Gilpin observer., 1901-09-26
WASHINGTON GOSSIP

President Roosevelt has promised to
carry out the plans of President Nc
Kinley and appoint DIR. RiXey surgeon
general of the navy. DIR. RiXey gave
up practice worth $4,000 Il year to
become the Presidents private physi-
clan, and his devotion to the President
and to Mrs. Mckinley are. well worth
reward. Another of President McKin-
ley's arrangements which will be car
ried out by President Roosevelt is the
appointment of Mr.. Ridgley of Spring
field to be comptroller of the currency
in place of MIR. Dawes. resigned. A
number of other appointments ar
ranged by President Mckinley some
weeks aSb will be made by his sue
cessor. Every promise given by Pres
ident Mckinley will be redeemed by
the new chief magistrate.
Secretary Hay was at first very re-
luctant to remain in the State Depart
ment. He is not in the best of health.
He is weary of public service. He has
his family griefs to bear. He has long
dreamed of Il season of travel and
study in various parts of the world.
Only his great attachment for Presi-
dent Mckinley has kept him in office
up to the present time. Before Presi-
dent Roosevelt arrived in Washington
Mr.. Hay had definitely decided to re
tire almost Immediately. But when
the new President came to him with
the most sincere and friendly proffers,
when Mr.. Roosevelt urged him to stay
as matter of public duty in order to
avert n break in the transfer OF the
Mckinley administration to the new
regime Mr.. Hay hesitated. He took
the matter under consideration and
finally signlfied his Willingness to re-
main.
The proposition made by citizens of
Chicago TO start n fund with which TO
erect Mckinley memorial arch in
Washington is an evidence of the de-
sire of the people to show their admi-
ration of the dead President in some
more substantial manner than by
merely giving expression to apprecia-
tive words, says the Chicago Record
Herald. The idea seems to have met
with instant approval on the part of
all classes of people. The raising of
memorial arch fund of S1.OoOOOO or
more, as may be decided upon here
after, if the proposition is adopted,
would make it possible for all to con-
tribute, and thus the arch would stand
as n national monument to the man for
whom the whole country is sorrowing
to-day. From an artistic standpoint
the arch may be made to exhibit the
noblest sentiment. either as Il memor-
ial or as an emblem of triumph. There
is probably no finer monument to the
first President of this Republic than
the Washington arch in New York,
and the Dewey arch commanded the
approval of some of the worlds best
critics. 1t is. therefore, within the
possibilities that the most impressive
arch on earth may be erected in men,
DRY of William Mckinley ut Wash
ington, where there is an abundance
of splendid sites for such a structure.
The President has appointed Colonel
James NJ. Bell. Eighth cavalry, and
president of the Military Board of Re-
view, to be n brigader general, vice
Brigader General Ludlow, deceased
General Bell will retire October 1st
thus leaving vacancy for another ap-
polntment In July year ago Cen
eral Bell was appointed provost mar
shal of Manila, in recognition of the
fine record he had made in fighting the
Filipino rebels. He was the officer
who captured Tarlac, one of Aguinal-
dos capitals and strongholds. At Man
gatarem General Bell with less than
twenty-four men drove 200 F'ilipinos
from strong position, captured $50
rifles, thirteen pieces of artillery and
about 10000 rounds of ammunition.
Not one of Belrs small force received
scratch In executing this remarkable
feat. General Bell began his career
as n soldier in 1862 as n lieutenant of
the Eighty-siXth Ohio volunteers. For
his courageous bearing during the bat
tie of the Wilderness he was given the
brevet of captain. and he was brevet-
ted major for gallant and meritorlous
services in the battle of Reams Sta
ton. After the war he became an Off
Ger in the regular army. General Bell
also performed distinguished services
in the war with Spain. Colonel James
NJ. Bell should not be confounded with
James Franklin Bell. who was also
made a brigadier general of volunteers