Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-20
REGULAR Session of Presidents
Advisers Postponed.
Conferences Not the General Discus.
sions They Once Were.
SUBMISSION OF REPORTS
Roosevelt's Method of OBTAINING One
or Two Members Has Not Been
Adopted by Taft.

President Taft had no meeting OF his
cabinet today, postponing the regular
session so that he could be present at
the memorial services in s.. Johns
Church. which began at the regular hour
for tho cabinet to assemble White House
cabinet meetings have not TO- years had
the Importance they had at one time.
Formerly a cabinet meeting meant the
general discussion Of all important ques-
lions, affecting the administration. and
Inc taking of consensus of opinion for
the Presidents guidance. But under
Presidents Roosevelt ard Taft the cabinet
meetings were TUNED into making reports
10 the chief executive by department
heads upon matters needing the atten-
ton and direction OF the President.
Really big questions were settled on
other than cabinet days, and generally
in conference between tire President and
such cabinet advisers as he wished to
consult.
Koosevelt's Innovation.
President Roosevelt was TIE frss to
break up the old cabinet methods. Al he
wanted from his cabinet advisers was
Recommendations and reports upon such
questions as he wished TO decide himself.
Important matters were deferred for con-
fcrences with Secreta RIGS Root and Taft,
his closest advisers. They frequently re-
manned after the other cabinet officers
had gone. II grew to be a saying at the
White House that the real cabinet ses-
SONS were held by President Roosevelt
after all the cabinet members had gone
except the two or three whose opinions
were most depended upon.
President Taft has no special favor
in N is vii g
into extra session after the regular
meetings. II any one is consulted In
such way more than any other 1T is
Attorney General Wickersham. but this
is largely because the Department of
Justice has been handling some big
questions. among them the legal end OF
administration measures pending in
Congress. The Taft cabinet meetings
break up in the old way. most of the
members leaving about the same time
President Taft's Method.
Mr Taft's method is TO depend TO a
greater extent upon his cabinet than
did former President Roosevelt. That is,
Mr.. Taft has given the abinet members
full responsibility in all matters be-
fore them, and he wishes that respon-
sibility exercised without interference
from him unless the occasion is sum-
GENTLY momentous to warrant il.
The result is that the Taft cabinet ses-
sions are comparatively short, each Of
1icial in turn placing before the President
departmental subjects needing executive
approval.
In the old days State Department ques-
lions involving international relations
were gravely discussed and debated by
the President and his entire cabinet.
Now Secretary Knox frames the gov
ernment's attitude on state questions and
goes ahead on his own responsibility,
taking up with the President only the
bigger and graver problems. Other de-
In most federal appointments, almost
exclusively controlled by President
Roosevelt In his seven and half years,
department heads really make the bulk
Of the selections, and they are promptly
approved by the President.
Former Cabinet Omcers Call.
John Waramaker of Philadelphia, Post
master General In the Harrison admins
tration. called at the White House today
with cx-Secretary John w. Foster, who
also served in the Harrison cabinet. Mr..
Wanamaker was guest Of President
Taft at luncheon.
An Influential, delegation, favoring the
nomination Of DR.. j. A. Holmes as chief
of the new bureau of mines, talked to
President Taft today. The visitors were
introduced by Senator Oliver of Pennsyi-
vania. The delegation consisted Of ex-
Gov. Fleming of West Virginia John III.
Jones of Pittsburg. Hugh Murray OF ILL.,
nois, Edward Orton, Columbus; Thomas
H. Johnson, consulting engineer of the
PENNSYLVANIA lines west OF Pittsburg: W.
j. Richards, Philadelphia. and T. III. NeI-
son, Philadelphia. The President did not
make any promises, but listened TO the
opinions Of the delegation