The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-03-04

Washington, March :.-Thc President
eiect is i'll in excellent state of health to.
day. He rested we'll and was exceedingly
pleased with the quiet dinner and even.
ing he passed ut the White House with
President and Mrs. Cleveland
at half-past ten this morning Gov.
Lowndes, of Maryland, accompanied by
his staff, called and was received in the
hotel parloi. Late this afternoon there
was number Of confereEces.in the rooms
of the Preside intellect on the subject OF
the Cabinet.
1t WAS O'Clock, when the President
elect drove to the White House in the rain
to make the customary formal call.
Quite IL crowd had collected near the nor.
tco in anticipation of his arrival and
ha5s were removed with IL Light cheer
when he aiightcd from his carriage, nc.
coMpanied by Secretary j. Addison Por-
ter.
Mr.. Mckinley acknowledged the ova,
tou by smiling by lifting his hat and nod.
ding to the assemblage and then walked
quickly into the main corridor, whence
he was ushered through the great stained
glass screen TO the Blue Room, where
President Cleveland and Secretary Thur.
Der stood eXpcctingly. The hand grasp
OF the Prcsidenb was noticedbly cordial in
greeting his SUCCESSOR and while the two
Secretaries and Mr.. Bell drew aside, Pres.
ident Cleveland asked interestingly re.
Garting Mr.. McKinley'S health and as
sured MIR. Mckinley that he would be
able to take part in tomorrow physical
ordeal in spite of the pain he was suffer
ing.
The interview was brief, for the Pres
idcnt elect had remained ut the White
House last night until 10 O'Clock discuss.
ing the inauguration arrangements and
the affairs OF state, which are left over to
worry him, and, besides, the visit was
purely one. of courtesy in acknowledge
ment of last nights hospitality. Within
two minutes of his entry the Presidents
elect and those accompanying him drove
away.
President Cleveland and Secretary
Thurber returned the call ut noon
The throng of callers ut the White
House shows no lessening. Among them
to-day were Captain Robert Evans, who
is perfecting arrangements for II ducking
expedition Oh II lighthouse tender to be.
gin Thursday night; Justice White, of the
supreme court; Commissioner of Patents
Seymour, Marshal Wilson, Josiah pa:ter
son, of Tennessee, Gen. John NJ Wilson,
chief of engineers, and Il host of Congress.
men who wanted pet measures placed on
top of the heap on the Presidents desk
AMI who went away satisfied that this
would be done.
In spite of the rain inauguration crowds
came in droves and tracked mud over the
rich carpets of the East room, which was
the only apartment open to the public
1t is announced that this morning Cor.
nelius \. Bliss agreed to reconsider his
determination to remain in private life
and consented to enter Mr. MclNinleys
Cabinet as the representative of New
York State. 1t is stated that the position
to which he is assigned is Secretary of
Interior, and the formal tender of Il Cab.
met position was made to him this after.
noon, but Mr.. Bliss New York friends
want him to be Secretary of the Navy and
he would prefer that portfolio himself, for
the reason that he is not IL lawyer, and
the tradition is thar the post Of the Sec
retary of Interior shall he occupied by IL
lawyer.
Gov John d. Long of Massachusetts,
who has been slated for Secretary of the
Navy, and who did not expect to reach
here until some time tomorrow has been
communicated with by telegraph ana
asked to come to Washington immedi-
ately 1t is apparently the intention to
ask him to become Secretary Of the IN
terror so as to leave the navv portfolio
open for Mr.. Bliss.
Prominent Republicans, who have heard
the statement that Mr.. Bliss is to he IL
member of the Cabinet, express great
satisfaction at this solution OF the New
York problem. Mr.. Bliss is acceptable
to all factions.
If the arrangement us above outlined
is carried out the new Cabinet will be as
follows
Secretary of State, John Sherman, of
Ohio.
Secretary of the Treasury, Lyman j.
Gage, of Illinois
Secretary of War, Russell y. Aleer, of
Michigan.
Attorney General, Joseph McKenna, of
California.
Postmaster General, James y. Gary, of
Maryland.
Secretary of the Navy, John y. Long,
of Massachusetts.
Secretary of the Interior, Cornelius y.
Bliss, of New York.
snSecretary of Agriculture, James Will
son. of Iowa.