The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-03

House In the rain to make the customary
, formal call. Quite a crowd had collected
near the portico in anticipation of his
arrival and hats were removed with a
slight cheer when he alighted followed
by Secretary j. Addison Porter and Chair
man Bell of the Inauguration Committee.
Mr.. Mckinley acknowledged the ovation
by smilingly lifting his hat and nodding
to the assemblage. and then walked
quickly into the main corridor, whence
he was at once ushered through the great
stained glass screen to the blue room,
where President Cleveland and Secretary
Thurber stood expectantly. The hand
grasp of the retiring chief executive was
noticeabiy cordial in greeting his successor
and while the two secretaries and Mr..
Bell drew aside President Cleveland
asked interestedly regarding Mrs Nc
Kinley's health and assured Mr.. McKin-
ley that he would be able to take part in
tomorrow's physical ordeal in spite of the
pain he was suffering. The interview
was brief for the President t-elect had
remained at the Whites House last night
until ten O'Clock discussing the inaueara-
tion arrangements and the affairs of
State which are left over to worry him,
and besides the visit was purely one of
courtesy in acknowledgment of last
nights hospitality. Within two minutes
accompanying him drove away.
President Cleveland and Secretary
Thurher returned the call at noon.
The President is appreciably better this
morning but is still keeping his room
and taking care of official business The
mass of business requiring his attention
is very great and the President is giving
close attention to it and saving himself
as much as possible for the very fatiguing
exercises of tomorrow. Colonel Lamont
was with him short time this morning
but the President is denying himself to
visitors generally.
Mr.. Platt stated at noon today that Mr.
Bliss had reeonsidered his refusal to en-
ter the Cabinet and is now willing to be-
come a member of Major McKinley's
official family. This practically completes
the Cabinet
this morning with Mr.. Mark Hanna that
Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss agreed to re-
consider his determination to remain in
private life and consented to enter Mr..
of New York State. It is understood
that the position to which he is for the
present assigned is the vacant post of
Secretary of the Interior and that the
formal tender of a Cabinet position will
bc made to his this afternoon by Mr..
Mckinley. But Mr.. Bliss New York
friends want him to be Secretary of the
Navy and he would prefer that portfolio
himself, for the reason that he is not
a lawyer, and the tradition is that the
post of Secretary of the Interior shall be
occupied by lawyer.
Ex-Governor John D. Long of Massa-
chusetts, who has been slated for Secre-
tary of the Navy and who did not ex-
pect to reach here till some time tomor-
row, has been communicated with by
telegraph and asked to come to Washing
lie ~ ofs1r, Ivy fh<af in
tention to ask him to become Secretary
of the Interior so as to leave the navy
portfolio open for Mr.. Bliss.
Prominent Republicans who have heard
the statement that Mr.. Bliss Is to be
member of thes Cabinet express great
satisfaction at this solution of the New
York problem.
ME-. Bliss is acceptable to all factions
Vice President-elect Hobart arrived at
the Capitol before the Senate met this
morning and went Immediately to the
Vice Presidents room, where he was
presented to the Senators and Senate Off
cials by Vice President Stevenson.
Mrs. Cleveiand's only caller this morn
ing was Mrs. Carlisle, who accompanied
her on a half hours shopping tour just
before noon. Among the steady stream
of visitors to Secretary Thurber were ex-
Queen Liliuokalani's major dromo, Mr.
Palmer, who brought a copy Of Her
written since she came to Washington
Capt. Robley D. Evans, who is perfect
ing arrangements for a ducking expedi-
tion on lighthouse tender, to begin
Thursday night; Justice White of the Su-
preme Court, Commissioner of Patents
Seymour, Marshal Wilson, Josiah Pat
terson OF Tennessee, General John M
Wilson, Chief of Engineers and host
of Congressman who wanted pet meas
ures placed on top of the heap on the
Presidents desk, and who all went away
satisfied that this would be done.
In spite of the rain Inauguration crowds
came In droves and tracked mud over
the rich carpets of the East Room, which
was the only apartment open to the pub
lie.
The POST publishes the following:-
Senator-elect Thomas C. Platt was at the
Capitol yesterday and was much besies-
ed by the pages for autographs One lad
has a large autograph album, of which
he is very proud, and in which he desires
to get as many names of great men as
possible. For that reason he has estab-
lished the practice of getting two names
on a page. The last distinguished visit
book was Richard Croker, ESQ.,, the late
Tammany Sachem.
When, therefore, he opened his auto
graph album before the New York Sen
ator-elect, the ingenious boy, looking up
into Mr.. Platts face, Please
write your name there, just under Mr..
Croker's."
One or two persons were near enough
to hear Mr.. Platt's reply
II have the highest regard, my SON,
said the Easy Boss for the gentle
man who has written his name here
upon this spotless page, but / must de-
cline, for reasons which you might not
understand, to sign my name under his"
Then Mr.. Platt turned over two or
three pages and wrote his name In an