Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-08
SECRETARY HITCHCOCK OUT
Head Of Interior Department Resigns,
Assigning III Health a. Cause,
RICHARDS FOLLOWS CHIEF FROM OFFICE
CommissiOner Of Corporations GAR
aeId Is to Take Place in Cabinet
of President Early in
March
From q stan Correspondentl


gram .)-President Roosevelt today accepted
the resignation Of Secretary f. A. Hitch
cock OF the Interior department, to take
effect March 4, 1907 He simultaneously
announced his purpose TO promote James
r. Garfield OF Ohio, now commissioner OF
corporations TO the Office Of secretary OF
the interior.
Secretary Hitchcock voluntarily rendered
his resignation because Of failing health
The president promptly accepted his resig-
nation, for he himself on several occasions
within the last year. observing Mr.. Hitch
cocks alarming physical condition, had
suggested to him the advisabillty Of re-
lnquishing his burdensome cabinet duties.
Each suggestion Of this sort, however was
put aside by the secretary. who was de-
termined to see the finish OF the more im-
portant prosecutions OF land thieves who
had been run down under his direction
Mr. Hitchcock's family has been more
concerned about his health than the presi-
dent, and it Is well known that for the
last year his wife and daughters have per-
sistently urged him TO give up the cares
and worries OF office and take rest; but
even the entreaties OF his wife were dis
regarded, until now the secretary, who is
much more aged than when he entered the
his every desire is to remain to the END OF
Mr.. Roosevelts administration.
The countless prosecutions and convic-
tions Of land thieves. TO say nothing Of
compelling cattle barons to haul down their
fences, which have been brought about in
the last two years, bear evidence of Secre-
tary Hitchcock's hard work. His combats
with politicians. his controversies with sub
ordinate government officlals, and his con-
! tests with some OF the shrewdest attorneys
| in the land. have all tended to impair his
health until today he is on the verge of
physical collapse.
richards Follows Chief.
Land Commissioner Richards, who will re-
tire with Hitchcock, also resigned volun-
tariIy. Since he succeeded Binger Her
mann, Mr. Richards has had innumerable
personal sorrows and affiictions heaped
upon him, and It has been known for some
time that his duty here has not been pleas
ant. His thorough knowledge of public
land matters, his unquestioned integrity
anS - western nerve. have enabled him tc
| re ~ efficient service in solving many per-
plexing problems left over by Commissioner
Hermann, and he retires from ONCE witt
much credit. Richards successor has moi
lyet been chosen
Captain Hacker Ordered North.
Captain Theodore b. Hacker commissarS
at Omaha, viii proceed TO. Neigh and Val
entine, Neb., and Strugis. s. D., for the pur
pose of inspecting subsistence supplies. re
turning 60 Omaha upon the completion oi
this duty.
moody Goes to supreme Berch.
The president today announced the ap
pointment of Attorney General William
Henry Moody of Massachusetts as justice
of the supreme court OF the United States
to succeed Justice Henry Billings Brown
who retired some time ago. Mr.. Mooc'
has filled the Office of attorney genera
since July /. 1904; previous TO that tim
he had served for more than two year
as secretary of the navy. He had rep
resented his state in the fifty-fourth
ffty-ffth and hfty-seventh congresses
= 1t is generally expected that Mr. Mood!
will retire from the Department Of Justic
Q the latter part of December.