New-York tribune., 1909-03-25
DEPENDS ON CABINET
MEMBERS MUST ACCOUNT
FOR DEPARTMENTS.
President LeaCes Methods and De
tails to His Aduisers, but Insists
UpOn Results.

Washington March 24.-The President has al
ready taken occasion to make clear to the mem
bers of his Cabinet the general policy OF his ao-
n1fnistratfon with reference to the several de-
partments and their respective heads. He has
told them that he expects each member OF the
Cabinet to assume all responsibility for and eA-
ercise supreme control over his department. ana
that he will hold each head of a department re-
sponsible for its conduct. He has emphasized
the fact that he wants results. and has neither
inclination nor time TO deal with minor details;
that he has chosen the ablest men he could ma
for the several portfolios and that he has fun
confidence in them; that, such being the case
he is more than pleased to leave to them the
methods by which they shall achieve the lmpor-
tant results which he expects Of them.
To he wholly consistent in this policy, Presl-
dent Taft has assured the members OF his ofncldl
family that he will leave them free to select
their assistants without personal political In
fuence from the White House, He has e1-
planned that he realizes It would he unjust TOT
him to hold his Cabinet officers responsible TOT
results. while, for political reasons, he dictated
the men on whose assistance they must rely 10:
the success Of their respective departments ana
while assistant secretaries and similar officers
are presidential officers" the President Will e1-
ercise his prerogative only in appointing men
who are entirely acceptable to the department
heads.
The first instance in which Mr.. Taft put this
noIicv into effect was in the case of the Depart
ment Of Justice when he informed Attorney
General Wickersham that he wished him TO
make the necessary selections for his Depart
mert and that he had full authority 10 drop any
men with whose services he deemed II wise 10
dispense That being purely legal department.
however Mr WiCkersham conferred eNtehslNeIE
with the President about certain OF the more
imDortant Offices with the result that Naue
Ellis was retained as assistant to the Attorney
General and that Lloyd Bowers, OF Chlcago was
chosen for solicitor general
In the Department Of the Interior Secretary
BalinEer received free hand in the choice OF
his gubordinates Almost his first official act
pas ~ dispense with the services OF the at
tornev general Of the department, who is. OF
course an en7plove OF the Department OF Jus
tice but regarding whom the wishes or the Sec
retarv are always consulted if he has pref
erence Secretary BaIlinger now purposes to re-
tain the two assistant secretaries whom ne
found in ofice and the commissioner OF the
general land office He has not yet reacheo
any decision regarding the commissioners o.
pensions and patents.
The effect of tho President = policy IS already
~ ba observed in the several departments
Fscb head is working night and day 10 master
the details of his department, Inspecting th'
several branches and bureaus and famlharlzln E
himself as rapidly as possible with all OF the
machinery. for the smooth working OF which ne
is 10 he held responsible
one effect Of the Presidents policy. once II Is
generally understood and in good working OF
der VIII be 10 save him from the mass or detal
which almost swamps Chief Executive II Hf
will permit it TO do SO Members OF congress
-..rr COON erd that they must deal directly with
,bo daDarrment heads II they wish things ac-
,.,,,,rlishad instead of carrying every request
and every complaint to the White House and
eo TOO with that portion OF the public Whch
has to- deal with federal departments As re-
suit the President hopes to obtain sufficient time
to give to the more important affairs Of the gov
eminent that attention which they demand.