The Washington times., 1906-10-25
As to the Departments.


have been considered copiously from
every point of view save that of the
very work the new secretaries are
appointed to do-the administration
of the executive departments. The
selections are sagacious politically,
as every newspaper in the country
agrees. They are calculated to sur
round the President with counselors
of resourcefulness and loyalty. But
they are more than that. The men
chosen promise 10 give the bureaus
to be entrusted TO them an effective
and progressive administration-and
it is the firm faith of The Times
that they were chosen chiefly to
achieve that result.
Mr.. Cortelyou, Mr.. Metcalf, and
Mr.. BOnaparte are tried department
heads. The Postofiice Department,
the Department of Commerce and
Labor, and the Navy Department are
all better organized and better con-
Quoted than when their service be-
gan. The two first-named, perhaps
with better fields than the third.
have sheared away red tape and cor
Tected wastcful methods until the
annual savings now To their credit
mount past the million mark.
The three have large opportuni-
ties at their new posts. The same
work of adjusting departmental
methods TO modern business stand
ards waits for Mr.. Cortelyou 10 do
in the Treasury. He has vet 10
prove his capacity as financier, but
no one who knows the work he has
done in the postal service will doubt
his ability 10 tighten the Treasury
. service at every point and possibly
to institute economies as profitable
as those which have marked his ad-
ministration of the Postotiice De-
partment. He is probably the most
successful administrator the depart
ments have had since the executive
service assumed its present proper
tions.
y man who can lop over $500, 600
from a single item of expense-in
this case it was printing and the
saving was accomplished by the sim
pie eNpedient of editing copy before
it reached the printer-can be count
ell upon TO undertake the work of
the Navy Department with ingenu-
ity and common sense to aid him. as
well as determination. That il is
now and has been ever since the
War of the Rebellion an oligarchy
of bureau chiefs who cooperate
only more or less is known to every
one. 1t is known to the President
assuredly, or his work as Assistant
Secretary in preparing for the war
with Spain has all been forgotten
Can Mr.. Metcalf unity such a depart
ment as Mr.. Root did the War De-
partment? Well, he is hardly likely
to accept the office without accept
ing also its opportunities.
Mr.. Bonaparte viii find the work
of the Attorney General well suited
TO his hand. He is at his best in
the active practice of the law. He
relishes nothing so much as a sharp
fight in court involving large inter
ests. That is the kind of work
ahead for the Attorney General and
If it can be said without seeming 10
disparage his excellent supervision
of the Navy Department, il is the
work he is especially fitted TO do.
Mr.. Strauss and Mr.. Meyer are
new to the departments, but not
new to the operation of large busi-
nesses. They viii both have their
hands fun TO complete the reforms
instituted by MIR. Cortelyou and Mr.
Metcah. 1t is, perhaps, to be re-
gretted that either of these present
Secretaries must be transferred un-
til his work is further done, but as
the changes must be made now il is
reassuring to note that their tasks
fall into the hands of business men
of proven ability.
The outlook. then. is for con.
tinuatiOn of the Presidents policy
; TO put the departments on a bust
ness basis by introducing into the
{ Treasury and Navy Departments the
methods which have done so much
for the postal service and the De
partment of Commerce and Labor
and by entrusting the further read.
justment of those two bureaus tC
business men of tested ability. II
is fairly to be expected that thi.
latest move by the President vii
prove characteristically successful.