Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1919-03-07
PALMER Gets
CABINET POST
President Nominates Enemy Alien
Property Custodian for At
torney General
WILL SUCCEED GREGORY.
Senate Receives Message as Resolu-
tions Calling for Investigation OF
PaImer's Activities In Office
Are Pending.

washington. - a. Mitchell EdluleT,
enemy alien property custodian, was
appointed attorney general Of the Unit
ed States by President Wilson and his
name sent to the senate for confirma-
ton. He will succeed Thomas w.
Gregory, who recently resigned.
The nomination was made while
resolution introduced by Senator Cal
der Of New York was pending, which
on adoption would call for a thorough
investigation Of the office Of alien prop
erty custodian, position Mr.. Palmer
has held since the entry Of the United
States into the war.
The charge has been made that ex-
traordinary and inexcusably fat fees
have been doled out by the office Of the
alien property custodian for services
that were more. or less trifling in char
acter.
Mr.. Palmer was accused by both Sen
ator Calder and Senator Frelinghuysen
of New Jersey of making political ap-
pointments in the administration of the
many rich enemy properties taken
over, but this charge Mr.. Palmer de-
MED.
He asserted that no fabulous fees or
salaries were paid and that former
Representative J. ]. Fitzgerald who
was supposed to be reaping great finan-
cial profit, was getting only $500 a
month as counsel for the American
Metal Company. The board Of direc-
tors authorized this salary, Mr.. Palmer
said, and he added that there had been
no protest.
Whether these charges will interfere
with the ratification Of the nomination
is conjectural, but If judgment may
be formed by the past conduct of the
senate Mr.. Palmer will be confirmed.
Mr.. Palmer served in Ghe Sixty-first,
Sixty-second and SiXty-third Con-
crosses and was appointed by Presi-
dent Wilson in April, 1915, judge in
the United States court Of claims. He
resigned his place on the bench Sep
'tember l, 1915.
When the trading with the enemy
act was passed President Wilson ap-
pointed Mr.. Palmer as alien property
custodian October %, 1917. Mr.. Pal
mer gave bond in the amount of $780,
600, and the place carried salary OF
$4,000.
Mr. Palmer has been q prominent
figure in the Democratic party for
many years. He has been a member
of the Democratic National Committee
from Pennsylvania since 1912, having
defeated James. NJ. Guffey in bitter
fight in Pennsylvania, involving the
election of delegates to the Baltimore
convention.
More than the usual interest at
taches to the politics Of the Palmer
appointment. Two names have been
persistently mentioned in connection
with the appointment-Mr Palmer and
Sherman Whipple, the Boston lawyer,
now connected. with the Shipping
Board, who handled the famous leak"
investigation. The name of Senator
James Hamilton Lewis of Illinois, who
was defeated for reelection, after he
got into the race at the Presidents spe-
cial request has also been mentioned.
and it. was known that Mr.. Lewis
would have liked the place, although
he has declined appointments as am
bassador TO more than one country.
The logic Of the political situation,
it was first thought, would dictate the
appointment Of Whipple. Massachu-
setts is the only state in which the
Democratic party gained a senatorial
seat at the last election. 1t is also be-
lievcd by politicians that President
Wilson is particularly anxious to- de-
velop situation in Massachusetts so
that it will be possible to carry that
state for the Democratic nominee In
1920. But Senator Elect Walsh, it is
said by certain senators, objected to
the elevation Of Whipple to the ,cabi'
net. -r