Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-01
Medical Director Bates Receives an
Important Naval Appointment.
TIE CALLERS MADE SHORT VISITS
Current Gossip Regarding Coming
Selections.
DROWNING THE SPIDERS


Of the bureau of medicine and surgery,
Navy Department. by appointing Medical
Director Newton L. Bates TO that office.
The incumbent of this office has the rank
and pay of surgeon general of the navy.
III has been vacant since the 1th ultimo
when the term of Medical Director Tryon
expired
DIR. Bates stands second in the list of
naval medical officers, his immediate leader
being Medical Director Cleborne in charge
of the Norfolk Naval Hospital
The present duty of DIR. Bates is the con-
duct of the Naval Museum of Hygiene in
this city. He is also the attending physi-
clan at the White House, acting In the
same capacity toward the present adminis-
tration that Surgeon O'Reilly of the army
old toward the Cleveland administration.
Ii is said that he owed his selection for this
duty to the pleasant acquaintance that
sprung up between President Mckinley and
himself when the former was a representa-
tive In Congress and stopping at the same
hotel. The new surgeon general entered the
naval service as an assistant surgeon in
June. 1861, at the beginning of the late
war, and served with credit through the
various grades in the medical service until
he attained his last promotion to the place
OF medical director in 1885, He has served
little more than ten years at sea.
Callers Farcd Badly.
All kinds of callers fared badly at the
White Hoi sc today, members of Congress
being no exception. Congressman who
called were given a short reception by the
President, with request to see him at
more length tomorrow. Senator Penrose
of Pennsylvania was of the principal
callers. He was accompanied by Repre-
sentative Bingham, State Chairman John
Z. Elkins, State Senator Scott of Luzerne
county and others. The delegation is press
ing for several consular places. 1t is maxi
ing particular pull for DIR. +. NJ. Brun-
dage for consul to Chemnitz. Germany or
some other good German station. 1t is
probable that DIR. Brundage will get what
Re asks. Senator Penrose also wants a
consulate for State Senator Henry ID. Say
lor
Senator Deboe of Kentucky is in the city
and is expected to see the President today
or tomorrow. He has several appointments
he Is looking after The chief of these are
ID. N. Comingore for collector of internal
revenue OF the Covlngton district, and +.
NJ. Barrett for surveyor of the port OF
Louisville
1t is predicted by Kentuckians that DIR.
Hunter, who is in the city, will leave here Z
with a commission in his pocket as min
lister to Guatemala. 1t is alleged that he
has been slated for Ahis place since the
President told his friends that the Chilean
mission was promised.
Drowning the White House Spiders. .
pcucSlIldllS OH pOibOn VA
Pennsylvania avenue near the White House
heard the humming and saw the move
ments of fire engine in the White House
grounds this morning The presumption
was that firemen were engaged in putting
out a blaze but this was erroneous. For
months the spiders-big. little. old and
young-have been making their nests on
the ceilings of the big portico in front of
the White House. They have raised fam
lilies and increased their population to such
an extent that their web houses prac-
tically covered the ceiling and all con-
venient corners and crevices. They had
laid in a large supply Of winter provisions,
insects, and were congratulating them
selves on the coZy time they would have
this winter. Expectation. however, was
not realization. The White House author
ities did not like the bad looks of the cell
ing. They arranged with an engine COM
pany to clean the portico by playing
stream over the ceiling, columns, &c. This
was done early this morning. and now the
The bodies of the spiders, some big, vicious
looking fellows. are lying all around.
Putting Down Carpets.
Workmea have begun to put down car
pets in the executive Offices OF the White
House today. Secretary Porter's office was
the first carpeted. The Presidents room
and cabinet room will he the next to be
car2eted, along with the room or hallway
where the throngs walt to see the Presi-
dent The carpets now putting in are new.
A Long Cabinet Meeting.
The more than two hours session of the
cabinet today was almost exclusively taken
up in the discussion of foreign affairs
the situation in Spain and in Cuba That
the situation is important enough to give
it that much time is considered evidence
that II is of more importance than news
papers have recently given it. When there
Is nothing before the cabinet relating to
foreign affairs Secretary Sherman leaves
early, the cabinet completing their discus
sions of interior matters without him. To-
day he left the cabinet room only few
minutes before the other members of the
Presidents family. He had in con-
sultation for two hours and fifteen minutes.
Il have nothing to say" was his courte-
Gus but brief reply to inquiries as to the
doings Of the cabinet.
Other members of the cabinet, generally
frank in speaking of the business OF cabi-
ret sessions. refused to talk on any phase
of the situation. This in itself is regarded
es showing that the cabinet session was
of moment. 1t is the custom OF the Presi-
dent, when serious affairs are being consid-
cred, to gently hint that Ii Is better that
nothing get out.
It is believed that Minister woodford has
sent adyices Of some kind. The pointed
question as to whether he had been heard
from as to the crisis in Spain was evaded
Dy memDef OF tne CABINET.
The fact that there is a cabinet crisis In
Spain could not, IL Is thought, have caused
such q prolonged discussion. The infer
ence is that this country is more than usu-
ally interested because Of certain steps
which are about to be taken.
Attorney General McKenna remained
with the President after other cabinet offi-t
cials were gone. He Is supposed TO have
been talking over the interests of the gov-
ernment in the coming sale OF the Union
Pacific road. Mr. Mckenna again declined
today to give out the particulars OF the
concessions obtained by him from the re-
committee OF the Union Pa
c'f1c- He seid that he could not do go for
several days.
Presidential selectfons.
The President has appointed Thomas
Mason Of this city to be quartermaster.
with the rank Of captain. OF the lst Regi-
ment Of Infantry Of the militia Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia
The President has also appointed John
Quincy Adams. collector OF customs for the
district Of Superior. Mich: Samuel NJ
Lemon collector OF internal rcvp1iue To-
the fourth district Of 10Ichixan =