Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-09-13
MELLON To RETIRE,
WEEKS To SUCCEED
HIM, REPORT SAYS
Treasury Head Complains
to Friend of Hard Work,
Army and Navy and Other
Department Consultations
BY ROBERT r. SMALL
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
(COnYrfght. 1921

| the completion or President dar-
| ding's first half year in the White
House, reports have come Of impend-
| ing cabinet changes, reports which
have the merit Of FEASIBILITY if not
Of official verifcation.
| Some of these rumors have grown
| out of the movement to consolidate
| two or three of the executive depart
ments presided over by cabinet men,
| bers, while the best authenticated re-
port is attributed to remarks made
by a cabinst member himself.
Ever since the day of the inaugu
ration last March it has been a fixed
| policy Of the administration to con-
solidate the war and navy depart
ments into a single department of ma
tional defense. This consolidation
| would affect two of the most popular
ton. Secretaries Weeks and DENLY,
and naturally there has been much
speculation as to which would be let
out" when the impending changes
should take place. President Harding
stated to the writer prior to his in
auguration that the cabinet members
involved were accepting office on the
understanding that they might be at
fected by the departmental reorgant-
| cations he had in mind.
However, If current reports be true,
| the dilemma as to Secretaries Weeks
and DENLY is in fair way Of solving
itself. While official denials have
been made, the report persists that
| Andrew w. Mellon, Of Pittsburg, Sec
rotary of the treasury, soon will re-
| ports became SO insistent recently
| that George Christian, secretary to
| the president, entered a formal denial
| Of them.
! Weeks for Treasury
1t is perfectly understood in Wash
| to be relieved from the treasury
portfolio, Secretary Weeks, now in
| the department. would naturally fall
| heir to the position. AS a matter OF
fact, when the cabinet was being
formed last January and February,
Mr.. Weeks was considered as secre-
tary of the treasury, but later was
shifted to be head of the war de-
partment when Senator Knox and
others urged Mr.. Mellon, reputed to
be the second richest 8nan in the
United States, for the treasury. 1t
| 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 head
of the treasury department, at this
critical period in the finances of the
| nation, much more onerous duty
than he expected when he gave his
consent to serve last winter.
1t is related here that recently a
director in one of the many Mellon
institutions came to Washington and
went to the treasury department to
pay his respects to the secretary.
''Well, A. w." he is reported to
have said. "how do you like your
new task?"
The secretary placed his left hand
on stack Of letters about two feet
high. His right hand waved in the
direction of other piles of papers in
the big mahogany desk.
His Hardest Job
"I have been used to hard work all
Of my life" the secretary replied, &C
cording to the story, but this is the
hardest job l ever had. 1 come to
the office as early as half past 8 in
the morning and often I must remain
here until 9 or 10 o'clock at night.
Lots of times I feel that 1 am too
old man for this work. 1 have
reached the time Of life when men
rest, or when they are relegated to
positions which have nominal duties
only. The long years [ have labored
naturally have entitled me to a rest
at this time. And yet 1 find myself
engaged in the hardest work I ever
undertook. L have accumulated
enough to live on (the secretary is
reputed to be worth anywhere from
don't know that [ shall stay here
very long"
Secretary Mellon is sixty-nine
years old, the oldest member of the
cabinet, and there is no question but
that his position has been a difficult
one. 1t is said that he fully real
lied what he would be "tn for" as
head of the treasury department dur
ing the period of reconstruction and
that he demurred to undertaking so
reluctance reached Senator Penrose,
so the story goes, and the latter dis
missed it with a gesture Of impa-
thence.
"Why, to a man of your expert
ence." he pooh-poohed sit would be
only a matter of a couple of hours
a day"
Despite his we'll known wizardry
at finance, Mr.. Mellon has found it
a ten and twelve-hour task daily. The
rumors as to his retirement are di-
rectly traceable to the reported in
terview with one of his directors, and
Washington feels that when the sec
rotary has accomplished a little more
in the way of getting the treasury
on it's feet he will ask to be relieved
Graves and which he feels he has
won.
Welfare Department
1t is thus seen that the placing of
ment would solve one of the prob
lens which will face the president
when congress authorizes the merg
ing of the war and navy depart
ments. However,. another problem
is arising. Mr.. Harding. is committed
i 4oJ- - ~ 1O
partment of public welfare. It isl
now understood the labor department
will be merged with the new welfare
department. Secretary James j.
Davis is head of the department of
labor, but General Charles E. Sawyer,
the presidents personal physician,
has generally been accepted as the
probable head of the department Of
public welfare when created. This
situation, therefore, presents a prob
lem which the president himself
must solve.
All of the other department heads
in the cabinet seem very well con-
tented and to be accomplishing all
that the president desires. Secretary
Hughes is one of the main elements
Postmaster General Hayes has proved
a real Give wire" in a department
which needed galvanizing. Attorney
General Daugherty has frequently
characterized himself as the "trou-
BILE clerk" of the administration, and
there have been rumors that he might
find it necessary for financial rea-
sons to return to private practice,
but, these rumors can be put down
as premature, if not wholly false.
Secretaries Hoover, Wallace and Fall
seem especially happy in their re-
spective positions, and are carrying
on to the presidents evident salts
faction.
GLADSTONE DISEASE
Dr. E. E. Paddock. physician of Kansas
City. Mo. Box 5S201. is giving away a free
book improved method of treating inflamma
ton and catarrh of Gall Bladder and Bile Duets |