Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-03
Today He Took Charge Of the De-
partment.
THE INTERIOR PORTFOLIO
A Meeting With the Heads Of
Divisions.
PLEAS SAINT GREETING S

Ex-Gov Francis of Missouri. the newt,
appointed Secretary Of the Interior. ar
rived in Washington at 8 o'clock this morn
ing and went to the Arlington Hotel. He
was accompanied by his oldest son. J. d
Perry Francis, who is a senior at Yale
Mrs. Francis. who is now in the east, Ii
expected here this afternoon.
Secretary Francis has six boys. One will
go to Yale this year in addition to Perry
two will be sent to st. Paul's School al
Concord. N. H., and the other two will be
here with their parents.
The new Secretary was seen at the Ar
l!ngton this afternoon by a Star reporte!
just as he was going into luncheon with
First Assistant Postmaster General Jones
Il was sworn in this morning." said he,
taking the oath before Justice Harlan
This afternoon will go to the department
and meet the heads Of the various bureaus
and divisions. and tomorrow morning be-
gin work familiarizing myself with my
duties
No Politics Now.
The reporter. who had frequently inter
viewed Mr.. Francis on politics when he
was a governor. and afterward, and had
always drawn forth incisive and direct
views on the situation. intimated as deli
cately as possible that there was a cam
paign in progress that the new Secretary
might know u whole lot about.
Mr.. Francis smiled pleasantly.
Not now" he answered. Il hardly think
1t would be opportune to talk politics at
this time"
He is looking remarkably well. and his
nne athletic figure moves as though II
were stretched on steel springs.
The oath was administered to Mr.. Francis
in the office of the Secretary of the Treas
ury. There were present to witness the
ceremony Secretary Carlisle. Secretary
Lamont and number of treasury officials.
At the Interior Department.
At ) o'clock this afternoon Mr.. Francis
was escorted to the Interior Department
by Acting Secretary Reynolds, and at
once taken to the Office of the Secretary.
BY direction of Judge Reynolds telephone
messages had been sent out by Acting
Chief Clerk DeLacey to all heads Of bu-
reaus and chiefs of division to meet the
new Secretary in his office, the chiefs of
bureaus at J o'clock and the chiefs of d.
vision at 3:3O o'clock.
Judge Reynolds introduced the various
gentlemen who assembled from the land
ONCE, Indian bureau. the geological sur
vey, bureau Of education, patent office,
United States railroad commissioner Of
nee. pension bureau and other branches
OF the great department over which the
missouri ex-governor vas SO suddenly and
Unexpectedly called to preside.
III was not convenient today for the new
Secretary to receive the clerks of the de-
Partment. and an appointment for this i'm
portant function will be announced tomor-
row. The new Secretary bore himself like
man well pleased with his surroundings,
and certainly made a good impression on
his assistants and subordinates. Quite a
number of the higher officials were not
present 20 meet Secretary Francis, being
absent from Washington on their summer
vacation.
Among these were Assistant Secretary
Sims and Capt. Womack, chief clerk of the
department. Secretary Smith having left
for Atlanta last evening, was unable t.
tnduct his successor into Office.