The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-01-07
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.


| ''''''''N ''A''' titS NAVY oul IL
way to reduce the number of the canal
commissioners, and possibly to abolish
the commission altogether. They declare
that they have a powerful ally in the
President whose views regarding the
| commission have been considerably mod
flied by the report of Col Symons, who
states that after a visit to the ISthmus
and Il thorough examination of the con-
dit1ons there he considered the system
of administration awkward and inetii-
cient. The law as it stands gives the
commissioners practically continuous
tenure. The right is reserved to the
President to remove the commissioners
and it is plain that he could reduce the
commission by removing them and refus-
ing to appoint others in their place, but
since 1t was the Senate which insisted on
the commission and recommended the APP
pointmcnt of the officers it is not likely
he would make use of this privilege.
However the law for the AIDING inStration
or Affairs in the canal strip expires at
the close of the present session of Con
EreS& and members of the House, it is
said, will take advantage of the ncceS-
Sity for rc-enactment to urge Il proviS-
.on to extend the power of the chief en-
Elneer and to curtail that of the commits
sion. If the sentiment of the Senate
should be too strongly opposed to this
the whole subject could be thrown into
conference for compromise. Col. Hep
urn, chairman of the Interstate Com
ncrcc Committee is one of the most
earnest advocates for Il reorganization
of the system of administering canal af-
fairs. and is pretty Solidly backed by his
committee. the members of which visit
cl the l>thmuS in Il body last summer.
The result of that visit was the unHni-
nous opinion that Chief Engineer Wal
nee was the most competent man the
Government mad in its employ there and
that he should be given the fullest pow
cr possible in the conduct of affairs.
Among the recent callers ut the White
House was Representative Robert Hit,
who would like to be the successor of
General Foster. as Ambassador to
France. Mr.. Hit was first secretary of
the American legation in Paris in 1874,
and now that he has acquired wealth and
.on0rS in his own country he would like
to return to the gay city. That its gay
ETY. 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
remembered We're urged against him last
summer when his name was suggested
for the Nice-I'wSidcncy. Mr.. Thomas
Walsh. the Colorado millionaire, has al
80 been talked of as the next AmbacsSa
!or to France. where he made many
friends by his lavish entertaining during
the last exposition, but altG-rthcr the
chances for the appointment are with
George l.. Meyer of Massachusetts, now
Ambassador to Italy. who is Il personal
friend of the President. Either of these
three men hmlvc the means to establish
and maintain Il fine establishment in
'aris. where though the charm of social
life rs great, the expense is greater and a
fortune behind ones, salary is necessary
or III" Position.
The interest in the Presidents appoint
'.D,ot> in I'll classics increases daily. Now
tifAt the Cabinet p'Ic,> are tillcl Httcn-
ton turns ~ the assistant secretaries Of
departments. and there are as many per-
pr> convinced of their fitness for these
Positions - thrrc arr for the higher
p"g> i'm the cabinet. In fact the assist
81 saC1 ri,s AZ In UnJay l,sl'Urts the
r'1r dD.'IAt. e. places. In" salaries pald
r., th, assistant secretaries range from
!.."W I" "i.''h u year. ANA IN" l''N$il-"
IS roE""'rah.' ON lar Mhgr j. 'Hl m
.r>Si>l1ri s"rrrtlry II %" desires lhHN I'VE
'".ir.tN without bong exposed 10 crit
"lSm. IT ! l..' necessary mat hn 'AnN!H
@"Nr an expressive establishment 'd Il
'"~Aoh'h.r ".dIll or Ih"l h' s.!'n'i
cMrrtmn III AN official way. lhd'Nh'
can Inv" simple ANA some 81 the "'~Hl-
mt S"tIrili'> m"Ha"" 10 llNr Withlh
their salaries AND save something. ot
course lhrr" are among IN" wives OF
those officials who nave cards engraved
with the titles MS, lhli'I assistant soc
rrt1rE %! Blank smith. ana VIZ" drive
from h"l!'' To E"lSr III III" cAIIIA-. iur-
"isAr' by t!," h"N"l'nrHt. I@Nn''''dF
Nm" society, but these "ir IN" "N-
rrW!un, A'I q great HNnhrr vi the APP
uHcarts Nj" seek the places Tor the
money That "',n be saved from the salary
with th" "''' advantage %! HNlh- IN /"
city where lh-;r chlIdrrn may be Gnu
atcd.
Among lhr lMcnlN-lhl|c 'lSHi>'lhI sec
rclHricS l'W IN office the greater hummer
served al" under President Mckinney
md were of his selection. or these 1t ~
nd many VIII hv retained for IN" ir"Sl-
lent is aVtlS,. to changing for the mere