Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-26
NOT TO. DISCUSS POLITICS
Calls for Facts and Figures Relating
to Government Work.
AIMS TO CUT EXPENDITURES
Will Insist Upon Greater Efficiency
and Economy in the Execu-
tive Departments.


work in the executive offices today, hav-
ing arrived in Washington yesterday
morning for that purpose. His cabinet
.is to share the labors of the week, all of
them. with the exception of Secretary
Dickinson, who is in the far east, assem-
bling at the White House at IL o'clock
this morning. Some of them were with
the President earlier than that.
There will be practically continuous
session of the cabinet for three days. in
addition to individual conferences with
cabinet members afterward, the Presi-
dents program providing that he shall
stay here until next Saturday morning,
when he will leave for New York to de-
liver speech Saturday night at the
banquet of the National League of Re
publican Clubs. going fro mthere to Bev-
erly for two more weeks before returning
to Washington for the fall and winter.
The President will have some confer
ences during the week with statesmen
and politicians who come to the city to
see him, some of them by appointment.
Senator Curtis Of Kansas, Representa-
sentative Madden of Illinois were at the
executive offices today before the cabi-
net assembled.
The cabinet officers are all to eat and
sleep at the White House. Secretary
Norton's many duties today have included
arrangements for the guests and assign
ments Of rooms. AS room clerk Of the
White House, Mr.. Norton today jokingly
told cabinet members that he would not
be responsible for jewelry or money left
in rooms. Secretary Nagel assured Sec
retary Norton that after long and ex-
L. - v@AA
Of value. and would not hold anybody re-
sponsible for things of value he Is sup
posed to have.
The cabinet sessions will be held each
o'clock. and at other times less formal
meetings will take place. The President
said today that he would have little time
for golf outdoor exercise. and would
continue steadily at work while here.
Not Q Political Conference. 4
The object Of the return of the
President and cabinet is to take up
departmental work and set everything
fall and winter. Politics win not be
conspicuous at any time, and 1t was
said today that II politics are dis
cussed in any manner they will be
merely incidents: prompted by remarks
President. The gathering here at this
time is not to give any attention to
politics. the Presidents main purpose
being to ascertain how the machinery
of the government is working and how
it may be made to work better. He
began promptly today calling for facts
and figures relating to different gov
ernment work. including the digging OF
the Panama canal
Beyond the speech to the National
League Of Republican Clubs Saturday
night. the President Is not expected TO
talk politics again between now and cleo
tion in November. He has decided
campaign. except this one speech. and
cabinet officers will not be as active as
usual during campaign Just how far
the cabinet will participate In the cam
paign may be determined this week, al
though each cabinet official is at liberty
to use his discretion
Cut in Expenditures Sought.
Reduction of departmental expenditures
is expected to be considered at much
length by the cabinet This and the gath
ering of reports and estimates as to ex-
penditures for the next fiscal year will
occupy the greater part Of the time of
the chief executive and his advisers.
Greater efficiency and economy in the
departments is to be insisted upon by the
President
The question of the enlargement of
is one Of the matters which may be
taken up by the cabinet. 1t is an
old matter that has been threshed over
by the department experts. The i'm
provements at the Guantanamo sta
ton would cost several millions OF dol
lars, including perhaps $2.500.000 for
dry dock, or S.SOO,0OO for floating
dock. The water there Is not as good
as at some other places. and the labor
IL not OF the best. Whether the Guam
tanamo plan will be recommended to
Congress or not is still problematical
There are several alternative Proposi-
tions that have been considered by the
naval experts. including a suggested
station on the Isthmus of Panama. at
Pensacola. where there is already
navy yard. and one of the harbors
on the south coast Of Porto Rico. There
are a number of islands in Porto Rico
defensive purposes and offering protec-
ton. through the numerous entrances,
against any such bottling-up opera
tions as figured In the Cuban campaign
during the Spanish war.
Other Topics to Be Handled.
other topics to be handled will include
the first stages OF the work for putting
postal savings banks into operation: ex-
tension of the civil service to include all
assistant postmasters and permanent
clerks In money order Offices; foreign af-
fairs. including conditions in Nicarauga
and judicial appointments, including the
Supreme Court vacancies. The Supreme
Court appointments will not be discussed
generally with the cabinet. the President
having always reserved the right to make
these appointments of his motion. He
makes 1t a rule. however, to discuss these
matters with Attorney General Wicker
sham.