Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-08
Getting Acquainted
Keeps the New Secretaries
Busy for One Day.
A LEGION OF WILLING PATRIOTS

Make the Life of Some Senators a Burden
| Tho Mill Not Grinding Government
| Corn Yet. But Plenty of Work When It
Begins - Numerous Delegation at the
White House--A Gorgeous Gown Given
to Mrs. Harrison-A Democratic Straw
Develops In u Senate Caucus.
WASHINGTON CITY, March SThe wheels
of the executive departments, which have
been clogged by the excitement attending
the incoming of n new administration, have
not vet begun to turn. Yesterday all of the
new cabinet officers were busy receiving
friends and getting acquainted with bureau
chiefs and other officials Secretary Win
dom received n number of his old colleagues
in the senate, and u great many of the trea-
sury employees also called Secretary Tracy
saw about 400 friends and navy department
employees He was closeted with ex- Secretary
Chandler for long time All the forenoon
great throng of visitors and employees Of
the state department surged in and out of
Secretary Blsine's office at the state depart
ment. Mr. Blaine was in excellent spirits
and had pleasant word and a smile for all
with whom he shook hands Secretary
Proctor and ex-Secretary Endicott held
joint reception iii the secretary's Office at
the war department. Hundreds of officials
and employees called, who were introduced to
the new secretary, and babe the retiring sec
rotary goodbye
Russell Harrison, with party of Montana
friends, made the round of the departments,
calling Oh the secretaries only TO pay their
respects and with no design on the offices
Gen. Sherman and Admiral Porter were
among the visiting notables. The assistant
secretary OF states chair is held just now by
Walker Blaine, but whether he is to be the
permanent incumbent is not known
There have been no official changes re-
corded yet, but the old incumbents are max
ing way for the new. Among those who have
sent In their designations are the following:
First Comptroller Durham and Commissioner
of Internal Revenue Miller There are dozens
of other officials who have rendered or are
ready 10 tender their designations, and it
goes without saying that there is no dearth
OF willing ones ready to take the places as
soon as convenient.
In fact, the applicants for Office are legion
1t is said that Senator Cullom was seen
creeping around through the dark corridors
OF the Sci ate, and when asked If he had lost
himself replied: mo; l have just found
way to get TO my committee room without
running foul of a lot of office seekers"
"Tbe rush of applicants for office is truly
enormous" said Senator Henderson Yesterday
afternoon. FIR every position applications
come pouring in and they range from a cab
met office down to the humble place of char
woman in the government printing office
list or the Nebraskans who would like to
serve their country would he directory of
the state"
II Is too early to say who are going TO be
lucky, but it is said that Governor Alger has
the naming of solicitor general and that he
has named Col H. NJ Duftield, of Detroit
The Michigan delegation Is convinced that
ex-Representativs Horr will get the Mexican
mission. The Ohioans, headed by Senator
Sherman and Representative Mckinley,
pushed the claims OF Gen. Brown, Il member
OF the late congress and one-legged soldier
for commissioner OF pensions. They think
they landed him.
Huston, chairman OF the Indiana Repub-
lican state committee, is slated for several
positions, among them treasurer of the
United States, and John Fl. Oberly seems 20
be the choice of many Republicans for Demo
cratic member OF the civil service commits
sioner. One OF the early appointments. in all
probability, will DO that Of Dudley Foulke
Of Indiana, a strong and working Repub-
lican but an earnest civil service reformer, to
be q member Of the commission.
The g ssip is that the Illinois men will try
to agree 10 press Illinois claims for the posi-
ton OF public printer and the first assistant
postmaster general, and for these offices the
names Of Capt. w. ". Meredith and Clark
E Carr may be agreed upon 1t was stated
that Indiana would join hands with Illinois
70 get in these two offices if ILL
nois would help the Hooser state to
get the Office Of United States treasurer
for ]. y. Huston, and the bureau Of engrav-
ing and printing for Capt. Holloway, OF In
dianapolis 1t was also suggested that Ohio
would cooperate with its support for these
offices ii Indiana and Illinois backed Ohio's
choice for the pension commissionership and
assistant secretary OF the treasury.
The president has already caused it TO be
understood that there is nothing to be gained
by presenting claims for outside offices at
this time These will not be taken I'D in
earnest for O month or two The first thing
20 be attended TO is the reorganization OF the
departments
In all OF the executive departments located
In the state, war and navy building the
changes likely 10 result from the change In
politics OF the administration are few in num-
Der, because long line OF precedents favor
the continuation Of the hareau chiefs In the
state department, while in the others the
superior posts are mostly filed by detailed
army or navy officers
One of the busiest officers of the new ad-
ministration is likely to be Postmaster Gen.
eral Wanamaker. The first thing to engage
his attention will probably be the 1900
vacant postof1ces, 1000 of which are fourth
class places made vacant by designations
They were oil filed by the assistant post
master general, but on Feb. rs the postmaster
general refused to sign any more commits
sions. There are 213 presidential places to
All Of tho raynaipdar ha sapafa