Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-17
HAS CONFERENCE WITH ROOSEVELT
President Today viii Transmit to
Congress Engineers Report endors-
ino Present Canal Proeedure--oe-
neanor Toward TAFT convinees On
lockers that Two Statesmen Agree.
INV Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON. ID. C., Fep. 16.--
In the opinion of President-elect Tart.
Philander &. Knox Is now legally ell
gibe to receive the appointment or
secretary OF state. That he Will t@
The premier in the Taft cabinet was
again positively stated by MIR. Taft
tonight ut the White House. the state
ment being made after two confer
cnres today between the President
elect and Mr.. Knox.
Mr.. TAFT went further and gave
il as his opinion that no court could
entertain an action based upon the
constitutiOnality OF Mr.. Knox's COM
ing appointment for the reason that
that the first question That would
arise in such a proceeding would be
whether Mr. Knox was a de facto
official of the government.
This question. he maintained.
would have to be answered In the
affirmative, and there the proceeding
would end.
That MIR. Knox shares these views
was made evidently Mr.. Taft In the
unequivocal declaration that the Penn
sylvania was to be his secretary OF
state.
Al Satisfactorily Settled. 4
With this question finally disposed
of and settled, with the unanimous
reporf of the hoard eof the, eAganeecs'
endorsing the present procedure In
the construction of the Panama ca
nal In the hands Of President Roose-
welt TO be transmitted to congress To-
morrow with q message Of endorse
ment by him, and with a demonstra-
tive scene of c0rdiality towards him
self by Presiden: Roosevelt. Mr.. TAFT
concluded a very busy day and de-
| clared that he was going to bed very
early.
He saw many people at the Board
!! man residence. where he and Mrs.
Taft are guests, during the day. but
stated that the calls were of minor
importance.
Tonight when he emerged from the
Presidents office, having ended two
hour conference with the President
participated in by the board of en-
gineers. he stepped in the outer OF.
flee and was discussing the canal
report. which he was pleased TO say
! was unanimous and had stated his
! position regarding Mr.. knoxs ap-
pointment to q gathering OF newspa-
per correspondents. when President
Roosevelt. dressed for his evening
walk. came out. ..,
He stood for moment unobseryeo
Int with an expression Of pieasursbie
| enjoyment on his face. as the quees
tions were being hurled at the Pres,
dent-elect.
Wants Kinks Taken Out.
81 would lust like to see you take
a few kinks out Of him." he remarked
TO the correspondents. smiling as ne
advanced and took hold OF the lapel
OF Mr.. Taft's coat. This does me
good" Then addressing Mr.. TAM,
the President inquired: Am l going
to see you tomorrow. WIZ"
There were a few questions" NE.
Tai; admitted he would like to TAX
over at the White House in the morn
| ing. and an engagement was MADE
Then the President slipped his arm
! through that OF the big Ohioan ana
led him down the steps OF the execu.
tive offices. and the two conyesse1
! for some minutes. after which UT:
| Taft stepped in his automob'se. ana
the President started for hts walk
| Believed To ee Friends.
The jocuIar .emarKs Of the Presi-
dent and his hearty cordially in I'D
dressing Mr.. Tai: as VIII LETT no
doub; in the minds Of the observers
that to all appearances there exists
the heartisst accord and good TEL
Iowship between the incoming ana
the outgoin~ Presidents.
\ No Developments whatever haa
taken place regarding his cabinet TO
day. said Mr.. Taft. He regarded hts
;mpor;ant accomplishments, the set
| tIemcnt OF the knox situation. and
the completion Of the canal report
In accordance With . request to the
board Of engineers they are TO maze
a supplemental report later to Colon
81 Gocthsis. which will deal with
' number Of questions such ss the
amount Of cement TO be used IN va
rious lock construction. the lock ma
cbinery and other such mstters-
u was stated upon authority thee
President Roosevelt heartily approves
I the report.
Mrs. Taft will take IN early train
70. New York Tomorrow. and IT.
Taft viii leave in the afternoon roc
Cincinnati