The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-07
SWEARING THE SECRETARIES.
THE OATH OF OFFICE TAKEN by
THE NEW CABINET.

OtncE memDeEA bN NHe W mite
HOuSe-COnfusIOn ReIgns Supreme
at the White House All the Morn
ing and Crowds Throng the Build
fpg-The Secretaries Assume Their
Duties.
Washington, March 6.-An the members
of the new cabinet, except Mr. Gage met
in the cabinet room adjoining the Presi-
dents Office this morning at 10:S0 o'clock,
when, according to arrangements, the
chief Justice was expected to administer
the oath of Office. Mr.. Gage had not un-
| derstood this programme, nor apparently
had Chief Justice Fuller, who had made
an appointment to swear in the new secre-
tary of the treasury in the treasury de-
| partmeEt at 11:15 o'clock, and Mr.. Gage
had issued number of invitations to IL
| linosans to witness the ceremony. The
entire supreme court had also an engage
ment to can on the President in a body at
| IL o'clock to pay their respects. and this
I was the only part of the days programme
that occurred strictly according to sched-
ule time.
The confusion at the white house was
extraordinary all the morning due to the
crowds of persons who had in some way
| secured cards of introduction and to the
numerous congressman who appeared with
constituents who wished to see all the
apartments, and who In many instances
| succeeded.
Secretary Porters office was overrun
| with callers and representatives, but he
denied himself to them and remained with
the President in the cabinet room. While
| the meeting of the President and his adj
visors was continuing and every effort
| being made TO reach Chief Justice Fuller
to administer the oath, the supreme court
| was suddenly announced a few moments
| before II O'clock and the President hur-
| ried downstairs into the blue parlor to
| greet them. After the usual formalities
| of this reception, when the chief justice
learned that the cabinet had been waiting
for him, he suggested for convenience
| that the ceremony might well be perform
| ed at once in the presence of the court,
and this was promptly acted upon.
The oath was administered to the Sec
retary of State at HIS o'clock, and to
the others in rapid succession In the fol-
lowing order: Gen. Alger, Judge Nc
Kenna, ex-Gov. Long, Mr.. Bliss, Mr.. Gary
ana Mr.. Wilson.
The ceremony was In the nature of a
private affair, but for all that and the linn
/ lieu NUMBER LHdL MAtuGSSeQ IT. Nn6 Qdiuly
blue room was pretty well filled Pres
ident Mckinley was seemingly the most
| interested spectator. With him were Mr..
Porter his secretary, and Lieut.. Gilmore
of the regular army, who has been as
signed TO duty as temporary aide to the
President. T. c. Bancroft Davis the ven
cradle reporter of the supreme court, and
Mr.. Foust the crier, were also present
| When the President and the members of
the cabinet had assented to the suggestion
of Chief Justice Fuller that the oath of
office be administered at once to Maj. Nc
Kinley's official family. 1t was ascertained
that none of the dignihed judges had
brought Bible with him. Then a search
was made for one around the white house.
han usher finally produced the required
volume, a tattered copy used in settling
disputes on scriptural phraseo.ogy between
two argumentative employees of the white
house force The distinguished party
meanwhile had proceeded from the cabi-
net room through the private part of the
mansion to the rear or private stairway.
down which they walked slowly and with
dignity. The crowds In the lobby the Of
flee corridor and on the public stairway
were thus avoided and only the fortunate
throng that had been fortunate enough Ia
gain admission knew what was going on
behind the big doors, that President Ar
thur had casued to be erected between an
interested public and people who, behind
that official position, did not involve a to-
tai surrender of privacy.
Justice Brown is a Michigan man, a
resident of Detroit, and II was at the re-
quest of Gen. Alger. his fellow towns
man, that he swore in the new Secretary
J of War. The chief justice and Justice
Gray administered the oath to the other
members present At the conclusion OF
the ceremony the members of the su-
preme court filed out Of the blue room tC
| n.
ed Justice Harlan leading the way with
the venerable Justice Field leaning or
> his arm The President and his new ad
visers went up stairs TO the cabinet room
to get their overcoats and hats and ther
T proceeded TO their respective depart
= ments TO meet the officials and employees
: Of each.
? Chief Justice Fuller and his fellow jur.
lists went over TO the treasury depart
: ment and met Secretary Carlisle and Mr.
] Gage in the Office Of the secretary. There
the oath was administered to Mr. Gage
E before a large number OF officials and
I clerks.
= A brief Informal meeting of the new cab
met was held just prior TO the swearing
In, in the cabinet room. Nothing impor
: tant was said or done. The door of th'
= cabinet room was left open while the Pres
j ident and his advisers talked and many o
Z those waiting In the corridor that serves
g | as a waiting room were Interested spec
= tators of the scene. President McKinle!
walked around the cabinet table chatting
with each member. The first delegation
, that the President gaw after the cabine
Q installation consisted Of Adjt. Gen. How
r and most Of those who had been on Maj
r McKInley's STAFF while he was govemo
= OF Ohio. They we're accompanied by
a number of ladies. Then he went into th
.. east room to shake hands with anothe
. | great crowd Of visitors.
s The newly appointed attorney general
Hon. Joseph McKenna OF California, ha
not yet assumed the duties Of his office.
9 Secretary Long Of the navy reached tn
n department about 1i:S0 o'clock. He re
ceived the bureau officers, the chiefs o
: divisions, the clerks and several hundre,
Y visitors, who we're about the corridors
Fx-Secretary Herbert stood with his sue
: cessor. The officers ana clerks was lrs
i introduced to Secretary Long, after whicl
+ they passed to the ex-secretary and bad
& him farewell. The reception lasted abou
3 thirty minutes and at noon Secretar,
= Long assumed his duties as Secretary o
q the Navy.
Gen. Alger took charge Of the war dc
partment about HAS o'clock. lie cam