Roosevelt at the Helm

NEW PRESIDENT TAKES UP HIS DUTIES WITHOUT OSTENTATION.
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FOLLOWS WISHES OF M’KINLEY
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GOES TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND AT ONCE SETS HIMSELF TO WORK.
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HOLDS SHORT CABINET MEETING
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INFORMED AS TO THE BUSINESS OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.

     Washington, Sept. 22.—Theodore Roosevelt has been president of the United States a week nearly, but he began his administration of the affairs of the nation yesterday morning in a thorough businesslike and purely democratic way.
     The president returned from Canton about 9:30 o’clock and drove directly to the White House, where, without formality of any kind he entered his office and settled himself to work. Secretary Long came in almost immediately and went over some details of his department with the president, Senators Proctor and Cullom called, and the president announced to the former that he intended to appoint William Barrett Ridgely of Chicago as controller of the currency to succeed Charles A. Dawes. It had been known for several days that President Roosevelt would

Make This Appointment

because Secretary Gage told him that President McKinley had decided upon the appointment. President Roosevelt made no further inquiry as to the qualifications of Mr. Ridgely. He considered it the appointment of President McKinley, though signed by himself. The appointment of Dr. Rixey as surgeon general of the navy will be made in the same way. There is one other such appointment in New York which the president will make in the same way.
     The other members of the cabinet arrived at the White House a few minutes after the president entered his office, and the cabinet meeting began. President Roosevelt took his place at the head of the table and proceeded to business. He told the members that he desired to understand exactly the situation as to what business had been closed up and what

Was Still Pending.

The meeting was devoted to reports by all the members present on the situation in the various departments under their control. When these reports had been made the cobinet [sic] departed with the exception of Secretary Root, who was joined by Gov. Gen. Wood, and they went over the Cuban question at some length. There was no halting or hesitation on the part of the new president anywhere. He took hold of the work like an experienced hand and first gathered up the threads of business already completed. The members of the cabinet were surprised at the president’s familiarity with questions which they have been considering and discussing for months.