Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-08-27

gan, who was Secretary of the Inter-
ior for two years under President
Grant, was not a lawyer by profess
sion and yet he left the reputation of
being one of the most successful Of
ficers that ever served at the head of
the department.
The Department of the Interior was
established in 1s49, and since that
time there have been 20 Secretaries,
the first one being Thomas Ewing, of
Ohio, who served under Taylor.
There were three Secretaries of the
Interior under Fillmore-namely, Jas.
A. Pierce, Thomas McKernon and
Alexander H. H. Stewart. Robert
Mcclellan was the head of the de-
partment under Pierce; Jacob Thomp-
son, under Buchanan; Caleb B. Smith
and John P. Usher, under Lincoln,
and James Harlan and Norvel II.
Browning were the chiefs under John
son. During Grants administration
there were three Secretaries-Jacob
d. Cox, Columbus Delano and Zach
Chandler. Carl Schurz was the Sec
rotary under Hayes; Samuel j. Kirk
wood under Garfield; Henry M. Tel
Ter under Arthur, and L. @, @. Lamar
and William F. Villas during the first
administration of Mr.. Cleveland.
John w. Noble, of Missouri, was Sec
rotary under Harrison, and Hoke
Smith, up to this time, under the Sec
ond Cleveland administration. Carl
Schurz and John w. Noble were the
only Secretaries of the Interior ap-
pointed from Missouri.
While it is generally understood
that the head of the Interior Depart
ment ought to be a lawyer of distin-
ability, there is no reason
why a man of keen intelligence, sound
common sense and good executive
should not discharge the du-
lies Of the Office ably and ac~ceptably.
Both the Assistant Secretaries of the
are lawyers. There Is an
Assistant Attorney General assigned
% the Interior Department, and the
Commissioner of the Land Office and
he Commissioner of Patents are law
of ability.
The work of the Interior Depart
nent is now in a more satisfactory
condition than at any tins in % years.
The work is almost up to date. Sec
'etary Smith has been a most PAINS
aking and capable officer. When he
ook charge of the department all the
york was from six months to a cou-
lie of years behind. Now it is up to
late and everything is running like
Mr.. Smiths successor
vill only have to exercise executive
discretion and good ordinary sense to
ischarge the duties of the office sat
,factorily during the remainder OF this
administration.
Governor Francis arrived in Wash
,gton Saturday morning, but was
een by a few people only. He stated
nat he was en- route to jamestown,
l., to see his family, who are spend
lg the summer there. He had o talk
18th Secretary Carlisle, the only men,
er of the Cabinet in the city, except ,
ecretary Smith, of the Interior De- ,
artment. =
1t was learned late this evening that !
3 was in New York City to-day, but :
IT there this evening for st. Louis. '
Governor Francis will probably as =
lme office September 1, as that is !
10 date named in Secretary Smiths 7
!.
Smith evinced the great =
It satisfaction when he heard the y
lme OF his successor. He said In re- .
'onse to questions: =
81 have the pleasure of an intimate q
,rsonal acquaintance with Governor z
.ancis and esteem HIM most highly. .
0 liz a man OF marked ability. OF Q
'urse I feel q deep interest in the de- 4
Irtment and I don't know anyone to
hom I would more willingly turn it
In
Secretary Smith Immediately tele- b,
aphed his congratulations to Cow b,
NOR Francis. He expects to rsIin- ic