The Washington times., 1910-05-28
Assistant Secretary of Treas
ury Said TO Be Slated for
Carpenters Place.
MANY OTHER NAMES
BEING CONSIDERED
Former Incumbent Subject of
Criticism by Senators
in Past.
By JAMES HAY, IR.

That Charles Dyer Norton. now AS
sistant Secretary Of the Treasury. will
succeed Fred W. Carpenter as private
secretary to the President, is the most
reliable gossip heard in political and
official circles today.
For this choice, which is at present
described as tentative, there are given
the following reasons:
Mr.. Norton has made good" in
decided manner with 0Ir. Taft; he has
many friepds among Senators and
Representatives; by his representing
the Treasury Department before the
committees Of Congress this session.
he has convinced both the President
and the leaders Of the House and Sen
ate that he has great ability in hand
ling public matters.
In addition to these considerations,
there Is the further fact that the va
cancy in the secretaryship 10 the Pres
ident comes at a most critical time,
when the Taft legislative program IS at
its crucial point in Congress. Conse-
Quently. 1t win be greatly TO Mr.. TaftS
advantage to have as secretary man
who commands the confidence Of mem
bers or the House and Senate.
WOu1Q accept Temporarily
Friends of Mr.. Norton said today that.
while he might not be willing TO accept
the position as a permanent thing, there
was no doubt that he would take il for
the present.
Mr. Taft has shown especial admir-
alton fo- Norton's abilities within the
last Few months and has let II be known
that he considered him one OF the ablest
young men in the Government service
fnTTUETad Norton
confidential missions and tasks, and il
is beyond doubt that he would like to
have him at the White House.
Next 10 fIr. Norton, the strongest
probability for the place is c. d. Hilles,
also an assistant secretary OF the Treas
ury, who has made as enviable a reputa-
since he entered political life But il
was declared on high authority this
afternoon that Mr.. Hilles preferred TO
remain IN his present position.
Other Possibilities.
Other possibilities for the position are
Theodore L. Weed, now chief clerk Of
the Postoffice Department, and former
ly Frank II. Hitchcock ) trusted man IN
the handling of affairs connected with
the national campaign; Rudolph For
ster, now assistant private secretary 10
the President; Gus J. karger, CORES
pOndent for the Cincinnati Fimes-Star,
the paper owned by the Presidents
brother, c. p. Taft, and Robert o.
J. ley, pirate secretary TO the SeCre-
ti,.y of the Treasury.
Although all these men are eminently
qualified for handling the work Of an
office necossitating a thorough dc-
Qua1ntance with puolic men and events,
II appeared today that Mr.. Taft had viz
tually decided on Norton as his first
choice. What the President and his
friends want is man who. by his
knowledge OF public affairs and men
will be able 20 promote the interests Of
the Administration in every way posi-
BILE.
Blamed for Friction.
Mr.. Taft accepted Mr.. Carpenters s
resignation with regret, for he has had
him with him as private secretary con-
ylnuOusly for the past ten years But
1t is no secret in official circles that for
the past few months some of the most
influential friends Of Mr.. Taft have
pointed out 10 him that there has been
more or less criticism Of the White
House among members of Congress, and
that, rightly or wrongly, Mr.. Carpenter
was blamed for a certain friction be-
tween the White House and some Of
the members Of the legislative branch
of the Government.
II was claimed that, under CARPENTER s
regime, the convenience Of some Sen
ators and Representatives. who called
at the White House, was not looked
after as well as was the case under the
Loeb rules when Roosevelt was Presi-
dent It was also claimed that in sew
eral instances Mr.. Tafts attitude or
feeling in regard TO public matters did
not ind proper expression In the press
So sudden was the appointment of
Carpenter 10 be minister 70 Morocco
that no provision was made for II
Percival Dodge, who now holds the posi-
ton, and there was little If any time
for the President to find out from Secre-
tary Knox where Dodge should be sent
from Morroco. on good authority
however. II can be said that Mr. Knox
has the promise Of the President that
Mr.. Dodge will be taken care of in as
comfortable and remunerative a post
IS the one In Morocco.