The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-03
Mr.. WHITNEY
MUCH LOVED
BY CLERKS

3. F. Peters. chief c,erk of the Navy
Department, and other men who were in
the department while William c. Whit
ney was Secretary Of the Navy received
the news of his death with great sor-
row. No Cabinet member was ever more
beloved by the men who were associated
with him than Mr. Whitney. Janttors
and messengers share the high regard
of bureau chiefs for the foTmer Secre-.
tary
No Secretary of the Navy ever worked
harder than Mr.. Whitney. The develop
ment of the new navy began in earnest
under his administration, and he spent
most OF his time studying models OF
ships. The reception room at the Navy
Department was filled with models of
ships. and Mr.. Whitney, was constantly
in conference with naval officers con-
corning the various types. -re
Always in Good Humor.
Although he was so busy. Mr.. whit
ney was always in a good humor. He
was never cross with the men who were
under him and always found time TO
receive callers who came TO see him on
business.
Mr.. Whitney lived IN the Frelinghuy-
sen house. on I Street. between Seven
teenth and Eighteenth Streets. while in
/ Washington. This house was refitted
! for him. He also had a farm on the
/ Tenleytown Road called Grassland. Mr..
! Whitney always left the department
early In the afternoon and went for a
drive with some member Of his fam
] iIy He usually drove TO his country
/ home.
/ 1t was Mr.. Whitneys custom to spend
the Fourth Of July at his Long Island
! home. with his family On that day
he always placed Grassland at the dis
posal of the employees OF the Navy Dc
/ partment He provided refreshments
for all the clerks who cared TO go. with
their families. 10 his country home. and
| supplied carryails to take them there.
At Christmas time Mr.. Whitney AL
ways remembered all the employees OF
the department who would accept
1 turkeys from him. and both he and Mrs.
1 whitney were constantly assisting
clerks who were ST.
Worked Standing Up
Mr.. Whitney had a high desk In the
reception room at the Navy Department,
1 and did most of his work in standing
position. He always signed his mail on
this desk When callers came whom
/ Mr. Whitney did not care TO talk with
he would walk away from them and go
into his private Office. Visitors were
never allowed to follow him into that
Office unless by invitation.
He was so liberal with his money that
he frequently gave large sums TO per-
sons who applied for work and told a
story OF misfortune which impressed
him. He was seldom duped. and was a
keen student OF human nature. One
/ morning a man with pockets filed with
papers sought an interview with Mr.
Whitney. He scrutinized the man, and
! then said:
You arc an appointment broker,
/ aren't your
The man tried To deny the charge. but
Mr.. Whitney would not listen TO him.
and in few days the fellow was ar
rested on the complaint OF an Office
seeker from whom he had accepted s25
as a guarantee Of position.
A man once sought TO obtain through
/ Mr. Whitney's influence an appropria-
ton OF 100. to be used in experiment.
ing with whales preparatory TO con-
i structin0 submarine boats. The man
was many years ahead or time with his
submarine idea. and the papers setting
forth the project were Endorsed by Mr..
Whitney as follows:
mo Stree. W c. W.
Mr. Whitney had large real estate
holdings near TenleytOwn. and made
much money from property near Red
Ton, the home Of President Cleveland.