New-York tribune., 1901-03-14
NOURNING IN WASHINGTON.
THE PRESIDENT WILL. ISSUE 4 PROCIA-
NATION TO-DAY-WHAT CAB
met MEMBERS SAY.

met MEMBERS SAY.
Washington. March 13.-C;reat interest was ex-
hihited in all the executive departments
throughout the day in the reports that came as
10 the condition of ex-President Harrison As
office hours had closed before the end came. the
first official action will be deferred until to-
morrow when following precedents, President
Mckinley will issue his proclamation to the
people informing them Of General Harrisons
death and setting forth in becoming terms MS
virtues and characteristics. He also will order
salutes he fired at the various army posts on
the day of the funeral. and on shiphoard When
\ Ne news is received. The Secretary of War and
the Secretary of the Navy will send out special
notices to soldiers and sailors conveying the
Presidents directions. Little more can ne d'he
officially as the of March 3, 1Ssc; specifically
forbids the draping of public buildings in mourn
ing or the closing of the executive departments
on the occasion of the death of an ex-oficial.
II is a curious fact that two orders issued by
President Harrison himself probably brought
about the enactment of this law. On January
Is 1893 the President Obliged To issue an
order announcing the death of eX-Presldent
Hayes. closing the departments on the day OF
the funeral and ordering all public buildings tc
be draped in mourning. Almost before this
De riod of mourning had expired eX-Secretary
Blaine died. and another funeral proclamation
was issued from the White House. The long
continuation Of the exhibition Of mourning was
too much for Congress. which promptly passed
the act above referred to- prohibiting mourning
display and the closing of the departments on
the occasion of the death of an ex-OfffciaL
General Harrison was personally known to
every member of the Cabinet. and all the mem
bers in the city spoke to-day in praise of his
magnificent intellectually and rugged force of
character Naturally. the proclamation the
President will issue. giving the administrations
estimate of General Harrison's character, in
/ large measure will include the personal views
OF Il majority of the Cabinet, and consequently
they did not, in most cases, care to enter into
EXTENDED analyse of the good qualities of the ex-
President. Secretary Gage and Attorney-Gen-
eral Griggs are out of town.
Secretary Hay said:
The death of MIR Harrison is a national loss.
Independent of the great official position he had
held. he was man of extraordinary mental
capacity and activity. He was a true states
man. lawyer and orator. and he has left few
equals behind him. In character as we'll as ShI-
tiles he was a man of very unusual force and
value.
Secretary Long said:
President Harrison made distinguished rec
ord a President Of the United States. He
was a conscientious panStaking chief magis-
trate of absolute integrity. who maintained the
honor and prestige of his country, and whose
highest ambition was do his duty toward and
serve the best interests of that country.
Secretary Wilson said
President Harrison was one of our strong
Presidents. He a man of unquestioned
ability and made Impression upon the cOun-
Try that will challenge the investigation of the
historians,
Secretary Hitchcock said:
EX-Presdent Harrison was a descendant Of
illustrious grandfather. and their country
men will ever recall with gratitude and admira-
tion the work Of both in the development and
eXaltation of our country.
Postmaster-General Smith said Of General
Harrison:
The country had very great respect for Gen
eral Harrison. and his death will be universally
Of the ablest men who has filled the Presiden-
in deep and genuine patriotism. he ranks among
the first haf-dozen in the whole list. His great
ness as a lawyer his thorough knowledge Of
affairs his administrative capacity, which
enabled him to guide any one of the executive
departments, he actually guided several
time and another during the disabilities of
their chiefs have rarely been equalled- His ad-
mnistratiOn ~ the best and most pros
porous the country has ever had. The general
admiration for his high intellectual powers and
for the signal capacity with which he handled
affairs has deepened with passing years.