Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-01
Eliot Expected to Decline Am
bassadorship Offer.
NOTIFIES THE PRESIDENT
First Salary Check for New Execu-
tive Delivered.
TAFT MAY VISIT RICHMOND,VA.
North Carolina Judgeship Under
Observation-Disclosures From
Mississippi Make Offer.

Mississippi Make Offer.
DR.. Charles W. Eliot. retiring president
or Harvard University. will not accept
States to Great Britain
President Taft has asked DR.. Eliot not
to give positive refusal at this time. but
TO hold the offer under advisement for
short time. at least. thinking it possible
that he may change his mind.
DR.. Eliot told the President yesterday
that he could not see his way clear to
accept the great honor offered him. but
President Taft insisted that he at least
withhold formal refusal until he could
give the matter further consideration.
It is now known that the only posi-
blilty OF reconsideration Is that Harvard
graduates may influence DR.. Eliot to
change his mind. as their pride in his go
ing to London is strong. DR.. Elliot's rea-
sons for non-acceptance, however, are
sure to prevail in the end. 1t is said. He
pointed out to President Taft yesterday
morning that he is seventy-five years old
that he has been an educator all his life:
that the change of occupation might not
be agreeable to him, in spite of the great
distinction, and that above ALL he had re-
tired from active work at Harvard that
he might have his remaining days to him.
self. taking things easy.
Until President Taft receives a for
NAL refusal from DR.. Eliot and he re-
grets that the outlook is that such a
refusal is positive. he will not cast
about for a successor to Whitelaw
Reid. There is no haste about a selec-
ton. Mr.. Reid. as already stated. will
not leave London for six months and
probably longer.
Hitchcock Talking Patronage.
Postmaster General Hitchcock dis.
cussed number of appointments with
President Taft this morning. He is
the busiest cabinet officer in the ad-
ministration, working night and day
to establish a regular order of patron
age recognition in the southern states.
There is less and less heard each day Of
democrats getting a large share of the
patronage In the south. Under the advice
Of Mr.. Hitchcock the policy of the Presi-
dent is developing as one of clean APP
pointments in the south and intention to
please the people of that section by Civ
ing them postmasters and other oficials
who will not be strongly Objectionable to
them. At the same time. though. exist
ing republican organizations are not to be
overturned and experimental organiza-
skillful political manager to undertake
the handling Of forces working about as
tremendously as was the case at the
tower OF Babylon some years ago.
Mr.. Hitchcock's knowledge OF politics
will be respected by the President. Vari-
Gus stories were recently printed that
John G. Capers. republican national COM
mitteeman from South Carolina, and at
present commissioner Of internal revenue.
would be shorn of his power of recon-
mendations in that state. This turns out
to be inaccurate. Mr.. Capers. it is un-
derstood has recently been asked to make
,11ff Co.
cies in post offices. as he has done in the
past. AS national committeeman he will
continue to be as powerful in the state as
heretofore.
Getting Facts as to Taxation.
President Taft has obtained from
Commissioner Capers, who spent twenty
minutes with him today, a number of
facts concerning the sources of revenue
to the government during the Spanish
American war. Mr.. Capers had prepared
important data showing the income from
stamp taxes. from inheritances and other
special sources at that time. The Presi-
dent, as Is we'll known, thinks that what
ever revenue may be lost by putting tea
and coffee on the free list can easily be
made up by again imposing stamp taxes,
an Inheritance tax and an excise tax
upon the dividends of corporations.
The President continues to discuss the
tariff and the various proposed schedules
with his congressional callers seeking all
the light he can get In all directions.
Not for a Commission.
The President made it plain today that
he does not agree with the National
Manufacturers Association and kindred
bodies in favoring commission to handle
the tariff after the new bill is passed. He
is evidently in sympathy with the position
Of Congress that it will not delegate its
authority to some other body. The Presi-
dent received visit from E. F. Stillman.
chairman of the executive committee of
the Manufacturers Association.
Mr.. Stillman invited the President to at
tend the annual banquet of the associa-
ton. to be held at the Waldorf-Astoria
May 10 at the conclusion of the annual
convention Of the body May IL, Is and 10
In New York. The President said he would
be glad to accept. il possible, but he could
not do SO. Then he referred to the tariff
commission idea. He has stated that he
favors tariff bureau, to be part of one
of the departments in this city, which will
collect data bearing on the tariff for use
by the White House and Congress.
May Go to Richmond in October.
If President Taft is not a western trip
in October he will accept an invitation
to visit the Virginia state fair at Rich
mond, October 4 to 8. The invitation wae
presented today by delegation of Rich
mond citizens. headed by Henry Fairfax.
president of the fair association: A. b.
Williams, vice president; w. r. Meredith,
John S. Bryan. Egbert G. Leigh and ].
L. Anderson. The President said he
would like to go to Richmond. but that
it was possible he would be in the west
in the fall If he did not go west he
thought he would run down to Richmond:
Speaker Cannon, Senator Cullom and
Representative Graft of Illinois talked to
the President today about giving posi-
ton to Fred Smith Of Peoria. Smith
raised more money in Illinois for the re-
publican national committee than any
man in any other state. The Illinois dele
CATION tried to have Mr.. Smith mad
sistant secretary of the Treasury and
later made minister to the Argentine Re-
public They could not land either place.
North Carolina Judgeship.
Three or four North Carolina delega-
tons kept the White House busy today
irving to settle the judgeship in the east
ern part of the state for President Taft.
He remarked that he had more trouble
about this judgeship than any others.
one of the delegations urged the Presi-
dent to name Frank L. Fuller of Durham,
AZ Judge, while still another headed by
ex-Gov. Jarvis, asked that Judge Henry
p. Conner of the state supreme bench
be appointed.
Another delegation urged the nomina-