The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-07
SECOND DAY OF
TAFT IN OFFICE
Several important Matters At
tended to and Then Hand
\ shaking Began.
NEW PRESIDENT IS SLOW
CANNOT WORK OFF A CROWD OF
CALLERS QUICKLY.
NEW PRESIDENT is SLOW

Washington, March 6.-Au but two of
the nine members of President Taft'S
cabinet are now i'm Office. Six, including
Secretaries Knox, Meyer, Bailinger,
Wilson and Nagel and Postmaster Cen
eral Hitchcock, took the oath of Office in
the cabinet room today. Attorney Cen
erai Wickersham was sworn in yesJer-
day and Secretary Dickinson and Secre-
tary MacVeagh will present themselves
for duty within week or so.
President Taft has issued a prociama-
ton calling congress in extraordinary
session March 10. While there was moth
ing in the call which limited as to the
purpose of the session, its object has
heretofore been stated to be to revise
the tariff and transact no other bust
ness.
Public Demands Change.
The weather calamity which overlook
the national capital on Inauguration
day, however, has created such a public
demand for a change of date for the in
auguratiOn that the prediction of con-
gressional action on this question seems
TO be general.
The continued existence of the ma
tional conservation commission seems to
be assured, Notwithstanding the action
of congress, which has been interpreted
TO discourage the continuance of this
body.
The president today conferred with
the committee of representative of the
national and state bodies of this organ
ization. The position of the executive
is said to be that the commission was
appointed by President Roosevelt as a
consulting body on the question of con-
servation of the natural resources of the
country, and that the states indicated
their willingness for cooperation by ap-
pointing consulting committees. That
such an arrangement can be carried on
without cor gressional approval and
without federal expense seems to be the
decision reached.
Day of Handwriting.
President Taft's second day at the
White house was one of handshaking
and glad words. Delegation after dele
cation was received. His methods in
the art of mixing were demonstrated
to be different from those of President
Roosevelt. Mr.. Taft takes more time
than did his predecessor I'm making the
acquaintance OF his callers, and insists
g. knowing not only their full names,
bot their residence and matters of fam
lily history. The result IS said TO be
that it requires as much time for him
to meet ten men as it did for Mr.. Roose-
welt to greet a hundred.
The ceremony Of administering the
oath of office to the six members of the
Taft cabinet who presented themselves
at the White house today, which was
performed by Chief Justice Fuller, was
witnessed by President Taft The Incl
dent recalled to the new president the
incident of his own oath at the inau-
21ation. The chief justice in reading
We oath obligated Mr.. Taft Ito faith
fully execute the constitution, instead
3 4aT.a~aN la CNa
has been the subject of much pleasantly
between Mr.. Taft and his secretary of
state, who, it is said, remarked at the
time in an undertone to Mr.. Taft,
Don't do it."
Conference With Correspondents.
Mr.. Taft had his first conference as
president with the corps of Washington
newspaper correspondents at the close
of the day. He greeted the score or
more men personally, and stated that in
fairness to himself it would be his poll
cy that quotation marks should not en-
brace statements of news which might
be given out at the White house. When
he desired to make a formal statement,
1t would. he said. be addressed to con-
gress or be embodied i'm a speech. This
policy is a continuation of that which
has heretofore prevailed, it being con-
sidered the prerogative of the president
not to be quoted in the public prints in
any case except in formal statements.
William Loeb. Jr,. whose nomination
to be collector Of the port of New York
was confirmed by the senate today, was
presented with silver loving cup of
heroic design by the official STAFF OF the
White house.
Members of the Taft family who are
IN the city dined at the White house to-
night as the guests of the president and
Mrs. Taft.
Secretary CcTtelyou announced to-
night that he expected his successor,
Franklin MacVeagh, to reach Washing
ton some time Sunday. and that the
treasury portfolio would be transferred
to him on Monday next.
SWEPT AWAY By FLOOD.
Paris, S. D., March 6.--Mrs. Herman
Feikens and three little children were