New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-03-06
PRESIDENT TAFT
GETS IN HARNESS
EARLY At DESK-LOEB TO
SUCCEED FOWLER.
Conference on Tariff ReUisioH-BiD
SAID to Contain Inheritance
Tar Precision.
Tar PrOUiSiOH.
IFrom The Tribune Bursaa-I

Washington. March 5.-President Taft took Up
the duties of his office promptly at $50 o'clock
this morning He named his Cabinet. the SEN
ate confirmed his selections. and its members
viii take the oath of office tomorrow morning.
with the exception Of George w Wickersham.
who was sworn in as Attorney General to-day.
and of Messrs Dickinson and MacVeagh. whose
personal affairs will not permit of their reaching
Washington for a week or more Mr. Taft
named William Loeb. jr.. to be Collector OF tho
Port of New York replacing Colonel Fowler, but
the Senate did not confirm him.
During the day the President broke all rec
ords for rapid fire handshaking- Between and
o'clock he met and greeted fully 4.5OO persons
He shook hands at the rate OF twenty-five a
minute He devoted some time to crowd from
Cincinnati. chiefly members Of the Blaine and
Citizens Taft club and friends
Among the most important callers were Cow
ernor Hughes and Governor Prouty OF Vermont.
accompanied by Senator's Root. Depew and Dill
bingham and Representative Foster, who invited
the President 70 attend the Booth anniversary
celebration Of the discovery of Lake ChampIain.
He accepted. and will go to Plattsburg on Oc-
tober g. or to Burlington the day following
The Senate notification COMMITTEES called to
say that the Senate was ready to receive COM
munications. Ex-senator Knox was the first
Hitchcock called during the forenoon
Mr. Knox was with the President for fifteen
minutes. but said what transplred was not for
publication
Senator's kean. Of New Jersey; CulIorn OF
Illinois; Beveridge, Of Indiana and WetmOre. OF
Rhode Island; Surgeon General Rixey Of the
navy. and Senator Dick and Representatives
Longworth. Kennedy, Cole. GoebeL Douglas and
Keifer of Ohio, were other callers
The Republican members Of the Way7 and
Means Committee called TO confer on tariff re-
vision. The committee has framed a tariff bill
which it is understood contains a provision for
the collection Of an inheritance tax, one Of the
methods suggested for raising revenue con-
tained in the inaugural address of the Presi-
dent. He told the committee there would be no
delay in the official proclamation calling the
extra session Of Congress for March -. His
message to this session. he said would recon-
mend that it confine its work exclusively to
tariff revision. that there might be no unneces-
sary delay in enacting this most important law.
He would he stated, not discuss in his
sage any details OF tariff revision. leaving all
such matters estfreIy to the Judgment OF Con-
gress- The members Of the committee left the
White House expressing the utmost good feel
ing and the belief that the work Of the extra
session would be completed before June l.
Aside from these important accomplishments
President Taft gave himself up heartily to the
demands of his friends and thousands Of inau-
gural visitors who wished TO shake his hand,
him smile and get a word TO carry home with
them
After reviewing the 7th Regiment he returned
to the East Room. where he received. with their
staffs. the Governors of New York. Rhode Island,
Vermont, New Jersey, Illinois and Missouri The
Blaine Club. of Cincinnati with their white silk
hats, followed, and got pleasant word. and the
Columbus GIee Club sang The star Spangled
Banner" with such effectiveness as to elicit the
exclamation from the President that this was
the first time he had ever heard that difficult
song rendered entirely TO his liking Troop A.
of the Black Horse Cavalry. of Cleveland. which
acted as guard of honor yesterday. clanked
through the big East Room An immense dele
CATION from North Carolina followed, and the
Citizens Taft Club Of Cincinnati. received many
warm words of welcome And then. too. the
public avaiIed itself Of the handshaking matinee.
which kept the big mansion in a state OF anima-
tion throughout the day
Fred W Carpenter took the oath Of Office as
secretary 20 the President to-day.
Late in the afternoon Mr.. Taft found time to
go out for brisk walk with his brother. Henry
w Taft of New York The members Of the
Taft family now in Washington were dinner
guests tonight at the White House