Middletown transcript., 1908-11-21
WASHINGTON LETTER

4
WAsHINGTcE, D. c., June 18th, 1908.
{ tatesman. politicians and Journalists, ol
> whom there are always many in
Washington whether Congress is in ses-
sion or during vacation, just now devoting
themselves TO cabinet making and to the
discussion of the senatorial prospects of
various men prominent in political and
official life, with side glances at the
tariff tinkering which is going on in the
Office balls Of the House OF Representa-
tives, west of the Capitol. It has been
the expectation of many that Secretary
Root would be retained as premier, or
the head of Taft's cabinet, but it is now
known that the distinguished secretary
cannot be retained by President-elect
Taft. He and the President elect are
close friends. Their association for
years at President Rooseyelt's cabinet
table has built up mutual regard and
confidence, but Secretary Root seeks
another and more active field. Seek
perhaps is not the word. Il is being
thrust upon him. He is not aud has
never been seeker or candidate, but in
this case, as in others, the Office is seek
| ing the man. II is expected that he will
| succeed Senator Platt of New York and
| the contrast between the two men is
sharp enough to mark an era and empha.
| size a revolution, Thousands, perhaps
| millions of pesssimists will take heart and
| hope when the attorneyships Of the ex-
press companies shall, in the person Of
| Senator Platt, be removed frSm the floor
| of the Senate, and when man Of the
fame and force Of Root shall represent, in
tile American House of Peers, the most
popuous and the wealthiest state Of the
Union. He will do more than represent
the state; he will represent the United
States and bis counsel and influence will
not be withheld from his friend iu the
White House.
~
The Postmaster General has comp leted
his report which will 90 with the Presi-
dents message to Congress. 1t shows
deficit of over 16 millions of dollars, the
greatest deficit in the history of the De-
partment. The reason OF this deficit is
that the Government permits the express
companies to fiIch from it the profitable
end OF the mail carrying business. The
Depart ment is employing over thirty
thousand carriers on the rural routes and
some Of these are able to pm 10 their
pockets all the mail that thsF carry. But
this country lags behind the rest OF
the civilized world and large portion
of the half civilized or barbaric peoples
OF Asia, and is without the parcels post,
most important and necessary append
age of modern life. aFhere are fopr ab.
jections to the parcels post" said Post
master General Wanamaker years ago.
f'They are the four express companies"
But II there was parcels post, such as
they have in all European countries and
in some Asiatic countries; such as they
have in Egypt and nothern Africa, eigh-
teen millions of persons who are served
by the rural route system could haye
greatly superior and actually indisPens-
able service and instead of yearly de-
fcit Of millions ofdollars, the postal SER
vice would be a source of profit to the
Govarnnnnt
~
The tariff reformers, as they are flatter.
ingly called, have been in session for
week at the Capitol and it is predictad'
that much work will be done before the
assembling Of Congress: that more will be
done in taking evidence and revising the
schedules during the short session or be-
fore the Fourth Of March and that finally,
the work will be completed and revised
tariff bill passed at the special session Of
the sixty-frst Congress which is to be
called soon after the fourth of March.
~
The definite and positive statements
have been made regarding the personnel
of Mr.. Taft's cabinet. One is that he has
given the question of cabinet appoint
ments no consideration and will not do
SO for several weeks; and the other is that
no promises in regard to the cabinet
officers were made directly during the
campaign. Nevertheless, the self appoint
ed cabinet makers have been busy night
and day since the election, and enough
names have been submitted to fill half
dozen cabinets. Among the names pre-
sented is that of a wealthy New Yorker
known in Washington from his relations
to the Panama Canal transaction in which
the French Government disposed OF its
rights in that enterprise for forty million
OF dollars. His name is William Nelson
Cromwell Mr.. Cromwell is said to be
ambitious to enter the cabinet as Secre-
tary of State. 1t is understood that
he rendered valuable service during the
recent campaign, 20 say nothing Of a
large contribution.
Postm aster General Geo. Won Z. Meyer
is also much talked of for the first place
in the cabinet. Heis from Massachusetts,,
has been minister to Russia and has
been an active and efficient minister in
his present position. It would be hatter.
ing, however, to say that he is of
the intellectual dimensions of the pres
ent Secretary of State. He ia, however, a
safe and sane man, capable of taking adj
vice and history of the country has DEM
onstrated that We can get along after q
fashion without brilliancy or genius in
cabinet officers.
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