The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-10-06
ASSIGN FOR
INSPECTION
Rather One Of Recent
Growth Among the Nation
al Officials.

Washington. Oct. 6.-Flylng south
ing in the capital, government Off
cials arc returning to the scene OF
their labor. President Taft will not
leave Beverly for the White House
until October 1s and others will no.
return until about that time but a
number have come i'm from their va
cations and inspection trips. Bronzed,
erect and cheerful they seem to have
Jared well, whether absence was due
to desire to seek rest or the prose-
cution of official business.
The passion for inspection, like
typhoid fever, Is almost entirely n
summer disease in Washington. When
the thermometer mounts to the hum
dred mark and the asphalt pave
ments on Pennsylvania avenue begin
to grow mushy under foot, those who
held down the padded chairs behind
the mahogany desks in the executive
department begin to waken to the ne
cessity of going off somewhere to do
some inspecting.
1t has been growing habit for a
number of years, 1t is said to be a
good thing for the men who go to
see something of their official domin-
Ions. But 1t was not so in George
Washington's time, nor in Grover
Cleveland's for that matter. Wash.
ington had a home down the river
within easy distance of this city at
Mount Vernon. Cleveland mad
summer place Just on the outskirts
OF the city which has given the
name Cleveland Park to one OF the
capitals suburbs. or late presidents
have been obliged to HE off to sum-
mer resorts and smaller officials, at
the same time, can very conveniently
find 1t necessary to inspect.
Former Secretary of the Navy New
berry, who stuck to his desk. grimly
observed once that 1t seemed to be
matter of tradition that the navy
yards In the vicinity of New Orleans
and Florida needed inspection in the
winter time and the yards and sta
tions at Newport and Portsmouth had
to be looked after I'm the summer. The
same rule holds for the ordinary in
spection trip. Canada, Alaska and
the cooler regions are the favorite
hunting grounds for inspectors and
occasionally there is necessity for
making hurried trip to Europe to
see how things are being done on the
other side.
Secretary of the Navy Meyer Is go
ing TO inspect the naval stations from
New York to Puget Sound and Cuba.
Secretary Dickinson who has already
dohe the Philippines and China, is
now coming home with General Ed
wards, chief Of the insular bureau. by
way OF Siberia and will stop at Berlin
ana some other places to CLEAN bits of
military wisdom in passing.
Secretary Nagel and Attorney Gen
eral Wtckersham have gone through
the ardous duty of inspecting tho
muddled affairs in Alaska, at the di-
rection of President Taft.
Assistant Secretary of War Oliver
round 1t necessary to inspect some of
the forts In New Mexico. incidentally
ne saw the snake dances and a few
othcr sights of the Southwest. As
slstant Secretary of the Navy Win
throp, who has been one of the few
nigh RANKING officials to stay In WASH
lngton most Of the summer, has oc-
Oasiohal iits of the inspection fever.
In the state department there has
also been some desultory summer in.
specting' Secretary Knox has kept
10 the sylvan quiet of his farm at
valley Forge. Occasionally 1t has
been necessary for officials to run up
to communicate with him and discuss
anairs of the moment Director Gem
erai Carr OF the consular service made
a trip to Canada to see some of the
consular posts, The head of the
bureau of trade relations, j. B. os-
borne went to London and other
places IN an official capacity.
Rear Admiral Reggie" Nicholson
chiet OF the bureau of navigation OF
the navy department, short time ago
went to San Francisco to inspect the
yard at Mare Island. other rear adj
mira's also have found It necessary