The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-16
WHITE HOUSE GOSSIP.
FALLING OFF IN THE BESIEGING
ARMY OF OFFICE SEEKERS.
Many Take the President's Hint That He
Has Not Time to Look After Such Mat.
ters-Not an Once ut the Disposal Of
Secretary AlSer-The Bermuda Asks for
Clearance Papers-Gunboat.w Wilmington
and Helena Ready for Acceptance Trials

Washington. March u-Hon. " G.
Evans. OF Chattanooga, Tenn. who has
been in Washington since just before
inauguration day. left for home this
afternoon. 1t is aid tina he bore with
him the assurance that he should be
appointed commissioner OF pensions.
Some applications for the position OF
assistant secretary OF the treasury
were filed with Secretary Gage today.
The applicants were William Odelin of
Massachusetts, J. H. keattley of Min
nesota, W. ID. Howell Of New Jersey.
W. T. lockwood Of New York. and s.
f. Mclean, of New York.
w. w. Bates, OF Illinois. made appli-
cation for commissioner OF navigation.
and j. y. Ockerson. OF Missouri, for su-
p~erintendent Of the coast and geodetic
survey.
There is absolutely not a single office
at the isposal OF Secretary of War Al
ger, ever his confidential secretary be-
ing subject TO civil service rules gov
erning appointments. But MOI with
standing this, nearly 5000 applications
for office have been filed with him.
u was d iiOllGtdbit ulfIll1utlon
this morning in the office seeking forces
that nave marched on the White house
since the new president entered il.
Bright sun shine and balmy air made
ii a day to be spent out Of doors rath-
er than in and this may have had some
effect on the people who want to serve
their country. Many gentlemen were
willing, however, to sit for hours in the
closely filled corridor that cad to the
presidents loom in the hope OF getting
his ear. But the real reasons for the
slump in undoubtedly are
the new rules for the reception of Wis |
itors and the hints the president has
given that he will not give much con-
sideration to the smaller offices until
the tariff bill is in a fair way toward
final disposition. Then again, he has
had little time to write the message
to be presented 10 congress next Mon
day and that 3 a matter that cannot
wait while office seekers can. Several
men Of prominence who had nothing to
ask and nothing to expect from the ad-
ministration, dropped in to pay their
this morning.
Senator Mason presented the names
Of four of his constituents for feder"l
positions. Huntington Wilson, of Chi
ago, wants to be secretary of egatlOn
at Paris; the we'll known Thomas Il.
Needles is after the Indian commits
sionership; Professor Lowry would Xix
to go abroad in a diplomatic and con-
sular capacity, and Mr.. Elliott, of Chi
cago, is an applicant for the position
of assistant attorney general.
Secretary Sherman today appointed
William B. Gaitree, of Marietta, Ohio,
as his confidential clerk, at a salary OF
81, 200 per year. Mr.. Gaitree was as
sistant secretary to Governor Mckinley
for several years.
Mr.. G. Walter BlandfOrd, of the Dis
trict of Columbia, has been appointed
private secretary to Attorney General
McKenna, a position he formerly held
when Mr.. Olney was at the head of
that department..
A telegram was received at the treas
ury department today from the col
lector of customs at Fernandina, Fla,
stating that the steamer Bermuda had
applied for clearance papers from that
port. The destination of the vessel was
not given, and until this is stated the
papers will not be issued.
The new gunboatS Wilmington and
Helena, built at Newport News, have
been reported to the navy department
as ready for official acceptance trials,
and the former will be Speeded over the
ed course in Long Island sound
on the 21st inst, the latter following
two days later. These useful vessels
are desired for service on the China
station and in Other localities where
their. light draft will enable them to
enter shallow harbors and ascend riv-
ers. They must run at the n
rate of thirteen knots an hour, main
tanned for four consecutive hours. Con- |
idence is expressed that they Will ex-
coed this with ease.