Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-26
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Secretary Cages Report Discussed at the
Cabinet Meeting.
Neither Spanish Nor Hawaiian At
fairs Were McntiOned-Ncw
Surgeon General.

There was nothing like a war cloud hang
ing over the cabinet meeting today. Secre-
tary Sherman's face wore a placid look
when he left the cabinet room. Secretary
Long wrapped a big macintosh closely
around him to guard against the cool east
winds. but there was not stern look on
his features. Secretary Ayers fea lures
revealed no inward disturbance, and there
was Indication that either war vessels
or troops were about to be ordered to get
in readiness to obliterate Cuba or Spain.
In the most positive manner every men,
ber of the cabinet said that not word
about Spain, Cuba or Hawaii had been dis
cussed in the meeting, and that no word
had been received from Minister Woodford.
The portico of the White House was liber-
ally filled with newspaper men, who thought
Minister Woodfcrd would turn in a CORY
dispatch from Madrid. Some of them ven
tured the assertion that declaration of war
against Spain would be put off until after
the election. All the hopes of "hot news
dispelled at the good-natured replies of the
cabinet members.
I'VE have been listening to a lecture from
Secretary Gage on the finances" said one
of the cabinet officials, "and that is about
all we have done. The Secretary was tell
ing US about some of the recommenda tons
he will make" Secretary Gage confirmed
the report that he had been talking about
his report.
More Union Pacific Matter.
There was a prelude to the cabinet meet
ing. however. Attorney General McKenna
went to the White House before 10 o'clock.
and a few minutes later Secretary Gage
was sent for. The President and these two
members of the cabinet then discussed
the situation as to the sale of the Union
Pacific. The proposed postponement of the
sale is still under consideration. PROPOSE
tions and counter propositions are being
made. and developments are expected
the reorganization committee of the
Union Pacific is not satisfied with
its treatment by the government. 1t in
sists that the sale be not put off long
December 10 The committee urges that
the value of the road is being affected by
the continued uncertainty. 1t is not i'm
probable. it is said, that the reorganiza-
tfon committee will agree not to fight the
motion for postponement If the govern
ment will fix a date for the sale this side
of December 10. That question is not the
only and most important being dis
cusSed, however.
There is no possibility, as is rumored
that the reorganization committee will at
tempt TO withdraw its guarantees and get
out of the matter. The guarantee is bind
ing. When it was made no time for the
sale of the road was specified. The COM
mittee agreed to make a certain bid if the
government would proceed to secure fore
closure. ms mas been done, and the gov
ernment has violated no written agree
ment.
The President today made the following
appointments:
William b. Sorsby, Mississippi, to be con-
sui at San Juan del Norte, Nicaragua.
William K. Van Reypen. surgeon general
and chief of the bureau of medicine and
surgery, United States navy.
Wilson R. Gay of Washington, United
States attorney for the state of Washing
ton.
DIR. Hunters Appointment.
The appointment of DR.. w. Godfrey
Hunter of Kentucky, as minister to Guate-
mala, will be made in about ten days or
less. 1t was thought the appointment
would have been made three weeks ago.
when DIR. Hunter was here and accepted
the mission offered to him by the Presi-
dent; bat Dr. Hunter asked for thirty days
in which to get ready for his departure be-
fore the appointment was made. The time
will soon be up. DR.. Hunter will not leave
Kentucky until after the election.
Jerry Smith, the best known of the White
House servants, appears at his post Of duty
in snow-whitc linen costume. Jerry's
black face shines at the top of the snow
white canvas in which he is enveloped. The
costume is a production of the superin-
tendent of the White House, and two of
Jerry's fellow servants appear in the same
kind of suits