New-York tribune., 1910-02-18
THE DAWN WASHINGTON

the point and clearly indicate where ho
stands. They also afford some fndfca
ton as TO how he will regard the envoy
who are being sent to meet him. 1hat -
why no one who knows Colonel Roose'ei'
position enves the envoys.
LODGE THE PROPER CHARM AN
There is general qualification at the ap
pointnent of Senator Lodge Chairman
OF the Senates special committee WHICH
VIII investigate the cost of living. IL i
believed that a committee headed by tue
Senator from Massachusetts can confnahu
the confidence and respect of the pubic To
a notable extent. far more so than Woulo
be the case had Senator OF less hish
standing been placed at its head II can
now be said that the impression that the
Senate was hah-hearted or lukewarm In It's
desire TO begin this investigation was not
warranted The delay in appointing the
committee, which has caused that impress
sion in some quarters and the little V-ran-
gle over the text Of the organic resolution
were due to a wholly different cause. 1t
was all a question of the chairmanshp of
the committee. The Senate generally felt
that Mr.. Lodge would make an ideal chair
man, that he knew how to conduct an IN
duiry which would carry obvious evidence
OF its fairness, that he would display the
energy necessary to satisfactory and Tea-
scnably expeditions investigation. and that
his reputation for sincerity and fairness
would gain for the report Of the committee
more than ordinary confidence in the public
mind Others who thought they saw in TINS
chairmanship exceptional opportunities for
self-advertising were determined to capture
the place, and 1t required tact and dipio-
macy, and, incidentally. of course. some
delay. to smooth their ruffied feathers. The
occurrences of to-day not only show that
the interval since the adoption OF the reso-
luton has not been lost but that the work
accomplished therein constitutes a monu-
ment to the finesse of the diplonstists Of
the Senate.
CIVIL PENSIONS NEXT-senator
Hale has consented to father legislation
making proper provision for those men
who become inca pa citated in the lifesaving
service and for their families when they
lose their lives, and the Secretary Of the
Treasury has directed that such a measure
promptly be prepared for introduction in
the Senate. Secretary MacVeagh, who is one
of the most earnest advocates of q civil
pension roll, to be maintained by assess
r1ent on the employees Of the government,
is heartily in favor of the lifesavins pen
sion list, not only because of itself 1t is
demanded by every consideration of JUS
tice, but because he believes il will prove
the entering wedge whereby the broader
legislation creating d civil pension roll
will be obtained. The Secretary Of the
Treasury Is one Of the greatest sufferers
from the prevalence of superannuated en-
ployes in his department, and he frankly
and positively refuses TO reha abilitate the
service by ruthlessIy discharging those
who have rendered faithful service but
| have become incapacitated by advancing
years He regards a civil pension roll, TO
be maintained by the employees themselves
after it is once installed, as the only
remedy for this situation.
ALL PRAISE MEYER. - Secretary
Meyers command OF the details of the
navy is a constant source of amazement
to officers of that arm of the service
Some officers of the highest rank on the
retired list declare that they would not
have been able to answer the questions of
the Naval Affairs Committee with the
prornptness and certainty displayed by the
/ Secretary, and assert that Mr.. Meyers s
| knowledge of the subject in every respect
! can have been acquired only by long and
| concentrated study. Naval officers gen
! orally are greatly delighted that the navy
J is under the supervision of a man who
: has the intelligence and industry displayed
| by MI Meyer, and they believe he viii
| make record as Secretary which has not
been eQualled by any of his predecessor:
| for many years q. u. II.