The Washington times., 1906-11-18
GOSSIP OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
CiNlISeryioeCOIunn.
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ing considerably punfed up. and Justly
so. because OF the honors that have
come OF late to several Of its commits
sloners. past and present. Afford w.
Cooley. until recently one of the three
Civil Service Commissioners. entered
upon his new duties on November as
Assistant Attorney General OF the
United States. William A. Rodenberg,
a former Civil Service Commissioners,
was elected by his constituents 20 again
represent the TWenty-second district OF
Illinois IN Congress. And during the
past month also has come the announce
ment OF the appointment by the Presi-
dent or james Rudolph GARFIELD. also
former commissioner. as Secretary OF
the Interior. A brief sketch Of these Of
fieials might not be amiss:
Afford W. Cooley's Rapid Rise.
Afford w Cooley took his oath as
Civil Service Commissioner from New
York on June Is. 1905. He Is one OF the
youngest men holding a high position
in the Government. being but thirty
three years OF ago. Mr.. Cooley Is a
a member or the New York bar. In
November. 1899. he was elected to the
General Assembly in New York. and
was again elected to that body In No
vember 1900. He afterwards served as
clerk TO the surrogate court in New
York Mr.. Cooley Is a close personal
friend OF the President. and IL. like Mr..
Roosevelt. an expers In the sport OF ten
mis-
William A. ROdenberg. OF Illinois. took
the oath Of office as commissioner on
March p, 1901 Mr.. Rodenberg was
delegate TO the Republican National
Convention OF 1896 at Ct Louis, was
elected 10 the Fifty-sixth Congress; was
appointed a member of the United States
Civil Service Commission by President
Mckinley March q, 1901; resigned
April /. lsO2. in order to again make the
race for Congress: was elected 10 the
Fifty-eighth Congress. and reelected 10
the Ftfty-ninth Congress Mr. Hoden-
bergs recent victory is, therefore, his
fourth election 20 Congress.
Youngest Cabinet Member.
james Rudolph Garfield. who has
been made a member Of PresIaent
Roosevelt's Cabinet. took the oath OF
ONCE as United States Civil Service
Commissioner on April "A. 1892, his ap-
poIntment being from the State OF Ohio.
Mr. Garfield resigned on February %.
1903. His work az commissioner on the
Bureau OF Corporations has been acN
ceptabIe 10 the President. hence his ap-
pointment 90 the high position he viii
hold as Secretary OF the Interior. Mr.
Garfield will be the youngest member
OF the Cabinet.
II is needless TO add that President
Roosevelt himself was at one time a
member OF the United States Civil-Ser-
vice Commission. Mention should be
made, also, IN this connection, OF Gen.
John c. Black. the present head OF the
commission. General Black Is an old
/ soldier. beloved by every member OF the
| Grand Army Of the Republic in the land
( This affection for him was shown very
! materially IN his election number OF
years ago to the position OF grand com
mander OF the @. A. r. the highest po-
sition that an old soldier can occupy
| outside official life The general served
gailantly IN the civil conflict. and was
wounded In battle. Other instances
might be cited of commissioners and en-
ployes who have attained prominence
in the national life. or who are known
| as representative men. but space for
bids. The good record thus established
is, moreover. certain to continue.