Evening star., 1897-01-29
GENERAL APPROVAL
Mr.. Gage Will Make a Good Secretary
of the Treasury.
CONTROLLER ECKELS SATISFACTION
The Cabinet Slate as 1t is Now
Believed to Stand.
) + NATORIAL OPIN IONS

Inc announcement OF Lyman J. Gape ,o,.
secretary of the Treasury is not altopatb.,.
satisfactory to practical politicians who
"'uiu prefer one Of their own number I'm
the place, but every one who takes a purely
ousi'ess view or the matter speaks In the
hishest praise of his selection The only
heard is that Mr.. Gage is not
enough OF partisan. and that banker
is liable TO take a narrow view of the duttes
OF the department. This IL more thar
counterbalanced by the expression Of sat-
isfaction which is heard on every hand
Mr Gage is spoken OF by those who know
MN weii as man OF broad views ana n
remarkable business capacity. Members ~
the present administration sne.L !, 81.
nshest praise of him. Ii IL said tha. Mr.
SLeNeiahd after the death OF Secretary
manning, during his first term, wanted Mr.
uage 10 be his Secretary of the Treasurv
Clerks in the Treasury Department a.s
particularly well pleased at the prospeot
OF having a man at the head of the de-
@ garment VINO is a thorough and consistent
civil service reformer.
As the Slate stands.
several friends of Mr.. Hanna here saw
that IL Is not altogether certain that MIR,
Hanna will not go into the cabinet. Thsv
N ~ roNti ilOI lbuSnneii does
appoint him to the Senate he will be made
POSTMASTER General. and that MIR. McKjp-
ley is now holding that place open with this
IN view. The cabinet slate stands TODAY
according TO these gentlemen: State Sher-
man; Treasury, Gage: Justice. Cor: Navy.
N;ns;, NGns. interior, Mckenna: War. Alger OF
Michigan or Porter of New York: Agricul-
lure probably Wilson of Iowa but not set
tied; Post Office. held open for Hanna.
"A sreat deal OF satisfaction Is oppressed
at having the treasury portfolio disDosed Of
and out OF the way, and II is also gratify-
ing TO many that the man selected for this
place is one who has thorough knowledas
OF business and finance. Attention is called
10 the fact that not since the day of Nc
Culloch has the Treasury Department been
under the management of a man trained
TO the business of practical finance Mr.
uage mas the assurance of a warm and
cordial welcome in the department He is
already well known there. and in the arch
ives OF every important branch can be
round letters from him covering a period OF
twenty years or more. Mr.. Gage has per.
sonaily attended to that branch Of the az
fairs OF his bank which brought the insti-
tuition into relation with the Treasury De-
partment, and he almost Invariably wrote
communications himself. A veteran of the
treasury Department said today that Mr.
Gage would have a great opportunity TO
make record for himself as Secretary of
the Treasury.
Favorable Comment on Gage.
1t will not be necessary" he said. for
Mr.. Gage to bother about details The de-
partment is well enough organized in all its
many branches to transact the business
that comes along, but there is plenty of
important business for a man big enough
to thoroughly appreciate the situation and
10 grasp the opportunities that are open to
him. The revenues of the government are
IN distress and the finances of the nation
have about reached climax OF disorder
and uncertainty. The country is drifting
along under a system that Is a coneiomera-
ton of makeshifts. From what 1 know OF
Mr. Gage L believe him TO be the man for
the occasion. He has the advantage of no
ing INTO the office with an established repu-
tation which will beget confidence and he
should be able to make a favorable i'm
preston both upon Congress and the coun-
try.
He is thoroughly saturated with the SUBJ
ject of national finance and has supreme
confidence in himself. He can discuss
financial matters with any of the experts
either in or out of Congress, In a manner
TO impress his views upon them. He has
been all his life in The midst of large af-
fairs, and has that essential trait of leay-
ing the active performance of details to
assistants and subordinates in whom he
has confidence, at the same time keeping
in close touch with all those under him
II he applies the rule to his Washington
work which he has in his private business
he will make great success as Secretary
VI lHe Treasury.
Mr.. Eckels' Satisfaction.
Controller Eckels expressed today his
satisfaction over the appointment of Mr..
Gage. He said: Mr.. Gage and / will get
along all right. / saw by a report of q
speech he made recently that he spoke
hatteringly Of me, and i am sure that /
can truthfully say that fully reciprocate
his kind feelings. With his wide expe-
rience in the financial field, his broad views
and his proven executive and administra-
tive ability he should make an ideal Sec
retary of the Treasury"
1t is said that Mr.. Cages clerical force
in the First National Bank, numbering
about 400 persons, has been kept strictly
under the civil service reform system, and
mis- reputation as practical civil service :
is matter of satisfaction TO the
clerks in the department.
Senator Cullom's Approval.
Senator Cullom today Joined in the gen.
eral expression of approval of Maj Nc /
Kinley's choice. If the senator feels any /.
disappointment In not himself being Sc !
lected for this position he does not show It
in neither his manner nor his speech. He
said today:
Mr. Gage has my best and kindest
wishes. / think Mr.. Mckinley made a wise
choice i'm appointing him. He has not only
put excellent timber in his cabinet, but has
conferred an honor on the state of Illinois.
Mr.. Gage has the requisite experience and
enjoys to a rare degree the confidence of
the business world. The only point upon
which / was i'm doubt was his republican,
ism, and he has settled that satisfactorily.
The appointment should have no sting In
it for the republicans i'm Illinois or of the
country at large. i shall telegraph Mr..
Gage my congratulations this afternoon"
The sound money democrats generally
express great satisfaction at Mr.. Cages
selection. President Cleveland is quoted as
speaking In the most f1attering manner OF
Mr. Gage and the sound money democrats
in the House and Senate express similar
views Senator Lindsay of Kentucky said
today: THE selection of Mr.. Gage is the
best thing Mr.. Mckinley has done. 1t
gives the people assurance of q sound end
IS fe administration Of the national finances
and good grounds for the hope that sub
stantial and important reforms may be in
augurated during the next four years. L
the President-elect on iris eX-
hibition of sterling good sense.
Victim Of q brothers. shot.