The Washington times., 1905-03-12
CROWDED HOURS
Il WHITE HOUSE
President Going Every Min
ute of the Day.
ACCOMPLISHES MUCH WORK
Tasks Herculean Since Inauguration.
Receives Thousands Of All
Kinds of People.
AccOMPLisHES MUCH WORK

AS strenuous as the life policy OF
President Roosevelt himself has been
the first week of his new administration
and II the same pace is kept up for the
next four years which has prevailed at
the White House during the past six
days the President will come much
nearer wearing out than rusting out.
From q quarter past nine o'clock on
the morning of Monday, March 6, when
the President received Secretary OF
State Hay to talk over appointments IN
the diplomatic and consular service un-
til late yesterday afternoon. every wax
ing minutes of his time has been taken
up with the duties of his position.
To begin with he had TO receive hun
dTeds, OF visitors who stayed over In
Washington after the Inauguration for
the special purpose of shaking hands
with him.
The doorkeepers at the White House
estimate that on Monday, alone, 500 per-
sons were admitted to the Presidents
private office. Tuesday, being Cabinet
day. there were fewer admitted, but the
hallway was crowded all day long.
On Wednesday there was no dimin-
ution in the size of the tllrong that
passed in and out. Not until Friday did
the Presidential offices assume their
normal appearance. It Is safe to say
that President Roosevelt shook hands
with at least 2,Go0 persons during the
week.
Work Done.
In addition to those who called to pay
their respects, the President received
the usual number of Senators and Con-
gressmen, who called to confer with him
about Federal appointments: delega-
tions from ali parts of the country
and minor Government officials. With
the Santo Domingo treaties pending in
the Senate. the Beef and Oil trusts in
vesugations going on in the Department
of Justice and the Department OF Com
nlerce and Labor, and the general run Of
routine business before him, the Presi-
dent had 30 let-up in his regular work,
and nothing was held back on account
OF the rush of Inauguration visitors
The Presidents first act was, of
course. to send to the Senate for con-
frmation the nominations of his Cab
met officers. There was only one
change, that being the appointment of
George B. Cortelyou to succeed Robert
J. Wynne as Postmaster General. and
there was no trouble with the Senate.
All the names came back to the Presi-
dent promptly
fairs relating to the executive depart
ments being duly chosen. the President
took up the appointments in the diple-
matic and consular service, and, as
many a minister and consul can testify.
he has nor been idle in the conduct of
this part of his work.
While the policy adopted by the adj
ministration of continuing good foreign
representatives in the service regardless
of the length Of time they have held Of
flee is being generally adhered TO. a de-
termination On the part of the President
to weed out diplomats and eonsuis Of
the pink tea variety has been strongly
in evidence.
This class, by the way. has long been
a large one, but no amount of political
or social influence is likely to keep them
in the service during the present admin
istra ton, and, as their four-year terms
expire, they will fail OF reappointment-
TIE game of the pink tea" brigade is
to play for easy posts in Europe where
there is pleasant society and no work.
The Orient they religiousIy avoid, if pos
sible.
CongloT1erate Humanity.
The President and Secretary Hay are
OF one mind regarding the Improvement
of the diplomatic and consular service,
Administration viii be made with this
end view.
A more conglomerate mass of human
sey than that which poured in and out
OF the White House Offices last week
can scarcely be imagined.
National Guard troops, governors OF
States, and their handsomely uniform
ed staff officers; women from every sec
ton IF the country, dressed in every
conceivable style, from handsome, taste
full velvet gowns down to outlandish
travelling costumes that beggared de-
soription: Senators and Representatives
with visiting friends who did not wish
70 leave washington without shaking
hands with the President squads of
high school bows. who marched in the
parade; boarding school girls; q deiega
tion rom the Sociological Association,
II negro organization. sent 10 ask the
appointment of a commission TO investi-
gate the condition of the negro under
tie revised constitutions of the South
ern States: a deputation from the Society
of Old German University Students, to
present the President with a certificate
of honorary membership; labor leaders.
and last. bat not least. three or foui
groups of Indians. anxious to pour tales
of woe into the ears Of the Great White
Father went to make up the motley ar
ray.
Sought Freedom.
Without favor. the President received
all who were properly introduced or
who had business to transact, and sent
most Of them away happy The only
caller who left with a sad and down
cast countenance was Geronimo, the
Apache chief, who is lin hook at Fovt
Sill, Okla, with tIl= rest Of his outlaw
band, a prisoner or war instead of a
skeleton, as many think he should be-
when they recall the atrocities of which
he was guilty before his capture In 1886.
The old Apache, willy to the core. went
to the White House along with the other
Indian ckiefs who rode in the inaugural
parade, with his mind made up to plead
with the Great White Father for his re-
lease.
Geronimo speaks no English. but
Il 81.