The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-25

St Augustine, Fla. Feb. 25.-With
developments moving toward final
conclusion of his tentative cabinet
slate President Harding took a holiday
from cabinet making and motored to
Jacksonville for a visit of courtesy,
He will return tonight. Mr.. Hard
ing continued his silence regarding the
whole cabinet situation and early in
the day solicitation of comment on
Herbert Hoovers acceptance of the
commerce portfolio was unavaiiing.
Since the president-elect began
choosing his cabinet he has taken the
attitude that too much was being pub
lished about his deliberations and it
was apparent today that he intended
now to clamp down the lid even
tighter
Harding denied that Hoover had at
tached any "stipulations'' to his ac-
ceptance of the commerce portfolio
and said they were "in perfect ac-
cord"
Unless there is some unexpected de-
velopments. he said, wallace will be
secretary of agriculture.
-Four Now Named.
This brings the total of official
cabinet announcements to four, the
appointment of Charles E. Hughes. as
secretary of state. and Harry M.
Daugherty. as attorney general, hav-
ing already been made known.
Harding said that altho Hoover was
at liberty to announce his own selec-
ton, he had thought best to hold the
announcement in reserve until today.
I'VE are in perfect accord as to
what the department ought to be
made" Harding said discussing Hoov-
er's plan for reorganizing the depart
"Mr. Hoover very properly and very
gratifyingly first inquired as to poll
cies'.'
Regarding appointment of Wallace
as secretary of agriculture, Harding
said that unless there are some un-
looked for arrangements, I have n
strong suspicion that Mr.. Wallace will
serve in that capacity"
VIII Slash Red Tape.
New York, Feb. 25.-So completely
are President t-elect Harding and Her
bert Hoover in accord on the proper
functions of the department of com
merce that the traditional personal
conference will be dispensed with. 1t
was learned today
Instead of going to Florida. the for
mer food administrator will devote
, the interim before taking I'D his Of
over to the subordinates all of his in
| ternational charity activities with the
exception of the American relief ad-
ministration, which he will continue
/ to direct.
| The conditions upon which Hoover
accepted the appointment include:
Complete reorganization of the de-
partment, extending it's scope so as to
include supervision of foreign COM
merce and virtual control of the United
States shipping board.
Free rein in administration of the
| department.
/ Complete cooperation from other
executive departments.
Elimination of all red tape"
! Hoover's associates pointed out that
the carrying out of his plans would
mean raising the department of COM
merce from practical obscurity to ono
of the most important posts in the
cabinet.
Washington Is Curious.
Washington, Feb. 25.-Washington
was wondering today whether Herbert
| Hoover. champion untangler of red
reaucratic barricades he will find
when he becomes secretary of COM
merce.
Hoover. in accepting the cabinet
post under Harding, declared he
planned to make it a real department
first Importance To do this, Hoover
will have to chop away a vast mass
of diplomatic state department tradi-
/ tion; to reconcile two theories that
mix like oil and water-straight from
the sho1lder business with plain
spoken American methods on the one
hand and kid glove diplomacy with
unending delay on the other.
The department of commerce has
a foreign service of its own. consist
ing of trade commissioners and COM
mercial attaches, scattered over but
not covering the world This was es-
tab1ished to escape complete depen.
dence upon consuls of foreign trade
information Il
AS much of the world as the com.
merce department covers 1t reports
with free rein for the benefits OF
American exporters. Where he has
no representative, however. it depends
on the consuls who are under contro
of the state department. which neani
that it gets only what the state de.
partment blue pencil passes.
II 4 country goes bankrupt or Boil
shevik. the commerce department
wants TO get the information out. Blu
| the state department doesn't like II
publish matter that would sound ua
diplomatic.