Omaha daily bee., 1908-01-13
CORTELYOU RUNORS REVIVED
Morgan Said to Have Made Him a
Flsttering Offer.
HEAD OF BIG FINANCIAL HOUSE
~ Change Occurs Meyer VIII BE
Secretary of Treasury and John
A. Merritt Postmaster
General,

telyou is soon to leave the treasury. This
time it is asserted that ]. P1erpont Nor
gan has made him a very nattering offer
to assume the presidency of big finan-
cial concern in New York and that the
secretary will decide. within the next few
days as to whether or not he will accept
the offer
Gentlemen who are fortunate enough to
receive the appointments OF secretary Of
the trasury, assistant secretary. comptrol-
Ter Of the currency or treasurer of the
United States find no difficulty whatever
In securing excellent business connections
as soon as they retire from public office.
The Treasury department offers no finan-
cial inducements for men of great ability.
but It has always proved a training school
for financiers Whenever a man has taken
office under the government in the ca
pacity of high official Of this particular
branch of the federal service he has only
to demonstrate that he is built right to
assure future financial case. Mr. Cortel-
you is the latest and it will surprise no
one If he decides to accept the offer which
Mr.. Morgan Is said TO have made to him.
His retirement will doubtless be followed
by the transfer OF Postmaster General
Meyer from his present position to the
head of the Treasury department and
rumor has It that Mr. Meyer will be sue
ceeded as postmaster general by John A.
Merritt of Niagara Falls, N. Y Mr., Mer-
ritt served as assistant postmaster general
for several years and afterwards as post
master i'm this city. Something more than
year and a half ago he was made col
lector of the port of Niagara Falls. The
salary of that position is greater than
that of cabinet officer, but still il is be-
lieved that Mr. Merritt will not decline the
honor of seat in the cabinet il 1t is ten
dered to him.
OF course these changes hinge wholly
upon the retirement of Mr. Cortelyou 1t
has been expected for some time that he
will leave the cabinet and it is scarcely to
be expected that he will retain the treas
ury portfolio to his own financial detri-
ment for Mr. Cortelyou is not a rich man
and his tenure of office is contempo-
raneous with that of Mr. Roosevelt. who
is determined to retire from the presidency
on March 4, next year.
Better Quarters for ConsuIs.
Once more an effort is to be made to
induce congress to provide more suitable
quarters for the American diplomatic con-
sular offices than they are able to obtain
under existing circumstances. No man who
has not a private fortune can afford to
accept a post as ambassador of the United
States, for the reason that his combined
salary and allowances is not sufficient to
pay the expenses of a proper ara ubassadoriss
residence. This is particularly true in such
! cities as London, Paris. Berlin, Vienna
and st. Petersburg. Up to the present time
| all attempts to provide suitable buildings
for American representatives in those cities
have proved futile. And yet nearly all the
great powers of Europe have secured
/ QuartarS tbpir dOrS In Wa h
ington which were purchased or built espe-
cially for the purposes for which they are
used. Great Britain was the first govern
ment to recognize the wisdom of such
course, and more than twenty-five years
ago a building was erected upon land pur-
! chased in the name of Victoria for the
British minister. Since that time Germany
France, Russia, Mexico and even China
have followed suit. The social as well as
the political advantages which such resi-
| Dental accommodations give to diplomatic
representatives have been pointed out
again and again by secretaries of state
from Mr.. Frellnghuysen to Mr.. Root, and
the members of the senate and house COM
mittees on foreign affairs have not been
I slow to appreciate those advantages, but
/ up TO the present time it has apparently
been impossible to get congress to endorse
the recommendations of those best quail
| fled to know what such a course means.
| Now, however, Congressman Perkins of
| New York, a member of the house COM
mittee on foreign affairs has taken the
matter up in earnest ana 1t is understood
! that he has the promise of the support Of
| the speaker and the committee on rules,
| so that It is probable that before the eN-
piration of another year the United States
| will have begun to acquire property in
foreign lands for the use of our diplomatic
| and consular corps.
AS showing the difference in the compen-
sation paid to foreign representatives in
| the United States and American represent
| atives abroad II is only necessary to com
pare the salary and allowances of the
British ambassador to Washington with
| that of the American ambassador to Lon
| don. The former receives a salary OF
$4,000 per annum with allowances for serv-
ants, ETC., OF 5000 more. In addition, he
has an entertainment fund Of about s5. 900
a year. total Of $4,000 The British am
bassador also has rent free a splendid
embassy building. The American ambassa-
dor to London has a salary OF a7,SOO and
allowances for residence expenses of less
than 10000 more. In other words. some
thing less than one-third of the compensa-
ton OF the British representative whose
| position corresponds with his own.
Meat Inspection Law.
Les talk is heard about changes in
the meat inspection law during the last
few weeks than was to be expected. When
the inspection clause was added to the
agricultural appropriation bill in June. 1906
there was much talk of a surrender to
the Meat trust" because the bill as finally
| enacted provided that the cost OF inspec-
ton Of all meat products should be paid
out OF the funds OF the federal govern
ment. Senator Beveridge and few other
well meaning. but III advised statesmen