The National tribune., 1909-05-20
WORKING OFFICIALS.
Members of the Cabinet Getting on to Their
Jobs with Marked Success.

President Tafts Cabinet officers are
beginning to strike a rapid pace. and
are making things hum. Several of
them have been going out on inspec-
ton trips connected with important De-
partmental business. They have learned
the ropes here in Washington, and are
now acquainting themselves with the
activities of their Departments outside
of Washington. They have also been
sounding a few keynotes about the Ad-
ministration policies.
Secretary MacVeagh, who stuck close
to the Treasury Department for the first
month or two, has been to New York
of late. A vast deal of Treasury busi-
ness is transacted in New York. More
than half the customs duties of the
United States are collected over there.
The financial operations of the country.
with which, of course, the Treasury is
closely connected, centers in New York.
Secretaries of the Treasury always
have to go to New York every few
months to keep in close touch with the
administration of the Treasury's busi-
ness there. Most of the Assistant Sec
retaries have also to make frequent
trips there. Just now the exposition
of frauds upon the customs over there
is interesting Treasury officials trennen-
dously, and they are standing behind
VIM. Loeb, Jr., the present Collector,
who used to be Secretary to President
Roosevelt Mr.. Loeb is achieving what
many before him tried to do and failed.
Jfc NToc 1ir1ey nm, f,-ia
may establish him prominently in New
York politics, and that higher party
honors will be bestowed upon him. Some
are predicting that he will be the Re
publican candidate for Governor next
year to succeed Gov. Hughes, who.
probably, will not run again because of
the custom in New York State that
Governor shall not serve more than
two terms.
Secretary of the Navy Meyer, having
taken hold vigorously of affairs in his
Department. has been familiariZing
himself with the work of the big navy
yards on the Atlantic Coast. He has
been to Norfolk and to almost every
yard on the coast up as far as Charles
ton. His Department is a most tenn
pestuous one. because of the Navy fac
tions and the contentious over the ad
of navy yards which was
an Inheritance from the administration
of Secretary Newberry, his immediate
predecessor. The Bureau Chiefs have
already ascertained that he is a very
fair man, quick to grasp the significance
of big questions, and that he has opin-
ions of his own and will not allow the
Bureau Chiefs to run him. He has
many troublesome problems to handle.
one of which has been the selection of
a Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engi-
neering. That involved a war between
line and staff officers, and in this par
ticular instance affected a conflict be-
tween nearly all the officers of the Navy
and the Construction Corps. Engineer
ing and construction used to be one
Bureau years ago. Admiral Capps, the
present Chief of Construction, a very
able and competent man, was educated
as an engineer officer, and some have
favored giving him larger authority
over strictly engineering work. At one
time he was the Acting Chief of the
Engineering Bureau. His critics. while
conceding that he is well qualified for
the larger tasks, argue that the Depart
ment has been placing too much power
in the hands of one man, and that the
Construction Corps, intended chiefly to
superintend the construction and repair
of warships. is gaining too much au-
thority. This has been accentuated to
the minds of the critics, by the addi-
administration of the navy yards confer
upon the officers of the Construction
Corps.
Attorney-General wickersham, whom
the more radical Republicans were
quick to criticize, has been gaining in
favor, with evidences that he is dill
gently after eviIdoers, but that he is
not hunting them with a brass band.
The speeches of the Attorney-G General.
on a few trips out of Washington, have
been received in friendly spirit Altho
he has been an office lawyer, there are
indications that he will prove an eff
fective speaker, and that he is likely
to become one of the Presidents strong
est spokesmen inside the Cabinet. Ear
lier Secretary of War Dickinson was
rather expected to file the premier role
of spokesman, because of his fame as
an effective orator and his big grasp Of
public questions. But the War Depart
ment is restricted in it's Jurisdiction.
and the work that the Attorney General
has to do is probably of more imme-
diate interest to the large masses of the
people.
Secretary of State Knox is averse to
public speaking, while Secretary Dick
inson enjoys it and Attorney-General
Wickersham Is taking to ii with some
enthusiasm. Secretary MacVeagh is
something of crusader. and has been
out on the hustings much in the Middle
West. He has preferred thus far to
devote himself. closely to the work of
his Department, which. on the whole, is
very intricate and difficult to master.
Secretary of the Interior BalIinger is
preparing 20 spend q lot of his time
during the Summer In the West Thus
far he has been heard from but little
His Department handles questions that
are almost entirely Western. and as he
goes back into the West this Summer
he will have much to say about the pol
icies which he is pursuing in the admin
istration of Interior affairs.
The Day We Desecrate.