The National tribune., 1890-02-27
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
The Weeks DNingS at The Ma
tiOnal Capital

DECORATING THE MILITARY DEPARTMENT.
Ever since the completion and occupation of
the beautiful State, War and Navy Department
Building the corridors and staiTways OF the
Navy entrance, on the east side and the war
DEPARTMENT entrance. on the west, have been
the darkest and most gloomy and unInvitlng
of any such places IN all Of the great Govern
ment buildings here, until Tecently,when Chief
Engineer Thorn Williamson. II. ;. Navy, the
Superintendent of the building. has succeeded
i'm impressiug his artistic views upon the minds
of the respective Secretaries OF the Military
Departments Of the Government.
In the Navy side the corridors along the
ratings Of the great stone stairways have been
embellished by at least score Of models OF the
new vessels completed and uncOmpcted, Tor
the modern Navy, and these models, Enclosed
in tall glass cases on stands. are complete III
every detail rs 90 armor, turrets, battle shields,
spars rigging pinnacle, great guns, OF huge
bore. rapid-f firing and Calling guns. on an exact
scale with the ship. rig aud armament that each
represents These models are arranged along
the noor upon which the visitor enters through
the main eastern door, and also in the corridor
above that along the floor opposite the entrance
70 the office Of the Secretary OF the Navy.
Ii is seldom during each day that curious
groups Of visitors are not found intently study
ing the details shown in each model, and even
Navy men who have not had opportunities,
through their duties abroad, 10 keep full pace
with this undermining Of our Navy. may be
found there examining critically, and COM
pairing what they see with the types OF modern
vessels Of other nations that they have met and
visited abroad.
GA Tie Mar Department side, before Mr.. Will
Hanson cot Secretary Proctor interested in his
ideas tire place was as arc and unnvitng as
an old Comm issary storchouse but now within
the past week ii has bloomcd ont into thing
Of beauty that will not only delight the heart
Of every visiting veteran there but the general
public rs well. aHd especially the art lovers.
Just inside the main western entrance, on the
main floor. are fixed racks on either side
full of oid-time dragon and officers pistols OF
the type single barrcled in use AT The date Of
the Mexican war. and many Of them are lint
locks inst beyond the entrance. across the
corridor. n stand OF United States aud Regi-
mental C0ors is gracefully drapcd along the
ceiling between the iron columns.
From this corridor where the wide granite
stairway sweeps upward 20 right and left IN
scmiciFclr line Of portraits of past Secreta-
ries Of War nave been hung beginning with
Gen. Henry Knox on the right aud gen. Tim
othyPickgTiug on the left and thus alternating
in order Of succession. from bottom 10 top.
These first two served under President Wash
ington from Sept. u 1889. until President
John Adams chose James Mcienry. Of Mary
land for whom Fort McIenry, at Baltimore,
was named. January p, 1896.
These portraits are all in oil, Of a gener-
ally uniform size aud each handsome frame is
ornamenied with tablet giving tile name. pc
riod Of holding the Office, and the President
each served. IL has been the custom for many
years that the War Department should possess
a good portrait of.each Secretary Of War, and
it thus happens that this large collection which
has heretofore been hidden from the general
public Oh the walls Of the rooms occupied by
the incumbent Secretary, presents a fair expo
sition OF the best efforts Of the best American
portrait painters. and points ont the progress Of
portrait art in the United States during the
present century.
Along each wall Of each fight Of stairs from
story 20 story Of the huge building, there is
room for just fifteen Of these portraits thirty
TO each story, SO that the exposition will be
Tied well mp 70 the top 81 the floor on which
the Secretary has his Offices FOR there have been
in all 81 appointments as Secretary Of War.
OF this number. however. 90 were ad interim
appointments, for periods ranging from few
hours only Attorney General Reyerdy John
son. March 6, 1883, and Secretary OF the Navy
Samuel Southland, May &c 1928, to the incum-
beucy Of Gen II. :. Grant during Mr.. Stan
tons suspcusi0nJ AHg. u. 1907. to Jan. H. 1865.
James Monroe. while Secretary Of State 10
President Madison. was appointed to this Office
hd interim, Aug 30 1914 but was appointed
Secretary % War de fact0 sept. q 1cli, hold
ing the Office until March. ISIS.
Gen. Grant. Gen. Sherman. t.-Gen Scott,
Thomas, aud five Chief Clerks Of tie Depart
nent, have been among the Acting Secretaries,
one Of The last acting under Madison, and
again under Monroe, for considerable periods.
j. b. the intention 10 range along these floors
IN the same manner that the ship models are
displayed on the other side. as told, full-sizcd
Calling gun, and display IN full Of the
progress o. construction Of infantry rifles and
cavalry sabeTs. showing each piece Of metal
from the crude lump to the finished part ready
20 be fitted with the Others To make the com
plete arm.
d. not know why these halls would not be
excellent 70 display the flags held AS trophies Of
our several wars, as b tile custom with every
military nation upon earth but our own, aud il
would be- an emineniiy fitting place, too.
PAWN ssT-E-GEEERAL ROCHESTER, RETIRED.
Brighten. William Beatty Rochester, Pay
master-GeBeral, u. ;. Army reached the age Of
% years on February -, and at noon Of that
date. under the operations Of the compulsory
law. WAS placed upon the Retired List.
de was born al Rochester, n. Y, IN 1926, and
after graduating at college, studied law, but
paid little attention 10 lis profession.
AZ tie 0utbreal, u the rebellion be was ap-
pointed Major aud Additional Paymaster Of Vol
nnieers and served most 81 the time as Post Pay
master ln Washington aEd in paying of die
charged volunteer officers. until l-67, when he
was transferred 10 the Regular Army as Pay
master. ia 1882 February 10 he succeeded
Gen. Nathan Brown as Paymaster- General and
has since resided ID Washington, which he will
make bis permanent home.
lie is the grandson II Iaj. Nathaniel ROch-
ester for whom the city Of Rochester was
named, who WAS Paymzster Of the North Car
olina Line 10 the early ycars Of the Revolution,
and aiterward Deputy CommissaTy General Of
the Continental Army.
The candidates most prominently mentioned
for appointment - the vacancy Of Paymaster-
General. are COl. Rodney Smith aud Col VIII
liam a. Rucker, Assistant Paymasters-G General !:
Lieut-Col. William T. Gibson aud Lieut. Col
Charles 81. Ierrill, Deputy Paymasters General,
and Mai- Asa Il. Carey, Faymaster Col Smith
d. The senior Of all IN iIneai rank; Col. Rucker
is the brother Of Gen. Daniel II. Rucker, Quar-
termastef General (retiredJ. and the uncle Of
Mrs. Philip ii. Sheridan: Lient-Col Gibson Is
tie senior Deputy. and has been continuously
in the service since lsJ1; Lieut.-C0l. Terrell is
from Indiana, close friend Of President Har-
TisoD during many years and brother Of the
War Aljufant-GcucTal under Governor Morton.
Maj. Carey is the only applicant 30 far who Is a
West Pointer but has been IN The Pay Depart
Eneui since 1867 when be was appointed from
Captain n the 18Th II. 5. Inf, and has been a
candid when the position WAS vacant before
The Acting Paymaster-General for the time
being ID Maj. Culver q. Suhin, who was one oi
the Secretaries for Gen. Grant when the latter
was President