Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-01-23
Our Washington Letter.

she past week tne winter sunshine OF Wnlcn lts |
inhabitants are pardonaby boastful. Politically |
speaking, there now seems to be
A CALM IN CONGRESS,
hut whether II portends coming storm, or i'm |
plies that the session IL TO be one OF dry routine
only, no one can clearly determine. On one point
the members are well.nigh unanimous, and that |
Is that the session will be long It will not be
surprising II, when the thermometer ranges among |
the nineties, Congress will be holding night ses-
sions and wrestling still with knotty financial
problems The past week has given no occasion
for conflict upon executive appointments in the
Senate, rs that body has given up almost It's en-
tire time to the consideration Of the silver ques-
ton The principal speech upon the subject was
made by Dan Voorhees,, the tall Sycamore Of
the Wabash" who on this first occasion Of his
addressing .he Senate was listened to by large
and very attentive audience for the "dollar OF
the daddies," and against resumption Thursday
was given up to the delivery of eulogies upon the
late Senator Morton Nearly all the giant orators
OF the Senate We'd with each other in awarding
eulogistic praise to the memory Of the departed
statesman. It was worth much to listen to the
finished eloquence Of Senator Booth, Of Cafor-
mia; the oratorical power, combined with the most
appreciative tenderness, displayed by Senator Ed
munds, and the classical eulogy pronounced by
Senator Conkling. Eulogy il not, however, the
forte Of the latter Senator; his tones seem more
appropriate when pronouncing words Of irony
and sarcasm, and you seem to feel the sharp edge
of the sword behind the soft glove which Is put
on for the occasion
The House has done but very little rs yet The
military academy appropriation bill was reported
yesterday, and the naval bill will be reported
early next week. discussion arose yesterday,
over bill for the payment Of u claim for prop
erty occupied by the government at Alexandria
during the war, as to the exact import of Mr.. Til
den's letter regarding Southern claims Mr. Mills
of Texas, In replying to Mr. Conger, of Michigan
said there need be no concern in that quarter, as
Governor Iilden would never again be the candi-
date of the democratic party for President The
question is now asked does Mr.. Mills speak for
the democratic party by authority? without dis
posing Of the matter the resolution relative to the
late Senator Morton WAS taken up and eulogies
were pronounced by Messrs Hanna of Indiana,
Garfield Of Ohio. Dunnell of Minnesota, Williams
of Wisconsin and others.
The House committee on the District Of Column
lila are now engaged in the consideration of the
WI uIHWH ny bONtrHbT lttnuee 10 provide a1Oftll
of government for the district The bill receives
the warmest approval of the committee and the
citizens Of Washington, and there il no difference
of opinion upon only one Of its provisions. The
bill provides that the United States should pay
one-half for the support of the district and the
district the other half, but some of its warmest
friends think that the bill will be more likely to
pass II the rates is fixed at sixty cents for the dis
trict and forty cents for the United States.
Considerable interest has been excited in society
and official circles for the past few days by the
announcement that Secretary Evarts proposed
NEW DEPARTURE" IN RECEPTIONS
it being no less than the proposition to use the
magnificent suite Of apartments, set apart in the
vast pile of the new department of state for his
official use, for the purpose Of giving two grand
state balls during the present season. The Sec
retary considers these receptions a. part of his
official duties and his desire is to make them a.
agreeable to those usually invited on such occa-
sions as may be possible In the matter Of ex-
pense to the governmental would amount to moth
ing save the single item Of gas, and 1t could be
done without interfering with the official work OF
the department Should the Secretary determine
tn carry out his idea, the first ball will be held
during the latter part Of the present month, and
the second either in April or Ma. The invita-
tons wonld embrace the diplomatic corps, the
civil, military and naval officers of the govern
ment and the beauty aud fashion of the Capitol,
including residents and sojourners during the
season The number will be limited To about
two thousand persons.
Overlooking the lake-ike expanse of the Poto-
mac stands the south pavilion Of
THE NEW STATE DEPARTMENT,
II structure which, when fully completed will con
sttute in design and execution one of the most
imposing eddces at the seat of government and
the finest bui ding Of the kind in the world The pa
vilion designed for the ofthe Secretary of State
was begun in 1871, and occupied in 1875 Partak-
ing of the general character of the entire struc-
ture, which includes also the Departments of the
War aud Navy, this pavilion is Of the Roman
Doric style of architecture It combines the
massive proportions Of ancient with the elegance
OF modern taste. Its southern facade measuring
three hundred and forty-two feet in length, and
rising one hundred and twenty-eight feet from
basement To roof presents grand and statel,
appearance The interior finish Of the building
COMFORTS with the massive character of the granite
walls Of the exterior The floors of marble the
pilasters, columns, casiugs and beams Of iron
vaulted ceilings doors of the finest Hondura,
mahogany and the whole flushed in the highest
style Of art, are alike credit to the beraty and
taste of our people On the principal floor q
grand corridor traverses the entire length of the
building from east u west, which is ntersected
from the sonth grand portal by n spacious en-
trance hall. Opposite lisa passenger elevator. On
second floor, occupied by the Secretary and
''' P''"N'P'' - '''ants, Is Il corridor of similar
dimensions, with "A number Va -. H., ,,...., =,
pendant from the furrowed ceiling. Opposite
the center of this grand corridor, and looking on
to the south across the Potomac aud upon tn
wooded hills of Virginia, Is the general office o
the Secretary, and adjoining ON the east are tn
offices of the first assistant secretary, Mr. Sew
ard; the office Of the chief clerk, Mr. Brown tn,
ante-room for general visitors having bushes
with the Secretary, and in the southeastern ang
the office of the third assistant, now occupied a
the headquarters Of the Commissioners General Il
Paris Living to the west of the Secretary otfic
are offices for private conference the diplomats
audience room, and in the southwestern ang
the office Of the second assistant secretary. Tn
entire sweep of apartments ON the south sid
could be thrown into one by opening the commu
nicatng doors, which would give not less tlial
five thousand feet Of floor room, and, with tn
grand corridor, almost double that space Th
Secretary and Mrs Eyarts would receive in tn
diplomatic audience room, sumptuous salon
finished in ebonized woods, with walls and cell
ings decorated after the most artistic Germanize,
Egyptian style, with floor in marquetry, an'
fittings Of gilt and furnishings in ebonzed wood
and gold brocade. This grand salon, lighted b.