New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-14
GOSSIP AT THE CAPITAL
OFFICES AND oFFICE-sEEKERs.

FOREIGN MISSIONS MOST IN DEMANp-rH|
pprs,prNrs DEMOCRATIC wAYs-THE NEW
MASTER OF CEREMONIES AT THE WHITE
HOUSE, ENTERTAINMENTS BY AND
FOR THE CABINET LADIES
Washington March 13-Like all or his preoe
cessors with the exception OF President Cleve-
land President Mckinley frequently appears OIL
the streets unattended except by some memper
of his family and every afternoon between "
and G O'Clock goes for constitutional, JOHNNIE
the other pedestrians and greeting cordiaiiy al
those who recognize him. Mrs. MCKINNEY 'oo'
has been very amiable in her treatment vi ."e
many people who have called upon her' anu i"'
received informally every afternoon In the b'"e
Room. She has stood the demands upon he'
much better than was expected, ana seehiS w
have real pleasure in her new duties IL WILL oi
course be impossible for either the PRESIDENT vi
Mrs Mckinley to give up much or their tiinc
regularly to receiving the public, and dennl.e
plan will soon be adopted, confininS the OH
cial receptions to certain PERIODS; out just nv ~,
the Executive and his wife have thrown open t,ie
doors Of the White House to an enthusiastic pun
lie. and they VIII lose nothing In popularity '''
by
Captain Theodore a. Bingham. OF the Engineer
Corps has been designated by the president as
Supern tcndent or PUBIC buildings anu 'i""""'
a post occupied through both the Cleveland Adj
ministrations by Colonel John NJ. wilson. Inc
officer who holds this place not only has charge
of a public buildings and grounds but he Is
expected to be a general factOtum az the White
House for the domestic affairs Of which he Is
responsible, and he comes into closer relations
with the Presidents family than any other ON
cial. not excepting the Presidents secretary Ihe
new Superintendent is tall handsome man OF
fine appearance. and has broad shoulders and
distinctly military air. He has, too a pleasing
personality. Is popular with his brother officers
and his command, and military attachc or the
United States Legation at Berlin and Rome mas
had social experience that Will be Of value to
him in his new position for ii is his qualifications
for the post Of master Of ceremonies that are
taken most account Of in the appointment or the
Superintendent
Captain bingham is a native Of Connecticut
and was graduated from West Point in the class
OF 1916 Besides his five years Service as mill
tary attach6 abroad, he has been detailed at
Willets Point. on the Improvements on the Ten
nessee River. ard for two years was in Arizo1a
on the staff of General Crook. Captain Bingham
also served on the academic staff at West Point
as instructor Of military engineering
The diplomatic posts unusually popular
with this years office seekers, especially the Sec
ond and third class places. Few aspire to be
Ambassadors. but there is one enterprising gen.
tleman in town who desires to be named as en-
voy to Russia and has filed formal application
for the place. He has, he says, absolutely no po-
litical influence; he has never meddled with poll
tics and has no interest in them, and he proudly
proclaims that his only qualifications for the
place are his personality and wealth. Both OF
these. according to his modest statement. leave
nothing to be desired He atirms. and he can
prove that he il q charming and cultivated man.
and that he is worth millions The salary that
goes with the place Is nothing 10 him, and ne
feels convinced that the President Will not hesl-
tate to appoint him when he Is made to see his
peculiar fitness for the place and when he I'M
derstands tina, the salary will be returned to tho
Treasury. without conditions and that the lega-
ton will be maintained at his own expense in a
manner consistent with the dignity and pOrer
of these United states. but never approached be-
fore.
Among the applicants for diplomatic places
are some naturalized citizens. and in one or two
cases these gentlemen ask to be returned IN a
diplomatic capacity to the countries In which
they were born This is directly against the I'M
written law of the State Department and only
I'm a very few instances has this rule been trans
crossed There Is now In the diplomatic service
only one foreign-born Minister, Thomas Moon-
light n Scotchman by BIRTH who represents the
United States in Peru. and was purposely sent
as far away from his native country as possible.
II Is easy to understand the vanity which in
neasant and has accumulated wealth and
gained a position in the land OF his adoption
with the wish to return to his former home, eX-
hibt hi5 success TO his wondering countrymen