Evening star., 1901-09-14
Mr.. HAY IN CHARGE
Shoulders Responsibilities of the
Situation.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS CLOSED
Probable Action Of Members Of
the Cabinet.
CONVENINa OF CONGRESS

In saddened spirit the officials Of the
government In Washington took up their
work this morning. The preeedents required
all of the government work to be suspended
today, but there were certain indispensable
formalties to be carried out, and this need
brought the cabinet officers. acting heads Of
departments and the employees to. their desks
at the usual hour, though later the clerks
and subordinate employees were dismissed
for the day.
Mr.. Roosevelt Notified.
Secretary Hay spent the morning IN con-
sutation with the heads Of the various de-
partments. Upon being notified Of the Pres
ident's death in the early morning he tele-
graphed as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
WASHINGTON, D. c., September L.
'Mr. Theodore Roosevelt,
North Creek, New York.
1.-The President died at 2:1o O'Clock this
morning. JOHN HAY,
Secretary Of State"
response came from President Roosevelt
as soon as he arrived at North Creek
at go O'Clock this morning. He replied
with an acknowledgment Of the receipt OF
the message and stating that he could not
then express his sorrow In suitable terms
He added that he was starting at once for
Buffalo on a special train from North
Creek, expecting to arrive at the former
place at 3 o'clock this afternoon
The Secretary of State. after comforting
with Secretary Gage, the only cabinet off,
Ger remaining In town besides himself Qor
Postmaster General Smith had gone to
Buffao), concluded that there was no spe-
por in, ffa fQ1
the oath by President Roosevelt. 1t was
held that under the terms of the Constitu-
ton he became President in fact innedi-
ately upon the death OF President Mckinley,
and as he has already taken the oath OF Of
flee to serve the United States government
when he became Vice President, the taking
Of a new oath as President was not cere-
mony that seems to be absolutely necessary
to prevent an interregnum in governmental
affairs. 1t was not doubted. however, that
President Roosevelt would take the oath as
soon as he arrives at Buffalo, If for no
other reason than to keep within the line
of precedents.
Closing the Departments.
The first outcome of the consultation
in the secretary's office was the issuance
of the following order:
WASHINGTON, September II,
Department Of State.
ITO the Secretary Of the Navy.
"Out Of respect to the memory of the
President. the executive departments will
be closed today and on the day Of the
funeral.
tsigneD JOHN HAY"
This order was communicated to all OF
the heads and acting heads Of the ex-
ecutive departments in Washington by the
government telegraph, and they in turn
orders bringing a
stop the wheels of government, not only
in the nations capital. but throughout
the land wherever there is a government
post or building. Here in Washington 1T
appeared about 10 o'clDcl;. and was readily
made known to the clerks and employees
of the government who had just then been
paid their semi-monthly salaries by dis
bursting officers, so with the exception Of
the few clerks necessary to aid their chiefs
in the promulg CATION of the necessary orders,
the departments were soon deserted. The
flags had long before been ha1f-masted.
At the White House this morning the
only evidence of the Presidents death was
the fact that the flag was half-mast. The
White House will not be draped in mourn
ing nor will any Of the public buildings in
the city, Congress several years ago hay-
ing had its attention called to the matter
and enacted a law prohibiting the display
of mourning on public buildings.
In the case Of the War Department a
circular was issued as follows:
President, the War Department, it's pa
reaus and the offices connected Herewith
will be closed today.
by order of the Acting Secretary Of
War.
(signeO JOHN c. scHoF1ELD,
Chief Clerk
The order issued in the case Of the NAVY
Department was as follows:
AS mark Of respect to the late Presi-
dent the Navy Department is closed for
(signeO FRANK w. HACKETT,
Acting Secretary"
Announcement to the Navy.
Acting Secretary Hackett sent the fol-
lowing dispatch to every commander-tn-
chief. to every navy yard and every ship
acting singIy:
1T is with profound sorrow that the de-
partment announces to you the death of
President Mckinley at 2:15. September
IA"
The acting secretary also, issued the fol-
lowing order to the naval service:
Special Order No. H.
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
Washington. September Ia, 1901
The President Of the United States died
this morning at 2:15. in the city of Buffalo
N. Y. Officers and men of the navy and
marine corps need not to be reminded of
the public and private virtues OF their late
commander-in-chief. The whole people
loved William Mckinley, for he loved and
trusted them
AS soldier, statesman, husband and as a
pure-minded great-hearted American, his
fame now belongs to his country.
Under the Constitution, Theodore Roose-
welt, previously Vice President, has be-
come President and commander-in in-chief
of the navy and marine corps OF the United
States. F. w. HACKETT,
Acting Secretary.
Summoning Of Congress Not Expected.
It is believed here that President Roose-
Welt will find 1t expedient or necessary to
summon Congress to meet In special session.
There is only a meager sprinklng Of sena-
tors and members of the House Of Repre-
sentattves in Washington, but those here.
generally hold the opinion above expressed.
Some even go to the extent Of predicting
that there win not be an extraordinary ses-
sion Of the Senate. though on this point
there Is difference of opinion. The mat
ter Is entirely optional with the new Presi-
dent
The statute providing for the succession
to the presidency requires that Congress
shall be convened In case a member Of the
cabinet becomes President, but the statu-
tory requirement does not apply to the case
of the Vice President being elevated to the
presidency through the death Of the Presi-
dent 1t Is believed that since the law does
not call upon him to do so the new Presi-
dent will not summon Congress In special