The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-03-25
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Washington, March 24-[Special]-
President Wilson has allowed his cabi-
net officers very free hand in the
choice of their assistants. He has
made no appointments without first
consulting the cabinet member, and
whenever a cabinet officer has indicat
ed his desire for the selection of a par
ticuar man for an assistant the pres
ident has acquiesced unless there was
some very good reason why the ap-
pointment should not be made. In
many instances he has commended the
cabinet members for their selections.
Just how far the president will carry
the idea Of having the cabinet men,
bers attend to the business of the cOun.
try is not yet known. but it would save
him very much trouble if he could get
back to the methods of the old days
when the cabinet members ran their
departments without aid save on the
more important questions,
White House Hopper.
For several administrations the White
House has been hopper into which
has been dumped all the departmental
business. The clerical force has been
largely increased and the work of the
president and his secretaries has been
trebled, all because the tendency has
been toward Capitalization and the
people want to have the president at
tend to everything.
Another reason was because nearly
all the former presidents wanted to
know about everything that was going
on; they wanted to be consulted about
even the smallest things. But it has
also been on account of the desire of
the senators and members of the house
to carry everything to the president
and ignore the cabinet officers, more
particularly if they think they can
work the president and couldn't do
likewise with the cabinet member.
Conservation Reform.
An effort may be made to reform the
conservation movement or to "con-
serve the conservationists," as one
man put it. Many western men as
sert that there has been too much i'm
practical work done in conservation;
that too much land has been reserved:
that people are deprived of an oppor-
tunity to use actual necessities in the
west; that better method can be de-
vised which will save the resources
and also utilize them.
Every effort in the direction of
changing the present conservation pol
icy has been blocked by such men as
Clifford Pinchot and his followers, but
it is possible that the new Democratic
blood from the west in both houses of
congress, coupled with the fact that
this is a Democratic administration.
may make 1t possible to bring about
changes in the conduct of forests and
other resources of the west. At one
time it was thought a man from one
of the states most affected would be-
the conservation interests are grouped,
but the suggestion raised strong pro-
tests by the conservation promoters.
Wyoming Not Lost.
Because the political complexion of
the senate has changed does not mean
that Wyoming has become lost in the
shuttle. Senator Warren will continue
to be an important factor. He is the
ranking minority member of apprO-
priations, agriculture and rules and
second on military affairs, public build
ings and irrigation, besides being chair
- of
mittees. Warren will be conferee on
the most important appropriation bills
when they are considered.
Senator Clark, the other Wyoming
senator, is the ranking minority men,
ber on Judiciary and conservation, sec
ond on public lands, a member of the
finance committee and also had a
choice of chairmanships of the minor
ity.
Not to Be Retired.
Senator Bacon is not to be retired
because he was not made president
pro TEN. of the senate. In the short
special session of the senate he show
ed that he intended to take an active
part in everything that came before
the senate. 1t is quite likely that as
chairman of foreign relations he may
have leading role in the senate, as
our foreign problems are such as to
cause a great deal Of anxiety.
Tenacious to the Last.
1t was amusing to see senators of the
United States struggling and tenacious
over the matter of committee assign
ments, even on committees which had
never met and never would meet ant
which were created simply for the pur
pose of giving some senator a chair
manship.
The relative rank and the chairman
ship Of an expenditures" committee
held the attention of the senate for
several moments, although 1t is known
the committee win not meet and never
has bills referred to 1t. In the matter
OF committees the average senator