The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-03
GAGE IN WASHINGTON.
He Will Enforce the Civil Service
Law Strictly.

Washington, March 3.-Mr. Lyman
]. Gage, the old Democratic free trader
be McKinley's secretary of the treas
ury, arrived today.
Mr.. Gage is a fine looking, broad
shouldered man, easy of speech and
suave of manner. If, as the wicked Chi
cago newspaper men al1ege, the fine
suit of curling white hair which crowns
his head is not hirsute adornment of
the genuine sort, the wig IS certainly
admira BILE match for Mr.. Cages
white, well trimmed beard.
During the last two weeks" said
Mr. Gage, I have had the first rest
that I have known for 80 years, and I
feel perfectly able to get into harness
at a moments notice Before 1 accept
ed the secretaryship of the treasury a
good many of my Illinois friends told
me with unctuous cheerfulness of the
labOriOus, nerve-warping period of four
years that confronted me if I took the
portfolio, and pointed out to me the
number of previous heads of the treas
ury who have been shattered in health
and spirits at the conclusion of their
terms of office 1 told them that 1 had
been practically as hard worker as
any OVer-ridden bookkeeper for the
greater part of my life and that I
thought 1 could stand the pace"
AS he talked and smoked a big black
cigar, Mr.. Gage was idly fumbling with
an enormous mass of official looking
papers on his desk.
Il anticipate more trouble in dealing
with documents such as these" said
he, than with any matters connected
with the treasury policy. They are all
applica tions for office, some Of which
have been in my hands for several
weeks and several of which 1 received
no later than this morning. 1 confess
they present some embarrassing prob
lens to me. am an uncompromising
adherent to the principles of civil SER
vice reform, and during my incumben-
cy 1 shall support the civil service law
to the very best of my ability. The
fer n6r no i0s2f
for places covered by the civil service
law-Which makes me devoutly thank
full. 1t really seems extraordinary to
me that men throughout the United
States whose ability is such that they
consider themselves fitted for the hold
ing of responsible positions seem to be
unaware that the operations of the civil
service law now make il absolutely i'm
possible for them to secure the posi-
lions they desire.
II don't know of any governmental
doctrine that is less understood in gen
eral throughout the entire country than
the civil service law, but 1 fancy there
may be a general awakening on the
subject during the next four years. In
so far as the department which I am
to assume is concerned, there certainly
will be.
Il expect to have a conference with
Secretary Carlisle, a valued friend of
this afternoon or tomorrow morning
with regard to the personnel of the
treasury department and some of the
more important practical working de-
tails of the department. For the last
week have been devoting a good deal
of careful study to the official organi-
cation of the department in so far as
could gain information on the subject
from the blue book; but that is a rath-
er unsatisfactory method, and l, of
course, rely largely upon Mr.. Carlisle
for data as to the capabilities of pres
ent heads of treasury divisions and so
on"