The Greeley tribune., 1905-11-23
A NEW CABINET OFFICE.
LIhELIHOOD OF CREATION OF DE-
PIRTNENT OF INSUL4R AFFAIRS,
rieId Covered by Secretary OF War
Considered Too Miue President
May Suggest Change TO Congress.

! Since the war with Spain, the enor-
nous growth of the business of the
| war department. has given rise to an
OFT expressed opinion i'll high govern
Ment circles that the time is fully ripe
Tor the creation of another executive
department 10 handle the. control of
the island affairs of the government.
1t is predicted that the President will
make some such suggestion in his
| forthcoming message TO Congress.
Following the Spanish War, the War
department naturally took control of
| the island possessions that came to the
United States as Il result of that CON
llict. These islands, Cuba. Porto Rico
and the philippines, fell to the care of
| the War Department as long rs they
were under military rule, but when
ciNll government took the place of
martial law they were still left with
the War Department.
Kept From State Department..
1t would seem natural for them to
belong TO the Department of State, but
they have been purposely kept from
lhe province of that department in or
der that foreign powers might not
have chance TO say anything about
them. The bureau of insular affairs
was 'ltdtIt " ulltilu 10 questions
affecting our island possessions. but
this bureau has been under the imme-
diate control of the Secretary of War,
and out of reach of foreign represent
ativeS.
With the turning of Cuba over to
the ,ubauS and Ine passing of Porto
Rico to the State Department and
Guam and Tutuilla to the Navy De-
partment, matters became even more
involved.
Burden Too Great.
Almost of greater importance, at
present, than the Philippines. is the
canal zone. Secretary Taft tried to
SAullt tlIS burden TO the SuOu,G rs OF
Secretary Root, but failed in his at
tempt. lie is now preparing To make
visit to the isthmuS to see how the
work on the big ditch is progressing.
Mr.. Root declared that the bureau OF
insular affairs was better equipped
to handle canal affairs than any other
department of the government.
However, when Secretary Taft
left for the Philippines and it was
understood that MT. koot would be
come Secretary OF State, it was said
TO be Secretary Taft wish that the
canal matter be transferred to MIR. Roo,
and there has been much speculation
during the summer and 1all as to who
would eventually oversee this big JOB
On one hand it has been realized tn.
Secretary Taft has had a great dea.
more than his proportionate share 0.
government work and responsibility
and again it was understood that ont
of the arguments used by the Presidenl
TO induce Mr.. Root to re-enter the Cab
met was the Presidents personal de
sire that he should undertake the dl-
rection of the can work. His accept
anCe of the trust would have enabled
Secretary Taft to devote more of his
time to important Philippine govern
ment questions and the business of the
army generally. 1t seems to have been
decided, however, that Mr.. Taft is to
continue permanently as the Panama
canal builder. this decision having been
reached at recent Cabinet meeting.
These questions. together with ques-
tions relating to the general staff. the
reorganization of the army, and other
internal affairs, have made the Sccre-
tary by far the hardest worked man
in the Cabinet.