Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-16
Presidents Official Family Be-
fore Committees of Inquiry.
WHOLE CABINET IN DEMAND
House Investigations Take Up Most
of Their Time.
PROBE OF THE DEPARTMENTS
Alaskan Affairs, Extravaganza in
Expenditures, Seal Extinction and
Other Matters In Controversy.

II has been many long day since the
official cabinet Of the President has been
SO pestered as now. With all the investi-
cations that are in progress at the HOUSE
end of the Capitol a number OF President
Taft's cabinet are hardly finding time to
attend to their Official duties. Reflection
upon the present activities Of the various
committees which have inquiries under
way viii demonstrate this fact.
Secretary Of State knox has been hauled
over the Goals by the House committee on
expenditures in the State Department
In connection with the Day portrait mys-
terry. He must go before thu COMMITTEES
to tell what he knows of the payment Of
a claim against the government dating
back to the civil war. out Of the recent
ton of former Secretary Of State John
w. Foster, who received one-half OF the
$3S6.O00 recovered
Stimson Before Two Committees.
Secretary Of War Stimson expects to
be called before the Hardwick special
sugar committee and the House COM
mittee on expenditures in the Depart
ment OF Justice. to tell how 1t happened
that after resigning as United States
attorney for the southern district OF
New York he was employed by the
department of Justice as a special as
sistant and was paid $4,000 for his
work In recovering on undervaluations
OF sugar imports from the sugar trust
Secretary Of the Navy Meyer is ap-
pearing weekly before the House COM
mittee on expenditures in the Navy De-
partment in connection with charge
OF extravagance in connection with
the maintenance Of useless and ohso-
lete navy yards, and on other matters
OF less Importance.
Wickersham Also in Demand.
Attorney General Wickersham has al
ready testified before the committee on
expenditures in the Department of Jus
tice concerning the 'trust-busting' ex-
penses of the government. and is about
to be called by the House committee on
judiciary to tell what he knows of the
charges of Delegate Wickersham OF
Alaska that he favored the Alaska syn
dictate by permitting the statute of linn
session conclusive evidence of fraud.
Several other committees may also call
Mr.. Wickersham in connection with
other allegations which have been made
with other phases Of the work Of the
Department Of Justice.
Secretary OF Commerce and Labor Ma
gel is having his troubles with the House
committee on expenditures in the De-
partment OF Commerce and Labor, which
Is holding hearings on the resolution in
troduced by Representative Townsend Of
New Jersey. charging that as q result Of
the negligence, or worse. OF his suoordi-
mates the once vast seal herd OF the
Pribilof Islands Is in danger OF extinc-
ton.
Although Postmaster General Hitchcock
has not been compelled to appear In perS
son before the House committee on exc
penditures in the Post Once Department.
1t is understood the committee Is preS
ping to call him. in order to inquire cons
corning q variety OF charges that have
been made in connection with variou4
branches Of the postal service.
Up to date Mr.. Hitchcock has been rep1
resented by subordinates. but the come
mirtee is desirous Of hearing from the
head Of the service, and consequently ne
will probably have to spend good DEAF
Of time at the Capitol in the next two
or three weeks.
Fisher on Alaskan Affairs.
Secretary Of the Interior Fisher has made
several appearances before the HOUSE,
committee on expenditures in the In
terror Department. which is investisat-
ing the Controller bay land tangle. and
the activities of this committee are eX-
nected to keep him in town for the next
month or two. Mr.. Fisher is a new mem
Der of the cabinet, and has been busily
engaged in famliarizing himself with all
matters in controversy. and his testimony
concerning conditions In Alaska Is de-
sired by the committee in detail.
Up to recently there did not seem 10
be any likelihood that Secretary OF Agri-
culture Wilson would be called before
committee Of Congress on serious charges
affecting his department. But the sud
den explosion in connection with tne
Wiley case makes 1t certain that MI.
Wilson will be one Of the first witnesses
called. and that he will be examined at
great length. This committee hopes 10
be able to get a good deal or campaign
material out Of the Wiley case
Macveagh to Be Quizzed.
Secretary Macveagh of the Treasury
has already testified before the House
committee on expenditures In the Treas
urv Department in connection with the
allegations OF favoritism concerning creo-
sote importations. He is to be recalled
his week to give evidence as to the rent
ne OF the Union building for government
Durposes. There are q good many other
matters now pending upon which Secre-
tary MacVeagh will be quizzed.
Not oven the oldest member in point OF
xeryice in the House can recollect q time
when every member OF the Presidents
cabinet was detained In the city during
The hot season in order to be available to
committees Of the House conducting in%
,uiries into the executive departments.