The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-06-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.

the urgent representations OF the leaders
in Congress and has promised not to call
Congress in special session until after the
, fall election, presumably on the following
Monday, November 10. The opponents
of the Presidents two important policies,
extension of federal control of the railways
and a readjustment of those tariff
schedules which, in his estimation re-
quire change, now declare that they won
a great victory ard they predict that
ultimately the Presidee. will abandon the
special session idea entire'v and that the
next Congress will not reset Gatil the day
prescribed by law, December a.
*x*
Having persuaded the President to
abandon his purpose of calling Congress
in special session on October rs, the OPP
ponents of any extraordinary session will
now represent to the President that under
no circumstances will the Congress con-
sent to remain in continuous session until
December q, because that would mean,
in the light of past experience, the for
fixture of the special mileage which every
little member of Congress regards as the
special benefit of an extraordinary session
of Congress. Of course the leaders will
insist that they have no desire for this
mileage but that they will be entirely un-
able to control the little fellows. the rank
and file, and so, of course, the special
session will have to adjourn at least a
week in advance of December d. That
meansthat the special session would
last only two weeks But even at that
the cost for extra mileage would amount
to just asmuch, that is to $Ioo, 900. Will
the President feel warranted therefore in
putting the nation to an extra expense of
$roo 900 in order to secure the convening
of Congress two weeks earlier than usual,
while the additional two weeks could
easily be added at the end of the session
without any additional cost to the country,
at least for mileage. It is probable that
the President will not and that in the end
he will abandon all idea of special ses.
sion with as close an approach to sink
ing heart as he ever experienced.
~
Charles ]. Bonaparte of Maryland has
been selected to succeed Paul Morton as
Secretary of the Navy, to the amazemeni
of the general pnblic and the dismay Of
a majority of the politicians. Mr.. Bona.
parte is a. confirmed reformer and has
, never been willing to ''stand for' the
methods of the average professional poll
tician, nor has he hesitated to renounce
those methods entirely irrespective of the
party affiliations of the men who practiced
them. He has long been an ardent ad
vocate of civil service reform and served
as member of the Civil Service Com.
mission with Roosevelt since which time
there has existed the heartiest sympathy
between the two men. When, therefore
the anxious politician calls at the Navy
Department to explain to the New Score.
tary that so.and-so must be promoted OF
he, the politician, will never be able tc
hold the machine together he will meet
with anything but a pleasant reception
and it is the bare knowledge of this which
makes the appointment SO unwelcome tic
the average politician. On the other
hand, Mr.. Bonaparte- is a'man of excep.
tional ability and energy and in addition
to making good Secretary of the Navy
will doubtless add to the strength of the
cabinet as an advisory body, direction
in which the cabinet needs materially tc
be strengthened.
~
In making the announcement that Mr.
Bonaparte would, on July I, succeed Sec
rotary Morton, the President said that he
anticipated no further changes in the
cabinet before the retirement OF. Secretary
Shaw which will occur when the latter
has completed his four years service il
the cabinet, on February 1, 1905. At
torney General Moody has consented tc
remain in the cabinet until July I, 1905
1t is practically assured, however, tina
after that date, possibly some time aftei
it. there will occur number of cabinet
changes 1t is by no means unlikely tina
Mr.. Bonaparte will then succeed Mr.
Moody at the head of the Department o
Justice, and the President hopes to pro
mote James R. Garfield. now Commits
sioner of Corporations TO the post o
Secretary of Commerce and Labor before
his term in the White House expires. I
is also on the slate for Francis E Inepp
now Indian Commissioner to succeed Mr.
Hitchcock as Secretery OF the interior
and, if he caresto, Clifford Pinchot, nov
Chief of the Bureau of Forestry, may
succeed Secretary Wilsonso as to enjoy
the honoIs of being cabinet officer for {