The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1905-06-08
washington Letter.

TO succeed Paul Morton as Secre-
tary Of the Navy, Mr.. Morton hav-
ing resigned to become presiden, Of
the great syndicate which is re.or.
ganizing the transportation %iaeili-
ties Of New York City. In con-
nection with the announcement Of
Mr.. Bonaparte's selection il is
further stated that Attorney Gem
eral Moody has consented to re-
main in the cabinet another year,
that is until a year from July /, and
no other immediate changes are an
ticipated at this date. The first
change, according TO present ex-
pectations. will come next Febru-
AIRY when Secretary Shaw will have
completed his four years service
and Will, according to a definite
statement made recently by him.
self. ask to be relieved, The report
that Secretary Taft was contem-
plating a change from the War De-
partment to the Department of us-
tice is without foundation, and Sec.
rotary Metealf has agreed 10 sacri-
flee his personal interests ard re-
main indefinitely IN the cabinet,
although it is generally expected
that before the expiration of Presi-
dent Rooseyelt's present term, Mr..
Metcalt will be succeeded as Sec
rotary of Commerce and Labor by
James r. Garfield, now Commits
sioner of Corporations.
The appointment of Charles J.
Bonaparte to the navy portfolio will
prove not only a surprise but a
shock TO the politicians, at least to
some of them. Mr.. B%onapaTte has
long been a most energetic reform
err, ever since he graduated from
/ Harvard Law School in 1874, in
tact. When the p~ostofhce investi'
CATION was at its height he was
sent for by the President and re.
tanned as special counsel, and later
he was called upon to investigate
certain alleged Indian frauds, which
he did in a manner so satisfactory
to the President that il was suppos.
ed that the Baltimoriau was slated
for Secretary of the Interior.
As the leading spirit of the Bal.
timore Reform League Mr.. Bona.
parte made many friends and a hosI
OF enemies. He has always beer
fearless and an enemy of eormp.
practices in politics and he has beer
said to carry the annals OF the Re
form League in his head, those
records being described rs ''brief
pithy biographies Of local politi.
clans; cold deadly accurate chron.
icles of graft and rake.offs auC
deals" The average politician
hates a thorough going reformer
and for that reason Mr.. Bonaparte'i
selection VIII prove unpopular will
manv. On the other hand, he IS
man of great force. immense exeeu
tive capacity and rugged integut.
: aud by these qualities has won th0
, respect OF most Of those who know
|, him best. He was associated witt
President Roosevelt on the Civil
I Service Commission in the Sos an
there the two men formed a friend
, ship which has never diminished i
strength, During the campaign O
b. last year Mr.. Bouaparte made
desperate fight in support OF th
Republican ticket IN Maryland an
when the ballots were counted h
5 was found to be the only RepublI
r can elector who had met vii
c success.
Seeretay-elect Bonaparle come
OF a distinguished family, being
direct deseendent Of the family q
, Napolean ~Bonaparle and a grand
son OF Jerome B%onaparie, one tim
King Of Westphalia. His granc
mother was the famous Baltimor
beauty, Elizabeth Patterson, who's
n romantic story has been told
both prose and poetry. His hous