The National tribune., 1909-02-04
The NAVY DEPARTMENT
CONTINUED from page one.)

affairs, altho it is not expected to go
very deeply into the matter at present,
because of the limited time at its dis
posal at this session of Congress. The
authorization is intended more as
buffer to the Presidents proposed COM
mission to investigate the Department
and to make recommendations for re-
organization.
The President has already summoned
his commission, and its members are
| to try to outline new administrative
plans. In the meantime Secretary New
berry will keep hard at it, showing the
country what he can do toward giving
a better and more economical admins
| tration of the dozen or more OF navy
yards and Navy stations on both coasts.
He is a very earnest and very thoro
man, and the opinion seems to be that
he is doing very important work. In
each Of the navy yards heretofore the
different Bureaus have virtually had
| little section all by themselves. The
Bureau of Ordnance had its ordnance
! officers at the various yards, and these
officers were looking to Washington for
authority and direction. Ditto the Bu-
reau of Steam Engineering. the Bureau
Of Construction and Repair and so on.
There has been little coordination of
work and a vast amount of waste. 1t
has been asserted that thf- lack of
economy has been costing the Govern
ment many millions of dollars annually,
which probably is not v,ry extrava-
| CANT statement
Mr.. Newberry's friends have been
making long pull and strong pull
| to have him retained in the Cabinet
for the next Administration, but ap-
parently to no purpose. For reasons
sufficient to himself President-elect
Taft has decided upon Postmaster Geo.
Won L. Meyer for that place. 1t has
already been semi officially announced.
President. Roosevelt has talked con-
siderably III the last few days about
the future %? the Panama Canal. He
seems to exncct that Mr.. Taft. now on
the Isthmus, is likely to decide that a
| sea-level canal is preferable to the lock
project which Congress decided upon
couple of years ago, chiefly at his
instigation.
II was anxious that the canal should
be completed quickly" the President
said In substance to a visitor the othe,
day during a rather contemplative
mood. But if the people want to wait
for the opening of the canal and pay
twice as much as canal with locks
would cost that is their privilege. I am
now going out of office, and my view
of things is changing, perhaps. The
canal is Mr.. Taft's problem from now
on, not mine"
1t is current gossip in Washington
that the President selected to go to the
Isthmus with Mr.. Taft engineers who
would strongly advise the construction
of a lock canal. AS the story runs,
the President had intimations that Mr..
Taft was inclined to favor a sea-level
project, and hoped by the influence of
distinguished engineers to dissuade him
from recommending it.
Furthermore, the story goes that Mr.
Taft comprehended fully the Presi-
dpnf'G in ha ap
Sineers. but that he rather welcomed
the company of advocates of the lock
canal. He wanted to learn from them
during the visit to the 1sthmus reasons
in full regarding that form of project,
and determine whether he was war
ranted in urging the sweeping change
involved.
Differences Between Taft and Roose-
velt.
This representation of convictions
held by the two men-which is prob
ably true in essentials, altho known
here mostly thru the channels of eos-
sip-is being cited as evidence of bar
riers that, it is claimed. are rising be-
tween the two men. 1t does not mean
that they have quarreled or are likely
to quarrel. But Mr.. Taft. as visitors
from the South have recently been nu-
Ing, Is making u. his mind about nu-
merous matters affecting the conduct
of his Administration. When he once
forms his opinions Mr.. Taft is very
tenacious of them. Those who have
visited him recently say he Is not only
becoming more Independent, but also
more cautious, as might be expected
Of one who finds himself approaching
the great responsibilities of the Presi-
dency.
Altho he knows, as does the country,
that he put away denomination which
could have been his without the asking
and which in all probability would have
been as good as a reelection. President
Roosevelt does not altogether enjoy the
contemplation of retirement to private
life. He did not altogether relish Mr.
Tafts failure to honor his request in
behalf of Mr.. Loeb. The President has
not been particularly sensitive about
it, altho the realization that Mr. Taft
was not to bring Mr.. Loeb to his Cab
met table was rather new sensation