Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-11-17
A NEW CABINET OFFICE.
LIKELIHOOD OF CREATION OF DE-
PARTMENT OF LNSULAR AFFAIRS.
Field Covered by Secretary Of War
Considered Too Wide = 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 In high govern
ment circles that the time Is fully ripe
for the creation of another executive
department TO 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 result of that CON
fiict. These islands, Cuba, Porto Rico
and the Philippines, fell to the care Of
the War Department as long as they
were under military rule, but when
civil 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
the province of that department in or
der that foreign powers might not
have a chance to say anything about
them. The bureau of insular affairs
was created to attend to questions
affecting our island possessions, but
this bureau has been under the imme-
date control of the Secretary OF War,
and out of reach Of foreign represent
atives.
With the turning of Cuba over to
the Cubans and the 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
shunt this burden to the shoulders 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 1t was
understood that Mr.. Root would be-
come Secretary of State, 1t was said
to be Secretary Tafts wish that the
canal matter be transferred to Mr.. Root
and there has been much speculation
during the summer and fall as to who
would eventually oversee this big job.
On one hand it has been realized that
Secretary Taft has had great deal
more than his proportionate share OF
government work and responsibility,
and again it was understood that one
Of the arguments used by the President
to induce Mr.. Root to re-enter the Cab
met was the Presidents personal de-
sire that he should undertake the d.
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-
lions relating to the general staff, the
reorganization of the army, and other
internal affairs, have made the Secre-
tary by far the hardest worked man
in the Cabinet.
Taft Travels Far.
This is proved, il In no other way,
by the immense amount of travelling
done by Secretary Taft in the past year
He has been to Panama, to the Philip