Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-31
THE PLACENOT WANTED
NoRTHCoTT DECLINES TO BE COL
LFCToR OF INTERNAL REVENUE.
Senator Elkins' Committee Will 1nves.
tigate Railroad Rates-Mrs. Roose-
Welt Will Leave Tonight.


was attended to. although it was admitted
that President Roosevelt has not received
the slightest intimation that Japan and
Russia have agreed upon him as mediator
in the peace negotiations that said to
have been entered upon. The story that
the President has been selected does not
appear to be well received in official cir
cles and it is considered probable that it
will be long time before the negotiations
reach stage that will result in both coun-
tries agreeing upon mediator.
Secretary Metcalf stated that the Presi-
dent will shortly issue an order classifying
over hundred immigration inspectors
who are now serving in foreign territory or
territory contiguous to the United States.
The placing of these inspectors in the civil
service has been under consideration some
time.
Northcott Doesn't Want the Place.
Elliott Northcott, the chairman of the
republican state committee of West Vir-
ginia who was recently nominated and
confirmed as collector of internal revenue
of that state was at the White House to-
day with Senator Elkins for the purpose
of declining the position that has been
offered him. Mr.. Northcott was in Florida
when his name was hastily agreed upon by
Senators Elkns and Scott as a solution of
a difference of opinion that had existed for
some time as to who should be selected for
the vacancy. Mr.. Northcott came on here.
and has taken the question up with the two
senators.
The position is one of honor and influ-
in West Virginia" said Mr.. North
colt, but l cannot afford to take it under
the circumstances. l promised my support
to w. f.. GaSscock, who was secretary of
my committee during the last campaign.
did all l could for him and desired his APP
pontment He is worthy of the place and
deserves it. l would be put in a disagree
u n III under cjTr1lm-
stances, regardless of all the explanations
that might be made. l thank my friends
for their kindness to me- but l cannot af-
ford to desert a friend or appear to be doing
one a wrong"
The West Virginia senators will not al
low Mr.. Northcott to formally decline until
mind, taking the position that he is wrong
in assuming that he would be accused of
lack of loyalty to a friend.
To Investigate Railroad Rates..
Senator Elkins, who is chairman of the
Senate committee on interstate commerce,
assured the President that the investiga-
ton of the railroad rate question would
be continued by the committee during the
Presidents absence in the west. The COM
mittee will meet April II. The list of wit
nesses to be summoned has not been COM
peted, but the senator said that 1t was
the plan to have enough persons summon
ed TO keep the committee going until June
/. He says he has no doubt that good
working bill will have been prepared in
time for consideration in October, If Con-
gress assemblies by that time.
Mrs. Roosevelt Leaves Tonight.
Mrs. Roosevelt, accompanied by her chill
dren and other members of her family, will
leave Washington tonight over the Atlantic
Coast Line road for Jacksonville, at which
place they will go aboard the Sylph, the
Presidents yacht for a cruise in Florida
and Cuban waters. They will probably
remain away from Washington about ten
days, although Mrs Roosevelt will deter
mine the length of the visit while she Is
away. No stops will be made at Florida
ports. and the journey will be away from
towns and cities. The Florida coast Is
beautiful in foliage and flowers. The Or
anges and yellow jasmines are in bloom
and the season is more than month ahead
of what it is here. Miss Alice Roosevelt
will remain at the White House in charge
while Mrs. Roosevelt is away.
Opposed to Forest Reserve.
Senator Hepburn Of Idaho visited the
President and will see him again tonight
about the proposition for the creation of
large forest reserve near Wallace, Idaho.
and running until it joins the Bitter Root
forest reserve. The forest division of the
Department of Agriculture has submitted
this proposition to the Interior Department.
but the President has not yet approved 1t.
Senator Hepburn says that II would be I'M
fair to withdraw SO much territory from
public settlement. That region of the
country is fast being settled up. he says.
and is thriving and growing. The with
drawal of so much territory would stop the
settlement and check the population
For DR.. Neill's disappointment.
Commissioner mcfarland asked the
President today to reappoint DR.. Charles
p. Neill as a member of the board of
nf NaiI1
will expire July 1. Mr.. mcfarland said
that DR.. Neill had been a member of the
board since 1900. and that he had done
faithful and effective service. The Presi-
dent said that he saw no reason why the
reappolntment should not be made when
the time comes.
Mcclellan Will Be Reelected.
Among the callers on the President was
Col. James Oliver of New York, who was
sergeant-at-arms of the democratic national
committee in 1892 and 1896, and has been
connected In some capacity with every
democratic national committee from Nc
Clellan's campaign in 1864 to the present
time. 'All this talk OF Mayor McClellans
being sde-tracked in New York city this
fall" said Col. Oliver. in discussing mayor
atty politics in New York, may be dis
missed as hot air. Mcclellan will be nomi-
mated and elected. There are thousands of
Independents In New York who will give
him their support. What the republicans
will do has not yet been disclosed. whether
to go 1t alone or to enter some fusion
arrangement; whichever they do 1 can
see no chance for their success.
1T Is a mistake to think that New York
has become a republican state because of
the tremendous majority rolled up in No
vember. 1t is more accurate to speak of
1t as Roosevelt state. There is no ques-
tlon about that Nobody could have carried
1t against him, but We shall do better next
time"
Peace Not in Immediate Prospect.
Ambassador Jusserand of France is Of the
opinion that peace is not in immediate
prospect for Russia and Japan. After
visit TO President Roosevelt, in order to bid
him goodbye before the President goes on
his southwestern trip, the ambassador said
that both combatants were too bent on
continuing hostilities for satisfactory ad-
justment of their difficulties at this time
The ambassador said however, that he had
not talked with the President on the SUBJ
Ject of mediation, and he did not believe
that the Washington administration has yet
concerned itself officially in any movement
2l-l.. ~ -.