Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-06
NORTON STARTS IN
New Secretary to President
Assumes Duties.
FORGETS TO TAKE OATH
Formality Is Gone Through With
Later in the Day.
NO CHANGES ARE EXPECTED
Representative Hayes Confident
That the House Will Pass Postal
Savings Banks Bill.

Charles p. Norton, President Taft's
new secretary, broke one tradition to-
day. He put in a hard days work in
the executive offices without taking
the oath Of office. Mr.. Norton got SO
busy looking after the affairs Of the
President and in receiving friends who
wanted to congratulate him and wish
him we'll that he forgot the fOrmality
of taking the oath. one usually dear
to the officeholder's heart. 1t was not
until late in the afternoon he found
time to swear to the usual form for a
federal employe.
Mr.. Norton went to the White House
shortly after O'Clock, accompanied by
Senator Crane of Massachusetts,, one of
his close friends. The President himself
entered the executive offices few min
utes after Mr.. Norton had greeted As
sistant Secretary Forster. and the new
secretary to the President conferred for
some time with his chief Mr.. Norton's
desk was graced by beautiful bouquet
of American beauty roses sent by ad-
miring friends, anu he found also a large
number of messages from others await
ing him.
Mr.. Norton's first set-to with news
paper men came before noon and the
veraict was that he acquitted himself In
great shape. The representatives of the
press found him frank and open on all
QucStiOuS ItdI COuIO De OlSCuSScO.
Few Changes Likely.
Mr.. Norton has made no changes in
the White House force and there is doubt
whether he will do so for some time, If
at all. Assistant Secretary Forster. who
has done most of the stenographic work
for President Taft, will remain where he
is for the present, at least. Mr.. Norton
will spend more time in the Presidents
offices than any other secretary has done
before him.
coming of the new official will be without
friction in any direction. a recent news
paper story stated that no secretary to
the President will get along well as long
as Capt. A. w. Butt, the Presidents mill
tary aid, continues to remain in such
| close confidential relations with the chief
executive. This story has in no way
bothered either Mr.. Norton or Capt Butt
Their duties at the White House do not
conflict in any manner Capt Butt con-
fining himself to the duties that belong
to military aid and keeping hands off
all political questions, patronage matters
or subjects belonging to secretary.
There was no Ill feeling between him and
Fred Carpenter, the retiring secretary,
the two being fast friends. The lines be-
tween them were clearly drawn and
thoroughly recognized by each.
Confident of Postal Bill.
Representative Hayes Of California
conferred with President Taft today
about the postal savings banks bill. Mr.
Hayes. on leaving the White House, as
serted with positiveness that the House
would pass the postal savings banks
bill, agreed to by the republican
caucus, without amendment. The
majority for the bill, he said, would be
ample He does not think that more
than ten or twelve republicans will vote
against the bill. Mr.. Mayes thinks the
Senate will accept the House bill. The
President strongly hopes that Mr.. Hayes
may be good prophet
President Taft today intimated that
as between the House and Senate rail-
road bills he is inclined to favor the
Senate measure. He has not fully COM
mitted himself to either. however, pre-
passing his opinion to the republican
congressional leaders.
President Invited to Nashville.
An elaborate invitation from the Gov
ernor of Tennessee, mayor of Nashville
and commercial bodies to visit the Ten
nessee city during the military tourna-
ment to be held there from June 10 to
June % was presented to President Taft
| by a Nashville committee. introduced by
Senators Taylor and Frazier and Repre-
sentative Byrnes. The President has other
| engagements that will prevent his ac-
| cepting the invitation.
| The President has accepted an invita-
| ton to go to the commencement exercises
| of Marietta College. Marietta, Ohio, June
| L.. He will be absent from Washington
less than twenty-four hours.
| Mayor Woods Of Somerville Mass, met
| the President today under the guidance
of Representative Mccall. The President
has agreed to stop at Somerville when he
goes to Harvard July 4.
| Henry White and the other delegates
OF the United States to the fourth con-
| ference of American republics at Buenos
Aires. July 8, called on the President to-
day to say farewell. They will sail on the
| ira nsport Summer June 16