Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-08-02
'.LIHU ROOT IN OFFICE.
The New Secretary Of War Takes the
Neediul Oath.
FAREWELLS SAID TO ALGER,
The Retiring Official Warmly Con-
graduates His Successor and As
sures Him of the Support
of His Colleagues.

Washington, Aug. 2.-Mr. Elihu Root
has taken the oath of Office as secretary
of war. The ceremony occurred in the
large office of the secretary of war in the
presence Of Secretaries Gage and Hitch
cock, Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn, a
large number of army officers in uniform
and other employees and officials. The
oath was administered by Judge Cole Of
the supreme court of the District of Co.
lumbia.
Secretary Alger arrived at the war de-
partment accompanied by Mr.. Root, for
whom he had called in his carriage.
They went immetHa tely to the secretary's
private Office, where were Secretaries
Gage and Hitchcock and were soon join
ed by Adjutant General Corbin and Ma
jor Hopkins, the latter being the military
secretary of Secretary Alger. A moment
later Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn and
Judge Cole entered the room, and the
judge was formally presented to the new
secretary. The commission was in the
possession of Adiutant General Corbin.
by this time all of the army officers
on duty In the department had gathered
in the main Office, and Mr.. Root and Sec
rotary Alger and other members of the
party entered the room.
Mr.. Root then took the oath of office.
Judge Cole addressed him as "Mr. Sec
rotary" and shook hands and congratu-
lated him.
Congratulated by AlEer.
General Alger advanced and shook his
hand most cordially and said, with evil
dent feeling:
"With all my heart l congratulate you
and the administration. You will find
around you here men who will help in
the arduous duties Of your position May
God bless you and give you strength"
Secretary Gage then stepped forward
and congratulated Secretary Root. He
was followed by Secretary Hitchcock,
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn, General
Corbin and Chief Clerk Schofeld.
General Alger picked up the commits
sion, signed by the president and attested
by the secretary of state, appointing Mr..
Root secretary of war.
Here Is your commission" he said,
with a smile, handing it to MI Root, "in
which you lose your identity and become
Mr.. Secretary. l go back to become a
sovereign crlzen of the United States
and become Mr.. Alger."
way" said Mr.. Root as he accepted the
parchment.
Then the officers were presented to
the confidential secretary of the secre
tary Of war. AS soon as they were in
troduced they passed on and shook hands
with General Alger. Nearly all stopped
to express their regrets upon his retire
I H. J. ~,
future.
Miles III Full Dress.
>. eie1fGrGl Miles appeared, with his staff,
in the full dress uniform of the major
general commanding the army. He stop
ped to talk with Secretary Root for some
time, longer than any of the others.
Following the presentation of the Off
GERS, the civilian officials and clerks Of
the department came in and shook hands
with Secretary Root and said farewell to
General Alger.
Secretary Gage, before leaving the
room, went up to General Alger and
shook him cordially by the hand, bidding
him goodby. General Alger then left
for his home in Detroit.
The last official act of Secretary Alger
was to sign a requisition for the allot-
ment of 100000 for transportation. Sec
rotary Alger intended that his last act
should be signing the order directing Ma
jor Charles Bird, assistant quartermas-
ter, to accompany the transport Thomas
to Manila. when she was ready. He
signed such an order, but the other bust
hess was presented Il few moments later.
Secretary Root did not perform any
official business during the dnv AS Gem
eral Alger was secretary and drew the
salary for the day. it was thought best to
avoid any legal complications by having
the business of the department perform
ed by Mr.. Meillejohn as acting secre-