Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-06
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Interesting Fight for an
Assistant Secretaryship.
ARMSTRONG'S LACE
LIES BETWEEN REYNOLDS AND
BURTON PARKER.
Y. III. C. A. in Panama - Paymaster
General Harris to Stay-Presi-
dent at Dinner.

A decidedly interesting fight is on for as
sstant secretary of the treasury, the va
cancy to be made by the retirement of r. b.
Armstrong March 4. Senator Lodge was at
the White House today with James B. Rey-
nolds secretary of the republican state COM
mittee of Massachusetts. Mr. Reynolds, who
was former Washington correspondent of
Boston newspapers, is candidate for as
sistant secretary, and he is about strong
a candidate as there is in the field. The
fight, as it now stands, is between Mr..
Reynolds and Burton Parker, the present
supervising special agent of the customs de-
partment of the government.
Mr.. Reynolds has had no experience in
customs affairs, but is man of intelligence
and executive ability, and Senator Lodge
feels that he would make a first-class as
sistant secretary. Secretary Shaw offers no
objections to Mr.. Reynolds, but at the
same time Secretary Shaw is understood to
have pointed out that there was serious
objection on the part of the Senate finance
committee to the nomination OF Mr.. Arm
strong on the ground that he did not have
the knowledge and experience to fill that
position. Because of Mr.. Armstrong; ac-
quaintance with the work of the Treasury
Department Secretary Shaw prevailed upon
the finance committee to give its assent to
the nomination of Mr.. Armstrong. The
| committee did so reluctantly however. 1t
| is claimed in some quarters that. although
Mr. Armstrong made good official, the
wisdom of a man of experience in customs
affairs has since been shown.
| Under the circumstances it is regarded
| as likely that Secretary Shaw will consent
| to the nomination of Mr.. Reynolds if he
can get the assent of the Senate committee
on finance. Senator Aldrich who was most
strongly opposed to Mr.. Armstrong, is abb
| sent in Europe, and the men who will de-
| eide are Senators Allison, Plat, Burrows,
| Hansbrough, Platt of New York, Spooner
and PenroSe.
! Secretary Shaw has no candidate of his
own. If a man learned in customs laws
| and matters is to be chosen. however, Sec
| rotary Shaw favors the nomination of Bur-
| ton Parker. Mr.. Parker il is said, is more
| than a red tape machine man. He is a
| man of parts, having been at one time
| state senator in the Michigan Legislature
| and lawyer of standing at the bar. Sec
| rotary Shaw holds that If man thoroughly
| posted in customs is to be selected there is
no better person for the place than Mr.
| Parker, who is strongly backed by the
| Michigan senators and representatives. On
| the other hand, if the determination is
/ reached to give the position to a business
| man. there will be no objection to MIR. Rey-
nolds.
| Importers in New York are said to be TAX
! ing hand in the fight by sending petitions
| to the Treasury asking that no one be ap.
pointed who is not an expert In customs
| as lack of knowledge of customs laws and
| regulations causes much delay in business
| they have with the department.
| Y. M. C. A. in Panama.
| President Roosevelt today gave his APP
| prevail to the erection of four Y. NJ c. A.
| buildings In the Panama canal strip. He
| had conference with Secretary Taft, who
| has recommended such buildings, and he
| also talked with Clarence J. Hicks, J. r.
Thompson and John J. McCook of New
York. members OF the internal committee OF