The National tribune., 1906-10-25


stalled SJon after the beginning of the
year, continues to occupy prominent
place in White House gossip. Altho
but two new men are to be brought
into the Cabinet at that time and the
name of one of them-George V. l..
Never a cocoa manufacturer OF MaSSa-
chusetts, who inherited both his wealth
and his business and is now Embassa-
dor at ST. PeterSburg-has been known
for months, there will be at least tour
new heads for as many Departments
and there may be five, which IS more
than half of the Cabinet. This VIII
come about by the promotion OF TWO
members to other Departments.
The Treasury Department.
The m ost important of all the changes
contemplated is that of Secretary of the
Treasury. 1t is second in rank to the
Secretary of State, but change in the
Treasury portfolio is far more interest
ing to the country at large than a
change in the State portfolio. 1t affects
financial interests far and wide. espe-
ci; ily Ia these times when there is so
much trouble because of the lack OF
elasticity in the currency system. De-
cisions of the Secretary of the Treasury
on fiscal matters are of vital Importance
to business-to men of small means as
we'll as to the large corporations.
No other position in the Cabinet real
his administration affects the business
confidence of the United States, which
is always shy Of uncertainties. Secre-
tary Shaw has been tried out during five
years and is satisfactory to all concern
ed as a Secretary, altho time and again
he has stretched the law to afford finan-
cial relief and has gone way beyond
the landmarks that guided his predeces-
sors in office. For that reason, as well
as others, President Roosevelt has been
very anxious to retain him in office.
Even tn ough his retirement is now re-
garded as certain and Postmaster-Gen-
eral Cortelyou has been selected as Mr.
Shaw'S successor, the President has not
relinquished one last hope that Mr.
Shaw will remain while longer.
The Cabinet portfolios are not as al
Turing in these days of large salaries as
they were 10 years ago. The President
is brought to realize this in trying to
find new Secretary of the Treasury.
No financier Of proven ability, whom
the President would invite into his Cab
met, can be found. Hence he is resort
ing to the eXpedient that business men
often resort to, of finding young man
of sufficient capacity to develop He
believes Postmaster-General Cortelyou
to be such a man. Cynics have said that
Mr.. Cortelyou is without experience as
financier, which is true, and that he
never even had bank account, which,
of course, is not true. But the Presi-
dent is certain that Mr.. Cortelyou Will
probe every important matter to the
bottom and bring the information to
him. so that the Administration will not
be fooled by the willy men who flock to
that Department to achieve their own
advantage.
For some time ambassador Won L..
Meyer was seriously considered for the
Treasury portfolio. He has some knowl-
edge of business, altho he has been less
L, n-e.
tasks than some business men are. The
President knew Won L. Meyer at Har-
ward College, 25 years ago. He has i'm
plicit faith in his honesty. but he has
been in Washington much less than Mr.
Cortelyou, who. the President believes,
will be keener in ferreting out schemes.
Announcement of the changes will
not be made till after the election. espe-
cially the change with reference to Mr.
Cortelyou. New York politicians op-
posed to the Administration still harp
on the contributions for the National
Committee which Mr.. Cortelyou, as its
Chairman, received, and to announce
Mr.. Cortelycu's promotion now would
only revive that criticism. But the Pres
ident has not fully decided about the
changes yet, with the exception that
Mr.. Cortelyou goes to the Treasury De-
partment and that Mr.. Won L. Meyer
goes to the head Of the Post-Office De-
partment The practice has been to
select business men for Postmaster-Gen-
eral. and the present ambassador to
Russia comes within that category.
Bonnparte TO BE eAttorney-General.
As the President now considers the
matter Secretary Bonaparte will go
from the Navy Department to the De-
partment of Justice and Secretary Met
calf will go from the Department OF
Commerce and Labor to the Navy De-
partment. In the Cabinet the Attorney
General ranks the Secretary of the
Navy, the Navy Department having been
created at comparatively recent pc
rid of American history, after having
for years been a branch Of the War
Department, as the Department of JUS
tice was for several years at the begin
ming of the Republic branch OF the
Treasury Department. Secretary Bona
parte is not attracted by this distinction
in rating for he has come to like the
work of the Navy Department, and is
rather loath to leave IL for the Depart
rnent of Justice altho Mr.. Bonaparte
likes the law, and is regarded as lead
er a. the Maryland Bar. However, the
President is very anxious to have NJ
Bonaparte to take up the prosecution
of trusts where Attorney-General Moody
leaves il.
Secretary Metcalf was for many year!
q member of the House Of Represents
tives from the Oakland. Cal. district
and served on Ine -NdFdl I'm
mittee He became very familiar will
naval questions during that service, ant
had not President Roosevelt hit upor
Paul Morton, at the time of the last Ma
tional Convention at Chicago, as goot
business man to assume the administra
ton of the Navy Department, Mr.. Met
calf would have been selected ror tha
portfolio. As it was, Mr.. Metcaif, afte
having been considered by the Presiden
for Secretary of the Navy, was give
the then new Department OF Commerc
and Labor, which in reality Is now on
of the largest business Departments O
the Government. He took the reins fror
Secretary Cortclyou. who had been tn
frst head of that Department, and ha
made a succC> of the work, altho II
not work that gains much publicity i
the newspapers.
A New Man Needed.
Those changes. as contemplated
number four. but would entail ringin
another new man into the Cabinet, thu
making five changes. 1t is probable tha
the President will have to pick a me-
man for Secretary of Commerce an
Labor There has been considerahI
speculation in that regard. The Pres
dent would undoubtedly like to pre-
mote Corporation Commissioner Gal
field. who has been probing Variot
trusts during the last four years. jim
mie" Garfield is a son of the martyre
President, and is very well liked by NJ
Roosevelt He is one OF half doZe
men the President invites to the Whit