The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1881-07-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, D. G.. July Is, 1881.

From Our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, D. G., July Is, 1881.
Although the condition of the Presi
dent of the United States is greatly inn
proved, yet the interest in his health
continues undated. The excitement
has passed away, and no longer crowds
of citizens throng the vicinity of the
White House. The daily newspapers
however, are eagerly perused for the
bulletins, which are regularly issued by
the attending physicians. According tc
the last accounts, President Garfield is
considered out of danger. The gratifying
news fills every patriotic heart with joy
for it is universally conceded that il
would have been a great calamity hao
the shot of the assassin caused the death
of the Chief Ruler of the Nation. The
excessive hot weather which has been
affecting Washington during the past
week has not been preiudicial to Presi,
dent Garfeld's recovery, owing to the
measures which have been taken to re.
duce the temperature of the White
House.
Vice President Arthur has returned to
New York, as in the opinion of the Cabi-
net, it was unnecessary for him to remain
in Washington any longer.
The assassin Guiteau has made con-
fession in which he states that the mur4
der of the resident was coolly and delib>
erately planned by him. 1t appears that
he arrived in Washington on Sunday eve>
ming, March 6, 1881. On Monday May
10, he determined to murder the Presi>
dent. On Wednesday, June 9Th, he
purchased a pistol and Immediately be-
gan to practice with il. On Sunday,
June IL, he saw the President attend
church, and Immediately entertained the
idea of killing him there, but found that
he could not do so without endangering
the life of somebody else.., He heard
that the President was to visit Long
Branch with Mrs. Garfield on the 18th Of
June. He went to the depot, but, as he
states, saw Mrs. Garfield looking SO frail
and weak after her illness, that he re-
Trained from shooting the President in
her presence. Subsequently he logged
the footsteps of the President on several
occasions, but could not get an opportu.
nifty to use his pistol. On the morning of
July End, he went to the depot, had his
boots BACKED, examined his pistol cares
fully, and as soon as the President ape
peared shot him. This certainly does
not appear like the acts of an insane
man, neither does it go to show that he
possessed an accomplice. 1t is hoped
that some means will be found whereby
under the sanction of the law he NAV be
hanged. From present appearances. it
looks as though he would get off with his
life.
There has been a wholesale discharge
LOG in number, from the Pen.
sion Office. This has been done by the
new Commissioner of Pensions, solely for
the purpose OF bringing the expenditures
within the appropriations for the ensu.
ing year. He found that with the num-
Der of clerks employed at the first of
July, 1881, that he would be over $780,
900 short on the first Of July, 1882. In |
with this large force of men
the Commissioner has had the relative
merits of each individual employed in
The Pension Office carefully scanned, and
The best men have been retained, regard. |
less OF the length of time employed. In
addition the salaries of some go clerks |
nave been reduced, so that the business
If the Office can be expedited with as lit
lie hardship as possible to the employees
IF the Office.
II is announced that the prosecution
ofthe Star Route cases has prepared suf> |
aclent evidence upon which to secure ins |