Evening star., 1902-01-15
New Postmaster General Takes the
Oath of Office.
MANY DISTINGUISHED WITNESSES
Floral Tribute to the Retiring
Official, Mr.. Smith.
LAST ORTANT ACT

| Wisconsin as Postmaster General to sue
ceed Charles Emory Smith was an occasion
! Of unusual interest at the White House
| this morning. The event was more thar
| ordinarily notable in many ways. 1t was
witnessed by more distinguished men and
more personal friends of note of the incoln-
| ing official than any similar event at the
| White House in years.
| The oath was taken at 1906 O. clock in tbs
| cabinet room in the presence of the Presi.
| dent. the retiring Postmaster General
members Of the cabinet, the entire Wiscon.
| sin delegation in Congress, Gov. Durbin oi
! Indiana, Senators Hanna and Scott AND
| Richard Kerens of Missouri.
Mrs. Roosevelt and Mrs. Payne also wit
messed the ceremony. this being departure
from the usual custom. The oath was ad-
ministered by Chief Justice Fuller, who
| first extended congratulations. President
! roosevelt next extended his hand and adj
dressed Mr. Payne as Mr.. Postmaster Cen
eral' The others present then extended
| congratulations. The President graspcd
| the hand of Mr.. Smith and extended his
! best wishes.
| AS the cabinet officers were going down
| stairs on their way out the White House
| WOrkmen were engaged in taking down the
enormous hat and cloak boxes that are
| placed In the vestibule before each recep-
| ton to accommodate the guests. One OF
| the big boxes fell with great noise caus-
ing some one to inquire of Secretary Long.
| What is that loud noise?'
| "Oh, that's Smith going out of office"
| answered Secretary Long
| The new Postmaster General remained
| with the President some time after he had
| been sworn in. He went from the White
| House to the Post Office Department
ordinarily cabinet officer is sworn in
| without many people being present fire.
quently none but the President and the
Justice administering the oath.
Mr.. Smiths Last Duties.
| few brief conferences with his old sub
| ordinates and reception at which he bade
goodbye to all the employees Of the Post
| once Department now in Washingt on
| marked the close of Charles Emory Smiths
| service as Postmaster General today. With
| the new Postmaster General Mr.. Smith
went to the White House some time before
| 10 o'clock, and after participating in the
| administration of the oath to Mr.. Payne
entered his carriage and drove quickly to
| the office which he had christened and
| from which he retires to re-enter journal
| ism. he found on his desk huge bouquet
| or roses; carnations and lilies presented to
him With the compliments Of the clerks
| IN the Postmaster Generals Office those
with whom he had been most Intimately
| associated during the four years of his
service. The few hours he remained in the
building were spent in gathering together
his personal effects and preparing the Of
| nee and desks for the use of his successor.
The dignified and scholarly Postmaster
General Of yesterday seemed today like a
boy out Of school He talked eagerly and
happily. laughed frequently and greeted his
callers with an informality altogether op-
posed to the reserve and preoccupation
which marked him while a member of the
ca binet. IF Mrs. Smith and I can get our
things packed" he said, I'VE EXPECT To
leave for Philadelphia tomorrow morning
Ihere is still a great deal to do though
ana we may be kept at it until Friday.
Ihen we leave for good. From that dav I
snail be a Journalist. suppose for about a
week l snail put on the brakes hard-out
OF maitland talk with the utmost con-
serVatlsm. That ought to last about a
| week. Then / shall be a newspaper man
again, one Of the craft. and shall be very
glad OF 1t. There Is to be a newspaper din
| ner within less than two weeks. and have
thought should slip back to Washington
to attend 1t. could appear as a newsnaner
man among my fellow-workers. 1t would
ne sort or seal on my retirement from
the cabinet -
New Private Secretary.
The new Postmaster General had an
| nounced before coming to Washinston that
his secretary in Milwaukee, Mr.. F. H.
Whitney, was to serve as his private secre
tary here. Until the new officials have ac-
customed themselves to the routine of the
Office, however, 1t is Mr.. Paynes desire that
Mr.. Clarence E. Dawson and Mr.. George
l.. Wood-who served Mr.. Smith as secre-
tary and stenographer, respectively-shall
remain at their desks. This temporary ser
vice will probably continue at least until
February 1. Mr.. Dawson will then he
transferred to one of the most important
executive positions in the department a
new ohce necessitated by the rapid growth
OF the postal service during the past two
years. His associate has been assigned to
a post Of almost equal distinction Both
gentlemen will retire with the unlimited
good will of the other clerks in the Post
master Generals Office and the sincere
good wishes of every one with whom their
confidential positions brought them regu-
larly in contact.
Revised Postal Regulations Signed.
Mr.. Paynes first visit to the department
occurred yesterday afternoon. He and Mr..
Smith then went briefly over the routine of
the office, and conferred with the several
bureau chiefs of the service It SO ham
pened that the revision Of the postal reeu
iations had then just been concluded and
the compilation only awaited the signature
OF the Postmaster General to make it law,
and Mr.. Smith signed the revised regula-
ttons as the last important act of his ser
vice as Postmaster General.
Mr.. Payne Takes Charge.
Mr.. Payne presented himself at the de-
partment today at noon and received his
portfolio from the hands of the retiring
chief Of the department. For nearly two
hours the new Postmaster General and Mr..
Smith were closeted together and engaged
in final conference over pending postal
matters Mr.. Payne then summoned his
secretary, examined his personal mail.
made the final arrangements for the after
noon, and left the building to lunch at the
Arlington as Mr.. Smiths guest There was
no formality in the transfer Of authority,
Clerical Force Received.
When the two had returned from the Al.
lington shortly after o'clock the 1000 SUBJ
ordinates to Mr.. Payne in his new position
were assembled by the chief clerk of the
department, Mr.. Blaine w. Taylor, and for
mally presented to him in his public room
The incoming official stood near his desk
in the room used for conferences with con-
gressional callers Mr.. Taylor, who served
as the usher Of the occasion, stood q few
feet nearer the door. and the space beyond
was filled by the chiefs of the several h,,-
reaus Of the service. Each chief of division
presented the clerks under his direction To
Mr.. Taylor. who presented them to the
Postmaster General.