The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-11-17
|lIES Time:
|I0MASTER
|CAB|NET.J JOB
i 4
flIpps Expressed the Pres
;dsutE Elect Will Soon
Name Appointees.
II DAVID LAWRENCE.
1S~ac;eI IN The ArguS.)


v.shinrton, Nov. 16.-If Presi-
a.st.sJect Harding will select his
s.rnst by Feb. / or thereabouts
a vill send his 10 associates to
Vs,Ainston. they will find the 10
s.bluet officers Of the Wilson ad-
nIuistration glad to familiarize the
- cabinet officials with all the
| ,uutine Of the government depart
nents.
This suggestion. which is not
rcmptsd by the wilson admins
ration but has been talked about
i otHcial circles by persons who
mt to see the transfer of govern
reut accomplished with the least
annoyance and inconvenience to the
American people really ema1aks
! rom these who constantly have
business before the government de-
Artments and who fear that if the
ordinary procedure is followed it
will be April or May before action
can be obtained on pending mat
ten.
Usually 1t takes a new cabinet
oncer n least a month to learn the
routine of his department. During
hat period he Is dependent upon
subordinate officials who he does
nol know. They put documents be-
iws him to sign and he must either
dye bis approval or take the re-
sponsibility for delay. In some
cases decisions are urgent
and there is no other course but to
Ais the advice Of departmental
subordlnates, -,
vten President Wilson was
elected In 1918, Secretary Knox
irscognized the Importance OF get
~ early cooperation between the
tatyoing and incoming administra-
. tioos especially on the Mexican sit
uHon. which was then acute. Hunt
lnC0n Wilson, assistant secretary
Of state. was selected to advise the
new administration about pending
matters. However, there is no COM
piSis0n between the number OF
7 b questions which as q conse-
Yhence Of the war are before the
government departments today and
the routine matters Of eight years
ago.
For instance, the treasury depart
ment is in many respects even more
important than the department of
state nowadays because the finances
OF the whole world bear a relation
zap to the action Of the UAited
ctates treasury. A months time
spent BY the new secretary of the
treasury before he actually assumes
responsibility would be invaluable.
Indeed, there is no reason why
u The time between the November
election and Inauguration should
aot be employed by members Of the
new administration in studying
elosely the problems they are to
uc1le later on. The incumbent ad-
Mlnlstrafion would have no objec-
mn to opening all files and fur
llalng all data. In fact In a good
my cases the interests of the
oaHed States government abroad
s0uid be better protected if there
.efe conference between the two
n@erlcan administrations. In sew
"a y cases foreigners have attempt
- 10 take advantage of the transi-
.on period to further their own in.
terests.
me whole thing is purely a mat.
Ml VI courtesy and is not covered
~ any particular precedent. In
.. ue cases cabinet officers have
.u!ed On after their successors
:. sste appointed but while assistance
~ = oeen helpful the responsibility
~. = 'ue new official dates from the
~ ouent ne takes the oath of Office
i,"e nv ne mas no time for research OF
ta'usation. ~. A month or two be.
-. ,..e the Inauguration affords a bet.
=. opportunity to get hold Of
tContinued on Page FourD