The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-19

9 o'clock In the morning the
III J western corridors Of the big gray
TX building which shelters the state.
IL lwar and navy Departments OF
lA/the United States are tArouged
with men. In every room Off
eiaIs and their clerks are bury with some
detail of the greatest business enterprise
launched la this country since the rebe.-
lion--the handling and equipment Of 2sf,Is0
men. Along the halls hurry officers In
uniform and clerks In civilian dress Ell
gagged In some eTrand connected with the
work.
In and around the offices Of the secre-
sary and his assistants liz gathered a
crowd OF senator's and congressman. news
paper reporters. contractors. msn with
schemes and men looking for appoint
menss. all ciamorlng for attention Grad
ualiy these early callers are dispersed or
directed into proper channels BY the uni
formed attendants who guard every door.
but their places are taken ty others. and
al cay long, until the doors close against
the public the rush continues. IL ~ the
busiest spot In the United States. The
army that files through the war depart
ment every day IL probably az large as
that Intended 10 subda. the Philippines.
Between Q and Ii the head Of this vast
establishment makes his appearance. Sec
rotary Aiger is a tall. spare man with n
fresh. ruddy complexion. n weli-trinmed
military beard Of gray-white. and a pair
OF kindly gray eyes. deep set under shay
Ks brows. He carries his e2 years effec-
tuslly concealed somewhere about his well
knit. vigorous person, and enters his Of
Zee with a sprightiy step and pleasant
smile for any Of his acquain,ances whom
he happens 10 meet. He makes his way
rapidly through the waiting crowd In the
ante-room 10 his private Office where he
nj once seats himself a. the desk and runs
through the papers which his secretary
has arranged for his inspection. Then he
is ready for the delugs Of callers
A variety of Callers.
First comes a prominent senator The
son OF one Of his friends wants an APP
pelntmeut to a staff position In the army
The young man has had no particular ex-
per!ence but he IL a bright fellow and
can soon pick up the duties Of the place
and At any rate one such appointment
cannot injure the service. and the presi-
dent viii certainly make II II the secre-
tary viii give his Endorsement. Gen. AL
ger Interpesss one or two objections but
the senator Is inslstent and is sent of
IL see the adiutant general Of the army.
His request, or some slight variation Of H.
Is repeated a score Of times before the
morning IL over.
a member of the house committee on
appropriations comes hFiskiy In. greets
the secretary famlHarly and at once,
piungcs into a discussion OF the amount ON
money required by the war department,
FOR carrying on Its work. Gen. Ager is
evidently primed on this subject. for he
produces typewriter sheets covered with
estimates which be explains 10 the con-
gresham
The routine business Of the offce la sus-
pended for few moments while a foreign
charge d'affairss and his two uniformed
attaches are uSiivred lu To pay their re-
spyets The attaches are fnarYels OF bril-
liant color aud gold braid each with
uniform bat II canno; i, said that they
appear to~aayauiagc beside the quiet, dig
nried man IN plain civilian dress who Is
the moving power behind one Of the great
armies ~ the world
After these callers hay. stiftiy bowed
themselves cat. \ Western congressman
escorts an sEitated woman into the rootu
The secretary listens patiently while the
woman expiasas that her son has been
court -ruartiaiea for leaving his regiment
without per,nssslou and to her assurance
that Henry Is a good boy and didn't
meap 70 30 anything wronE" ha assures
hgr that ,hc matter win H. Investigated
and directs his secretary TO look into
Henry'S case.
A summons comes from tha president