Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-05-13
President Wilson Leaving
Much to His Cabinet.
Callers and Petty Details Not
Allowed 10 Bother Real Work,
Tariff Debate in Senate Likely to
Be Formidable.

Washington, d. c., May 12.-(Spe-
| ial)-People who come to Washing
on in these times on business at the
White House offices, have virtually but
hree forenoons in a week when ii is
easible to see the President for any
particular length of time. The new
arrangements there have curtailed
listing opportunities. From the very
rst the President has declined TO see
isitors of an afternoon. He wants
hat period of the day, as he has a
| light to have 1t, for contemplation ana
Uninterrupted attention to public bust.
ess. Tuesday and Friday are nj
|nost always cabinet days. While the
|abinet does not assemble till Il
clock the morning Is very crowded
Ii the White House Offices. Saturday
nd Sundays are rest days there.
This matter of distributing time TO
arious ends is ever an important
roblem to Presidents The demands
pom a President are SO enormous.
nat unless he has very well estab
shed rules as to when he will and
hen he will not receive visitors, he
ould have little opportunity to attend
other business. He has much Of
&c work. He needs many hours dur
Ing week to confer with members of
is cabinet and other high officials
no are in charge of business that he
ishes TO keep under his own eve.
fternoons have usually been reserved
|Dr these duties but many Presidents
ave been unable to hold the after
|Dons To themselves. Senators and
representatives., who are expected to
lee the President in the forenoon.
ould somehow or other eneroach
pom the Presidents more serious
orking hours.
That has not been so in this ad
Illustration. President Wilson's eff
,rt steadily has been 70 gain more
me for himself. The success with
hich he has worked out many adj
Illustration problems speedily has
zen due in no small part TO this fact.
e began at the very start by putting
B the bars against office seekers and
ending them 10 interview members
his cabinet. Much was made Of
iat but it was of little less Importance
IAN the Presidents insistence that
ter his luncheon he shall not be dis
.rbed by callers.
The visits of cabinet members To the
yhite House offices, on other thaa
,binet days, have not been frequent.
hat means the President is leaving
| iose officials large measure of dis
|,etion in handling departmental at
lars, except such as are of the first
lagnitude. 1t also conserves his
ma He has men at his council
| lille, whom he trusts fully. They un-
arsfana very clearly his general poll
IS and, on their own responsibility,
ear away much business without
onsulting him. There again the
| resident is saving himself annoyance
| nd trouble. He has the good method
q outstanding his strength and
| i0nght for the big things that have
| DO with the public service in large
For d fortnight the administration
i'll be SUBSTANTIALLY Congressless. AL
lough constructively in session, Con-
ress win do little but mark time. A
reat exodus of law makers is in
rogress. Everybody who can get
way Is doing SO for rest or attention
affairs in anticipation of busy legis-
ltion ahead. Late May and, pei
APPS early June, will be vacation days
Dr. the law making branch. saving
My those who are Immediately en-
aged in the preparation tasks,
Responsibility has been widening in
' he House of recent years and it has
cen SO during the present session.
I is not as true as it used to be that
little group of men do the work and
| Tiers simply record approval or dis
pproval. The tariff work in the Sem
te will probably be in the hands OF
uite group Of men, but it is not yet
lain what Democrats will do the
ieavy share. Neither is it altogether
| developed who will become the re-
liable authorities there in shaping
language and determining what shall
re.
Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia viii
pe one of the workers in the Finance
Committee. Senator Johnson 81
Maine, while not as aggressive as
Senator Smith, has been diligen
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