Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-09-03

ment of Joseph Austin Holmes. of the
Geological Survey. as director of the
new Bureau of Mines at Washington.
Dr. Holmes had been selected for the
place some time ago. but his appoint
ment was held up, it is understood
here, on the ground that Secretary
Ballinger, under whose department the
new bureau is placed, was opposed to
him. Dr. Holmes is the intimate per-
sonal friend of Clifford Pinchot, James
r. Garfield and F. H. Newell. director
If the reclamation seevice, all three Of
whom sharply criticised Mr.. Ballinger
IN the witness stand of the BAllinger-
Pinchot inquiry. q
Dr. Holmes is native of South Car
olina. For 10 years he was professor
of geology and natural history at the
university of North Carolina, and from
1891 to 1904 was state geologist OF
North Carolina.
President Taft is contemplating, and
probably will issue soon after his re-
turn to Washington from Beverly, an
executive order putting all assistant
postmasters and the permanent clerks
at money order post offices, under the
civil service. Postmaster General
Hitchcock recommended this step to
the President some time ago and he
had been considering it. Today the
President talked the matter over with
R. H. Dana, president of the National
Civil Service Reform League. Mr.. Taft
will take the question up with his cab
met the latter part of this month and
finally dispose of it. Mr.. Hitchcock
thinks the order will work great i'm
provement in the postal service.
President Taft has a long list of
matters to take up with his cabinet ad-
visers He will reach Washington
Sept. q for a 1O-days stay and the
cabinet will be in practically continu-
Gus session Sept. 26, q and 20. All the
members of the cabinet, whose fam
lilies are still out of town, will be the
Presidents guests at a stag" party
at the White House.
One of the principle subjects to be
discussed will be the forthcoming ap-
pointments to the United States su-
prene court. Mr. Taft will have to
ill the vacancies created by the death
Of Chief Justice Fuller and the pro-
spective retirement of Associate Justice
Moody. 1t seems, pretty well settled
that Governor Hughes Sofe New York,
who already has been confirmed as an
associate justice, will be designated
as chief Justice. This will leave two
associate justices TO be appointed.
The President stated again. today
that it was not his purpose, to call
an extraordinary session of the Senate
to confirm the appointments. They
will wait until the regular session of
Congress begins.
PresidLn mt Taft also will take up with
his cabinet in Washington the final
plans for putting the postal savings
banks in operation. He will discuss
the estimates for the coming fiscal
year with the heads of the various
departments and try to hold them
down wherever possible. The economy
plans for conducting the various de-
partments and the best means of u.s.
ing the 100000 appropriation for the
Improvement of business methods. also
will be discussed.
There is little or no chance that
President Taft will make any speeches
during the coming campaign. He has
declared that his letter to Chairman
Mckinley of the Republican Congress
sional committee, accurately states all
that he has to say Of the issues. The
President will speak before the Ma
tionui League of Republican Clubs. at
New York. Sept 30 along general
lines.
General Leonard Wood. chief of
staff of the army, talked with the
President for several hours today re-
garding estimates for the army. Oddly
enough. General Nelson \. Miles. for
merly commanding general of the army,
also called on the President this af-
ternoon. General Miles is visiting
friends at Swampscott. and his visit
was purely social. Foster ". Brown.
of Tennessee. attorney general OF
Porto Rico. took w several matters
affecting that island, with the Presi-
dent He also discussed the political
situctio in Tennessee. Former Gov
ernor John l.. Bates of Massachusetts
paid a call of respect to the President.
The President will start tomorrow
afternoon from Boston for st. Panl,
whore he is to deliver an address at
the National Conservation congress
Monday morning He will visit the
State fair at St. Paul Monday after
noon, and leave that evening to return
to Beverly Colonel Roosevelt will
not reach st. Paul until Tuesday morn"
ing. The President will make no stops.
either going to or returning from st.
Paul.