Evening star., 1901-04-02
Cabinet Adjourns in Less Than an
Hour
AN UNUSUAL ARMY APPOINTMENT
Secretary Gage Speaks of Tenta-
tive Offers for Bonds.
NO NEWS FROM MIR. KNOX

The cabinet adjourned in less than an
hour today. Secretary Root remained some
time afterward discussing army appoint
ments with the President. An appointment
has been made in the regular army that is
unusual. Second Lieut.. Rudolf E. Smyser
of the 47th Infantry has been raised to a
first lieutenant in the same regiment, the
commission to last during the life Of the
volunteer army. Lieutenant Smyser is
from York, Pa, and is not yet nineteen
years of age. When the Spanish war came
on he was under sixteen years of age and
had to secure the consent of his parents to
go along with Pennsylvania regiment as
private. He made such a good record
and became so popular that he was a sec
ond lieutenant when the regiment was
mustered out at the close of the war His
record in the Philippines has been good
one, and Senator Penrose is trying to have
him made lieutenant in the regular army
Tentative Offers for Bonds
Secretary Gage told the cabinet that he
had received some tentative offers of bonds
since the appearance of an interview Civ
ing the governments attitude on the ques-
tion of the purchase of bonds for the sink
ing fund.
Secretary Gage intlmated in the interview
that If the government could secure short
term bonds-those expiring in 1904, 1907 and
1SOS-on as good basis as the private in
Festor who buys the new per cents the
treasury would purchase. On this basis
some tentative offers have been made, and
these may be given consideration. No de-
clsion to purchase has been announced and
there will undoubtedly be no general offer
to purchase at the existing price of bonds
The trouble is that bonds are at high fig
ures now, largely because holders have
anticipated that the treasury surplus would
have to be paid out for bonds or in some
other way. Secretary Gage has the au-
thOrity to make purchases when suitable
offers are made to him, and will exercise
his prerogative whenever conditions war
rant it.
No Callers of Prominence.
President Mckinley received no callers of
prominence before the cabinet meeting this
morning. He went out alone for a short
walk before his office hours, strolling
around the White House grounds When
he returned he received about $50 school
teachers from Massachusetts, and New
England states. They were here on an ex-
cursion and We're received by special APP
pOntment.
The cabinet members We're given no in
formation as to whether Philander C. Knox.
has accepted the Presidents offer of the
position of Attorney General.
Treasury Announcement
This announcement was made at the
Treasury Department this afternoon:
I'm accordance with Secretary Cages
announcement Of Saturday that he would
buy from time to time the short bonds at
an investment rate realizable to the in
vestor who buys the new per cents,
should the market price Of the new 2's re-
main on the present basis. the Treasury
Department was today rendered 50 900 600
government short bonds on practically the
same basis as the new 2's return at the
current market quotation of about 1861.
Exact figures cannot yet be given. for the
details have not been completed but it is
practically certain that the Secretary has
availed himself Of the opportunity to pur-
chase bonds, in accordance with his an
nouncement Of Saturday.
TOday's Appointments.
President Mckinley has made the follow
ing appointments:
Albert II. Eber, to be assistant surgeon
of volunteers with the rank of captain.
William B. Gordon, to be professor Of
natural and experimental philosophy at the
Military Academy, in the service of the
United States,