The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-01-19
PRESIDENT WANTS
TO TAKE THE SOFA
By Ernest G. Walker.

gress over request by President
Roosevelt to remove certain furniture
from the White House and the White
House offices on March 4, when he re-
tires to private life. If trouble comes,
however, it will be largely because of
the unfriendly relations that exist be.
tween the President and Congress.
Senators and members say the Presi-
dent has improved every possible OPP
portunity to cast reflections upon them
and he ought to expect no quarter in
return from them.
Not long ago the President wrote to
Speaker Cannon letter that has been
referred to the House Committee on
appropriations. 1t stated that when he
retired to private life he wishes to take
away the chair at the head of the
cabinet table, where he had presided
and also. the chair at his office desk
in the corner room. Mrs. Roosevelt, the
President added, would like to take
away a sofa, which was the first article
of furniture that she purchased for the
White House.
Furthermore the President said he
would like to permit the members of
his cabinet to take away chairs they
had used at the council table. He did
not mark the letter "personal and
therefore it was referred to the appro
priation committee.
Will Probably Grant the Request.
1t is not probable that the House
or the Senate will refuse the Presi.
dent IS request but pains have been
taken at the Capitol to look up the
cost of the property in question, espe-
cally of the chairs. 1t seems that the
government paid $75 each for them.
The cost of the sofa, to which the
President refers is not known Mt the
Capitol.
Last winter the President wrote a
letter to Speaker Cannon about appro-
prations for furthering the operations
of the Hepburn law and also in behalf
of the Secret Service. He marked that
letter "personal and yet as soon as
the wrangle between the Congress and
the President began to grow warm SEN
ators and Representatives became aware
of the fact that persons in the Treas.
ury Department, including Chief Wilkie,
were making much of the Speaker s
| failure to make that letter public.
Plainly the House leaders think the
| President has not intended this letter
should be public but as he did not mark
it confidential they are allowing it to
follow routine channels
The President writes to the Speaker
that it has been customary for his pre-
decessors to take away certain articles
of furniture. 1t is claimed at the
Capitol that no record of such prece'
dents can be found. However, it has
been the custom for the retiring Vice
President to appropriate certain furni
ture of his room at the north end OF
the Capitol and it is a matter of record
that those officials have taken away
some very costly pieces.
Trekking Toward Georgia.
The pilgrimages of statesmen int
Georgia are becoming something of 1
feature in the political happenings o.
the hour. Some have already been call
ed thther to confer with the President
elect. Senator Lodge of Massachusetts
one of the four men who probably die
most to further Mr.. Taft's nomination
for the presidency, has just returned
from Augusta where he had long tall
over the situation, especially with refer
ence to New England.
He is the special champion for thu
retention of Postmaster General Meye
in the new cabinet. AS it is taken TO
granted that Mr.. Taft will name a
least one New England man, other thai
National Chairman Hitchcock, to tn
cabinet and that that other New Eng
lander will be Massachusetts, ma
the Bay State senators are keenly cor
cerned as to who that man is to be
! There is some rivalry between Reput
lican factions in Massachusetts, as (
whether Mr.. Meyer shall be retaine
in the cabinet or whether Representa-
tive John w. Weeks, of Massachusetts
shall be named as Secretary of tn
Navy. 1t may happen that some othc
New England State will bear away tn
,, plum.
The President Secretary Mr.. Loci
is to be in Augusta within a few day
and it is expected that the prosperity
!, President will talks things over wit
l him. Mr.. Loeb was one of Mr.. Taft
most active friends during the can
paigns for the nomination and election
d Mr.. Taft thinks very highly of hin
7 but thus far Mr.. Loeb has had no a
surances that he will be invited
have seat at Mr.. Taft cabinet tabl
Knox VIII Be Starting Soon.
Senator Knox, who is to be the ne
Secretary of State, is also startI
away to Georgia for consultation Wi
= his future chief. Mr.. Hitchcock we
to Georgia several days ago. Washn
ton has been on the qu vive to cat'
some intimation of Mr.. Taft's furth
70 selections. Those, who have alreat
y consulted with the new President, a
. understood to have brought away i
q timations but they are withholdiI
. their information till Mr.. Taft choos
: himself to make the announcement
= As a matter of fact he has already co
I, suited with a number of Representative
y Republican senators about the men wi
would do well for his cabinet.
, The Assistant Secretary of State,
y desirable office, has already been file
y 1t has been announced that Beekm;
~ Winthrop, now Assistant Secretary
- the Treasury, will have that place.
- is the first assistant secretary to
' named for the new administratio
n There are about dozen of those c
=, fees, distributed throughout the d