The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-03-07
CALLED BY PRESIDENT TO MEET
MARCH 15-WILL CONSIDER
TARIFF.
EXECUTIVE A GOOD MIXER
Nearly All Members of New Official
Family Are Now in Office-Continu
ed Existence of Conservation Com
nittee Seems Assured-Taft Gives
Much Time to Callers.

WASf11NkT1ON, MARCH, O.-fAlI Dut
two Of the nine members of President
Taft's cabinet are now in office. Six
including Secretaries Knox, Meyer,
Ballinger, Wilson and Nagel, and Post
master General Hitchcock, took the
oath of office in the cabinet room to-
day Attorney General Wickersham
was sworn in yesterday and Secretary
Dickinson and Secretary MacVeagh
will present themselves for duty within
a week or so.
1t was announced today that Secre-
tarv COrtelyou would remain at the
head of the treasury department until
March IS.
President Taft issued a proclamation
calling congress in extraordinary ses-
sion March Is. While there was moth
ing in the call which hinted as to the
purpose of the session. its object has
heretofore been stated to be to revise
the tariff and transact no other busi-
ness. The weather calamity which
overlook the national capitol on in
auguration day. however, has created
such a general public demand for a
change of date for the inauguration
that the prediction of congressional
action on this seems to be general.
Committee Existence Assured.
The continued existence of the ma
tional conservation committee seems
to he assured Notwithstanding the
action of congress. which has been in
terpreted to discourage the cOntinu-
ance of that body President Ta1t
conferred today with the JOINT commit
tee of representatives of the natlonal
and state bodies of this organization.
The position of the executive Is sald
to he that the committee was appoint
ID
suIting body on the question of con-
servatiOn of the natural resources OF
the country, and that the states IN
dicated their Willingness for cooper
alton by appointing consulting COM
mittees That such an arrangement
can be carried on without congress
sional approval and without federal eX-
pnnse seems to be the decision reached
Handshakinq and Glad Words.
President Taft's second day at the
White House was one of handshaklne
and clad words. Delegation after dele
gation was received. His methods IL
the art of mixing" were demonstrated
to he d;eferert from those of President
Roosevelt. Mr.. Taft takes more time
than did his predecessor in maklne
tho ocouaintarce of his callers, ano
insists on knowing not only their ful
names. but their residence and mat
ters of family history. The result Il
said to be that it requires as mucl
time for him to meet 10 men as II
did for Mr. Roosevelt to greet loo.
The ceremony Of administering the
oath of office to the six members %
the Taft cabinet who presented them-
selves at the White House TO-DAY
which was performed by Chief Justlct
Fuller was witnessed by Presldeh
Taft. The incident recalled 10 th'
new president the incident of his owl
oath at the Inauguration. The cnle
iustice in reading the oath, obligated
Nv Taft "to faithfully execute th'
constitution instead of the office o
PRESIDENT. This slip has been SUP
iect of pleasantly between Mr.. Ia!
and his secretary of state, VINO II
said remarked at the time in an unuer
tone to Mr.. Taft. Don't do It,
The oath however, is considered
sufficiently binding.
Holds First Conference.
Mr.. Taft had his first coIlle[eII
as president with the corps OF WASH
ington newspaper correspondents
the close &C the day. He greeted tn
score or more of men personally am
stated that in fairness to hlmseii
would be his policy that quotation
marks SlOOlQ not SIllbI SiNO
of news which might be given out
the White House. When ne desire.
TO make a formal statement, IT Woulo
he said. be addressed to congress o
be embodied in a speech. Thls poilc.
is continuation of that which ma
therefore, prevailed. it being CONSIDERS
the prerogative Of the president not u
he quoted in the public prints In an.
case except in formal statement
Secretary Cortelyou announced 10
night that he expected his successor
Franklin MacKeagh. to reach WASH
ington some time Sunday and that III
treasury portfolio would be transferre'
to him on Monday next.
The first move in the reorganlZatioi
of the department of justice, neNt L
the substitution by President TaIt 0
George w. Wickersham for Charles j
Bonaparte as attorney general, Wa
the promotion of Henry c. Gauss iron
private secretary to the attorney gen
eral. to be special assistant to the al
torney general for litigation SUITS
real estate titles in the district
Columbia. Mr. Gauss has already De
pun the discharge of his duties.