The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-03-07
PRESIDENT TAFT WRITES PRO-
cLAMATloN coNvENlNG CON.
GRESS ON MARCH IS.
TARIFF MAY Be REVISED
Proposition to Change Date of inausu-
ration May Also be Considered-All
but Two Cabinet Members 7 AXE
Oath of Office-N atona Conserva-

Washington, March 6.-All but two
of the nine members of President
Tafts 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 with
in a week or so.
1t was announced today that Sec
retary Cortelyou would remain at the
head of the treasury department until
Monday next.
President Taft issued proclamation
calling congress in extraordinary ses-
sion March Is. While there was moth
ing in the call which hinted at 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 capital 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 ac-
ton on this seems to be general,
The continued existence of the ma
tional conservation committee seems
to be assured, Notwithstanding the ac-
tion of congress, which has been in
terpreted to discourage the continuance
of that body. President Taft conferred
today with the joint committee of rep
resentatives of the national and state
bodies of the organization. The posi-
tion of the executive is said to be that
the committee was appointed by
President Roosevelt as a consulting
body on the question of conservation of
the natural resources of the country,
and that the states indicated their
willingness for cooperation by ap-
pointing consulting committees. That
such an arrangement can be carried
on without congressional approval and
without federal expense seems to be
the decision reached.
Glad Words.
President Tafts second day at the
White House was one of handshaking
and glad words. Delegation after del
egation was received. His methods in
the art of mixing" were demonstrate
dent Roosevelt. Mr.. Taft takes more
time than did his predecessor in max
ing the acquaintance of his callers
and insists on knowing not only their
full names, but their residence and
matters of family history. The result
is said to be that it requires as much
time for him to meet 10 men as it
did for Mr.. Roosevelt to meet 100.
rLa pf oI ipic icfa tho
oath of office to the six members of
the Taft cabinet who presented them
selves at the White House today,
which was performed by Chief Justice
Fuller was witnessed by President
Taft The incident recalled to the new
president the incident of his own oath
at the inauguration. The chief JUS
tice, in reading the oath, obligated
Mr. Taft "to faithfully execute the
constitution" instead of "the office of
president" This slip has been sub
ject of pleasantly between Mr.. Taft
and his secretary of state, who, it is
said, remarked at the time in an un-
dertone to Mr.. Taft, Don't do it,"
Considered Binding.
The oath, however, is considered
sufficiently binding.
Mr. Taft had his first conference as
president with the corps of Washing
ton newspaper correspondents at the
close of the day, He greeted the score
or more Of men personally and stated
that in fairness to himself 1T would
be his policy to see that quotation
marks should not embrace statements
of news which might be given out at
the White House. When he desired to
make a formal statement, it would,
he said, be addressed to congress or
be embodied in speech. This policy
is a continuation of that which has
heretofore prevailed it being consid-
cred the prerogatve of the president
not to be quoted in the public prints
in any case except in formal state
ment.
Secretary Cortelyou announced to-
night that he expected his successor,
Franklin MacVeagh, to reach Wash
ington some time Sunday and that the
treasury portfolio would be transfer
red to him on Monday next.