Gilpin observer., 1901-09-19
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

At the White House on the morning
of the Presidents death the only evil
dence of the event was the fact that
the flag was at half mast. The White
House will not be draped in mourning,
nor will any of the public buildings in
the city, Congress several years ago
having had its attention called to the
matter and enacted a law prohibiting
the display of mourning on public
buildings.
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 all
the District buildings be displayed at
half mast until further orders. The
commissioners had previously sent n
telegram to Secretary Cortelyou, eX-
pressing their personal grief at the
death of President Mckinley and eX-
tending their profound sympathy to
Mrs. Mckinley.
The Schley court of inquiry will hold
| its sessions at the Washington navy
! yard in n room on the second floor of
the gunners' workshop. The room
has n floor space of sixty by 200 feet,
and is partitioned to provide a court
room GOXSO feet The reservation for
the use of the court, Admiral Schley
and his counsel, the witnesses and
| stenographer has been incloSed by a
| railing, and two large Smyrna rugs
have been provided to increase the
comfort of the court. Back of the
1nf
for the court with Il fireproof 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
| flags, which have been tastefully
| draped 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
tatQrs, who will be admitted by card.
Booths for the use of the correspond
ents and telegraph operators have been
erected at one end of the hall.
| Speaker Henderson appointed the
| following committee of representatives
to attend the funeral of President Nc
Kinley: Representatives GrosvenoE
Burton. Norton and Taylor, of Ohio;
Loud, of California; Russell, Connecti-
cut; Ball Delaware; Cannon, Hit and
| Hopkins, of Illinois: Steele, Indiana;
Hepburn. Iowa; Curtis. Kansas; Bur-
leigh, Maine; Mudd. Maryland: Gill,
Massachusetts,; Corliss, Michigan;
Fletcher, Minnesota; Mercer, Nebras-
ka; Sullow, New Hampshire: Louden-
slayer. New Jersey; Payne Cummings
and Sherman, New York; Marshall,
North Dakota: Tongue. Bingham,
Grow and Dalzell. Pennsylvania; Ca
prom, Rhode Island; Burke. South Da-
llota: Foster. Vermont: Cushman,
Washington; Dovenor, West Virginia;
Babcock. Wisconsin,: Mondell, Wyo-
| ming; Richardson, Tennessee; Bank
head, Alabama; McRae, Arkansas;
| Bell. Colorado; Sparkman, Florida;
Lester. Georgia; Glenn. Idaho; Smith,
Kentucky; Robertson. Louisiana; Will
iams. Mississippi; DeArmond, Mis-
souri,; Edwards, Montana; Newlands,
| Nevada; w. w. Kitchin: North Caro-
lima; Elliott. South Carolina: Lanham.
Texas; Swanson. Virginia; Bode. New
Mexico; Flynn, Oklahoma, and Smith,
Arizona.
| 1
! ident McKinley's Cabinet at the begin
ming of his first administration, only
| three remain. These are Secretaries
Gage. Long and Wilson. The greatest
number of changes have taken place in
| the State Department and the Depart
ment of Justice. Three men have
served as the head of the State De
partment since March 4, 1897. The
| first of these was the late Hon. John
| 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
| II. Day of Canton, Ohio, who, when
| the war had closed. gave place to the
| present incumbent. Hon. John Hay,
| who had been Mr.. McKinlcys minister
| to Great Britain. All three We're Ohio
men. The first attorney general under
| President Mckinley was the present
| Supreme Court justice, Hon. Joseph
| Mckcnna. When he became n mem
| Der of the Supreme Court he was sue
ceeded by Governor Griggs of New
Jersey, and the latter was at his own
request relieved at the beginning of the
present term. L. c. Knox, the incum-
bent. assuming the office. In each of
the Postoticc. War and Interior De-
pnrtmcnts, there has been one change.
Mr.. Smith succeeded Mr.. Gary In the
Postotlicc Department.: Mr.. Root Cen
| cral Algor in the War Department,
and Mr., Hitchcock Mr.. Bliss in the In
terror Department.