. NOW ureNurIu- fn uNh
a visit 90 the i~tlmu~ to ~ce how OBJ
work on the h.- ditch lS progro~Siu.
Mr. Root declausd that the bureau ,
insofar affairs was better cQuIppc
| tp handle canal affairs fnau auF Otht
department of the government
However, when Secretary Ia
left for the Philippines and it wa
understood that SIR Root would o
come Secretary OF state. 81 was sal
90 Zoe Secretary Taft wish that CD
canal matter Doe transferred 90 Air. Ro
and there has been much speculate
during the summer and laL as 20 W
~ would eventually oversee this llg lC
On one hand Sc has been realized th
u Secretary Taft has had great de
y more than his proporronate share
be- government work and responsible
o. and again To- was understood tha- oI
s. Of the arguments used by the Preside
%. 90 induce Mr.. Root Co re-euter the Ca
Of inet was the Presidents personal q
r- sire that he should undertake the
a rectiOn of the can work His accel
= ance of the trust would have cuahl
w Secretary Taft 20 devote more of
.I- time 10 important Philippine Cover
i5 ment questions and the business az Q
al army generally. IL seems 90 have DE
az decided. however, that Mr.. Tart is
n continue permanently as the Panai
Pr canal builder. this decision having le
at reached az a recent Cabinet meeting.
Do These questions together with Qu
m tiOns relating to thc general stan.
ih- reorganization az thr army and otl
he Internal affairs. have made the Sec
PIE tary ky far the hardest worked u
De- in the Cabinet
Taft Travels Far.
~ This is proved, III in no other W
hv the immense amount OF travel
-. :. ra. 4 Dan. mn. ..f 81