Evening star., 1897-03-09
Few Callers at the Various Depart
mental Buildings.
TEE MANY CANDIDATES TALKED OF
Postmaster General Gary Tells Ap'
pIicants There Are No Places.
GREAT is THE PRES SU RE

an almost normal appearance. The state
and Treasury Departments had more callers
than the others, and the treasury was far
in the lead of the foreign office. The doors
of Secretary Sherman's Office were open all
day, and he received everybody who
called up to IL O'Clock, when he was sum-
moned to the White House 10 attend the
first regular meeting of the present cabinet.
Probably his most conspicuous callers were
Senators Teller and Pettigrew, who appar-
emily made the round of all the executive
departments today. Their action was ac-
cepted by many as an indication Of friend
ship for the administration, despite diff
ference on questions of finance.
1t has been arranged that Secretary Sher-
man shall receive the members of the dip
lomatic corps at the State Department Off
cially tomorrow morning at IL o'clock and
escort them to the White House, in order
that each may be formally presented to
President Mckinley.
1t is expected that an assistant secretary
of state will be appointed before the close
of the week. in order that the Secretary
may be partially relieved OF the burden
some duty of listening to the claims of the
legion of applicants for appointment in the
diplomatic and consular service
At the War Department..
Secretary Alger had a large number Of
callers at the War Department today, but
not nearly so many as thronged the cor
ridors yesterday. Among those who ex-
tended congratulations today were Sena-
tors Morrill,, Hale, Teller and Pettigrew,
and Representative Hull of the military
AFFAIRS committee. Gen. Doe is still acting
as assistant secretary of war, but il is not
believed there will be much delay in the
appointment of his successor He has
placed his resignation a the disposal OF
Gen. Alger, bu. will not leave until he can
do SO without embarrassment to the ad-
ministraton. Candidates for this office are
numerous. but the indications point to the
ultimate selection of Mr.. Harrison G. Otis
the acc ComDlished editor of the Los An
geles Times. The friends of Chief Clark
Tweedale, however, are still hopeful of
ms promotion to the assistant secretary
ship.
Secretary Long had his share of congress
sional and other visitors before the assem-
bling of the cabinet. He found time, how
ever. to dispose of a mass of personal cor
respondence and to discuss pressing Off
cial business with Admiral Ramsay, chief
or the bureau of navigation; Commodore
Matthews. chief of the bureau of yards
and docks, and Capt. Sampson. chief of the
bureau of ordnance. The new naval Ssc-
retary is a rapid worker, and he kept Pri-
vate Secretary Finney and his assistants
hustling all day to keep up with him.
HIVE No Patronage.
The paucity of callers at the War and
Navy departments today is undoubtedly
due in great measure to the fact that the
heads of those departments have practical
ly no patronage in their control. Each has
an assistant secretary, and each has a
private secretary, and each may fill vacan-
cies in the force Of charwomen, but that is
the full extent of their powers in the mat
ter of appointments. All the other offices
in the Waar and Navy departments are in
the classified service and are subject to
civil service laws and regulations.
No change has been made in the office of
assistant secretary in either department.
Mr.. Long has already appointed his pri-
vate secretary. and it is said Gen. Alger
position in his offices 1t is not considered
probable that any change will be made in
the force of charwomen. These places are
poorly paid, and are now filled by the most
part by deserving women with families to
support. Most of the number are widows
of soldiers who died for the Union.
There promises to be big struggle for
the Office of assistant secretary of the
navy, and it was stated today as indiCa-
tive CT long delay in its settlement that
Assistant Secretary McAdoo, the demo-
cratic incumbent, has been notified that
his services may be required for several
months to come.
1t is not believed that there is anything
serious in the reported candidacy of Ad-
miral Walker, who will be placed on the
retired list on the 10th instant, for the
reason that ne Is 1nellglDIe Tor the once
so long as he remains in the navy, either
on the active the retired list. The
statute creating the office provides that Its
incumbent must be appointed from civil
life. To meet this requirement 1t would
be necessary for Admiral Walker to re-
sign his naval commission. Such action or
his part would result in a financial sacri.
flee and at the same time would deprive
him of the privilege of again entering the
naval service in the event of war.
Only Civilians Wanted.
1t is said that Secretary Long is opposed
to the selection of any one for This purely
civil Office no has ever held commission
in the navy, and this alleged policy is held
to be prejudicial to the chances of three
of the candidates, viz, ex-Represeutative
Robinson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Elliott of
Indiana and Lieut.. Jaqaes of New Jersey.
Mr.. Robinson had interview with Sec
retary Long today, but the result is hot
known.
A new candidate appeared today in the
person of ex-Representarive George w.
Hulick of Ohio. who was Il member of the
House naval committee for four years.
AS chairman of the subcommittee on rank
OF the raval committee he drew Up the
compromise measure for reorganizins the
personnel OF the navy He was member
of the District of Columbia committee for
two successive terms
Secretary Gage had another busy day
In receiving callers. The ways and means
committee of the House, headed by Mr..
Dir gley of Maine called in a body and
were presented to the Secretary. Senators
Teller Pettigrew, Proctor, Gear and Gull
| lom, Representatives Hit and White of
North Carolina and ex-Representative
Cheatham were among the morning callers
who desired to pay their respects. 1t now
seems improbable that any considerable
| number of treasury nominations will be
sent to the Senate tomorrow. There are
five or six vacancies in the offices of col
lectors of iI.Srnal revenue, and one or
two places of a more or less confidential
| character in the Secretary's office which
probably will be filled first. The chief
| clerk and the appointment clerk usually
| are changed very soon after new Sec
retGry Is installed, and 1t Is probable that
the usual course will be pursued in this
| instance. Both of these positions are
| under the civil service rules, SO that they
will have to be filled by promotions Or
| under rule 10, which makes an exception in
| favor of ex-soldiers or sailors. In their
| cases the rules permit reinstatements, ir-
respective of the length Of time they were
out of the service. In all other cases the
one-year rule applies. The assistant sec
retaries probably will be changed within
| the next few days.
M. ]. K. Upton of Maryland, ex-assist-
| ant secretary Of the treasury, is an appli-
| cant for reappointment. So is Capt Mere
| dith of Illinois, formerly chief of the bu-
reau Of engraving and printing.
One of the few democrats in the classi-