The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-13
TAFT'S CABINET
 UNDER HOT FIRE Every Member But One Faces
 Some Charge. MEN ARE UNRUFFLED Consolation Is Taken in Claim That 
MEN ARE UNRUFFLED
Consolation Is Taken in Claim That Public Officials Must Expect to Re- ceive the Shots From the
 Opposition.
BY JONATHAN WINFIELD.

Washington, March 12.-(Special)- The ending of the first year of Pres ident Tafts administration develops the peculiarly unfortunate situation of hav- ing every member of his official fam fly under charges from the opposition with the exception of Secretary Nagle of the department of commerce and la bor.
 Secretary of the Interior Ballinger is now being investigated by joint com mittee of the Senate and House-an inquiry that has been and will to the end continue to be replete with sen- sational charges of misconduct and in- competency including not only the sec chief forester, and other officials of the interior office.
 Secretary of War Dickinson is now explaining to a Senate committee his side of the issue, growing out of the charge that he has given a monopoly to the Pacific Mail Steamship company in the carrying trade between Panama and ports on the Pacific coast. The original arrangement gave the steam ship company TO per cent of the rate, when they shipped through freight to the Atlantic coast by the Panama rall- road it also gave the company tho privilege of buying coal at Panama at cost. The protest against this privilege has recently prompted the secretary to promise similar favors to pro- posed competing line to the Pacific Mail
 Postmaster General Hitchcock has been charged by members of Congress with using his office simply for polit- cal ends, the efficiency of the postal hoH vi n dntn nrt. fa1 ix, quence.
 Secretary of the Treasury Macveagh has been attacked for promoting the Chicago packers proposition to have the 10-cent per pound tax on colored oleomargerine reduced to fraction o1 a cent.
 trouble over his naval personnel prop osition. He has been accused in ser vice publications and by officers of the navy of attempting to build up the power of the social set in the naval ,es- tablishment to the detriment of the best interests of the navy.
 Secretary of State Knox, as a re- suit of his endeavors to force upon China and the interested powers the right of New York capitalists to build certain railroads in tine Orient, mas been charged with using the influence of his office and his department to promote the financial business of l. Pferpont Morgan and his associates.
 Secretary of Agriculture Wilson is being attacked by the ultra ure food enthusi- asts for his defense of the use of benzo- ate of soda as food preservative. He has also become involved in the Ballinger- ,inchot controversy. having been called as a witness before the Investigating committee.
 
 Attorney General Wickersham has been bitterly assailed by the republican pro- gre ssives. They charge that his railroad late bill which proposes amendments to the present interstate commerce law, will undo all the good accomplished by former President Roosevelt in curbing the ra.l- roads.
 They also charge that the Attorney General has used his moral influence to Trevent possible prosecution of the big men in the sugar trust ss climax to the sugar trust frauds in New York Anti Bal1inger republicans are also. claiming that the Attorney General suppressed and presented facts in distorted condition to the President when tho Ballinger- Glavis- Pinchot case was before him.
 President Taft, with the members of his cabinet the target of republicans who are fighting his administration ond of the democrets.S is carefully watching the situ- ation and is Loyalty supporting each mem Der. He is not ruff1ed by the charges, having implicit confidence in the in tegrity of the men he has chosen to aid him in making his administration a sue cess. Neither Go cabinet members show