The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-06
CABINET CONFIRMED.
But There Was Some Objection to
Secretary Bliss
BECAUSE HE Is NOT A LAWYER
There We're Some Mutterinss. Too. Against
Secretary Gage. Becauss OF His Views on
I Silver, Dut There Was No Formal Pro.
!. Atess In tho Senate. Meeting.


tess In tho Senate. Meeting.
! Washington, March 6.-The presi-
dc rs cabinet appointments were all
confirmed by the senate yesterday and
without opposition. There was for a
time q threat of opposition to Mr.. Gage
as secretary of the treasury, because of
his views on the silver question and
because he is banker. but there was
more of this among senators in the
cloak rooms than in the senate.
The senate went into executive ses-
sion promptly upon the receipt of the
nominations. and as soon as the an
nouncement was made Of the appoint
ment of Senator Sherman. whose name
headed the list, he was confirmed. 1t
Is the practice to refer all nominations
to committee. but 1t was the desire of
MFR. Sherman's friends to signalize
their regard for him by immediate ac-
tton. No opposition was made and the
nomination went through without
comment.
There was more form than reality
In the reference Of the other nominal
tions to committee. Not one of the
committees had formal meeting,
they being polled on the floor of the
senate in every instance. No objection
was made in the committee to con-
1irifation. The senate was in recess
while the polling was In progress and
only little more than half an hours
lime was spent in discussing the nomi-
nations,
Most of this time was devoted to the
nt t.,t at,t atp,. Of hh In
terior, which called for attention from
Benators Teller and Stewart. who stat
ed that while they had no intention to
make any effort to balk the president
In his selection of his cabinet minis
ters, they still felt constrained to point
out the inadvisability OF selecting
man who was not lawyer for a po-
Sition which requires the exercise of so
much legal ability as does the place at
The head of the interior department.
Mr.. Teller said that Mr.. Bliss was an
estimable man. and one who would
have filled other positions with credit,
but because he was not lawyer he did
not consider him qualified In all re-
Bpects for the place at the head of the
interior department This, he said, was
n position which was of vast import
hnce, as cases were decided involving
greater property rights in the course
Of a year. by the secretary of the in
terior. than were decided by the United
Btates supreme court. They involved
for the most part legal questions, and
MIR. Bliss was not a lawyer, but
banker and a business man. Natural
iy he knew nothing of the many legal
IT. I.
him as secretary Of the interior.
Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts,, pre-
Bented high tribute to Mr.. Bliss. He
pointed out that many of the questions
decided by the secretary were prepared
by law clerks, and argued that no
matter how good lawyer man might
be, he could not investigate all the
matters that came before him as the
head of department Of this govern
ment For that reason law force
had been provided to assist the secre-
aary In his work. He said that the
business ability of Mr.. Bliss was un-
questioned.
Senator's Lodge and Chandler follow
: ed in nntfcfr the same strain, calling at
kention to the fact that Zachary
Taylor had made an acceptable Sec
retary of this department, notwith-
ptanding he was not member of the
bar. MIR. Lodge suggested that pos
sibly there was some feeling that this
office should go to the west.
Senators Teller and Stewart both de-
clared they entertained no feeling on
This score. The location of the mans
residence would not count with them
provided he was familiar with the
questions which would require his at
tention, They instanced Senators Platt,
Of Connecticut, and Chandler, of New
Hampshire, as eastern men who could
MI the place acceptably to the west
Benator Stewart added that with a
lnan like Mr.. Bliss at the head of the
Interior department he would not feel
EASY until he heard the most compe-
tent man had been chosen for the Of
fices of assistant secretary and of at
torney general for the interior de-
partment.
The reference to Mr.. Gage We're
mainly on account of what was termed
his gold standard views, and 1t was in
timated that as secretary of the treas
ury he would support the gold stand
ard, knowing the promise of the ad-
ministraton to promote bimetallism.
One objection would have been suf-
ficient to send any of the nominations
over day, but the senator's who had
made their points against Mr.. Bliss
said they had no desire in any way
to hamper the president in the seec-
tion of his confidential advisers. Hence
they would content themselves with
In nf ha
selections. When the list had been con-
firmed In the order of appointment the
senate adjourned until Monday.
Secretary Gage took the oath of Of
fee at II o'clock TODAY in the secre-
tary's office. Chief Justice Fuller ad-
ministered 1t In the presence OF the Of
fieials of the department and a num-
Der Of Mr. Cages personal friends who
are now in the city. 1t is expected that
several of the other cabinet officials
will be sworn In today, though Pre-
mier Sherman has decided not to take
control of his department until Mon
day. Meantime Secretary Olney re-
mains at the head of the department.
Several of the new cabinet officials
spent part of yesterday with their pre-
decessors, going over the work of the
departments. Mr.. Bliss spent several
hours at the interior department with
Secretary Francis, and Postmaster
General Wilson explained matters to
Mr. Gary, calling the latter's attention
especially to the postmastership
changes, and to cases like that at
Caldwell, Kan. where a postoftice in
spector is now in charge, owing to fail
ure to confirm a nomination.
Mr.. James Wilson. the new secre-
lary of agriculture. has met Mr.. Nor
ton, whom he succeeds, before now
but the two talked over affairs again
yesterday. They went over the duties
Of the head Of the department routine
work for an hour or more, and num-
Der of assistants were introduced to
the new head.
Aner All Others Fail.