The Holly chieftain., 1901-09-20
WASHINGTON GOSSIP,

w A0H lCU 4OlN OOCSJlEs
At the White House on the morning
of the Presidents death the only eyi-
1ence of the event was the fact that
the nag was at half mast. The White
House will not be draped In mourning,
, orders were promptly issued for the
assembling of troops In Washington to
participate in President McKinley's fu.
neral services, the force to consist Of
band and six compaiiies OF coast ar
tillery from Fort Monroe, two csmpa.
nies Of coast artillery from Fort Wash.
lngton, one company Of engineers from
Willet's Point, two troops Of cavalry
from Fort Myer and one light battery
from Washington barracks. The two
regiments of the District Of Columbia
National Guard were also detailed to
participate, General Miles WAS expect.
ed to command the troops IL lie reach
ed the city In tInle. Otherwise the
command devolves upon Major General
Brooke, commanding the Department
OF the East.
Z The commissioners of the District of
Columbia held a meeting Saturday
and issued n proclamation, announcing
TO the citizens of the District the death
Of President Mckinley. paying tribute
to his memory and ordering that, as n
mark of respect, the commissioners de-
sire that the public offices of the Dis
trict OF Columbia be closed on the day
OF the funeral and that the flags on an
the District buildings be displayed ut
half mast until further orders. The
commissioners had previously sent a
telegram TO Secfetary Cortelyou, ex-
pressing their personal grief mt the
death Of President Mckinley and ex-
tending their profound sympathy to
Mrs. Mckinley.
The Schley court of inquiry will hold
Its sessions ut the Washington navy
yard In a room on the second floor OF
| the gunners workshop. Tile room
has floor space of sixty by 200 feet,
aud is partitiOned to provide IL court
the use of the court, Ndiniral Schley
and his counsel. the Witnesses and IL
stenographer has been lnclosed by a
railing, aud two large Smyrna rugs
have been provided to increase the
| comfort of the court. Back of the
court room are two lage rooms. one
| for the court, with a tireproof safe to
insure the preservation of the i'm
| portant records that will be produced
ut the hearings, and the other for the
use Of Admiral Schley and his counsel
White paint has been literally applied
giving an air of cleanliness. The only
decoration is two large new American
fiags, which have been .tastefully
| drnped over n freshly -bronzed large
representation Of the American eagle
Desks have been provided for the
newspaper correspondents Just outside
the railing inclosIng the court, and
seats have been arranged for 400 spec
tators, who will be admitted by card
Booths for the use OF the correspond
ents and telegraph operators have beer
erected at one end of the hall.
OF the eight men who entered Pres
itlent Mckinley's Cabinet at the begin
ming Of his first administration, onl,
three remain. These nre Secretaries
Gage, Long md Wilson. The creates
number of changes have taken place ii
the State Department and the Depart
ment of Justice. Three men hay,
served as the head of the State De
| partment since March 4, 1897. The
first of these was the late Hon. Johr
Sherman, who surrendered his place
in the Senate to become the premier OF
Mr.. McKinley's first Cabinet. At the
outbreak of the Spanish war he retired
and was succeeded by Judge William
r. Day of Canton. Ohio. who, wher
the war had closed, gave place to tn,
present incumbent. Hon. John Hay
who had been Mr.. McKinley's minister
to Great Britain. All three, were Ohit
men. The first attorney general unde,
President Mckinley was the presen
Supreme Court justice, Hon. JOSEPH
McKenna. When he became q mem
her Of the Supreme Court he was sue
ceeded by Governor Griggs Of New
Jersey, and the latter Was at his 0wr
request relieved at the beginning of the
| present term. r. G. Knox, the lncum
bent. assuming the office. In each Of
the lP0stOffice, War and Interior De
partments, there has been one change
Mr.. Smith succeeded Mr.. Gary In thu
Postofice Department; Mr. Root Gen
eral Alger in the War Department
and Mr.. Hitchcock Mr.. Bliss in the In
terror Department. ~