The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-15
TAFT Dimes WITH BROTHERS.
ISN'T TELLING WHAT HE THINKS
OF GOING on THE BENCH.

Just Came Here to See About the Prison
ship Martyrs Monument Fund and
Some Other Observation-Disclosures McClet-
ian's Plan for tho Fund Is Adopted.
Not 80 much as a whisper would Secre-
tary Taft let escape him while he was in
town yesterday as to the answer he will
make to President Roosevelt's offer to
appoint him to succeed Justice Brown
on the bench of the United States Supreme
Court. According to dispatches from Wash
ington which preceded Mr.. Taft, his pur-
pose in coming to this city was to consult
with his brothers before making up his
mind as to what reply he should make to
the President. When he reached here
Mr.. Taft said that while matters which
might concern his future we're very proper
things for brothers to discuss among them
selves, the real purpose of his visit was
business, and business only,
The principal purpose, MIR. Taft said,
was TO consult with Mayor Mcclellan as
to the speediest means of getting turned
over to the fund Of the Prison Ship Martyrs
Monument Association the $50 900 which
the city has consented to appropriate
toward building a memorial to the men
who died in the prison ships. The Federal
Government has given 100000 to the fund,
the State and the association have each
given $25, 900, and while the city has author
lied the appropriation Of $50, 900. the charter
apparently prevents the handing over OF
public money in bulk to such a fund. b
legal authorities Of the city say that he
only way the oitv's donation can be ex-
pended is TO send in bills for work done
and that before payment these bills must
be certified by the Comptroller.
As restrictions Of this kind might interfere
with the plans of the association it was de-
cided some time ago that Mayor Mcclellan
for the city, Gov. Higgins for the state,
Secretary Taft, for the Government, and
should meet in this city to devise some
means to get around the difficulty. That
meeting was held yesterday. Gov. Higgins
was unable to be present. The conference
in the Mayors Office lasted about fifteen
minutes. Mayor Mcclellan suggested that
the best thing to do would be to have the
association send a bill to Albany empower
ing the city to pay over the city's appropria-
tion to the monument FUND In a SOLID sum.
He promised that the Administration would
urge the pa ssage of the bill. Secretary Taft
thought that was the easiest way out of the
difficulty, and the plan was agreed to: Mr..
White promised to have the bill drawn
Immediately and before sending tito Albany
have the draft submitted to the Corpor-
alton Counsel.
Mr.. Taft put up last night, as is his GUS
tom, at the house of his brother Henry w.
Taft, at 80 West Forty-eighth street. Il
expect to dine with my two other brothers
there tonight" Mr.. Taft said, but ] hope
have absolutely nothing to say on anything,
and l give my word of honor to all Of you
that not one Of you need be afraid of being
scooped."
Mr.. Taft will return to Washington this
afternoon. Before returning he will 60 to
the Wall Street district to consult with John
G.. Milbum and others who are concerned
in the negotiations for the financing of the
projected railroads in the Philippines.
One of the matters Mr.. Taft wishes to settle
on thiss subject is the investment Of the funds
now on deposit, pending the acceptance Of
bids for construction.