Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-06
Washington
Bureau
of.
The Courier

The Courier Correspondent
Washington, Feb. 4.-The treasury
OF the United States suspended opera
lions at 10 O'Clock Saturday morning.
At / O'Clock the same day it resumed.
An Iowan Caused 1t.
The temporary suspension was not
due to lack of funds to meet all de.
mandS upon the cash room, but be-
cause upon the second floor of the
south end OF the great building man
was taking an oath. The man was
Leslie NJ. Shaw, late governor of Iowa.
1t is no longer Governor Shaw; it is
MI Secretary"
Done in One Minute.
At precisely 1920 o'clock Governor
Shaw raised his right hand, and in just
one minute was secretary OF the Unit
ed States treasury. The actual for
malities connected with breaking into
the treasury, in the capacity of secre-
tary are not prolonged nor exacting,
| ii you have previously had sugges-
ton from the President
Picture Inspired Pride.
The picture presented in the Office
of the secretary that morning was one
that must have given pleasure and in
spired feeling of pride in the soul
of every Iowan. 1t was distinctively
Iowa day in the grim old stone build
ing facing the Capitol at the head of
Pennsylvania avenue. You could rec
ognie an Iowan as far as you could see
him, even though you did not know
| him by name. The letters OF the
name Iowa were traced upon the feat
ures of her sons.
All Hawkeye Citizens Welcome.
Governor Shaw had requested the
press to announce that all citizens OF
the Hawkeye state would be very well
come upon the occasion OF the admin
isterirg the oath in the Office OF the
secretary, at 10 o'clock, and notwith-
standing the wretched condition OF
the streets and enthusiastically a
mass of ice-there must have been
fifty representatives OF the state pres
ent upon that suspicious occasion.
The Preliminaries.
Governor Shaw arrived at the treas
ury shortly before 10 O'Clock and found
Secretary Gage ready to receive him
The greetings were mutual, cordial
and unaffected 1t was the prellml-
nary to Illinois transferring trust OF
great honor and great responsibility
to her grown sister, Iowa Soon after
Hon. Geo. E. Roberts, director OF the
mint dropped in, followed almost I'M
mediately by Iowa congressman and
officials. Governor Shaw emerged
from the secretary's private Office anc
for fifteen minutes held a sort OF IN
formal reception. Secretary Gage al
so came into the main office and was
, cordially greeted by the Iowa contln-
gent all of whom knew him intimately
and have for him the highest regard.
Dolliver and kasscn Come.
) At 1915 Senator Dolliver, heavy
coated and smiling, entered, and al
once proceeded to greet each one pres
ent. Secretary Gage and Governor
Shaw retired to the private ONCE. Al
, this moment Hon. John A. kasson, o.
, Iowa, acknowledged one of the nation
most brainy men, entered. clad In
heavy winter coat, with collar up-turn
ed.
, Imperceptibly the hum of converse
!. ton decreased until there was silencei
!, the friends pushed back, leaving
large open space in the center OF thu
room. The door to the private Office
opened and Secretary Gage and Gov
e ernor Shaw, preceded by Mr.. Justic.
\ Shiras, himself an Iowa man, entered
!, Little Ceremony.
: There were no formalities. Arrived
Ii Of hn
, fiat-top desk in the center of thu
! room, Secretary Gage released hi
= grasp upon Governor Shaws arm ant
. passed to one side, standing just oacl
: of Mr.. Justice Shiras The latter ant
v the secretary-to-b stood sideways t.
the desk. Governor Shaw facing tn
greater portion of the guests.
Countenance Shows Feeling.
Governor Shaw seemed slightly pa
d er than usual and upon his counte
nance an expression of appreciated re
!, sponsibility was plainly distinguish
= able. However, there was no time 70
= consideration. Justice Shiras pre-
. ceeded at once holding in his han
: copy in typewriting of the oath t
which the secretary-elect should max
!, audible acknowledgement.
). Voice Slightly Unsteady.
r "You will raise your right hand an
). repeat after me-" he said Governo
v Shaws hand was elevated and wit
Y earnestness and without "a balk, a
though some of the lines We're rattle
/. long for instant memorizing, he II
e peated the OATH There were trace
IN of unsteadinessin the secretary-elect'
IS voice as though he were speaking III
e der strain, although this would nc
have been noticed except by the clo
q est auditor. In taking the oath Co
a ernor Shaw impressed every CUES
+. with the feeling that he meant whs
II he said and that his administrator
If of the great Office just coming With
p. his jurisdiction would. indeed be [
% the very best of his ability.
k. And 1t Was Done.
S Immediately following the concl
If sion of the taking of the oath, Mr. Ju
tice Shiras requested Secretary. Sha
to attach his autograph to- the wri
It. ten document, and this was done, til