Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-16
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Who is to Be Secretary ShaW's
Successor?
MAY BE YOUNG Mr.. KEEP
Cortelyou Fails to Confirm Story of
His Selection.
THE CHINESE CUSTOMS AFFAIRS
!
]. F. Olsen Pays His Respects to the
President-Navy Yard Half
Holiday Refused.
HE CHINESE CUSTOMS AFFAIRS

Postmaster General Cortelyou, upon
reaching the White House today to attend
the cabinet meeting. would not discuss the
story, SO often printed before, that he is
to become Secretary of the Treasury to
succeed L. NJ Shaw upon the retirement OF
the latter. whenever that time may come
The understanding is that Secretary Shaw
will retire next March. when he will COM
pfete' term of FIVE years as head Of the
treasury. AS several dates have hereto
fore been set for his retirment however
and as he has been kept in the cabinet
through the persuasiens of the President
any definite time for his retirement is not
to be easily fixed.
The failure to officially confirm the story
of Mr.. Cortelyous change in cabinet as
signment gives color to a rather strong be-
lief that Charles H. Keep of New York will
succeed Mr.. Shaw. Mr.. Keep is now the
ranking assistant secretary of the treas
ury. and undoubtedly one of the ablest men
who ever filled that position. He is con-
ceded to be fully. as we'll posted or finances
as Secretary Shaw, which gives him a
high rank in the financial world He has
been acting secretary of the treasury since
Secretary Shaw went away from Washing
ton number of weeks ago on his long
campaign tour, and he Is familiar with the
work that comes before him.
Besides his exceptional qualifications to
become Secretary of the Treasury, Mr.. Keep
is one of the coterie of bright young men
President Roosevelt has brought to Wash
ihgton and shown especial, confidence in
This was observable in his selection by
the President as head of the important
commission to investigate and report upon
departmental methods. His reports have
met with the cordial approval or the Pres
ident.
The belief prevails in many directions that
the President if he has not already offer
ed Mr. Cortelyou the treasury portfolio,
will pick Mr.. Keep to follow Mr.. Shaw.
The Chinese Customs Business.
]. F. Olsen. one Of the thirty commits
sioners for the collection Of customs in
China under Sir Robert Hart, paid his re-
spects to the President today. He is on his
way to Europe from China, and does not
expect to return to his post for several
months. He says that China is making
rapid progress. The Chinese are building
railroads, displacing foreigners who had
undertaken the work. and the Chinese
army is being increased In numbers and
efficiency. The army is being trained by
foreign soldiers, although many japanese
officers have lately been secured for that
work.
Mr.. Olsen declined to discuss the al
legged ascendancy of the Japanese in Chi
nese matters or whether foreigners regard
it as possible that the japanese will grad
ually dominate China. He thought the SUBJ
ject too delicate a one to talk about.
Mr.. Olsen said that Sir Robert Hart, the
noted head of the customs department Of
China, has held his place for forty-three
years. He has 1900 foreigners on his staff
and 10000 Chinese.
Navy Yard Half Holiday.
A request was presented to the President
yesterday for a half holiday for navy yard
employees on every Saturday afternoon in
the year. The President declined to grant
the request, saying that it was not within
his power to do So Congress would have
to handle question of that kind. He had
issued an executive order granting Satur-
day half holidays in the summer months,
ter was brought to the attention of the
President by Michael F. Doyle of Phila-
delphia, on behalf of the navy yard en-
ployes there.