The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-29

Washington, March 2S.-The demo-
cratic habits of the president and the
members of his cabinet and their ac-
feasibility to callers are pleasantly
commented upon. Mr.. McKinley's
manner of receiving visitors and his
| horseback rides and afternoon strOlls
have become familiar matters of con-
versation. It is a maxim here that
the presidents personality can be
judged by his conduct during the first
few months of his administration.
Three members OF the cabinet have
shown surprising, but pleasing, dis
regard for time-honOred custom. They
are not bound down by official pref
udice but do what they want with
out regard for red tape
When Secretary Gage wants to see
one of his subordinates, he is likely as
not to dispense with the services of a
messenger in summoning the person
named and to walk into his office with
out warning.
Postmaster-General Gary and Sec
rotary Wilson are following the same
plan. Mr.. Gary frequently answers
calls on the telephone and Mr.. Wilson
will take visitor through the agri-
cultural department Conservatives and
explain the varieties of rare plants
that are III the horticultural collec-
tiCnS.
The reputation Mr. Sherman had for
exclusiveness while in the senate is
not borne out by his personal conduct
as secretary of state. Mr. Sherman
has followed the example of the late
Secretary Gresham in throwing open
the doors of his office TO all who have
business with him. OF course, as with
-. l.
there are certain specified hours when
the secretary is not accessible, but
liberal time is allowed all who desire
to see him.
Secretary Gage is much the same.
and he frequently comes out into the
office of his private secretary. Wander
lip, which is used as a waiting room
to expedite the business of callers.
Acknowledgement McKenna is a
hard-worker, but his duties at the
supreme court and other demands on
his time do not operate to any great
extent against those who desire to
see him. The many delegations that
have called are always courteously re-
ceived, and find the attorney general
is an attentive listener. His endeavor
to grasp every detail concerning the
naval service does not consume so
much time that Secretary Long can
not be reached by the many who have
gone to the navy department on public
matters. The secretary is easy to
reach and leaves an agreeable impress
sion upon his callers.
General AlgeT, like Mr.. Long, is as
siduously studying the methods of
the military branch of the govern
ment. He is always genial and APP
proachable, and gives patient hearing
to the unfortunate ones.
The habits of a business man stick
to Mr.. Bliss. He is at his desk in the
interior department early. and man
ages to transact a large amount of
business during the day. If it were
not for the Office seekers. Mr. Bliss
would go ahead in his customary way
conducting his department. as he does
his private business. But the office
seekers have no cause to complain
They are given liberal share of the
Secretary's time, and no abstraction
has been displayed over the manner
in which an eastern man disposes of
matters largely concerning the western
country.
The nearness of Mr.. Gary's legal
residence to Washington has brought
upon him its penalty. At no other de-
partment are there so many visitors
anxious to see its chief His Office is
thronged every day with crowds of
persons VINO want positions under the
pOStofilce department Mr.. Gary sees
all who come, listens carefully and
patiently to each visitor, and al
together is making himself very
popular among those who think the
owes them something.
A very simple man in his habits is
Mr. Wilson, the secretary of agricul-
ture. He is conscientious in learning
all that can be learned about the agri-
cultural department and as a result
works hard and long. His visitors find
him plain and straightforward and to
the high and low he is accessible most
of the time.