Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-08
IN WORKING ORDER.
Seven of Nine Cabinet Officers Have
Been Sworn In.

Washington. March All but two
of the nine members OF President
Taft's cabinet are now in office. Six
including Secretaries Knox. Meyer.
Wilson, Nagel and Ballinger and Post
master General Hitchcock, took the
oath of office in the cabinet room Sat
urday. Attorney General Wickersham
was sworn in Friday and Secretary
Dickerson will present himself for
duty Senator Franklin McVeagh is
expected to reach Washington Sunday
and the trcasurerS department will be
turned over to him Monday.
President Taft Saturday issued d
proclamation calling Congress in ex-
tlaordinary session March Is. While
there was nothing in the cal which
hntcd ut the purpose of the session.
its object has heretofore been stated
to be to rcvis" the tariff and transact
no other business. The weather ca
lamity which overlook the national
capital on Inauguration day. however,
has created such a genera! public de-
mand for a change of date for the IN
auSuration that the prediction of con-
gressional action on this question
seems to be general
The continued existence of the ia
tional conservation commission seems
to be assured. Notwithstanding the
action Of Congress which has been in
tcrpreted to discourage the continu-
arce of this body. President TAFT Sat
urday conferred with the joint com
mittcc Of representatives of the ma
t!onai and state bodies of this organ
ization with the result that While no
official statement was issued. the IN
formation was impaired that the
work would go on The precise question
at issue is explained to be that Con-
grcss has prohibited any national eX-
pense being incurred for the commits
sion. The position of the executive Is
said TO be that the commission was
appointed by President Roosevelt as {,
consulting body on the que stiOn of the
conservation of the natural resources
CT the country and that the states in
dcated their Willingness for cooper
alton by appointing consulting com
mittecs. That such an arrangement
can be carried on without congress
sional approval and without federal
expense. seems to be the decision
| reached.
President Taft's second day at the
WI bite House, like the first was one
of Misunderstanding ard glad words. Th"
demands upon his time in the famous
| East room were constant.
Delegation after delegation was re-
ceived. His methods in the art OF
"mixing" were demonstrated tt he diff
ferent from those of President Roosf-
vcit. Mr.. Taft takes more time thar
tn ,,ly
ouaintancc of his callers and insists
on Knowing not only their full names.
but their residence and matters oi
family history. The result is SAID 10
be that it requires as much TINE LOT
him 20 meet 10 men as 1T did Tor MI
Roosevelt to greet and shake the hands
of hundred.
The ceremony OF administering the
oath of Office ITO the six members OF
| the Taft cabinet who presented them
selves at the White House Saturday
was witnessed by President TAFT. MS
secre tary. Fred w. Carpenter. Richard
Harlan, son of Supreme Court Justic"
Harlan, and John Barrett. director OF
the bureau of American republics.
The oath was administered by Chief
Justice Fuller of the supreme court OF
the United States. The incident re-
called to the rev President. the Incl
dent of his own oath at the inaugura-
ton. The chief justice in reading the
OATH obligated MIR. Taft Ito faithfully
execute thc Constitution" instead of
the Office Of President" This slip has
r-cn Il subject of pleasantly between
Mr. Taft and his secretary Of state.
who it is said. remarked at the time
in an undertonc to Mr. Taft don't do
H." The incident. however, is consd-
cred sufficiently binding.
Mr. Taft had his conference as Pres
i0ent with the corps of Washington
newspaper correspondents at the close
OF the day. He greeted the score or
more of men personally and explained
that in fairness to himself. it wouil
he Ills policy not to have quotation
marks embrace statements of news;
| which might be given out at the White
House When he desired to make Il
formal statement. he said. it would he
addressed to Congress or in speech
This policy is a continuation of that
which has heretofore prevailed.
Mr.. Taft would give no expression
4 r.