Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-20
Date of Morton's Retirement
Not Yet Fixed.
RESTS WITH PRESIDENT
THE SECRETARY DESIRES TO
LEAVE JULY 1.
Private Secretary Loeb Mentioned as
Possible Selection for
the Cabinet

cabinet Is not definitely fixed and NAV not
De for few weeks. The head of the navy
was at the White House today. 1t Is un-
derStood that he desires to retire as soon
as possible, and that July 1 is the time he
prefers. The date. however will depend
upon the President, who is disposed to hold
Mr. Morton as long as possible. Mr. Nor
ton has reached an understanding with the
President that he shall be allowed to sever
his connection with the administration not
later than September l.
1t was known a short time ago that Mr.
Morton wanted to leave the cabinet by the
early fall, and this was stated exclusively
In The Star The receipt of number of
business offers decided him to ask the
President to be allowed to go earlier and
ne nxed upon July 1. because that is the
beginning of the fiscal year and is a good
Tune to make change in a department.
included among the offers are some from
business concerns outside of railroads but
the Sante Fe road will probably make an
opening for Mr.. Morton If he desires to re-
turn.
Secretary Metcalf has no intention of re-
signing as head of the Department of Com
merce and Labor and is preparing to rent
house in Washington 1t is understood
from a source close to him that he is
pleased with his work and that he has no
Idea of leaving 1t.
AS to Secretary Morton's successor there
is much speculation, but nothing certain.
William Loeb, private secretary to the
President, is looked upon by many as
likely cabinet appointee before a great
while, but others who know how close he
is associated with the President in the
work of the White House do not believe
that the President would care to part with
him now, and that later he will confer
higher honOrS upon his efficient chief of
staff. If Mr.. Loeb cares to enter the cabi
net 1t is believed that his wishes will be
gratified within a year or SO, but If his
tastes run in other directions the President
will not be unmindful of them before he
goes out of office.
Studying the Rival Fleets.
The Presidents interest in the prospect
i've battle between the Russian and Japa-
nese fleets In eastern waters is shown by
talk he had today with Secretary Morton
and Capt. Seaton Schroeder, chief of the
bureau of naval intelligence. Capt. Schroe-
der had prepared an interesting document
on the relative strength and qualities of
the opposing fleets The President spent
some time in study of the figures.
The President today received the dele
gates to the A. NJ E. Zion conference, who
have been in session here. The delegates
were accompanied by their wives and
friends. Among those in the party were
Bishop George w. Clinton, Rev. Messrs. p.
A. Wallace, S. L. Corothers, w. l.. Mar
shall, w. H. Coffee. John H. Hector and
G. L. Blackwell.
Important Missouri Appointments.
The Osler theory of the complete useless
ness of man when he gets to be sixty years
old has not been adopted by President
Roosevelt, who will today appoint Augustus
Finklenburg of st. Louis to be United
States district Judge at that place. Nj.
Finklenburg is sixty-four years old, bu; he
is eminently fitted for the place and so
thoroughly useful as a lawyer and a
m h1 n time prf o IL
ed as the best that could be made.
Circuit Judge Thayer, a democrat, re-
Gently died at st. Louis and there has been
a contest for the vacancy. The Presiden.
has about decided to promote District
Judge Elmer B. Adams of ST. Louis to the
circuit bench. and to fill the district bench
vacancy.
Senator Warner, the newIy-elected repub-
lican senator of Missouri, has been in Wash
ington for a day or two and has made a
recommendation favorable to Finklenburg,
who is a law partner of Charles Magic,
relative of Secretary Hitchcock The Presi-
dent has been opposed to the appointment
of men over fifty years old to the bench,
for the reason that they would not be able
to give the government much service be-
fore their time for retirement.
The Missouri republicans have concluded
that their political work last November de-
mands some plums, and they recently held
a meeting and decided upon what they
would like in the way of ambasSadorShips,
diplomatic posts and consular places. They
have sent on Senator Warner to lay their
requests before the President.
Kansas City Delegation Received.
Secretary Hitchcock and Senator Warner
of Missouri presented to the President to-
day a delegation of influential business
men of Kansas City. The delegation con-
sisted of L. NJ. Miller, president of the
Commercial Club; E. NJ. Clendening. secre-
tary; w. P. Trickett II. P. Topping and
]. H. Harris postmaster at Kansas City.
This delegation came to Washington to in
vite ecretary Taft to be the guest of
honor at the annual banquet of the club.
November 10. Secretary Taft has accept
ed The delegation went from the War
Department to the White House, and was
cordially received by the President. The
banquet is expected to be a significant one
in many respects, and the selection of Sec
retary Taft as the guest of honor is re-
garded as of Importance in a number of
ways.