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.
P LIE A S Mt INGS

Ex-Gov. Francis of Missouri, the newly
appointed Secretary of the Interior, ar
rived in Washington at o'clock this morn
ing and went to the Arlington Hotel. He
was accompanied by his oldest son, ]. D.
Perry Francis. who is a senior at Yale.
Mrs. Francis. who is now in the east, is
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. Paurs School at
Concord. N. H., and the other two will be
here with their parents
The new Secretary was seen at the Ar
Engton this afternoon by a Star reporter
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 1 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
might know whole lot about.
MIR. 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
fine. athletic figure moves as though it
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 a 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 ) o'clock and the chiefs of di-
vision at 3:30 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 :nissioners Of
nee, pension bureau and other branches
or the great department over which the
Missouri ex-governor vas SO suddenly and
unexpectedly called to preside
1T 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 good impression on
his assistants and subordnates. Quite
number of the higher officials We're not
present % 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 to
induct his successor into office.