The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-30


Twenty five years ago he was a Gun
reporter on the New York Herald.
Mr. Lane is well known throughout the
chairman of the Interstate commerce
commission and relinquished that post to
go into the cabinet.
AS Secretary of the Interior he has 10
deal with public lands. Indian affairs.
the pension and patent office. Public
lands with the new and advanced the
ories of conservation, is at present very
lively question in the country. Partieu-
larly is the country interested in what the
policy of the administration will be to-
ward water powers on navigable streams.
Secretary Fisher was hearty supporter
of the alleged rights of the government
to levy and collect tolls from water
power companies where dams were built
across navigable streams. Indian affairs
is another problem confronting Secretary
Lane. and these two questions if properly
handled will give him great opportunities
to make a good record in the administra-
tion of his office.
Postmaster General BurlesOn
Albert S. Burleson, the new Postmaster
General, perhaps carries the heaviest bur-
den of the new cabinet officers on his
broad shoulders. The postal patronage is
by far the most voluminous and perhaps
the most important. Mr.. Burleson is well
known in the country having represented
his district in Texas in the lower house
cf Congress for many years, where he
rendered distinguished service. In the last
campaign he was the chairman of the
congressional campaign committee for his
party, and he delivered the goods.
Mr.. Burleson has announced that in the
discharge of his duties as Postmaster
General. he intends to aim for the high
est efficiency obtainable in the service.
He expects to broaden and extend the
postal service in every state in the Union
and make it truly efficient agent of the
people. He proposes to widen the influ-
ence of the parcel post system and see
| to it that it exercises it's function of bring
| ing the producer and the consumer in
closer relations.
Mr.. Burleson's attitude toward the order
Of President Taft in placing the 10000
, fourth class postmasters under the civil
service is not friendly. He will favor at
least that all candidates for fourth class
postmasterships, including the present in
cumbents, stand an examination under
the civil service. thus giving worthy DEM
ocrats an equal show with republicans.
Mr.. Burleson believes that the postoffice
department can be made to render the
very best service and at the same time
become self sustaining He will bend his
tiItI lol SucH d cOuSuIlldl1UI.
Secretary of the Treatury McAdoo
Secretary McAdoo is tall thin man, Of
about so years of age, but looks much
younger. He was born in Georgia, raised
in Tennessee, and trained in New York.
The new Secretary of the Treasury is a
man of the most suave manner but he is
business all over and all the time
Every one knows that Mr.. McAdoo built
the first tunnel under the Hudson river.
This achievement was so remarkable that
| it placed him in the limelight at once
His difficulties in making people believe
that the tunnel could be built were SEEM
ingy insurmountable to commence with
and for long time Mr.. McAdoo himself
was the only person in the country who
believed that it could be done These he
overcame and succeeded. When he won
that victory, he probably also won the
cabinet position which he now holds
AS Secretary of the Treasury Mr.. Nc
Adoo holds one OF the most responsible
places in the Cabinet. He must keep a
finger on the financial pulse of the nation
not only as 1t relates to the government
but to the private financial institutions
of the country. 1t is his duty. or will
be, to familiarize himself and prepa re
his department for the collection ~ cus
toms under the new tariff act. More than
a third of the total revenue OF the conn
try is ueflVeu from the customs dutice
and as there will be change of the rates
when the new tariff law becomes effec-
tive it can be readily seen that Mr.. Me-
Adoo will have plenty to keep him busv
preparing for this event.
The total revenues of Uncle Sam which
annually pour into his strong box from ali
sources are something like 81. .ooo o0o
The collecting and disbursing of this vast
sum of money requires a well oiled nj
effective machine. or there will be great
loss to the government. Mr.. McAdoo'z
friends declare that he will meet tho re-
sponsibilities of his position and he eo,,a,
to them. as he has met all other serious
problems and conquered them in the ma ST
Secretary Of War Garrison
Lindley MI Garrison, the new Secre-
tary of war, has no very grave problems
now facing him, and will not have unless
one arises out Of the Mexican situation.
The President is depending upon him for
the formulation Of Philippine policy