Evening star., 1901-09-14
THE OFFICES CLOSED
BRIEF SESSION OF THE DISTRICT
COMMISSIONERS.
Proclamation Issued I'm Regard {,
the Death Of President
Mckinley.

After a brief board session, which was
called to order at 1890 o'clock this morn
ing, the District Commissioners issued the
following Official proclamation:
September IL. 1901.
The Commissioners of the District of CO.
lumbia have the melancholy duty to an
nounce to the citizens of the District of
Columbia the death of William Mckinley.
President of the United States. at a quar-
ter past 2 o'clock this morning, in Buffalo.
N Y.
A typical American. as soldier and
statesman, and in the private relations of
life, he won illustrious fame as the chief
servant Of his country. But his personal
character was greater than his deeds. and
endeared him to all the people, and espe-
c1ally to those who reside in the District OF
Columbia. and who knew well its virtues
and graces, so touchingiy exhibited IN his
last illness. The District Of Columbia
never had better friend: its loss cannot
As a mark Of respect. the Commissioners
direct that the public Offices Of the Dis
trtct OF Columbia be closed this day and on
the day Of the funeral. and that the flags
on all the District buildings be displayed
at half-mast until further orders
HENRY B. F. MCFARLAND.
President
JOHN w ROSS.
LANSING H. BEACH.
Captain. Corps of Engineers, q. s. A..
Commissioners Of the District Of Columbia
When Commissioner Macfariand arrived
at the District building this morning he ut
retary Hay, and was informed that the ex-
ecut1ve departments OF the government
would close. The Commissioner thereupon
called his associates together in a board
session, and the foregoing announcement
was issued.
The building was at once closed to all
visitors and later in the day the employees
were dismissed.
In Accordance with Precedent.
The proclamation issued this morning by
the Commissioners is in pursuance Of the
precedent set in the case Of President Gar
field. An announcement Of President Gar
fields death at Long Branch was made by
the Commissioners September 20. 1881. At
that time 1T was ordered that all public Of
hceS and public schools be closed and all
public buildings be draped in mourning un-
til further orders. AS a matter Of fact,
however. 1t Is noted in the records that the
District building was actually closed only
on the day Of the funeral.
The law at this time proscribes the dec
grafton OF public buildings in any manner
whatsoever, so the half-masting of the
flags is the official mourning which is
ordered.
An important hearing was scheduled for
IL o'clock this morning for various archi-
tects who wished to enter protest against
the program Of competition arranged by
the Commissioners for the municipal hos
pital. When the architects arrived they
were Informed that the hearing would be
postponed until Wednesday. September %.
The flags on the fire engine houses Of the
District department were placed at half
mast very few minutes after the news
Of the Presidents death reached Washing
ton. Chief Engineer Dutton had left in
structions for fire alarm headquarters to
notify each company The
orders were promptly carried out, and the
late men on duty at once placed the en-
signs at the mourning position on their
staffs. The department is affected quite
deeply along with the general gloom.