Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-08
AT THEIR DESKS.
The New Secretaries Getting Into
Official Harness.
CALLS AND GOOD WISHES.
All Are Compelled to Meet Many Visitors
No Changes Arranged for as Yet-Gossip
as to What May Happen When Things Get
to . Business Basis.

oince OF secretary OF State and 1t Is expected
that they will call tomorrow-diplomatic day
and pay their respects TO Secretary Gresham.
Several called this morning including Senior
Romero, the Mexican minister, and Dr. Guz-
man, the Nicaraguan minister The Secretary
arrived at the department at lOl5
O'Clock and was engaged most of the
day in receiving callers. His mail was large.
consisting principally of messages of congratu-
iatlon. Assistant Secretarv Wharton gave him
every assistance and will remain in the depart
ment until his successor shall have qualified,
probably Friday or Saturday.
NOT MANY CHANGES EXPECTED.
II is not expected thar many changes will be
made in the State Department. Most of the
bureau chiefs and clerks are old in service and
were undisturbed during the previous demo-
cratic administration. Secretary Gresham has
already announced the selection of Mr. Quincy
of Massachusetts, as his chief assistant in place
Of Mr.. Wharton and his nomination
will probably be among the number to be sent
TO the Senate tomorrow. Second Assistant Sec
retary Adee. who is one of the oracles Of the de-
partnent. will undoubtedly be retained. He is
an authority on all questions relating to the
diplomatic and consular services and is well
nigh indispensable in the proper transaction of
the business of the department. A change may
be made in the Office of third assistant secre-
tary, now filled by Mr.. Grinnell He was
appointed during the last administration and
has rendered good service during the short
time he has been in the department.
TWO CONFIDENTIAL OFFICES
vacancy now exists in the Office Of solicitor
of the department. It was vacated few weeks
ago by Mr.. Partridge the present minister to
Venezuela. Mr.. H. 7. Raymond, private secre-
tary to ex-Secretary Tracy. was nominated to
the Office, but his nomination was not acted on
l., .l~.,S =. Il
OF the department and the Secretary is in con-
slant need of his services. The Office is under
the Department of Justice. but bv reason oe its
close relationship to the Secretary of State is
usually filed by one of his personal friends.
Another Office almost as confidential in its
duties is that Of chief clerk. During the last
democratic administration il filled by Mr..
j. F. Lee of MARYLAND, who was subsequently
transferred to the Brazilian legation. Mr.
Sevellon Brown succeeded HIM as chief clerk
and remained in the department until January
Is last when he in turn was succeeded
by the incumbent. Mr.. Robert T. Chiffon,
formerly private secretary to ex-Vice PresI-
dent Morton. He is an old en-
ploye of the department and is thoroughly
familiar with its customs and traditions. He
has proved a most efficient officer aud should
Secretary Gresham deem lit advisable to ap-
point new chief would undoubtedly be trans
ferred to some other Office in the department.
As stated in yesterdays STAR, Mr.. Harry b
Bryan of the bureau of American republics will
be Secretary Gresham's private secretary. Mr.
Sidney. Smith, who held that Office under Sec
retaries Blaine and Foster. has been assigned
to other duties in the department
At the request of the worlds fair directors
the Secretary Of State has distributed invita-
tions to the opening ceremonies May to all
the members of the cabinet and to the ministers
and first secretaries of the fore IN legations.
Free transportation is provided for the cabinet
officers, but not for the diplomats.
The War Department.
Secretary Lamont received the officers and
clerks of the War Department at 10 O'Clock
this morning. Assistant Secretary Grant and
Chief Clerk Tweedale made the presentation.
The bureau chiefs were accompanied by their
assistants, all of whom are officers of the army
All were in civilian dress except Gen. Greely of
the signal service bureau, who wore full
dress uniform. Secretary Lamont is well
acquainted with Gen. Schofield and
nearly all the other prominent officers
stationed here The officials were followed bv
stream of Congressman and public function
aries generally, who desired to renew the ac-
about the doors was so great that it became
necessary to turn the reception into public
ceremony.
AN IMMENSE MAIL.
Secretary Lamont had an immense mail this
morning. including mass of congratulations,
but had no time to attend to it, leaving his
secretary, Mr.. Seager, the duty of arranging
the letters for future consideration. Among
his callers were Senators Cullom, Jones of
Arkansas and Mills.
In the afternoon the Secretary had business
conference with Assistant Secretary Grant
FEW PURELY POLITICAL OFFICES
There are very few purely political Offices at
the disposal Of the Secretary of War and also
very few opportunities for its incumbent to
make political capital Ex-Secre.ary Elkins
and Secretary Lamont are conspicuous espe-
cially for their political astuteness however and
80 far as the last named is concerned will
display it in cabinet councils and in private
conference with the President more than is
possible in the legitimate administration Of
army ma alters. There are really only two Of
fees in the department Of any Importance out
side of the heads that are changed with sue
ceeding administrations.
These are the assistant secretary and the
private secretary. There are Of course a chief
clerk and bureau and division officers. Mr.
John Tweedale has been chief clerk SO long
and under 80 many different administra-
tions and is SO peculiarly identified with
the office that . change in his Office is
almost beyond probability. The bureau
offices are filled by army officers during active
service and the offices of chiefs of division have
been held SO long by their iucumbents or been
filed SO uniformly by promotion that they nave
always been regarded as outside Of the category
Of political offices.
MOST SERVED IN THE WAR.
Most of the incumbents served in the civil
war as volunteers and were appointed to their
present positions many years ago because Of
specially meritorious service ON the field Of
battle.
The clerical force is large, especially in the
division devoted to the consideration Of PEN
sion cases, but it is in the regular classified
civil service. The only exceptions to this are
the messengers and watchmen. and these, like
most Of the division chiefs, are nearly all vet
Grams Of the war.
GEN. GRANTS SUCCESSOR
Therefore the only offices in the department
proper where changes are yet to be made are
those held by Assistant Secretary Grant and
Private Secretary Miller. The latter has
practically been succeeded by Mr.. John Seager,
well known to washingtonians as ex-Secretary
Whitney's stenogrxpher. He viii actas private
secretary to Secretary Lamont for Q few
months, at least, and his continuance in that
capacity win depend on his business engage
ments in New York.
Gen. Grants successor has been selected and
will be nominated tomorrow. HIS identity has
not vet been disclosed, but there are many
people who think that Gen. Underwood Of Ken