The times., 1898-12-04
THE PRESIDENT BHSIEGED
A Host of Callers at the
White House.
MANY WERE DISAPPOINTED.
Civil Service order Considered
The Farewell Reception TO Presi-
dent Yciesins-The Petitions of u
Coiorcd Delegation The Reten-
ton of Capt. beach.

The near approach OF the converting of
Congress resulted in busy times at the
White House yesterday. The President
was besieged by individual callers and
delegations during business hours, ana
when O'Clock arrived, the hour for CLOS
ing the executive doors, there still re-
mained IN the waiting room dozen can
ers. who had been unable to get an aud
ience with Mr. Mckinley. The majority
of these were men with personal let
ters" to Mr.. Mckinley. and were seeking
appointments.
There were three men at least who are
desirous of serving the Government in the
colonies in the revenue and customs SER
vice and another who wishes to be post
master at Manila.
Between callers and delegations, Mr..
Mckinley gave some consideration TO the
forthcoming civil service order, which, 1t
is stated will exempt from the ciassliied
service several thousand Government po-
sitions. The list was partially revised,
but will not be reaay for publication.
it is said, for several days. Secretaries
Hay. Gage, and Long. and Attorney Cen
eral Griggs went over the exemptions III
their department with the President.
Cant. f. ]. Hardy said, upon leaving
the White House, that the President was
doing only what was right and what
should have been done long before IN re-
moving from the control of the civil
Service Commission positions which were
clearly outside of their province.
"His exemptions. said the speaker
will partialIy undo the rank partisan
work of Grover Cleveland when, with a
stroke of his pen, he placed Sl.S'2 places
| in the classified service, for purposes so
obvious that / need not repeat them- ihe
extension of the civil service rules TO the
| Government Printing Office alone was not
only a violation of law but an act OF
| rank craftsmanship of the Cleveland
| stripe"
An important White House ceremony
| Yesterday was the farewell reception of
| President Yelesias, of Costa Rica- The
| distinguished visitor was accompanied by
Col. Carter, and he expressed to Mr..
Mckinley his qualification at the cordial
| reception which had been accorded MIN
everywhere since his arrival IN this
| country.
Among the Presidents callers was Rep
resentatiye Fleming of Georgia. who in
| vited the President to visit Augusta when
he goes TO Atlanta. Representative Can
non also trudged through the rain to the
| Executive Mansion and conferred with
Mr.. Mckinley about his message to Con-
gress.
delegation of coored men, appointed
at the Shiloh Baptist Church mass-meet-
ing. also called. Their purpose was two
fold. They sought to induce the Presi-
dent TO make strong recommendations to
Congress to prevent further race troubles
in the South. and to urge that Can't
| Ayers. of the Tenth Colored Cavalry, be
| made a lieutenant colonel
Mr. Mckinley did not indicate what
course he would follow in either case.
Several prominent citizens of Wasting
ton called to urge the retention of Capt.
, Beach as Engineer Commissioner of the
District Mr.. Mckinley was informed
that II a>vote were taken nine-tenths of
the citizens of Washington would vote
| that the captain be retained, as his ad-
ministration had been clean. progress
| sive and popular in the interest OF the
| people and against schemes.
| Attorney General Griggs called to con.
| suit the President in reference to the an
nual report of the Department of Justice
| which is nearly completed. Secretary
Hay conferred with the President about
| Nicaraguan and Panama canal matters