Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-13
Secretary to the President Retires on
Account of III Health.
Mr.. CORFELY0U His SUCCESSOR
Both Gentlemen Have Had Very
Active Careers.
OTHER CHANGES LIKELY

Owing to continued ill-health, John Addi-
son Porter, secretary to President Mckin-
ley, has rendered his resignation, and the
President has accepted it, to take effect
May 1 next.
Mr.. Porter's health was seriously i'm
paired about year ago by severe attack
of illness, and since then he has been at
times relieved somewhat from the onerous
duties Of his office: but failing to regain his
health, and believing that complete separa-
ton from official cares is essential to his
speedy and permanent recovery, the secre-
tary has been constrained to tender his
resignation which the President has re-
luctantly accepted. His physicians enjoin
complete rest and change, that he may
have every facility for rapid Improvement.
Mr.. COrte1you His Successor.
Following the announcement of his resig
nation, the President sent to the Senate the
nomination of George B. Cortelyou of New
York to be secretary to the President in
place of Mr. Porter. There is not the least
doubt that the Senate will speedily confirm
the nomination. Mr.. Cortelyou Is personally
known to every senator, and stands as high
in the estimation of each he does at the
White House.
1t cannot be said that the resignation of
Secretary Porter was surprise His health
has been bad for more than year, and
| there was not the satisfactory improvement
which his family friends had expected.
Mr.. Porter went to New York nearly a week
ago, and made his final decision since then.
His family has been earnestly opposed for
a long time to his remaining in official life,
and their protests have been successful.
Mr.. Porter will probably enter no business
| for months. and will take no active part in
Connecticut politics this year, as heretofore,
| The appointment of Mr.. Cortelyou is what
| has been looked for ever since the retire
ment Of Mr. Porter has been talked of. Mr..
Cortelyou has been the confidential secre-
tary of President Mckinley since the lat
| ters incumbcncy. and step by step has
| shown his usefulness. capacity and his
| great natural ability. The President quick
| ly it, and by his own request Congress
provided an additional assistant secretary
| ship designed especially for Mr.. Cortelyou.
| 1t was in a measure a compensation for the
| duties which had been performed by Mr..
| Cortelyou who was then acting as stenog-
rapher. This was in July, 1898, and Mr..
| Cortelyou has since ranked as assistant
| secretary. He has continued to act in a
| confidential capacity to the President, and
has performed the greater part of the deli
| cate work of the Executive Mansion. Dur
ing Mr. Porter'S long absence in Europe the
| entire work of the Executive Mansion fell
on Mr.. Cortelyou, and was handled smooth
ly and with satisfaction to all concerned.
Mr. Cortelyou is we'll known in Wash
! irgton and throughout the country, hav-
| ing served in important confidential capac-
| tiles for many years.
| Mr.. COrtelyOu's Career.
| George Bruce Cortelyou was born in New
| York July 25, 1862, and is a member of
| one of the Oldest and most influential fam
| lilies in that state. He studied at various
public and private schools. At sixteen he
| entered the State Normal School at West
field, Mass, pursued advanced course
of study and graduated with honor at
| I,,in fnr Il ri J-,,J,,
sity. His plans We're, however, changed
| upon graduation, and he entered the New
| England Conservatory of Music at Boston,
| to continue musical studies begun several
years before. Upon returning to New
| York he continued his studies, finally TAX
| Ing a course in stenography at the Wal
worth Stenographic Institute, and upon
| graduation from that institution, was ap-
pointed principal assistant in the school.
The following year he became associated