The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-16
President-Elect Arrives in
Capital and at Once Sees
Pittsburg Man.
ALSO HEARS REPORT
ON PANAMA CANAL
Goes TO White House to Discuss
Work With President.
Has a Busy Day.

'1A~~AlL- 49, oit, WHO ICdNllEu
Washington early this morning to
hold a number Of conferences with
President Roosevelt and other Off
Gals, today finally put at rest the
report that Senator Philander &
Knox would decline the Office Of
Secretary Of State because of the
question of eligibility which had
been raised.
Mr.. Knox viii be the premier of
the next Cabinet, according to the
authoritative statement made TODAY
by Mt. Taft which followed a con-
ference between the Senator and the
PreSident-eIect.
During the morning, Mr.. Taft also
had conferences al The residence of
w. j. Boardman. 1901 p street north
vest, where he is stopping during his
Two days stay in the city, with Senator
Lodse, chief Forester Clifford Pinchot.
capt. Archibald Butt, and the members
OF the board of cons suIting engineers
who accompanied hhl on his recent
"Trip To Panama.
The President-eIect received the final
report Of the engineers at o'clock. and
Immediately went To the White House
10 lay the same before President Roose-
Welt. II probably viii be made public
at the White House tonight.
Gives Out Statement.
Referring to the peculiar conditions
which had arisen possibly affecting
M knoX's eligibility for a Cabinet no.
sItion, because the emolument Of the
oInce Of Secretary o. State had been
increased during his .erm as sena-
tor, Mr.. Taft said:
ITO tel the truth, tlat was not the
matter mainly discussed by us today.
1 didn't know that there was any doubt
OF MT KnoS's serving. All have 10
say Is that I rendered him the place
Or secretary Of State. that he has ac-
ceptel. ana that nothing has occur
req 10 auecr the relations between. us'f
EFoFioBS 70 this, EF- Taft had been
informed that there y as an impression
aLl.t ar 37I a. l4dL Mr., Knox might not ac-
CepL tae place. because of the ODbosi-
ton which developed in the House yes
lerday 70 the enabling act which by a
IspeaI or the Increase OF the salary Of
the constitutional disqualification OF the
senator from Pennsylvania
%, 90 not Ike to put Mr. Knox IN
the position Of Ignoring the constitu-
Lohal knowledge eXpounded on the
House floor. but he win be in the
Cabinet" said Mr. Taft IaughinsIv. as
see the section Of the Constitution.
II IS intended only TO prevent q man
receiving actual benefit from an offCp
which is created or the emoluments of
which are increased during his term
OF service in Congress.
Evil Is Remedied.
by the action taken. the evil has
been remedled, and the end desired by
the Constitution has been obtained"
Mr.. Taft said there had been nothing
of public interest in the other confer
ences held by him during the morning.
He said further thSy ne would PROB
ably see President Roosevelt several
times before leaving Washington for
Cincinnati tomorrow afternoon at
O'Clock. Mr.. Taft discussed good ma
turcdly his recent trip through the
South, and recalled many OF the anus
ing incidents connected with the i'm
pOrtuniIies of local committees and CtH-
ers who insisted upon doing him honor.
'I tell yOu, thaE trip from New or
leans 10 Birmingham reminded ne OF
campaign days. he said. ''The people
turned out all along the route, and
-
II must have ridden seven miles along
the streets ln New Orleans, didn't Z
boysG' asked Judge TaIC turning 10 a
couple of newspaper men who had ac-
compaulcd him ON his trip.
Fixed for Receiving.
Down there, you know, they are fixed
for receiving, and for seeing and for
being seen. Long poTches are stretched
along the streets, and they are crowded
with people
'I can only repeat what have said
about the canal j was most Erauued
at the progress being made, and even a
laymen can so over the ground and see
the wonderful results being accomplish
ed Even Mrs. Taft took notice of It,.
and entered into the spirit OF doing
things which is prevalent on the zone
Meets Workmen.
"I shook hands with thousands of the
workmen. comprising the steam shovel
meu-you know 7 am a member of a
steam shoyeImens 8 union u0w," he iu-
rerierted IauEhlugly-'' 'Dr1kemeu, en-
gineeTs dreGgmen. end others. and
nearly every one OF the hrawny fellows
said, we are going To build the canal.
Judge, You take care of the washing
ton end. and Wen make good down
here
''That is the spirit that is abroad ON
the isthmus You can't so there with
Out entering into it. Tt is i8vigoratiug-
II IS just in the air.
The report of the cnSIneers which
NIr Taft viii submit TO President Roosa-
Welt this afternoon, IL Is understood. p
one most favorable 20 the manner i'm
which the canal work is progressing, to
its administration, and 10 zone con
GiJOus generally.
The engineers. h IS said. coincide with
Mr. TAFT I'm his view that the lock canal
Seaboard Florida Limited.
EIarn snrr-a.L nIrInL-ast