Evening journal., 1897-03-06
MoIllnley's cabinet Confirmed.


be necessary.
MeISiniey's Cabinet Confirmed.
WARRINGTON, March 4. The presidents
cabinet appointments were all confirmed
iy the senate at its first session of the Eff
tv fifth congress and without opposition.
There was for a time a threat of opposl-
ton TO Mr.. Gage as secretary Of the treas
ury because of his views on the silver
question and because he is banker, but
there was more of this among senator's in
the cloakroom than in the senate
Tho senate went into executive session
promptly upon the receipt Of the nomina-
tions. few minutes before 1 o'clock and
as soon as the announcement was made Of
the appointment of Senator Sherman,
whose name headed the list, he was con-
frmed.
1t is the practice to refer all nomina-
tions to committee, but it was the desire
Of Mr.. sherman friends to signalize their
regard for him by immediate action No
opposition was made, and the nomination
was confirmed without comment. Ihoro
was more form than reality In the refer
ence Of the other nominations to commit
tees. Not one of the committee held
formal meeting, they being pollcl on tao
floor of the senate in every instance No
objection was, made in committee to con-
frmation. The senate was in recess while
the polling was in progress, and only
little more than half an hours time was
spent in discussing the nominations. Most
of this time was. devoted to the appoint
ment Of Mr.. Bliss as secretary of tho inte-
rior which called for attention from SEN
ators Teller and Stewart, who stated that
while they had no intention to make any
effort to balk the president in his selection
of his cabinet ministers they still felt con
strained to point out the individuality OF
selecting a man who was not a lawyer for
a position which requires the exercise Of
so much legal ability as does the place at
the head of the interior department SEN
ators Hoar, Chandler and Lodge replied in
support Of the selection of Mr. Bliss
Bliss Mildly Criticised.
Mr.. Teller said that Mr. Bliss was an
estimable man and one who would have
filed other positions with credit, hut be-
cause he was not lawyer he did not con-
slider him qualified in all respects for the
place at the head of the interior derart
ment. This, he said was position which
was of vast Importance, as cases were de-
cided involving greater property rights in
the course of year by the secretary of the
interior than were decided by the United
States supreme court. They involved ioi
the most part legal questions and Mr..
Bliss was not lawyer, but a banker and
a business man. Naturally he knew moth
ing of the many legal questions which
were to come before him as secretary OF
the interior.
Senator Hoar of Massachusetts paid o
high tribute to Mr. Bliss. He pointed out
that many of the questions decided by the
secretary were prepared by law CLERKS and
man might be he could not investigate all
the matters that came before him as the
head of a department. of this governments
For that reason law force had been pro
yided to assist the secretary in his work
He said that the business ability Of Mr..
Bliss was unquestioned
Senators Lodge and Chandler followed
In much the same strain, calling attention
70 tho fact that Zachariah Chandler had
made an acceptable secretary Of this de-
partment, Notwithstanding he was not q
member OF the bar. Mr. Lodge suggested
that possibly there was some feeling that
this Office should 90 TO the west
Senators Teller and Stewart both de-
olared they entertained no feeling on this
score, saying that the location of a man 5
residence would not count with them pro.
vided he was familiar with the questions
instanced Senators Ilatt OF Connecticut
and Chandler Of New Hampshire as east
ern men who could iii the place accepta-
bly, to the west. Senator Stewart added
that with man like Mr.. Bliss at the head
of the interior department. he would not
feel easy until he heard that most compe-
tent men had been chosen for the offices
of assistant secretary and attorney general
for the interior department..
The references TO Mr.. Gage wero mainly
on account of what was termed his gold
. standard views. and t was ntimated that
Il as secretary of the treasury he would MAIN
. tain the gold standard Notwithstanding
Z the promises of the administration to Tr0-
mote bimetallism. Cno objcction would
4 have been sufficient 20 send any Of the
4 nominations over day but the senators
1 who had raised the point against MI Bliss
said they had no desire in any way to
hamper the president in the selection Of
his confidential advisers hence, they
would content themselves with pointing
out this defect in one of the selections.
Whom the LIST had hsna confirmed the