Evening star., 1921-03-05
SENATORS QUICKLY
APPROVE CABINET
Mr.. Mellon, Treasury's Chief,
Is Sworn to Office Soon
After Confirmation.

Smashing prccedents of a hundred
years and reverting to the practice
of George Washington and Thomas
jefferson. President Harding. after his
inauguration yesterday afternoon,
walked into an executive session of
the Senate and laid before that body
his nominations for the cabinet.
The nominations were confirmed IN
less than ten minutes. Later thc
President signed the commissions OF
the men who are to be his advisers
President Harding. when he en-
tered the Senate in executive SeS
sion. explained that during ms id-
ministration he wished to MAINTAIN
close and amiCabe relations with the
Legislative branch, and for that rea-
son had appeared personally TO pre-
sent his cabinet selections.
Presentation of the nominations was
the first official act of the incoming
President. and occurred within tess
than an hour after he had taken t'e
oath of office. He had discussed the
question with Senate leaders before
his inauguration. and when ne con
cluded his inaugural address the Sen
ate assembled.
GrectS Correspondents.
While a quorum was being oh
tanned Mr. Harding waited IN ms
room off the Senate chamber. During
ihc wait he came to the door Tor d
minute to smile greetings to neWSpa-
per correspondents in the corridor.
He had scarcely rc-Hntered tn" room
before the arrival of Senators Lodge
of Massachusetts and Underwood OF
Alabama, the republican and demo-
cratic leaders. who had been ap-
pointed by Vice President Coolidge TO
inform the President that the Senate
was ready to receive communications
from him.
Mr.. Harding said he desired to pre-
sent his message in person. ana was
escorted into the chamber, the doors
to which previously had been closed.
with all spectators and newspaper
men excluded The President was es-
Corted across the familiar room where
he served six years before his call to
the higher office and to place on
the rostrum beside MIR. Coolidge.
Reads Names From Card.
Facing his former colleagues. the
President spoke for perhaps five min
utcs in happy. cordial vein, and then
read the nominations frcm d card
which he held in his hand. He asked
for early action, in order. he said, that
there might be no hiatus in the gov
crnmentS affairs.
Starting with Senator \. Z. Fail Of
New MeXico-a courtesy because of
his Senate mepbership-th Senate
went through the list and connrmed
all. one by one. No objection was
raised. all committees to which the
nominations ordinarily would have
been referred having been polled in
advance.
The cabinet officers as confirmed are:
Secretary of State, Charles Evans
hughes of New York.
Secretary of Treasury, Andrew w.
Mellon of Pennsylvania.
Secretary of War. John W. Weeks of
Massachusetts.
Secretary of the Navy. Edwin DENLY
of Michigan.
Secretary of the Interior. Albert 3.
Fall of New Mexico.
Secretary of Agriculture, Henry c.
Wallace of Iowa
Secretary of Commerce, Herbert G..
Hoover of California.
Attorney General, Harry NJ. Daugh-
erty of Ohio.
Postmaster General. Will H. Hays of
Indiana.
Secretary of Labor, James j. Davis
of Pennsylvania.
One of the new officials. Mr.. Mellon.
was sworn in soon after his confirma-
tion, the ceremony taking place in the
Office of Senator Knox of PennSyl-
,vania. The oath was administered by
Chief Justice White of the Supreme
Court. assisted by Associate Justice
Pitney. David +. Houston. the retir-
ing Secretary of the Treasury, stood
beside Mr.. Mellon during the brief