The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-05-14
ALCER IS A BUSY NAN
The Secretary of War an Indefat.
igabIe Worker.
HIS DAILY LIFE IN WASHINGTON.

| present Admfnistration-A Newspaper
Heading That Almost Caused senator
Burrows to Faint President Mckinley
Giving Recognition to Wolverine Re
publicans-Other Interesting News.
War Alger is one of the busiest men in
| Washington. He works as hard in the
| office of the secretary of war as he ever
did in his own affairs at Detroit or
when he was governor of the state Of
Michigan. Although the executive de-
| partments in Washington do not open
until 9 o'clock, it is the custom of Sec
| rotary of War Alger to reach his office
| not later than half-past s o'clock, and
he is sometimes there even earlier than
| that.
The first thing that he does Is to have
his mornings mail opened and laid be-
| fore him. Then as he reads the letters
he rapidly dictates answers until the
entire batch of mail has been attended
to. This consumes at least an hour Of
time, and sometimes an hour and a
half of the early morning is devoted to
his correspondence. He not only has a
great deal of mail from friends and bust
ness men, but a great deal Of official
mail is attended to. Having been SOL
der and being familiar with the war
department before he came to Washing
ton, the new secretary is able to trans
act official business with a great deal
Of rapidity. When matters are laid be-
fore him requiring decision concerning
army affairs, he Immediately refers the
letters to army headquarters or to the
general in command of the bureau to be
affected by the official inquiry; and up
on each letter he places an indorse-
ment requesting immediate action. That
request is always complied with, so that
a letter received one morning can be
answered officially that afternoon, or
certainly not later than the following
morning.
Most Systematic Business Man.
AS matter of fact Secretary Alger is
the most systematic business man of
the present administration. The Sec
rotary of state, the secretary of the
navy the postmaster general, the attor-
ney general are not business men in
the sense here intended; because they
do not have such exact and systematic
business methods of attending to at
fairs. The secretary Of the treasury,
Mr. Gage, is one of the most successful
business men in the country, and so is
the secretary of the interior, Mr.. Bliss
Nevertheless these gentlemen have not
taken hold of their high offices with the
vigor and virility which has character
lied the official conduct of Secretary AL
ger up to date.
1t Is strange how sensitive public men
are concerning newspaper publications.
Week before last it became apparent
that Senator Burrows would become a
member of the important committee on |
finance. 1t was so announced in this |
correspondence. The editor, however, /
put on q head line saying that Burrows |
was to be chairman of the committee; |
and when the senator saw that he al |
most tainted with establishment and re-
greet 1t viii take a great many years |
OF constant service on the finance COM
mittee before Senator Burrows or any
other Of the younger senator's can reach
the craftsmanship of that committee.
President Mckinley has been giving
to the Wolverine Republicans
during the past week. George A. Farr
has been recommended and appointed
collector of customs at the port of
Grand Haven. James a. Coye has been
appointed surveyor of customs at
Grand Rapids. Both of these appoint
ments were secured by the influence of
William Alden Smith, who
came here for the purpose of producing
the result.
Producer of Great Men.
Bertram Parker Of Monroe is again a
special agent of the treasury depart
nent. He occupied a similar position
Turing the Harrison administration and
made a good record. Being an old SOL
lier, he is eligible for reinstatement in
spite of the civil service law, and
lie is now strictly in it,
By the way, that town of Monroe Is
producer of great men. The late sec
nd assistant postmaster general, Will
ann i. Thompson, came from Monroe.
rhe present chief clerk of the railway
nail service, Alex Grant, came from
Monroe. And then, last, but no. least,
vas Henry Il. Thurber, for four years
he alter ego of the puissant and domi-
lant personality of the chief executive
f the republic. He was private secre-
airy to President Cleveland a man of
wonderful and picturesque mold Mon
title presidents and boy orators run {
ing around the streets Of Monroe to-
ay. Who can tell?
Senator Burrows has received
andsone sample case ofMichigan wool,
rom the fleeces of Wolverine sheep. The
ample win enable the senator to DEM
nstrate to the senate the process of I
skirting" fleece, in the speech which
e is now preparing to deliver to the
enate. Senator Burrows will also make
n argument before the finance commit
ee In favor Of the wool growers. He
J thoroughly In earnest about this mat '
er.
BY the way, there is a scandal brew s
lg about the finance committee. Three
ears ago the Democratic majority was
lvolved in a sugar trust scandal; and
ow the Republican majority finds it $
elf environed with n wooden manu- j
icturers trust scandal.
Causes Criticism. :
1t seems that the engagement of S. =
7. d. North, secretary of the Wooden :