The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-10-30

Washington, D. C.-The prospec-
tive Cabinet changes to follow the re-
tirement Of Leslie M. Shaw, Secretary
of the Treasury, and William H.
Moody, Attorney General, were Of
ficially announced at the White
House. Confirmation was given to
the statements heretofore printed
that George Bruce Cortelyou, of New
York, would take the Treasury port
folio, and that George Won L. Meyer,
OF Massachusetts, now Ambassador
to Russia, would be appointed to sue
coed Mr.. Cortelyou as Postmaster
General. The only surprise in the
announcement is that Oscar Solomon
Etraus, of New York, would enter the
Cabinet as Secretary of Commerce
and Labor. The formal statement of
the change is as follows:
Secretary of the Treasury, George
B. COrtelyou, of New York; Postmas-
er-General, George Won l.. Meyer, of
Massachusetts; Attorney General,
Charles ]. Bonaparte, OF Maryland;
Secretary of the Navy, Victor L. Met
calf, of California; Secretary of Com
merce and Labor, Oscar S. Straus, OF
New York.
az On0 llllS S1lC OllC4ctl t1IlOuACC-
ment was given, it was said infor-
sHally at the White House that Attor-
ney-General Moody would retire on
January /, 1907, and Secretary Shaw
on March 4, 1907, Most of the
changes will take place, therefore,
at the beginning of the new year
When Mr.. Bonaparte entered the
Cabinet as Secretary of the Navy, it
was the understanding that he would
become Attorney General if a vacancy
occurred In that office. Mr.. Metcalf's
tendencies have always been toward
the Navy Department, and he was
greatly disappointed when Paul Nor
ton was given the Naval portfolio at
the same time that Mr. Metcalf was
asked to enter the Cabinet as Secre-
tary of Commerce and Labor. Mr..
Meyer, who is rich man, was under
stood to be anxious to become Secre-
tary Of the Navy, but there is no rea-
son to suppose that he will not be
just as well satisfied in the Postoffice
Department.
The chief interest in the changes
Is in connection with Mr.. Cortelyou
and Mr.. Straus Both are from New
York, and as Mr.. Root, the Secretary
Of State, is also a New Yorker, the
unprecedented case will be presented,
when the changes occur, Of having in
the Cabinet three men from the same
State as the President. But Mr..
Roosevelt does not believe in the geo.
graphical distribution idea in making
selections of his official advisers, and
he has said so on several occasions.
He has maintained that the man to
take is the best man to be found
without reference to the part of the
country in which he resides.
In the promotion of Mr.. Cortelyou,
for his transfer to the Treasury De-
partment is regarded in that light,
the President has carried out a long
felt desire to show his regard for his
former confidential secretary, in
whose Judgment and ability he has
the greatest confidence. The Presi-
dents admiration for Mr.. Cortelyou
Is of the highest order and he has
never hesitated to say so. He be-
lieves that the present Postmaster
General is one of the big men of the
country, whose light has in a meas
ure been hid under a bushel. That
Mr.. Cortelyou will prove his fitness
for the high office which he will as
sumo next March the President is
confident.
Secretary Taft Will not go on the
Supreme Court bench; he will stay in
the Cabinet. 1t is the understanding
that he is to be President Roose-
velt's legatee for the Presidency.
1t is said that Mr.. Straus viii be
the first Jew ever appointed to a
Cabinet position by President of the
United States. Judah p. BENJAMIN
was in the Confederate Cabinet under
President Davis.