The National tribune., 1907-05-02
APPROACHING CLOSE
OF THE OFFICIAL SEASON.
The Congressional Party at jamestown.
Cabinet Rum0rs-New Officials - Adj
justment of Work TO the Appropria-
tons.
Conversational Hard Luck.

Congressional Hard Luck.
Washington is having little INSTALL
ment of the jamestown Exposition OF
its own this week. In the wake of the
Presidents yacht, the Mayflower. as she
plowed up the Potomac after the open
ing of the Exposition, came numerous
craft bearing foreign officials and 9TH
ers on courtesy visits. The command
ers Of the foreign warships have to
come here as matter of duty to pay
their respects to the President. He in
turn is showing them the particular
brand of hospitality that is dispensed
from the White House The festivities
there eliminated Tuesday evening with
a large state dinner, following which
practically all the Army and Navy Off
GERS stationed in Washington, as well as
other officials, were invited to a recep-
ton.
The hotel corridors have also been
filled with returning visitors from the
Virginia Fair First came the Con-
gressmen, who were as disgruntled
coterie as has been in Washington for a
long time. They were shown no atten-
ton whatever at jamestown, were un-
able to get over to the Fair Grounds
because of the poor docking facilities,
till the program was half thru, and in
other WAYS were treated with what they
regard as indignity. They charge that
all Virginia seemed to be crazy to chase
after the President The carriages that
were intended for the Congressional Wis
itors We're gobbled up by Virginia
youths, who rode along to the Fair,
while the congressman, headed by Sem
etor John W. Daniel and Speaker Can
non, trudged along in the dust for more
than a mile. Nobody paid any more at
10
ordinary mortals.
And when these notables finally ar
rived at the Fair Grounds they We're
not welcomed, but found the gate shut
Some of them pried a gate off its hinges,
almo fought their way to the grand
stand, where they found the seats that
had been reserved for them crowded
with strangers. The House has never
been overfriendly toward appropria-
lions for Expositions, and many OF its
leaders, including Speaker Cam On, bit
terly opposed the appropriations for
jamestown. They had relented some
what by the time they started down the
Potomac to see the Fair but they came
back speaking anathemas. The things
they have to say about President st.
George Tucker are far from compli
mentary. They poke fun at the fact
that he had prepared a 35,000-word
speech, which he was virtually COM
PEELED to cut down to an S,000-word
speech. They also say that the Fair is
a great real estate speculation by which
Norfolk hopes TO build big and profit
able suburb in the direction of the Fair
Grounds
In support of their assertions these
Congressman declare that the EXPOSE
tion managers have put all their money
in the grounds, leaving too little for the
buildings. They find that streets have
been laid out in the vicinity of the Fair
Grounds, with water and gas mains and
everything fit for suburban residences.
Furthermore, the disgruntled Congress-
men say that the Fair is already facing
bankruptcy, and that it cannot be long
before the Treasury Department will
have to take charge of it to be sure Of
the payment of the S1,OOO,O0O that the
Government loaned.
Ali these grumblings by the Congress
sional members must be taken with
grain of salt, because they are vigorous
"knockers' when they undertake to
'knock." And yet the conditions at the
Fair are undoubtedly very bad, and re-
fleet no credit upon the Virginians who
have had the management Of the prof.
ect.
Official Season About to Close.
The Presidents party came back
without any grumbling; but, of course,
they were shown every possible atten
ton, and nothing was left undone to
assure them a good time. The Presi-
dent enjoyed especially a trip up the
James River, where he viewed some of
the historic plantations, and incidental
1y enjoyed a day off when he was not
bothered by official cares.
The official season at the White
House will close now in about five
weeks, and the President will go away
to Oyster Bay for the Summer. He plans
to leave here June ~, and as matter
of fact will be in Washington but little
after this month. Usually the President
has delayed his departure for his Sum-
mer home till July !, or at least till late
in June. But he is anxious t. get away
after the strenuous Winter he has had.
He is going to Michigan and Indiana
toward the end OF May, SO as to deliver
q Memorial Day address at Jndianapo-
lis, and will not return here till the
early days of June. The remainder Of
his stay ii the city will be devoted to
gathering up odds and ends and to
making ready for his Oyster Bay So
1ourn.
1t has been announced that he will
give very little attention during the
Summer to public business, except when
II is of an urgent nature. 1t is also
said that he will rest from politics; but
while he may wish to do so, it is prob
able that he will be engaged on political
questions great deal during the heat
ed term.
The Departments will all slow down
as soon as the President departs. A
few of the Secretaries will be here, but
the rule will be long vacations for every
one high in official position and easy
work all Summer for the clerical army.
There are continued reports Of fric-
ton within the Cabinet, but none of
them has been satisfactorily confirmed
yet Probably they are not without
foundation, altho they may be only
minor differences, such as almost any
body of men are certain to develop. 1t
IS declared in several quarters, but de-
MED stoutly by Postmaster General
Meyer, that he resents the interference
in his Department of Secretary OF the
Treasury George Il. Cortelyou. Mr.. Cor
telyou IS a political manager for the
President, and has supervision over
many postal matters that have a politi-
cal aspect Mr. Meyer is credited with
resenting this interference by Mr.. Cor
telyou and also with resenting the di-
rection of his First Assistant, Mr. Hitch
cock, by the President.
Cabinet Rumors.
The old reports about Secretary Root
being dissatisfied with the trend OF
things and intending to resign have also
been revived. Notwithstanding denials
many believe that Mr.. Root will resign
during the Summer, and that the Presi.
dent will have TO re1rganize his Cabinet