Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-07
THE NEW CABINET.
ITS MEMBERS ALL TAKE THE
OATH OF OFFICE.
CONFUSION At The WHITE HOUSE.
No Bible to he Found for Some
Time, on which to Swear I'm the
Advisers OF the New Presi-
dent.


the members of the new Cabinet, except
Mr.. Gage, met in the Cabinet-room, ad-
Joining the Presidents Office, at half
past 10 this morning, when, according
to arrangements the Chief-Justice was
expected to administer the oath Of Of
fee. Mr.. Cage had not understood this
programme, nor apparently had Chief
Justice Fuller, who had made an ap-
pointment tc swear I'm the new Secre-
tary Of the Treasury in the Treasury
Department at l:l5 and Mr.. Gage had
issued a number Of invitations to Illi-
noisans to witness the ceremony. The
entire Supreme Court also had an en-
gagement to call on the President in a
body at II o'clock to pay their respects,
and this was the only part of the days
programme that occurred strictly on
schedule time.
The confusion at the White House
was extraordinary all the morning,
owing 10 the crowds Of persons who
had I'm some way secured cards OF IN
PRODUCTION, and to the numerous con-
gressmen who appeared with constitu-
ents who wished to see all the apart
ceeded.
Secretary Porters Office was overrun
with Senators and Representatives, but
he denied himself to them, and remained
with the President In the Cabinet-room.
While the meeting Of the President and
his advisers was continuing, and every
effort being made to reach Chief-Justice
Fuller. to administer the oath, the SUI
preme Court was suddenly announced
"A few moments before IL o'clock, and
the President hurried downstairs into
the Blue Parlor TO greet them After
the usual formalities OF this reception,
when tho Chief-Justice learned that the
Cabinet had been waiting for him, he
suggested for convenience that the cere-
mony might well be performed at once
fn the presence Of the Court, and this
was promptly acted upon.
The oath was administered TO the Sec
rotarv of state al HIS, and 70 the others
i'm rapid succession, in the following or
der: General Alger, Judge McKenna, ex-
Governor Long, Mr. Bliss, Mr.. Gary
and Mr.. Wilson.
The ceremony was in the nature of a
private affair, but for all that and the
limited number that witnessed it the
dainty Blue-Room was pretty well filled.
President Mckinley was seemingly the
most interested spectator. With him
were Mr.. Porter. his secretary and
Lieutenant Gilmore. OF the regular army,
who has been assigned TO duty as tenn
porary aide TO the President Mr.. I. {.
Bancroft Davis, the venerable reporter
| of the Supreme Court, and Mr.. Foust, the
crier, were also present.
NO BIBLE.
When the President and the members
| OF the Cabinet had assented to the sug-
gestion Of Chief-Justice Fuller that the
/ oath Of office be administered at once TO
| Major McKinleys official family, it was
/ ascertained that none OF the dignified
| judges had brought a Bible. Then
/ search was made for one around the
/ White House. An usher finally produced
| the required volume, a tattered copy
used in settling disputes on Scriptural
| phraseology between two argumentiye
employees of the White House force.
| The distinguished party mean while had
| proceeded from the Cabinet room through
the private part Of the mansion to the
! rear or private stairway, down when
| they walked slowly and with dignity.
The crowds in the lobby, the Office cor
| ridor, and on the public stairway, were
| thus avoided, and few of the unfortunate
throng that had been fortunate enough to
obtain admission knew of what was 60
President Artl ur had caused to be erected
between an interested public and peo-
pie who believed that official position did
not involve a total surrender OF privacy
Justice Brown Is a Michigan man,
resident OF Detroit. and 1t was at the 1e-
quest Of General Alger, his felow-toWhs-
man, that he swore in the new secretary
of War; The Chief Justice and Justice
Gray administered the oath TO the other
members present. At the conclusion or
the ceremony the members Of the Su-
prelne Court filed out Of the Blue Room
TO the pubic lobby, the tall and dlsllh-
guished Justice Harlan leading the way
with the venerable Justice Field leaning
on his arm. The President and his new
advisers went upstairs TO the Cablnel-
room to get their overcoats ana mats, anu
then proceeded to their respective de-
partments TO meet the officials and elm
ployees Of each.
Chief-Justlce Fuller and his fellow
iurists went over to the Treasury Depart
ment and met Secretary Carlisle and NY
LYMAN ]. Gage in the Office Of the Sec
retary. There the oath was administered
to Mr. Gage before a large number OF onl-
cials and clerks Nearly everybody in the
department had a chance 10 snake lhe
new secretary's hand when the ceremony
was over and Mr.. Gage did not get
rest until noon.
A brief, informal meeting Of the new
Cabinet was held I'm the Cabinet-room
iust nrior 10 the swearing-in. Nothing
important was said or done. The door OF
the Cabinet-room was left open while tho
President and his advisers talked, ana
many of those waiting in the corridor tnat
serves as a waiting-room were interested
spectators of the scene. President NC
Kinley walked around the Cabinet table
chatting with each member.
The first delegation that the President
saw after the Cabinet installation con-
sisted OF Acknowledgement Howe and
most ~ those who had been on Major Nc
Kinley's STAN while he was Governor OF
Ohio They were accompanied by num-
her of ladies' Then he went into the
East Room to shake hands with another
great crowd Of visitors.
CAuINET OFFICERS INSTALLED.