Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-07
NEW CABINET OFFICERS SWORN IN.
All Except Secretary GaRe Take the
Onih I'm the WHIT Mnnse.

bers Of the cabinet, with the exception Of
Mr.. Gage, took the oath OF ONCE at the
white house at 11;S0 O'Clock. 1t was a
simple but impressive ceremony, All Of the
members Of the new cabinet except Mr.
Gage had assembled for the ceremony in the
presidents office, where. after a brief ex-
change Of courtesies, President Mckinley and
Mr.. Sherman led the way down stairs to the
blue room, looking southwark toward the
Potomac river. Here Chief Justice Fuller
and the justices Of the supreme court were
assembled. The president and his advisers
greeted the justices and the formalities OF
administering the oaths were begun at once.
Mr.. Sherman was first, the chief Justice adj
ministering the oath while the venerable
statesman held up his right hand and re-
peated the constitutional obligation. Then
followed the other cabinet officers in their
rank. Justice Gray OF Massachusetts,
administered the oath to John d. Long, also
a son of the old Bay State. For this reason
of locality Justice Brown. formerly of
Michigan, administered the oath to General
Alger as secretary of war. All the other
oaths were administered by the chief justice.
The new cabinet did not return up stairs,
but separated without the formality of a
cabinet meeting.
1t was generally understood that the new
cabinet officers would take charge of their
several departments today or Monday. An
official of the State department came over
about noon to say that affairs were about in
readiness for the incoming Of Mr.. Sherman
today IL he so desired.
Lyman ]. Gage took the oath in the
secretary's office in the Treasury department
at noon. Chief Justice Fuller of the su-
premo court, another Chicago man, admins
tered the oath in the presence of a dist!n-
guished company, which included the relat-
ives and friends of MIR. Gage, part of the
Illinois delegation in congress and the prin-
cipal officials of the treasury.
CABINET OFFICERS TAKE HOLD.
The oath of office taken, the new cabinet
officers lost no time in entering en- their
official duties.
The installation of john Sherman as secre-
tary of state was accomplished without hustle
or confusion and with as little ceremony as
possible. Secretary Olney had expected to
hold over until Monday, having been re-
quested to do so by the president and Mr..
Sherman, so that it required some haste
on the part of the messengers to prepare his
Office for the immediate evacuation made
necessary by notice that Mr.. Sherman would
take the cath at the white house with his
fellow cabinet officers. This change in the
program was brought about by the discovery
that Mr.. Sherman could not add his name tc
the forthcoming proclamation calling a special
session of congress until he had qualified
as secretary of state. fN. "a
oSIitldly olt "a ny nOUu pure lDuI tue
and came to the State department, and Mr..
Olney introduced him to the heads of bureaus
of the department. Mr.. Babcock, who had
been appointed private secretary, had been
initiated by Mr.. Blandford5l the retiring
private secretary, into the duties of his Office
and had taken UP his quarters yn the ante
room ready to stand as "A buffer between
Secretary Sherman and the great army of APP
plicants for places under the State depart
ment, expected to appeara as 1socn as the
power has been completely trans.
ferred. The new secretary did not remain
long in his office, but rs soon as the introduce
lions were over he turned over the RESPONSE
bility for the signature Of the mail to Az.
siotant Secretary Rockhiil ahd went home for
the day. y
There was more interept9 in the induction
into office of the secretary of war and the
was more picturesque Secretary
Alger came over to the War department
from the white house with Governor Scofel6
Of Wisconsin and a full staff, making quite
a procession as they marched through the
Secretary Lamont received his sue
cessor cordially, and then the officers of tbs
War department began to greet their new
chief. Before this was under way the secre-
tary pleased the crowd of onlookers By giving
kiss to his pretty daughters, who stood by
to see their father enter upon the duties of
cabinet officer. Everybody who knew Gen.
eral Alger had an opportunity to shake hands
with and congratulate him as Secretary
.lger. The reception lasted a long time.
IN NAVY DEPARTMENT. !
over in the NAVY department a very SINH
lar ceremony was going on. In that case
Mr., Herbert stood close to Secretary Long
as the employees of the navy, from the heads
Or bureaus to the messengers, passed in
line and were introduced TO the new sec
rotary. They stopped a few PAGES further
along to express to Mr.. Herbert their appre-
. 4 ntInn nf tho Etn11t fron, 49, - l.
hem in the four years of his secretaryship.
The officers and employees were introduced
70 Secretary Long by Lewis H.. Finney.
who was Secretary Herbert's private secre-
tary and in view of his abilities As such,
mas been retained by Secretary Lony in .he
same responsible capacity. JIJ
Hon. Lyman ]. Gage entered upon his
as secretary of the treasury as soon
as he had taken the oath of office. His after
loon was spent In receiving the chiefs of
livision and other officials and talking
With them about the work. Incidentally he
received several members of congress, and
! number of Chicago people called. Mr..
vanderbilt, the private secretary to Mr. Gage,
vas assisted by Mr.. Van Zenden, who has
leld the office of private secretary under
Carlisle. The plans of Secretary
Carlisle for the future had not been an
lounced.
Mr.. Bliss took charge of the Interior de- |
'artment about IL o'clock. Mr.. Francis had
ipent most of the morning with all OF his
Strengthening out pending Office
matters, clearing accumulation of papers and
them back to the various divisions |
laying Jurisdiction. This had been barely I
when Mr.. Bliss arrived. He i'm
retired into the secretary's private
tfice and entered into consultation over de-
'artment methods. The matter OF Indian
appropriations was taken up first and an
Jour spent in going over the branches of
he work with bureau and division chiefs,
Who were introduced to the new secretary
y Assistant Commissioner of Patents Fisher.
hen Secretary Bliss consulted Assistant Sec
etaries Sims and Reynolds. Mr.. Francis
Sil remain in Washington about ten days
when, on account of Mrs. Francis
Illness, he may have to go with her to
'lorida.
POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Postmaster General Gary arrived at the
'~ostofice department at lis o'clock. Ac-
ompanying him were his Washington rep
sentative, j. A. Richardson, and his conf
entail clerk, A.. Warield Monroe. They
pent a few moments with Mr.. Wilson, after
,hich the doors were thrown open and the
hiefs of division were received. The cor
ldors were rapidly filled With the entire de-
artment force OF employees numbering about
arranged by office grobps and headed by
heir respective chiefs. Every employe was
to Mr.. Gary BIT Chief Clerk Tay-
'r. and after bidding adieu'fe Mr.. Wilson,
hey returned TIC their rdofbs. Mr.. Wilson
-ayed a little while and~left for his home