The Topeka state journal., 1905-05-18
CABINET CHANGES
Paul Merton to Retire Within
Six Weeks.
The Place Will Be Offered to
Victor H. Metcalf.
GARFIELD TO MOVE UP
Commissioner Is Likely to Sue
ceed His Chief in Office.
GARFIELD TO MOVE UP
Cabinet Officers Must Not Carry
on Presidential Campaigns.

Washington, May 18.-A definite de-
cision has been reached in the case of
the secretary of the navy, Paul Morton,
fixing the date of his retirement from
public life. He announced the other
day he would not retire until fall. He
was mistaken. It is intended he shall
leave the cabinet within six weeks. This
meets the approval both of Secretary
Morton and President Roosevelt
Morton does not like official life, but
he refused to resign while under fire,
and the president sympathized with
him. What will happen to Morton af-
ter he leaves the cabinet is not known,
but he will not be prosecuted IN cOnnec-
ton with the Santa Fe case while he is
in the cabinet. The interest of the ad-
ministration ceases at this point. If the
grand jury should indiet him it will be
as Paul Morton and not as the secre-
tary of the navy.
How near Morton is to leaving the
cabinet is indicated by the fact that his
successor already has been determined
upon. The portfolio will be offered to
Victor H. Metcalf, secretary of COM
merce and labor. It is a post Metcalf
always has wanted. He was slated for
the secretaryship of the navy when the
president first offered him a place in
the cabinet. But the president also
wanted Morton as an adviser
Metcalf has done excellent work in
his present office and has satisfied the
president. He was member of the
naval committee of the house when he
served in congress and evinced an in
telligent interest in the development of
the navy. He believes with the pNesi-
dent in a big navy.
Who will be NIetcalf's successor prob
ably will be settled shortly by the presi-
dent. James R. Garfield, commissioner
of the bureau of corporations, has an
excellent chance of being promoted He
has handled the corporation matters
firmly and equitably and has made few
influential enemies. He is from Ohio.
There will be a general reconstruction
of the cabinet Mr.. Moody has stated
that he will not remain much longer as
attorney general, and it was reported
today that Secretary Taft would be
transferred from the war department to
the department of justice. But there
are bigger questions at this moment
under the secretary of war than in the
attorney generals office. The president
believes Taft is in the right place and
wants to keep him there.
Taft has no desire to change. He said
so today. Hay has recovered his health
and the president is delighted that he
will remain secretary of state. Shaw
is expected to remain in the treasury
department until next February VIII
son and COrtelyou will stay with the
president Loeb, the private secretary
to the president, has been talked OF for
a place in the cabinet, but the president
desires he shall stay where he is
Hitchcock is reported to have an
nounced that he will get out as soon as
the land fraud cases are disposed of,
but the proceedings are expected to take
some time. Loeb is regarded as one Of
the strong men of the administration
and has exercised an influence in gov
ernmental affairs not generally under
stood.
Determined not to give countenance
to efforts to continue him in Office and
equally determined not to have any
thing to do in urging anyone upon the
country as his successor, the president
proposes to let the people decide who
shall be president from 1903 to 1913.