The times., 1899-08-02

The Hon. Elihu Root, of New York, was
formally installed as Secretary of War
yesterday forenoon. The time of the ad-
ministration of the oath of Office was 10:45-
1t was at that moment when Russell A.
Alger, of Michigan, retired from public
Office Impressive incidents marked the
occasion. Mr.. Alger placed his blessing
upon his successor.
The ceremony was attended by nearly all
the Army officers assigned to duty at the
department. They were in full dress uni
form. The glitter of their gold lace and
the clanking of their swords gave a mar
tial aspect to the installation. Many bat
tle-worn flags draped the walls of the
chamber in which the oath was admins
tered, and the portraits of Washington,
Lincoln, Sheridan. and Sherman looked
down upon the scene.
Mr. Root, accompanied by Mr.. Alger, ar
rived at the department few minutes
after 10 O'Clock. They entered the Office
of the private secretary to the Secretary
OF War and were soon joined by Secretary
Gage. Secretary Hitchcock, Mr.. Meiklejohn,
the Assistant Secretary OF War and Adjutant
General Corbin.
Entering the Secretarys chamber, they
faced a group of military men and few
civilian employees of the Government JUS
tice Charles C. Cole, of the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia, approached
MIR. hoot and read the oath. Mr.. Root sol
emnly assented and then Justice Cole, ex-
tending his hand to the new Secretary,
said:
"Mr. Secretary, I congratulate you and
hope you Will have the utmost success"
Mr. Root bowed his thanks, and turned
to MIR. Alger. who had grasped his hand:
MIR. Secretary said Mr.. Alger in voice
that vibrated with feeling, Il thank you
with all my heart. God bless you and give
I YOU strength" Mr. Root made no re-
sponse- The presentation of the officers of
the Army on duty in the War Department
+ in and near Washington then began. This
/ was also a ceremony of leave-taking, as
! Mr.. Alger was to depart for Detroit i'm
mediately after the reception. The several
generals commanding staff departments
! led the officers of their corps.
Among the officers present were: General
Miles and his aides -de-camp. Lieut.. Col.
Francis Michler and Lieut.. Col. Marion p.
Maus; General Corbin's assistants, Col.
Thomas Ward, Col. T. Schwan. Lieut.. Col.
W. II. Carter, Major H. o. S. Heistand,
Major j. A. Johnston, Major W. A. Simp-
son, Lieut.. l.. C. Scherer. and Lieut. w.
I C. Babcoek; Brig Gen. Joseph C. Breck-
I inridge, Brig. Gen. G. N. Lieber, Brig.
I Gen. NJ. L Ludington. Brig. Gen. George
/ N. Sternberg, Brig. Gen. John NJ. Wilson,
Brig Gen. A w Greedy, Lieut..
Col c. a. Darlington, Major Thomas
! It. Knox, Major S. C. Mills,
I Col James NJ Moore, Col. Frank J. Heck
/ er, Col. William S. Patten, Major ]. N.
! Morrison, Col. NJ. C. Martin Major F. NJ
/ Sehrieyer, Lieut.. Col Theodore E. True,
Col Charles II. Alden, Col. Dallas Bache,
Lieut.. Col. Charles Smart, Major Walter
Reed, Major James C. Merrill, Major
George E. Bushnell, Capt. E. L. MunsCn,
Major J. C. Muhlenberg Capt Joseph E
Kuhn, Major V. McNally, Major Charles
S. Smith, Capt C. B. Wheeler, Capt. Otto
a. Nesmith, Col. F. C. Ainsworth. Lieut.
of the Insular Commission were also pres
| ent-
When Gen Nelson A. Miles approached
the desk near which Secretary Root stood
Mr. Alger extended his hand, and the men
who. it is said. had not spoken
to each other for more than a
year, shook hands, not altogether
cordially and yet not altogether per-
functorily. Mr.. Alger presented the Major
General Commanding the Army to the new
Secretary, who said: General, we have
often dined together. but I never thought
We should meet under conditions like
these"
After the presentation ceremony Secre-
tary Root and Mr.. Alger withdrew to this
Secretary's private office where Mr.. Roo
made a pretty little speech to his prede.
cessor and wished him God speed. Formel
Secretary Alger was accompanied to the
railroad station by Assistant Secretar,
Meikleiohn and Adiutant General Corbin
He left Washington at 12:45 p m fol
Thorndale, Pa, TO spend a few hour.
there with his daughter. Mrs. Bailey, who
has been quite Ill. Before leaving tn,
former Secretary said he would resum,
his journey from Thorndale in the evening
accompaniedsby Mrs. Alger. He is due L
reach Detroit at O'Clock this evening.
Mr.. Alger's last official act was TO sigr
vouchers for $4,000, representing the cos
OF repairs to Army transports. After tina
Mr.. Meildeiohn became Acting Secretary o
War, Mr.. Root not desiring to enter upor
the duties Of his office until today.