The times., 1899-08-21
CHANGES IN TILE CABINET.
Few Administrations Have Had So
Many the Present Ono.

Many the Present Ono.
When William Mckinley became Presi-
dent of the United States, ON March 4. 1897
John Sherman was appointed Secretary of
State; Lyman ]. Gage, Secretary of the
Treasury; Russell A. Alger, Secretary of
War; John d.. Long, Secretary OF the
Navy; Cornelius N. Bliss, Secretary of the
Interior; James A. Gary, Postmaster Cen
eral; Joseph B. McKenna. Attorney Gen.
eral. and James Wilson, Secretary of Agri-
culture. Nineteen months before the next
Presidential inauguration only three men,
bers of the original Mckinley Cabinet
Secretaries Gage, Long, and Wilson-re-
main, there having been changes in all the
ether offices.
The number OF Cabinet changes which
have occurred in two and one-half years
though not unprecedented, has been un.
usual. Six Cabinet officers have resigned
either to retire to private life or TO ac-
eept other appointments at the hands Of
the President. These include Secretary of
State Sherman, who went out because OF iii
health, and his successor, Secretary Day
who accepted United States Judgaship;
Attorney General McKenna, who accepted
a seat on the Supreme Court bench OF the
United States: Postmaster General Gary
Secretary of the Interior Bliss. and Sacre-
tary Alger of the War Department It Is
the general rule as regards Cabinet changes
in American politics that they are most
numerous in the Cabinet of Vice Presi-
dent who becomes President by the death
OF the elected President. Tyler, for in
stance, promoted to the Presidency by the
death of William Henry Harrison, had dur
ing his exciting administration four Secre-
taries of State, four Secretaries of the
Treasury, five Secretaries of War. five Sec.
retaries of the Navy, two Postmasters Gen
eral, and three Attorneys General. Andrew
Johnson had three Secretaries OF War, three
Secretaries of the Interior, two Postmasters
General, and three Attorneys General
The most stable of the Cabinet offices is
that of Secretary of the Navy, and it is
usually held by one man only during the
course of an Administration, the record o.
the Mckinley Cabinet being the same in
this particular as that of many of its pre-
decessors. President Pierce had one Sec
retary of the Navy during his whole term.
Buchanan had one, and President Lincoln
had only one, though the operations of the
Navy Department during the administra-
ton of Secretary Welles were more exten-
siye than those during any previous ad-
ruinistration. President Johnson had one
Secretary of the Navy; President Grant,
except for brief time at the beginning OF
his first term, had one Secretary; Presi-
dent Garfield had one, President Arthur
one; President Cleveland first term, one
William c. Whitney; President Harrison
one, Benjamin F. Tracy; President Cleye-
land one in his second term, Hilary A
Herbert, and President Mckinley has had
one oaly, and there are no present indica-
tions Of a change in this Seeretaryghip.
The Attorney General, the constitutions
legal adviser TO the President, is usually o.
fixed tenure, subject to the fact that al
Attorney General being by profession {
lawyer aspires very often to a Judicial
post, his appointment to which by his su-
perior, the President. makes a vacancy il
the Office of Attorney General. Neyerthe-
less. there was only one Attorney General
during the whole of the Administration o1
Hayes, there was one only during the Ad-
ministration of Cleveland from 1885 to 1889
and there was one only during the Admin.
istration of President Harrison. Cleve-
land in his second term had two Attorneys
| General, Mr.. Olney. afterward made Sec
retary of State, and Mr.. Harmon, appointed
to succeed him.
1t is a popularity about the Cabine
changes during the Mckinley Administra
tion that though many, they have all beer
harmonious, unaccompanied by persona
| or political friction, and in every case o
an amicable character.