The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-07
WILL CORTELYOU
De COyE IRMED ?.
Senators Very Slow in
Acting Upon His Nom
ination to Treasury.
is 1T STANDARD
OIL INFLUENCE {?
Runor Says That City National
Bank Of New York Does Not
Approve Of His Selection.
The Fight Will Show
What Interests
Control.

WASHINGTON. January s.-There is a
delightful little political comedy under
way In Washington and It is the prelude
OF the drama soon to begin involving the
control of the Republican party by
President Roosevelt's friends or enemies.
The nomination Of George B. Cortelyou
to be Secretary Of the Treasury, succeeds
ing Leslie NJ. Shaw, was sent to the Sem
ate more than month ago. on the first
day OF this session of Congress. It was
referred to the Finance Committee and.
after several consultations and many mys-
terious waggings of heads 1t became known
that the committee did not like the man.
ner in which the nomination had been
sent In.
Senator Aldrich was appointed to call on
the President and inform him there was
an irregularity of technical char,cter
about the nomination. Mr.. Aldrsch vi lte&
the White House and discovered the 1ses-
ident was more than willing to ipeet tho
objections of the Finance Committee and
send the nomination into the Senate in the
usual form. This promise Mr.. Roosevelt
kept the next day, ana Mr. Cortelyou's
mtiee in it's second form almost thrae
weeks, but no disposition has been shown
to report favorably to the Senate.
OF course. there is no hurry about this,
as the change in the Cabinet does not taxa
place until March 4th. and the delay
would not attract any attention but for
the fact that Democrats and Republicans
alike in the Finance Committee are max
ing this nomination the basis for showing
their independence of the Roosevelt adj
ministration and perhaps their hostility
as well.
Reasons Why.
Two reasons are given for withholding
Mr.. Cortelyous confirmation. One Is that
he Is chairman OF the Republican National
Committee. and should not retain that
position II he Is going into the Treasury
Department.. Some members of the COM
mittee take the position that Mr.. Cortel-
you should have resigned the chairman.-
ship OF the committee when he became
Postmaster-General. Their chief objec-
ton on this point, however. Is that the
chairman of the Republican National
Committee should not at this time ba
Secretary of the Treasury. &,
The other objection to Mr.. Cortelyou--
and one that is notNstated with us much
candor as the tirst-is that certain great
financial interests in New York City.
brusauely alluded to sometimes as the
STANDARD Oil crowd" rather expect that
Mr.. Cortelyous advent into the, Treasury
means less respect by the administration
for the City National Bank. It has been
frequently hinted that the confirmation
of Mr.. Cortelyou would go whizzing
through the Senate If he would only
make known that the policy of the de-
partment with reference to New York
financial institutions would remain un-
changed.
Many Republicans who believe the Press
ident has gone too far in ordering suits
brought against railroads, and bringing
about Investigations OF the operations OF
capital. have been suspicious that the
action of Mr.. Cortelyou In remaining as
chairman of the Republican National Com
mittee after he entered the Post-Off1cs
Department indicated that the Roosevelt
administration intended to indefinitely
keep It's hold upon the machinery of the
party.
Democrats have been interested in this
matter, and they are seeking to make
capital out of It. They are willing to stand
with any of the Republican members OF
the Finance Committee to delay the con-
tirmation of Mr.. Cortelyou and eu1barrass
the President and the retiring Postmaster.
General.
All of this Is merely a part of the
campaign rapidly taking shape to hava
q conservative nominated by the Repub.
licans in 1908.
1t is directed not only at the President
and Mr.. Cortelyou, but also at any can-
didate who may enter the lists as
Roosevelt man and as an exponent OF the
Roosevelt policy.
Mr.. Corteyou has not talked with any
member OF the Finance Committee. and
he has not made any pledges to any onA
So far as known, the President has moi
made any oveEtures to members OF tho
committee to have the nomination con.
iirmed.
The nomination Is still in tho hands Of
thirteen Senators comprising the Finance
Committee. The Republican members
are: Messrs. Aldrich. of Rhode Islandt
Allison, of Iowa: Burrows. of MicMgan;
Platt, OF New York: Hansbrough, OF
North Dakota; Spooner, OF Wisconsin,;
Penrose, OF PENNSYLVANIA, and Hale, oi
Maine. The Democrats are: MessrA
Daniel. of Virginia; Teller OF Coloradoi
Money, OF Mississippi; Bailey. Of Texas.
and Taliaforro, of Florida.