Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-14

We'll, as i have told you, I am not
bothering with anything now but the
senatorship. That will be settled some
time in January. I do not believe the
date has been fixed. l should not make
the contest. either, unless | thought my
prospects were good.
May Do Away With Caucus.
Mr.. Burton declared he had no opinion
to express on the proposition that has
been put forth to have the election take
place in the open legislature. without
preliminary caucus by the republicans
This proposition is receiving some sup
port throughout the state and it is said
that Mr.. Burton would not be averse to
everything taking place in the open. The
Ohio machine is now supposed to be with
c. p. Taft, and it will be able to do con-
siderable work in a caucus that would
not take place in the open.
The candidates for the succession TO
Senator Foraker are Mr.. Burton. c. p.
Taft. Gov. Harris. Representative Keifer
and Harry Daugherty. The fight, how
ever is conceded to be between Taft and
Burton.
The belief is pretty general among
Ohio people that if Mr. Burton fails OF
election as senator the Cleveland states
man will be offered a position in the
Tart cabinet either as Secretary of State
" Va ehS 41C0SVIs
Senator Knox and the Cabinet.
Senator Knox today declined to discuss
the gossip connecting his name with the
Taft cabinet. From Pittsburg come dis
patches announcing that Senator Knox
has given leading Pittsburg. republicans
who are afflicted with the buzzing of the
senatorial bee to understand that he does
not propose to leave the Senate and has
no idea of going into the cabinet. no mat
ter what position he may be offered. The
situation. though. is. a delicate one. and
| Mr.. Knox. who was at the White House
today, prefers not to refer to 1t. He does
not want to be put in the position of de-
clining something that may not be offered
him, but 1t Is the opinion of his closest
friends that no cabinet position could in
duce him to leave the Senate.
Senator Knox likes his work in the
Senate. He likes the opportunity he has
In vacation period to attend to his pri-
vate work or enjoy rest. When in the
cabinet he sefused an offer of a position
on the bench of the Supreme Court of the
United States and to some close friends
he is said to have indicated that if he
should fail to return to the Senate he
,, would go back to private life, which he
left at great loss to himself giving up
law practice worth over $4,000 year.
Examination of Postmasters.
d ludii ildNc W StdIu al eAdIlll.
nation in geometry, spelling. literary COM
position and few other things to get a
fourth-class post Office paying him $50 a
year? Would a man be able to pass
a creditable examination in these sub
jects take position paying so year?
These and similar questions growing out
of the recent classification by President
Roosevelt of fourth-class postmasters
were discussed at a conference at the
White House today, those with the Presi-
dent being Senator Penrose and Repre-
sentative Overstreet, chairmen, respect
lively, of the Senate and House commit
tees on post offices and post roads and
Postmaster General Meyer.
Fourth-clasS post Offices are those pay
ing less than $1,000 year to the post
masters. Over that the Office becomes
presidential appointment. is the examna-
tion for fifty dollar offices to be the same
as that for Observation-Disclosures Offices?
Would the same class OF men respond
for one as the other?
One proposition-and it is tentatve--is
to make the examinations for post Offices
paying below 500 year competitive
and have the same examination for Of
fees paying above the amount Another
proposition is to have about three differ
ent grades Of examinations, although this
would require much labor.
Congress is not to be asked to aid the
administration in solving the problems
d
the Capitol familiar with post office oper-
atiOns were asked, SO that as much light
| as possible might be thrown Oh the SUBJ
ject. The President and the Postmaster
| General will further thresh out the queS-
| tions. probably at the cabinet meeting to-
morrow, and will talk further with Chair
men Penrosc and Ovcrstreet.
| African Insects Most Dangerous.
| President Roosevelt was told today that
his greatest dangers in Africa will not
! be from wild beasts or reptiles from
which he can defend himself but from
poisonous insects. He received a call
| from j. o. Thompson of Richmond Ind.
who has spent much time in Africa Mr..
THOMPSON was introduced by Representa-
| tive Bede.
| African insects frequently produce blood
| poisoning Mr.. Thompson told the Presi-
dent, and others bring on what Is called
| the eeping sickness, not TO speat of
| malaria from mosquitoes The sleeping
| sickness is said to result from the sting
| of the tse-tse fly. and has bafhed the ply
| sic,ans of Africa It is largely confined
| to natives, however.
| Write for him all the information he felt
| would be of value on the trip, and Mir.
| Thompson will do this.
For Education of Negro Clergymen.
| w. T. Vernon. register of the Treas
ury. introduced to the President several
prominent negro clergymen Of North
/ Carolina, who are striving to work out
plan for the better education of negro
| ministers. The leaders of the movement
are Rev j. e. Shepperd. Durham. n. C..
and Rev. ]. f. Dellinger. Greensboro,
N c. There are thousands of negro
| preachers In this country" said one of