New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-31

'~' eAiiS - d Wise PROVISION, although ne
Is NOT committed to the proposition to place
an oncer or the military establishment at
the head Of the new bureau Representa-
i've Mann, chairman of the committee in
charge OF this bill, does not believe officers
should be detailed TO the work. and the
house bill does not contain the provision
MI Mann suggests that while the employ
ment Of officers as inspectors, etc. in time
Of peace might prove economical. they
would necessarily be withdrawn in time Of
war, and then this important service would
have 70 call on inexperienced men to di-
rect its affairs. Mr.. Nagel ts also of the
opinion that the service should include
some civilians, as its duties are closely re-
lated to the needs of the mercantile
marine. as well as to those of the navy,
this being especially the case on the Great
Lakes and the larger rivers. However, that
is a. detail which Will be decided in confer
ence- As in the case Of the Meyer reor-
ganizauon, Secretary NagePs efforts have
not been unattended by the opposition of
officers Of the military establishment, some
Of whom regard assignment to the Light
house Board as highly desirable. II not a.
sinecure.
H FISH INSURGENT.-Ex-Pre
RooseveIt's letter to Representative Hamil-
ton Fish has again served to emphasize the
desirahility Of some means Of distinguish
ing between the ffty-seven varieties Of in
surgents. Mr. Fish avows that he is heart
and soul an insurgent, but he is so reason
able in his demands and SO loyal in his at
titude toward the Taft administration that
were II not for his emphatic protestations
he would hardly be recognizable as an anti
organization man OF course, Mr. Fish is
opposed to Speaker Cannon, and he has
been an earnest and effective advocate of
the broadening of the House rules. So
has been The Tribune. and Mr.. Cannon re-
CARDS The Tribune as in the insurgent
class Of newspapers: but there are in
surgents who do not It may be an exag-
geration to say that there are hfty-seven
varieties OF insurgents. but there are men
so designated who entertain such extreme
ly divergent views es strikingly to empha-
size the necessity OF much more specific
nomenclature. It Is hardly an exaggera-
ton to say that there is a wider difference
between Mr.. Fish and such men as Sen
ators La Toilette, Dolliver and Cunrins
and Representatives Lenroot, Cary and
Nelson than there is between Mr.. Fish and
Mr. Cannon himself Mr. Fish Is a pro-
gressive Republican, properly speaking He
is an tnsurgent when IL comes to the House
rules, but he is not completely "of the
reservation and devottng his time and en-
ergies to making Democratic campaign
literature, as are some Of those who are
known BY the same political appellation-
Under these circumstances Mr.. Roosevelt 3
letter TO Mr.. Fish is not the startling af-
fair which some Of Mr. F1sh's more radical
colleagues would have the public believe
CARPENTERS SUCCESSOR-The in
dications all point to the selection Of
Charles D. Norton, now Assistant Secre-
tary Of the Treasury. as successor to Fred
Carpenter, secretary to the President Mr..
Norton is business man OF far more than
ordinary ability, who gave up salary OF
$4,000 q year TO come to Washington and
assume his present duties at the behest Of
Secretary MacVeagh- He is q Chicago
man who has filed important berths in
several large insurance companies and has
rendered service Of the highest order and
usefulness in his present position While
not a politician in the ordinary acceptance
of that term, he has taken keen interest
in politics. and has been called in by Presi-
dent Taft on more than one occasion when
some OSnC6LS DOluCSl SltuSl4O4 las SO.~
fronted the Executive AL who have met
Mr.. Norton believe he would make an ad-
nnirable secretary 10 the President, and are
prepared TO congratulate Mr.. Taft on his
selection. Presumably the appointment will
be announced on Tuesday after the Cabi-
net meeting
OFF FOR THE FHILIPPNEs.-Gen
eraI Clarence r. Edwards, chief Of the
Bureau OF Insular Affairs, viii leave here
for the Philippines the last Of June and
will make an extensive inspection Of the
governmental machinery Of the islands
He Will return py way OF Europe. This
trip is taken pursuant to the desire Of the
President 10 maintain the closest rela-
tons between the Insular Bureau and the
Philippine government General Edwards
VIII also look into some financial problems
Of Importance to the Philippines General
Edwards is extremely close to the Presi>
dent, and his inspection Of Philippine af-
fairs will be in point of satisfaction TO
the Executive second only to an inspection
by Mr.. Taft himself. G. g. H