Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-15

RDA 7, FEBRUARY 10,
of an audience when it Unnecessary for them
to see him. He places great reliance on his
assistants, and scarceiyever overrules their
decisions and not then until he has first con-
WINGED them of the wisdom of the change.
He Invariably approves the action of the
disposing of the daily official mail the only
thing necessary to secuSe his signature is a
brief statement of the case by the chief
clerk, with the remark that the letter is APP
proved by the head of the bureau to which it
relates. He has a great deal of work to do
and it keeps him at his desk in the depart
ment until late at night. 1t Is a subject of
remark among those competent to speak
that he does more work at night, perhaps,
than any other officer Of the government.
Outside of his official duties he has lots of
business to transact. Every politician who
visits the capital, and almost everybody
who has business with any of the depart
ments of the government, thinks it of prime
Importance to secure the personal influence
of Secretary Lamont This explains why
his reception room at the War Department
is always thronged with visitors during the
working hours of the day. 1t is safe as
sertion that no democratic politician has
visited Washington during the present ad-
ministration who has not called at the War
Department to pay his respects to Sec
letary Lamont, at the same time improving
the opportunity to impart corfidentially all
the latest campaign secrets in his possess
sion.
In this way partly Secretary Lamont is
able to be a veritable encyclopedia of the
inside political history of the country and
it also accounts for the fact that he is such
an infallihle judge of men and affairs. He
krows more of the inside history of the
present administration and says less about
it than probably any member of the Presi-
dents official family.
The "SiIent Secretary,
He ohsorhc evaryfhng and poya, +olIs,
anything This trait has causedshim to be
variously known as the Silent Secretary
and the political sphynX.'' All his visitors
contribute to his knowledge, but none OF
them learns from him anything but what
he thinks it proper to 1mpart. He has a
great knack of pleasing his visitors. They
usually leave him under the impression
that he wished them to linger, but that
they could not do SO without infringing
Upon his multifarous duties. AS has been
in consultation he is either reading or
writing. Magazines and newspapers are his
favorite literature. He writes a great deal
and seldom resorts to dictation, although
he has several expert stenographers availa-
bic. He composes easily AMI writes rapidly,
and finds that he can do more work and
with greater personal satisfaction in that
way than by trusting to the mechanical
assistance of others. His annual reports
and all his official and most of his private
correspondence are usually written by him
when most OF his assistants are resting
from the labors of the day.
He is remarkably abstemious in mis- habits
He does not smoke, drink nor chew tobacco
and he has no time for card playing or any
games of skill or chance. His only pastimc
is HSninS, and he INDUCES it to the full on
his summer vacations. Those who know
say he Is expert with the rod, although
they admit that most of his best work in
this direction has been done in the saIty
waters of the ocean and its tributaries
his unbroken good nature and his quiet
wit and philosophy have made him a great
iaVoFite IN society, and the entertainments
at ms house are among the most attractive
at the national capital.
Naturally modest, he avoids everything
approaching notoriety, and at every public
junction where his presence is necessary
ne endeavors to make himself as incon-
spicuous as possible. One strange fact
ABOUT his career as public official is that
he mas never been known to make n set
speech either at banquet a noliticaI
gathering or at any sort of public cere-
inony. 1t Is popularity believed that he pur-
poseiy absented himself from the ceremo-
mes attending the dedication of the Chicka-
manga National Park because of his dis
Inclination to making a public address He
was eA-oftoo III charge of the arrange
nlents Tor that occasion, and had he been
present would naturally have been called
on 10 take a prominent part in the proceed
lhgs HIS REGULARITY in this respect is at
routed mainly to dihidence and to a
aDDrpa
dlspiay or ostentation. He IS as gentle as
a enid, and one of the most eyen-temnered
men in the world. No one ever saw him
sno" tne ieast signs of temper, and it is
sald OF him that he never used a harsh or
Gnkind word to any human being no mat
Ter now great the provocation to do so may
have been.
AS The Secretary of War.
Secretary Lamonts administration of the
war department has been marked by
many important reforms and improve
ments; Among them may be briefly stated
the abandonment of the small OUTLYING
lnlntary posts and the concentration of tba
army at important railroad centers, on the
seaboard and on the northern and southern
frontiers. and the reduction of the term Of
enlistment from five to three years He Sc
cured the repeal of the obnoxious statute
making ten years the maximum period of
service OF enlisted men, the effect of which
was to substitute raw recruits for eynar
fenced, well-trained soldiers He was In
strGElental in securing the adoption of the
new magazine rifle and carbine of reduced
caHper 1or the army, and he has been an
earnest and consistent advocate of a gem
eral Improvement of the seacoast defanses
under approved projects, including the de-
velopment of disappearing gun carriages
ne mas also shown deep interest in the
tests OF SmokeiesS powders and high ex-
ploslVes, and has advocated the ACQUISITION
Oh Dattleteids as national parks He has
Drought about reduction III the number O.
iiiiiitaiy posts from about ninety-five to
seVenty-flve, resulting in the concentra ton
OF troops IN large commands, and by SO do
lns' improving the morale, discipline and
education of the army
one or mis- great reforms was the aboli-
tlof OIL recruiting depots and improving the
system of recruiting, causing an addition
or at least 1850 men to the effective
strength OF the army, and making avail
able for occupancy, by regularly organized
companies, batteries and troops, three very
desirable posts and at the same SINE
avoiding the necessity of building other
posts at cost of several thousand dollars
An annual saving of $25O,O0O was effected
by this arrangement. The number of Off
GERS on recruiting service was reduced from
one hundred to about thirty, leaving sew
enty officers available for duty with troops
and important details connected with the
military service. One effect of the change
| IN the system of recruiting has been an ele-
Vatlon IN the character of the recruits. En-
nstments are now confined to citizens of
the united States, or aliens who have de-
clared their Intention to become citizens.
All recruits are required to speak, read aud
write the English language
To Secretary Lamont dino tho ropooI of