Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-02

MY ERS-GENERAL AL
GER LEFT FOR HIS OLD HOME
IN MICHIGAN.
WASHINGTON, August 1.-Mr. Eli
hu Root took the oath OF office as Sec
rotary of War at 10:45 to-day. The
ceremony occurred in the large Office
Of the Secretary of War in the pres
of Secretaries Gage and Hitchcock, AS
sistant Secretary Meiklejohn, 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
Columbia.
Secretary Alger arrived at the war
department. at 10:40, accompanied by
Mr.. Root, for whom he had called in his
carriage He went Immediately to the
Secretary's private office, where were
Secretaries Gage and Hitchcock and
We're soon joined by Adjutant General
Corbin and Major Hopkins, the latter
being the military secretary of Secre-
tary Alger. A moment later Assistant
Secretary Meiklejohn and Judge Cole
entered the ROOM and the Judge was
formally presented to the new Secre-
tary The commission bearing date
to-day was in possession of Adjutant
General Corbin.
By this time all of the army officers
on duty in the department had gath
cred in the main Office of Mr.. Root, and
Secretary Alger and other members
Of the party entered the room.
1t was 10: As when Mr.. Root stood up
and took the oath of office. Judge Cole
then addressed him as "Mr. Secretary"
and shook hands and congratulated
him. General Alger then advanced and
shook his hand most cordially, and said
with evident 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, Gener-
al Corbin and Chief Clerk Schofield.
General Alger picked up the commits
sion, signed by the president and at
tested by the secretary of state, APP
pointing Mr.. Root secretary Of war.
Here is your commission" he said
with smile. handing it to Mr.. Root,
in which you lose your identity and
become Mr.. Secretary. I go back to
become asovereign citizen of the United
States and become Mr.. Alger.''
81 sincerely wish it were the other way"
said Mr.. Root he accepted the parch-
ment.
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 were introduced
they passed on and shook hands with Gen.
Alger. Nearly all stopped TO express their
regrets upon the retirement and wish him
great success in the future. They also
thanked him for his consideration and
many acts of kindness and uniform cour-
tesy during the time they had been asso-
ciated with him.
Gen. Miles appeared with his staff in the
full dress uniform of the major general
commanding the army. He stopped to talk
with Secretary Root for some time, longer
than any of the others.
Following the presentation of the officers
the civilian officials and clerks of the de-
partment came in and shook hands with
Secretary Root and said farewell to Gen
Alger.
Secretary Gage, before leaving the room
went up to Gen. Alger, shook him cordially
by the hand, bidding him good bye Gen
Alger left at 12:45 o'clock to-day for his
home in Detroit
The last official act of Secretary Alger
was to sign requisition for the allot-
ment OF $4,000 for transports Secretary
Aiger intended that his last act should be
the signing of the order directing Major
Charles Bird. assistant quartermaster, to
accompany the transport Thomas to Man.
ia when she was heady. He signed such
an order, but the other business was pre-
scented few moments later
Secretary Root did not perform any Off
cial business to-day. As Gen. Alger is
secretary and draws the salary for to-day
it was thought best to avoid any legal
complications by having the business of
the department performed by Mr.. Meikle-
john as acting secretary
BULLET HOLE IN HIS HEAD.
Snecja, m the Racister
PARKERSBURG, w. Va, August L.
Near Tally-Ho, this county, Edward
Spencer, a prominent farmer, notified
his family last night that he would
leave home for this city. This morn
ing, when they arose they found his
body in the kitchen with a pistol wound
in the head. Death was almost instan-
taneous. No cause is assigned for the
rash act
BOTH LEGS CUT OFF.