New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-02

PYpGident-oleCt
now in this city. They are Senator sher-
man. who has been here all the winter: Gen
erai Alger. the new Secretary of War. quar-
tered at the Arlington; James Wilson. who is
to preside over the Department OF Agriculture,
registered at the Ebbitt House. and Lyman J.
Gage. who is 10 assume the Treasury portfolio,
staying temporarily at the home Of an old Chi
cago friend.
Mr.. Gage. with his wife. arrived the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad from Ho,
Springs. Va. this morning. Thomas B. Bryan,
OF No. CPS Rhode Island-ave., was at the sta
ton 20 receive them. and the party was imme-
dlately driven 10 Mr.. Bryan's home. where
breakfast was in waiting. Even before the meal
was over a number OF visitors in Washington,
chiefly from Illinois. called 20 pay their respects
10 the new Secretary OF the Treasury. Mr.. Gage.
not having been in the city yesterday after
noon. when Secretary Herbert extended his in
vi,ation 10 the members Of the new Cabinet
TO take a run down the river on the flying tor
pedo-boat Farragut, was not a member Of that
party, and he expressed his regret that he had
not arrived here in time to make the trip.
Mr. Gage is a fne-looking broad-shouldered
man, easy Of speech and suave Of manner.
During the last two weeks" he said this af-
ternoon, 81 have had the finest rest that have
known for thirty years, and I feel perfectly able
10 get into harness at a moments notice. Before
I accepted the Secretaryship OF the Treasury
q good many Of my Illinois friends told me, with
unctuous cheerfuness. OF the laborious, nerve
warping period Of four years that confronted
me II took the portfolio, and pointed out to
me the number Of previous heads OF the Treas
ury Department who have been shattered In
health and spirits at the conclusion Of their
terms of office I told them that l had been
practically hard worker as any overridden
bookkeeper for the greater part Of nv life. and
that thought I could stand the pace.
BEsIEGED BY OFFICE-sEEKERs ALREADY.
Il anticipate more trouble in dealing with docu-
ments such as these" Mt. Gage continued. than
with any matters connected with the Treasury
policy. They are all applications for Office, some
Of which have been in my hands for several
weeks and several Of which received no later
than this morning. confess they present some
embarrassing problems 10 me. am an uncom-
promising adherent 10 the principles Of Civil Ser
vice reform and during my incumbency in the
Treasury Department l shall support the Civil
Service law TO the very best OF my ability. The
major number OF the applications for office which
have been presented to me for positions COW
cred by the Civil Service law-which makes me
devoutly thankful II really seems extraordin-
airy 10 me that men throughout the United states
whose ability is such that they consider them
selves fitted for the holding Of responsible Gov
eminent positions seem TO be entirely unaware
that the operations Of the Civil Service law. as
recently broadened. make ii absolutely impossi-
bic for them to be given the positions TO which
they aspire don't know Of any American gov
ernmental doctrino that is less understood in
general throughout the entire country than the
Civil Service law. but l fancy there may be a
general awakening on the subject during the
next four years. In far the Department
which am 10 assume is concerned, there certain
~ will be.
Il expect 20 have conference with Secretary
Carlisle-a valued friend Of mine Of many years
standing-e!ther this afternoon or tomorrow
morning with regard 10 the personnel OF the
Treasury Department and 10 some OF the more
practical working details Of the Department For
the last week have been devoting good deaI
OF careful study to the official organization OF the
Department. in so far az | could gain information
on the subject from the Blue Book: but That is
rather unsatisfactory method and l. % course
rely largely upon Mr. Carlisle for Gata as 70 tiie
CAPABILITIES Of present heads Of Treasury divi-
siOns. and on ~
A reception will be rendered TO Mr.. and Mrs
Gage tomorrow afternoon by Mr.. and MIS-
Thomas Nelson Page. who are relatives Of his
and tomorrow evening Chief Justice ana MIS-
Fuller will give dinner in his honor
GENERAL ALGER's MOVEMENTS.
General Russell a. Alger. the next Secretary OF
War left his Arlington House apartments for
the hotel breakfast-room at an unusually carry
hour this morning, in order TO prepare Tor the
trip down the river on the Farragut Mrs Anger
remained in her apartments in the forenoon at
tending 10 her correspondence. She also received
informally a number OF women from Michigan
who have come 10 Washington 10 attend the IN
auguration. Mrs. Alger is handsome woman
The delicate smooth. rosy coloring or her race
being in striking contrast with the great mass
Of dark ron-gray hair. which she dresses PACK
from her forehead in Colonial fashion she re-
minds me Of one OF Sir Joshua Reynoluss PIC,
lures" was the comment OF woman who called
UPON her this morning.
n his movements yesterday and this morning
may form the basis Of prediction, James WILSON,
Of Iowa. who is TO be President Mckinney SEE
rotary OF Agriculture, will be the earliest Tlstr
among the members Of the new CaDlhet. e MI
Wilson who arrived at the Ebbitt House on sat
urday night. retiring TO his room and 10 sleep
almost Immediately upon his arrival, appeared
In the main corridor of the hotel before o'clock
Yesterday morning, and by 9:lJ. good hour
before a majority Of the guests had thought OF
rising. he had finished his breakfast and the most
Of the Sunday newspapers ms morning MI
Wilson appeared in the Ebbitt House BREAKFAST
roano carefully dressed and wide awake for the
business of the day, at $40 and by . o'clock was
in his room looking over pis acculhuiatoh oI
letters He started shortly afterward Tor the
rivsr excursion on the new torpedo-boat.
TALK WITH Mr.. WILSON.
ut would be mere idleness for me to make any
present attempt TO outline any changes that may
be in contemplation with regard 10 the policy
OF the Department OF Agriculture said Mr..
Wilson to-day. LAS matter Of fact suppose
that know less concerning tie metnods al pres
ent employed in carrying on the operations OF
that Department than the very news " nie
new Congressrnen now holding seats at the SOUTH
end Of the Capitol. Although believe l. was tiie
first Representative in Congress 10 ihti C Cu
bill providing for the creation OF the Capne'
office OF Secretary Of Agriculture (naVlng at lIS
time not the vaguest notion that nyseIt "o ~.
h ,itaA accent that pOslllOnl wa