Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-18
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
A BIG MISTAKE ABOUT ARTHUR.
Not COnkling's Man by a Large Ma
jOrity-Waste I'm Public Printing
Gutteau's Antics-The Wonderful
Change In Popular Sentimental
FOretaste of Winter.

WASHINGTON. november lO.-A delegate 10
the Republican National Convention at Chi
cago, who is now resident of New York city.
said to me to-day in talking of the relations
existing between Conkling and Arthur, that
most people gave Conkling credit for great
deal more influence with Arthur than he really
possessed. ITO talk about Arthur being a tool
Of Conkling is all nonsense" said the ex-
delegate. He is nothing Of the kind. OF
course Conkllng has more influence with the
President than most people, but does not in the
least occupy position from which he can die
tate to the President, and 1 do not think he
will try to do any bossing He did try to die
tate to Arthur once to my certain knowledge,
and that was at the Chicago Convention.
After the convention had gone back on the
Grant, Blaine and Sherman factions, and had
nominated Garfield, there was little scene be-
tween the New York Senator and President
(then Collector) Arthur. In order to placate
the Grant men the second place on the ticket
was offered to Arthur. When the offer was
brought by the Garfield men Conkling said
after they had left the room: 'Wedon't want
to have anything to do with this business.
They have nominated Garfield; let them elect
him without any help from u.s. We do not
want to be connected with it in any way. OF
course you will refuse, Arthur he said some
W0dJ OlCbdDOrldlty. AfInur gOG up, anu, walk
ing towards the door, said: Mr.. ConkliDg,
the nomination for the Vice-Presidency
is one that never comes to man
twice, especially at my time Of life shall &C
cept,' and he went and communicated his inten-
tion of eRcepting the honor which had been
offered him. Conkling was somewhat put out,
but he never again attempted to dictate to
Arthur. OF course the slight difference caused
by this scene was soon adjusted. and the two
men are as great friends now as ever. But
you just bear it in mind that Conkling will not
boss the President of the United States"
UNNEcEssAR AIRY PRINTING.
Every year the heads of the different bureaus
and chiefs Of divisions in the several depart
ments made reports of the transactions OF
their offices for the preceding fiscal year. These
reports are always printed in pamphlet form
at the expense Of the government and
distributed gratuitously-they could not
be distributed any other way. They are
also printed in substantial book form later on.
This printing is now going on. In many OF the
bureaus the work is the same one year with
the other. There is only a difference or the
figures in the amount of accounts handled and
other work done. But still the reports are all
voluminous. Many recommendations which
never receive any consideration whatever are
made. Mr.. Upton, the Assistant Secretary OF
the Treasury, said to me yesterday. as was
examining one of these reports: IF you do
not think it is all right you can compare it with
same officers report last year" careful
examination OF the two reports showed
that they were word for word the
same, except in the tabulated statements.
Comparative examinations of other re-
ports showed the same similarity, and
yet there are printed each year large numbers
of these reports, the only changes being in
few figures. This has been going on for years.
It costs a good deal of money to print these re-
ports, all of which are gotten out in excellent
style. How much has been spent in reprint
ing year after year the same stuff cannot be
told. 1t is only an instance of the eXtrava-
gance pervading the departments here in
Washington.
GUITEAU's TRIAL.
There is nothing sensational in Gniteau's
trial yet, and from the outlook of things it
would seem to be barren of any horrible sem
sational features. TEe crowds at the City
Hall are not half so great as was expected
The prisoner is brought up from the Jail in a
van and taken into the court room and out
scared nearly to death, but without anyone
thinking of making a demonstration against
him. He looks scared, but is not
at all nervous except when he is passing from
the court room to the van. His face is repul-
sive to all. His eye is quick and catches
looks around, like cat. He sits in the dock
slightly bent and watches with the most intense
interest the course of the trial. He seldom
gives mole than a casual look at the faces
around the room; and when he does look at
the spectators his gaze is withdrawn in few
moments. Guiteau will sometimes jump up
and interrupt counsel He is not the least bit
diffident. believe his self-possession and self
assurance were always his two leading charac-
teriSticS. There is some fun in the case
growing out of Guiteau's antics. which
are much like these of monkey, but it is a
sort of ghastly fun
Quite a number of ladies attend the trial
Mrs. Scoville, the sister or the prisoner, is al
ways on hand. That lady sits there daily, and
by her presence lends the only CLEAN of sympa-
thy that is the lot of Guiteau. she is middle
aged, quietly dressed and good looking lady.
She does not notice that she divides with Gui-
teau the glances of the lockers on. When Gui-
teau goes cut of the court room he is generally
hissed and jeered. That's what scares him.
On the whole it is very peculiar trial. The
monstrous crime is, to a certain extent, forgot
ten now; and the antics of the prisoner tend to
detract much from the solemnity of or
dinary trials for murder. 1t is but a
short time to look back to when the people
were threatening to lynch the man who had
shot the President OF the United States and
would have done so could they have got their
hands upon him. They then demanded the
blood of the assassin; now they 20 to the court
to be amused by his antics
THE SEASON.
We are now having our first real touch of
winter. We have swetered along through Oc-
tober and a part of November. 1t was entirely
a mistake that overcoats were hauled out of
the camphor or pawnbrokers' shop, as the case
might have been, as early as two monthG ago.
There has been no necessity for extra wrap
pings. The leaves on the trees are beginning
to fall now, but on many tree they are yet
green. Usually the limbs at this season of
the year are bare, and whip each 9TH
or in November's blast. Summer was
prolonged too long for health. There has
been six weeks of what doctor to-day called
good pneumonia weather. But it is now get
ting little better. We are having some
brisk northwest winds, and cold, clear morn
ings and afternoons. The afternoons bring
out the ladies in the attire which they had
made for themselves several weeks ago, but
which could not be worn on account of the
warmth. The streets are lively with bright
dresses. The store windows show bright dis
plays of goods The unusual number Of peo-
pie in the hotels and on the streets proclaim
that the winter season is approaching, ami the
winter advance on the capital has commenced.
1t will be lively winter In Washington. AL
ready the sound of the toot horn has been
heard inaugurating balls and dances.
Potomac