Evening star., 1923-08-11
Selection of Secretary One of
First TaskS-Cabinet
Members Called In.
SEMI-WEEKLY MEETINGS
TO REOPEN TUESDAY
Conferences With Leaders of Con.
gress Also on His Engage
ment List Today.

President Coolidge returned to
washington early today from Marion.
where yesterday he attended the fu-
neral of President Harding. He mo-
tored directly from his special train
to his temporary executive offices at
the Willard Hotel.
The Presidents return to his desk
was regarded as marking the actual
beginning of his task of formulating
the policies which are to govern his
conduct in office. During the interim
since he took the oath of office a
week ago he has been almost con-
stantly engaged with the funeral
ceremonies OF his predecessor and he
made it a rule to take no decisive
action on any public question until
the last obsequies were over.
Cabinet to Stay.
One of the first concerns NJ tho
Chief Executive will be to select a
secretary to the President to succeed
george b. Christian. jr.. who resigned
yesterday Few other immediate
changes are expected in the per-
sonnel OF the administration. All the
cabinet members will stay, for the
present at least
For today, Mr.. Coolidge had on his
engagement list number of cnnfer
ences win leaders in Congress and
others who desired to Law before hin
Information and advice on many sub
jects.
among Among the first to call after the
president reached his hotel were
Representative Graham. one Of the
candidates for the republican leader
snip IN tn next House, and Representa-
tative "urzbach, republican, Texas.
Calls Members of Cabinet.
Members of the cabinet were seen
by the President in groups or in
dividually, and the pending business
OF the respective departments was gone
over thoroughly, so that the Chief
Executive might be advised as 10 all
important questions on which deci-
sions soon may be necessary. The
first Of the cabinet members to be
summoned were Secretaries Hughes,
Weeks and Hoover. They were fol-
Work.
Postmaster General New saw the
president shortly before noon, and
Attorney General Daugherty had an
engagement later in the day
1t was announced that regular
meeting of the cabinet would be held
next Tuesday, and that thereafter the
usual custom of meetings on Tues
days and Fridays would be followed.
Pressure 10 Renewed.
President Coolidge's return from
Marion was accompanied by a re-
newal of the pressure on him for an
extra session of Congress
Several of those who want an extra
session already have placed their
views before the President, and those
who oppose the idea also have been
heard, but to none. so far as can be
learned. has he indicated a decision.
Advocates of Immediate action
have based their pleas on the neces-
sity of quickly enacting legislation
to help the farmers in the market
ing of their crops and to settle the
coal question. Those averse to the
idea believe nothing can be gained
from an extra session at this time.
Pleads for Farmers.
Before Mr.. Coolidge went to Mar
ion Senator ShipStead. farmer-labor
senator from Minnesota. told him
that Congress should be convened.
but on the same day Representative
John NJ. Nelson, republican. of Wis
consin. a member of the progressive
bloc. said a call would do no good.
Other members have expressed SINH
lar divergent views.
Representative Young. republican
North Dakota, called on the President
Thursday and told him that action
was necessary Immediately in his ter
ritory to save a very serious situa-
tion. Farmers. he said, were in
desperate plight, with wheat selling
below the cost OF production. He
also said that part of the country
was greatly interested in coal legis-
lation Revival of the United States
Grain Corporation was favored he
said. as one of the remedies possible
Numerous petitions had gone to
the President from the northwest,
Mr.. Young said. urging congressional
action.