The times., 1898-12-07

The Winter rush at the White House
commenced in earnest yesterday, after
= President Mckinley had enjoyed a brief
respite from his labors the day before.
There were Congressional callers. office
seekers and distinguished men in public
and private life galore. The rush contin-
ued into the night and the President only
found relief at last in quiet sleep from
their. opportunities, arguments and sug-
gestions.
The day was an important one at the
Executive Mansion. For one hour tefo.e
the Cabinet meeting convened Mr.. McKin-
ley received In his private Office and con-
ferred with nine senators. ten representa-
tives, former Vice President Levi p. Nor
ton, and District Commissioner Wight.
Each of these callers was profuse in his
congratulations upon the Presidents mes
sage to Congress, and adjective Were fair
ly showered upon Mr.. Mckinley.
The members of the Cabinet assembled
at the regular hour, II o'clock ard held a
session which was ended when the city
bells and whistles were sounding the noon
day hour The first thing in order WAS
more congratulations and praise for the
message and its author and further rain
of adjectives.
The President smilingly responded to
these compliments, and then Secretary
AIger, who had just returned to the city,
changed the subject by introducing to the
meeting report he had received from
Gen. Wood, commanding the United
States forces in Santiago province, Cuba.
Gen. Woods statement was thoroughly
optimistic He said the outlook at San
tiago was bright. Business houses, schools
and churches have resumed operations,
the people are going TO work and conform
ing themselves to the new and improved
conditions and the sanitation of the city
is good, resulting in a marked decrease
of sickness and the death rate.
The President expressed the hope that
similar revivals of trade and prosperous
conditions will prevail in other Cuban
cities and provinces when American oc-
cupatlon is completed in the island
Secretary Hay informed the Cabinet
that no advices had been received during
the forenoon from Paris.
Later in the day IL was stated that he
had received a cablegram from Chairman
Day. stating that the drawing up of the
the labors of the Peace Commission were
nearing the end. 1t was believed the
American Commissioners would be able
10 sail for New York on Saturday, or the
first of next week.
Appointment Clerk Lyman, of the Treas
ury, appeared at the Cabinet meeting His
presence was. il was stated, in reference
10 certain exemptions provided for in the
forthcoming Presidential civil service or
H.
nue. appointments in the colonies Many
applications are on file at the Treasury
Department from candidates for positions
In the possessions. a number of these
were received at the White House and
handed over to Secretary Gage.
The President received yesterday and
last night a large number of kilograms
OF congratulation on his message.
A short while before the Cabinet meet
ing convened Speaker Reed called at the
White House and conferred with Mir. Nc
hinley. 1t is understood he arranged a
date for further conference. when
program of legislation will be submitted
to the President for his advice and sr,r-
gesuons. The object of this program was
stated to be to facilitate the transaction
OF necessary legislation in order to avoid
an extra session of Congress if possible.
II came to Washington to attend the
former Vice-President Morton, as he was
leaving the Executive Mansion. .and /
only called to pay my respects to Mr..
mckinley, as all good Americans should"
among the other distinguished men
who called upon the President yester-
day and congratulated him on his me-
sage were Senators Platt. New York;
Deboe. Kentucky; Cullom. Illinois: md
say, Kentucky; Hawley, Conns ctiou.;
Sewell, New Jersey; Allison, Iowa ard
Nelson, Minnesota.
The representatives who called were
Messrs. Burleigh, Johnson, Smith Alex
ander. Perkins. Hopkins. WadsN orth and
d. B. Henderson.
Representative William Alden Smith
after leaving the White House. stated
that there should be an extra 81 ssion of
Congress in order that the promises of
the party may be carried out
Representative Hopkins of Illinois de-
clared that there should not and wou,d
not be an extra session.
District Commissioner Wight called at
the White House twice yesterday. His
last call was late In the afternoon. He
stated that he had been sent for in CON-
nection with an appointment under the
District government which a certain
senator desired to have made He spent
considerable time with the President, and !
1t Is said the reassignment of Col Black |
as Engineed Commissioner and the shelly |
Ing of Capt. Beach was discussed 1t
is not believed, however, that Mr.. Nc ]
knley Will ignore the unanimity of public |
opinion in favor of the present incumbent |
and retire him to satisfy small CLIQUE !
who want Black restored to the commits |
sionship.
After all the smaller fry had been dis
posed of. at o'clock p. m Senator Mar
Gus A. Hanna slipped in with the manner
OF one who desires to maintain a strtc.
lncosnito. He remained closeted with the
President until 1890. After his de
parture 1t was stated that he had entoyed
a long and animated conference with mis-
associate on matters connected with GER
tain features of the peace settlement. and
others relating to the open door policy
which the impending civil service order fs
to inaugurate. He left as he
came. evidently anxious to escape atten-
tion-