The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-08-01
SAYS AL Ger
TO ROOT
I'm Glad It's You, for I'm
Going to Enjoy
Life. 2
SAYS ROOT TO ALGER
aI'm Sorry for Myself Miles
in Full Uniform Talks in
a Whisper.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 1S9s.-Afr.
Eiihu Root took the oath of Office as Sec
retary of War at 1O:45 today. The cere-
mony occurred in the large office of the
Secretary of War in the presence of Sec
retaries Gage and Hitchcock, Assistant
Secretary Meiklejohn, large number of
army officers in uniform and other en-
ployes and officials. The oath was ad-
ministered by Judge Cole of the Supreme
Court of the District Of Columbia.
Secretary Alger arrived at the War De-
partment at 1910 accompanied by Mr.
Root, for whom he had called in his car
riage They went Immediately to the
Secretary's private office where were Sec
retaries Gage and Hitchcock, and we've
soon Joined by Adjutant General Corbin
and Major Hopkins, the latter being the
military secretary of Secretary Alger. A
moment later Assistant Secretary Meikle-
John and Judge Cole entered the room
and the Judge wss formally presented to
the new secretary. The commission. bear
ing date today, was in possession of Ad-
iutant General Corbin
BY this time all the army officers on
duty in the department mad gathered IN
the main office and Mr. Root and Secre-
tary Alger and other members OF the
party entered the room. It was 1875 when
Mr.. Root stood up and took the cath OF
office. Judge Cole then addressed him as
a'Mr. Secretary, and shoke hands and
congratulated him. General Alger then
advanced and shook his hand most cor
daily and said, with evident feeling:-
with all my heart / 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 ecretary Root. He was
followed by Secretary Hitchcock, Assist
ant Secretary Meiklejohn General Cor
bin and Chief Clerk Schofield
General Alger picked up the commission.
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 Mr.. Root, in
which you lose your identity and become
Mr.. Secretary. go back TO become a
sovereign citizen of the United States
and become Mr. Alger.'
Il sincerely wish it were the other
parchment.
Then the officers were presented to Sec
retary Root by Mr. Victor L. Mason. the.
confidential secretary of the Secretary of
War; As soon as they We're introduced
they pasesd on and shook hands with
General Alger. Nearly all stopped to ex-
press their regrets upon his retirement
and wish him great success in the future.
They also thanked him for his considera-
tion and many acts of kindness and uni
form courtesy during the time they had
been associated with him.
General 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 good bye General Alger left at 12.45
O clock today for his home in Detroit.
The last official act of Secretary Aiger
was to sign a requisition for the allot-
ment of $4,000 for transports. Secretary
Alger intended that his last act should
be signing the order directing Major
Charles Bird, Assistant Quartermaster,
to accompany the transport Thomas to
Manila when she was ready. He signed
such an order, but the other business was
presented few moments later.
Secretary Root did not perform any
official business today. As General Alger
is. Secretary and draws the salary for to-
day 1t was thought best to avoid any
legal complications by having the busi-
ness of the department performed by Mr..
Meiklejohn as Acting Secretary.