The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-06
President Mckinley Makes an An
-nOuncement at the Friday Meet
ing of the Cabinet.
WAR AGAINST AMERICAN CORN
AGRARIANS AS BAD A.
THEIR GERMAN FELLOWS.
Want ~ PrOhibitOry Duty on Imports
OF Maize-New Cruiser to BE Con-
structed mt San Francisco.

WASHINGTON, April 5.-The President
made the first announcement that Mr..
Knox had accepted the post of attorney
general to the Cabinet to-day. His commits
sion. which is dated to-day, was signed
Immediately after the President had ir-
formed his advisers of their new colleagues
acceptance. Secretary Hay submitted to
the abine the Russian communication
referred to in another dispatch, and the
news was accepted as an indication that
the tension in the far East would be re-
lieved. The major portion of the time of
the meeting was occupied in a discussion OF
the civil service in the various departments.
This matter came up apropos of the Presi-
dents conference with members of the
Civil-service Reform League yesterday.
Each of the Cabinet officers gave mis- ex-
perience with the law. The secretary of
the treasury said it gave satisfaction in his
department and that il was being strictly
complied with, although some difficulty was
experienced on account of the fact that
Under the law an officer selected for one
position could not perform the duties of
other positions. The trouble in the Agri-
cultural Department is that there are no
eligibles for technical work on the Civil
sci VIE OOIllIllsSlO0 : DSI. secretary hOOL
reported that it was the intention of the
War Department to place semi-skilled la
borers at arsenals and in the engineer
department, under a registration system
similar TO that now in vogue i'm the navy
yards. This was the original intention
when the President took these men. of
whom there are several thousand, from
within the ciVil-SerVice rules. where they
had been placed by the blanket order Of
President Cleveland. but the Inauguration
o. the new system has been delayed from
one cause or another until the present
time. In the other departments various
suggestions were made looking TO the better
enforcement of the spirit and letter of the
law, and each Cabinet officer will be asked
to see that the law is not abused in his
department No new regulations or orders
by the commission are expected.
There was an informal discussion by the
Cabinet of the report that Governor Allen.
Of Porto Rico, is 10 resign upon his arrival
here, but no one appeared TO have any def
mite information as to Governor Aliens
intention. although the opinion seemed TO
be that his resignation would cause no sur
prise.
President Mckinley took a long walk
after breakfast this morning. He was ac-
companied by Representative Meyer. of
Louisiana, who had called to talk with the
President about his stop at New Orleans
on the occasion of his Western trip. The
President is looking forward to the long
tour through the West with great pleasure
anu SDtdhS VI II 4 tiliuoldSH. bciicIt ii
Meyer told the President that the plans for
his stop in New Orleans had been prac-
tically completed. An elaborate demonstra-
ton is being arranged. The city will be
decorated appropriately in honor of the
visit Of the chief magistrate. According
TO the present schedule the presidential
party will reach New Orleans at 4:3O p. m.
May 1. That evening a banquet will be
given in the Presidents honor. At the
banquet the President will probably mako
a brief speech. On the following morning
there will be a carriage ride through the
city. which will include a stop at the Ca
bildo. the old government building dur
ing the Spanish and French regimes. After
luncheon the party will be given a sail
along the river front. The departure from
New Orleans will be made at 6 p. m. May 2.