The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-11

solving itself While official denials have been made, the report persists that Andrew w. Mellon of Pittsburg. Secretary of the Treasury, will soon retire from that position. These re- ports became so insistent recently that George Christian, secretary to the President, enterer a formal de- niai of them.
 Weeks Wants Post
 Is is perfectly understood in Wash ington that if MT. Mellon should ask to be relieved from the treasury port folio Secretary Weeks, now in the war department, would naturally fall heir to the position. AS matter of fact when the cabinet was being formed last January and February. MT. Weeks was considered as Secre- tary of the Treausry, but later was ! shifted to the head of the war de- partment when Senator Knox and others urged MT. Mellon. reputed to be the second richest man in the United States for the treasurey. ft was said to be Mir. Weeks ambition to be Secretary of the Treasury and there is now reason to believe he will achieve that ambition in a com paratively short time.
 There is no doubt that Secretary Mellon has found his position as heA i of the treasury department, at this critical period in the finances of the nation a much more onerous duty than he expected when he gave his consent to serve last winter.
 It is related here that recently a director in one of the many Mellon institutions came to Washington and went to the treasury department and c tA Well, A. w." he is reported to have said. how do you like your new task?"
 The secretary placed his left ahnd on stack of letters about two seet high. His right hand waved in the direction of other piles of papers in the big mahogany desk.
 His Hardest Job
 T have been used to hard work all of my life" the secretary replied. according to the story, but this is the hardest job l ever had. I come to the office as early as half past In the morning and often I must remain here until g or 10 o'clock at night. Lots of times I feel that am too old a man for this work. I have reached the time of life when men rest, or when they are reIegated to positions which have nominal du- tles only. The long years l have labored naturally have entitled me 10 rest at. this time. And vet I flnd myself engaged in the hardest Work ever undertook. l have &C., cumuiated enough to live on (the sec retary Is reputed to be worth any, where from S200, O0O, 900 to $500 O00 : oo0) and l don't know that I shall stay here very long,"
 secretary Mellon is 69 years old, ene oldest member of the cabinet, and there is no question but that his DO . sitlon has been difficult one. It is said that he fully realized what he would be fin for" as head of the treasury department during the pe- iiod of reconstruction, anu that he demurred at undertaking 1. heavy a task at his time of life. This re- luctance reached Senator Penrose, so the story goes, and the latter dis missed it with a gesture of impa- tience.
 Why, to a man of your experi- ence." he -poohed, it would be only matter of couple of hours a day"
 Despite his well known wizardry at finance. MT. Mellon has found it 10 and 12 hour task daily. The urmors as to his retirement are directly traceable to the reported interview with one of his directors, and Wash ington feels that when the secretary has accomplished a little more in the way of getting the treasury on it's feet, he will ask to be relieved to enjoy some of the leisure he craves and which he feels he has won. It is thus seen that the placing of