New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-07
ALL IN WORKING ORDER.
NEW ADMINISTRATION GETS PROMPTLY
INTO HARNESS.
MEMBERS OF PRESIDENT MKINLEYS CABINET
TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE AND ASSUME
THEIR DUTrEs-THE INCOMING OF
. FICTAI.S AT THEIR DE-
PARTMENTS.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.l

formally entered upon their executive duties.
President Mckinley had planned to set new
precedent by having the eight Secretaries qualify
together this morning In the Blue Parlor OF the
White House. but the notice sent to Mr.. Gage
did not reach him in time to forestall the oath
taking ceremony which the new Secretary of the
Treasury had already arranged TO go through
with In Mr.. Carlisles private office. The other
seven Cabinet officers assembled at the White
House about II o'clock Meanwhile the MEM
bers OF the United States Supreme Court had
gathered In the Blue Room by appointment to
pay their respects TO the President. 1t was a call
Of ceremony, and was In accord with the custom
OF years at each change OF Administration Dur
Ing their reception the members OF the Pres-
dents Cabinet. who had assembled in the Cabinet
room on the floor above. were sent for by the
President. and joined the distinguished party in
the Blue Parlor.
General introductions followed between the
heads OF the Executive branch and the highest
judicial body OF the Government. The gathering
was most distinguished one and the represen-
tation OF the Supreme Court marked by the
presence Of the venerable Justice Field who has
seldom visited the Executive Mansion for great
many years.
THE CEREMONY IN THE BLUE ROOM.
The Induction into office of the new Cabinet
officers took nearly an hours time. The only
commission fully prepared was that Of Mr.. Sher-
man as Secretary of State. 1t was the first one
issued and was countersgned by Mr. Olney who
was still Secretary Of State. 1t the last Of
fetal act Of Mr.. Cleveland's Premier The
commissions OF the other members Of the Cabinet
had been filled out. but not signed Mr..
Mckinley signed them President. and Mr..
Sherman then countersigned them as Secretary
OF State.
When these documents had been legally COM
pleted and delivered to the persons whose names
they BORE the ceremony Of administering the
oath Of office took place. Each member of the
Cabinet qualified In the order Of precedence
established by statute for the order of Presi-
Dental succession. Secretary Sherman was the
first to subscribe to the oath. and the others
followed his example in the following order:
General AIger Secretary Of War; Mr. McKenna.
Attorney General; Mr. Gary. Postmaster-Gen-
era; Mr.. Ions, Secretary Of the Navy; Mr..
Bliss. Secretary Of the Interior, and Mr. Wilson,
Secretary of Agriculture Mr.. Gage, Secre-
tary Of the Treasury, who ranks next after
the Secretary of State. would have qualified
second had he been present.
Chief Justice Fuller administered the oath to
Secretary Sherman. Justice Brown admins
tcrcd ne osth IN the casc Of Secretary Aiger,
and Justice Gray acted In similar capacity
In the case Of Secretary Long. Judge Brown
and Secretary Alger are both citizens Of Michi-
gan. and Judge Gray and Secretary Long are
citizens of Massachusetts,. Chief Justice Fuller
acted for all the other members of the Cabinet
MR. GAGE SWORN IN AT THE TREASURY.
Secretary Cages installation took place in
Dttill Of Tuct FIJI iier
going across from the White House to admins
ter the oath Among those who were present
by special invitation to witness the ceremony
were Mr. Carlisle. who watched the ceremony
OF swearing in his successor with much in
terest: Mrs Gage Mr.. and Mrs. T. B. Bryan,
Colonel Charles P. Bryan. Ferdinand Peck. Of
Chicago: Senator Cuom. Mr.. and Mrs Levi
H. Letter. w. Y. Whittemore. Mrs. Thomas Mel
son Page, Mrs Walker. of Chicago Repre-
sentative L. w. Scott. Mr. and Mrs. Charles G.
Dawes. Samuel insult. Mr.. and Mrs. Eleroy
Curtis Adrian Honore. c. L. Gordon. Repre-
sentative and Mrs. Hopkins. Mr. and Mrs. Mum.
formerly OF Chicago Representatives Aldrich,
Beknap. McCreary. Harmer and FOss, and
Controller Eckels. Mr. Gage stood by the Sec
retary's desk and the Chief Justice faced him.
Each raised his right hand and the Chief JUS
tice then read the solemn oath. Mr.. Gage
peating 1t after him sentence by sentence. 1t
was all over In a few moments, and then the
crowd pressed forward to shake hands with
the new Secretary and congratulate him. Ex-
Secretary Carlisle was the first TO grasp his
hand. He said. in an earnest tone Il con-
gratulate you, Mr.. Secretary. and wish you all
manner OF success"
SECRETARIES AT THEIR DEPARTMENTS.
had M N dnr
his office to-day. having been requested yesterday
by both the President and Mr. Sherman to hold
over until Monday. The change in the pro-
gramme was brought about by the discovery that
Mr. Sherman could not add his name to the forth
coming proclamation calling special session Of
Congress until he had qualified as Secretary of
State Secretary Sherman did not remain long
In his Office this afternoon. but as the
introductons to his new subOrdinates were over
he turned over the responsibility for the sigma
ture of the mail to Assistant Secretary Rockhill
and went home for the day
Secretary Alger went to the War Depart
ment from the White House with Governor Scho-
field OF Wisconsin, and his full staff. making a
formidable procession as they marched through
the corridors. Secretary Lamont received his
successor cordially. and then the officers Of the
War Department began to greet their new chief
Before he began TO shake hands the Secretary
won the hearts OF the crowd Of onlookers by Civ
ing a kiss to his pretty daughters, who stood by
10 see their father enter upon the duties OF a
Cabinet officer. Everybody who knew General
Alger had an opportunity to shake hands with
and congratulate him as Secretary Alger.
In the Navy Department n similar ceremony
took place In that Mr.. Herbert stood close to
Secretary Long. and as the employees OF the De-
heo de of ~ he m
sengers passed in line and were introduced TO
the new Secretary they stopped few PAGES
further along to express to Mr.. Herbert their APP
nreciation of the kindly treatment ne had shown
to them in the four years Of his Secretaryship.
AT 40 o'clock Mr., Gary drove up to the Post
office Department and, unattended, made his way
sie q. .nneraIs room whore