The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-06
Cabinet Selections Are Con- frned By Senate With-
 out Objection
HUNDREDS OF VISITORS
 GATHER AT WHITE HOUSE
Messages of ConeratuIation Are Re- ceived From Cuban Officials-Gov- ernors of New York and Yer
 mont Give Invitation.

Washington, March 5.-The Taft admin istration took its first stride today. The new President named his cabinet the senate confirmed his selections and it's members will take the oath of office to- morrow morning with the exception of George ". Wickershaw, who was sworn in as Attorney General today and of Messrs. Dickinson and McVeagh whose personal affairs will not permit of their reaching Washington for a week or more. An important conference took place between President Taft and the repub- lican members of the ways and means committee. The committee framed tariff bill which it is understood contains a provision for the collection of an inheri- tance tax-one of the suggestions for raising revenue contained in the inaugural address of President Taft. MT. Taft told the committee there would be no delay in the official proclamation calling the extra session of Congress for March 15. His message to this session he said would recommend that it conf1ne its work ex- cusively to tariff revision that there might be no unnecessary delay in enact- ing this most important legislation. He would, he said, not discuss in his mes sage any details of tariff revision leav ing all such matters entirely to the judg-. ment of Congress. The members of the committee left the White House ex- pressing the utmost good feeling and the belief that the work of the extra session would be completed before June l.
 Seeing Friends.
 Aside from these important accomplish ments President Taft gave himself up heartily to the demands of his friends and thousands of inaugural visitors who wished to shake his hand, see his smile and get a word to carry home with them Philander c. Knox had the honor of being the first caller upon President Taft who took his seat at the desk abandoned yesterday by President Roosevelt in the White House office building, at precisely B30 o'clock this morning. 15-minute in terview, MT. Knox said, had it's import ance, but not for publication. He was rejoicing that since noon yesterday, when his resignation as a senator became eff fective he was simply a private citizen His rejoicing, however, was brief, for before the day was much older he had been nominated and confirmed as Secre- tary of State.
 Governor Hughes of New York, Govern or Prouty of Vermont, and the senators and many of the representatives from those states, next had the ear of Presi- dent Taft and gained his consent to at tend the celebration July ' and next of the discovery of Lake Champlain, at Plattsburgh and Burlington. Senator Root is to be the principal speaker at the former place.
 Cuba Sends Message.
 The congratulation and good wish les of Cuba were extended to President Taft from President Gomez Vice Pres 1dent Zayas and number of prominent Cuban officials and politicians in the form of memorial presented by Gen. Demetrio Castillo Duany, who came to the United States for that purpose.
 The reviewing stand for the inau- gural parade was again occupied by President Taft this morning when he took his place there to do honor to the 'crack" Seventh regiment. New York infantry. From the stand which Is directly in front of the White House. he returned to the east room, where he received with their staffs the governors of New York Rh ode Island Vermont, New Jersey Illinois and Missouri. The Blaine club of Cincinnati with their white silk hats followed and got a pleasant word; the Columbus Glee club sang the Star Spangled Banner" with such effectiveness as to elicit the ex- clamation from the President that this was the first time he had ever heard that difficult song rendered entirely to his liking. Troop of the Black Horse cavalry of Cleveland, which acted as escort of honor yesterday, clanked through the big east room. An immense delegation from North Caro- lima followed and the Citizens Taft club of Cincinnati received many warm words of welcome. And then, too the public availed itself of the handshak- ing matinee which kept the big man sion in a state of throng and animation throughout the day.
 At Office Building.
 The office building was not without its demands on MT. Taft, and he found time to step over there frequently and meet the members of both houses of Congress and their families which they brought with them.
 Fred w. Carpenter took the oath of office as Secretary to the President t o'clock along with Col. William Crooks of the White House executive force, who is notary.
 President Taft signed MT. Carpenter's S commission today. Wendall w. Mischler who has been MT. Taft's assistant sec retary and stenographer, was made one of Mr. Carpenters assistants taking the place made vacant by the transfer of Assistant Secretary Latta to the position of executive clerk. T. M. Hendricks of MT. Taft's clerical force. was given a clerkship and William Pannell who for years has been MT. Tafts messenger in the war depart ment, was assigned to duty on MT. Carpenters door.
 Late in the afternoon MT. Taft found \ time to go out for brisk walk with \ his brother, Henry W. Taft of New \ York. The several clements of the Taft family now in Washington were