The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-15
CABINET HOUSE CLEANING.
EVERY SECRETARY EXCEPT LONG
CLEARS UP HIS DEPARTMENT.

ire Meeting Yesterday Noteworthy fer mach
Business and Little Observation-Disclosures.
san Pedro. Union Pacific, Power OF RE-
movaI. ana other Subjects Considered.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 1A-Today's much adver-
tised Cabinet meeting did not turn out to DO so
interesting as everybody supposed 1t would be.
1t had been referred to by some newspapers in
language vivid enough for use by a theatre
press agent. After it was over 1t became known
that nothing sensational had developed and that
1t differed from ordinary Cabinet meetings only
in being q little longer. The statement was
made after the adjournment that the President
had not returned to Washington merely to meet
his advisers and then to start away again Tor
another month or so OF rest. AS a matter OF
fact, Mr.. Mckinley has no plans. He may go
away again. this time to New Englsnd, but not
for a week ut least. Most OF the Cabinet officers
will remain in Washing on.
Seven Of the eight members OF the Cablnct
were present. Secretary LonG, who is in Maine.
was the only absentee. Naval affairs were dis.
cussed later in the day between the President
and Assistant Secretary Roosevelt, who took =
drive for that purpose.
The meeting was a sort OF Cabinet house clean
ing. Every Cabinet officer had a dozen or more
topics to bring to the attention OF the Pres
ident. and most OF these were disposed OF quick
ly. Few Of them W re OF any great interest.
Cuba was not even mentioned. Secretary Sher-
man. who would naturally bring up all ques-
tons relating to foreign affairs. left the Cabinet
room at half. past IL, an hour and a half after
the Cabinet assembled. Assistant Secretary
Day OF the State Department, who had been in
consultation with the President earlier in the
day. appeared on the scene soon after Mr., shcr-
man retired. He waited in the White House
until the meeting adjourned and then took
luncheon with Mr.. Mckinley.
One Of the most interesting topics discussed
was the reported suffering in the Yukon River
country among the people who started for the
Klondike region poorly supplied with food. A
telegram from Tacoma. Wash. signed The
Committee" requesting Government co0pcra-
ton in affording relief to the sufferers was
read. The committee asked the President II he
would authorize the Federal authorities to join
with it in sending a steamer load Of provisions
from st. Michael to Dawson City before the
Yukon closed. After some discussion 1t was
arranged that Secretary .Alger should telegraph
Senator Perkins OF California to ascertain IL
he could furnish one OF the vessels OF
his line to carry supplies from Tacoma
to St. Michael. 1t was ~practica ly decided TO
give Government aid o the distressed ArEo-
nauts IL the supplies could be sent to Dawson
before the river froze over. trusting 10 Congress
to indoree the expenditure from the Ire Asury.
| y RuATbnlGo 90 Otth slNNh NhV 4 -
Congress declines 10 autho iGe the use OF, the
money, the Treasury will be reimbursed by q
Nothing was said at the meeting about the
opinion which the Secretary OF the Treasury
has asked the Attorney. General to furnish con
eliminating duty provided by the Tariff law;
The opinion is being written. and probably will
General NcKenna told a Sun reporter that the
opinion was not d matter that concerned the
Cabinet.
Another matter of interest that was expected
TO form a feature OF the meeting was the dues-
thority to use the money appropriated by Con.
gress for erecting a break water for a haroor OF
refuge sad g SOS.fFug 4bs a hcfS%5 81 Of s so@P PsgEe
FOR improvement was the sequel 10 a bitter light
in the House at the extraordinary session over
the comparative merits OF the harhor at that
place ard OF that at Santa Monica; The Appro,
~priating clause was so worried that Secretary
A.. .r was doubtful whether he could apply the
money to the general mproveme nt OF the b irbor
or to only one OF the TWO projects named the
There was aot money enough for both. The
question was referred to at the meeting ana
lied By an opinion q tho Attorney. enerai.
You can say" said Secretary Algcr. that
on Aus.6 I received at Hote! ChamPletn an
opinion from the AttOrneytiencral which was,
in effect, that l would be justified, under the
act concerning San Pedro. in building tho break
water and expcndinE so much OF the money "a
ia necessary for the purpose without regard %
the improvements to the harbOr. The work will
be advertised for in due time, in accordance
The policy OF the Government toward the
Union 2 lcidc Railroad. following the decree Of
the Federal court at Omaha directing the sale Of
the road. was outlined and will become public
when the Attorney General taxes .egai steps. A
decision rendered in the supreme Court Of the
District OF Coiumhia to-day that the President
IL not obliged to state the cause OF removal Of
persons under the civil service regulations was
also discussed. The Attorney-tieneral was re-
quested 10 furnish an opinion whether the reg
Il tion4 need changing to conform to the ro-
cent order OF the President that no removals
shall he made or civil service employees except
on charges formally presented.
When the Cabinet Meeting adjourned at l 30
II was intended 70 have another this afternoon,
This intention was NOT carried out as lar as II
related to the entire Cabinet. several heads OF
departments had conferences with the President,