Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-08
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. THE WHITE HOUSE Taken Possession of by the
 President. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BUILDING. The Mansion Made Comfort able for 8 Residence. A Weak Defense for Guiteau. The Plea of Insanity Pretty We'll
 Exploded.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

The Executive Mnnston-A Number ofIn,-
 provements Made-President Arthur
 Moves In-Some Probable Changes i'm
 the Senate Committees-A New Bank
 rupt Law-Other Matters.
 WASHINGTON, December 7.-President Arthur dined at the White House this evening, accompanied by his sec retaries, Reed, Phillips and Brown, and hav- ing as guests J. H. Starin, of New York, son of Bancroft Davis, ,and Howard Carroll. The Presidents personal effects books, pa pers, office desk, etc., were removed from the Jones mansion to the White House this afternoon. The Presidents bed chamber will be the Nellie Grant chamber. The White House is greatly improved in looks The main lobby has been kalsomined in light shade and the cnairs, lounges and set tees have been recovered with light silk and wool brocade. In the East room the furniture is rich and showy and the general effect most pleasing. The wood work is all brocade softened with golden brown. The window curtains are of old gold brocade with plush lambrequins artistically embroidered. The Green room tinted in Nile green is more beautiful than ever before. A velvet carpet with figured center is bordered with shaded SE66A 1AO 1oAuO PdT1OT Tculd1uS dS IL was. The Red parlor has been elaborately reno vated. The velvet carpet is rendered brighter with filigree crimson wool mat. The wood work is in rosewood. The furniture is in crimson plush. The hearth is tiled with old fashioned andirons, brass shovel and tongs. The halls and stairways have all been recar- peted in dark red velvet. Up stairs all the rooms have been made comfortable and cheerful. The prevailing tint is crimson tiled.
 It is rumored to-day that Secretary Blaine had insisted on being relieved from the port folio of State at once, and that the name of his successor would be sent to the Senate to- morrow. MT. Blaine was asked in regard to the rumor, and stated that he knew nothing of it. He said his resignation had been in the hands of the President. for some time with the understanding that he would accept it at his convenience, hence the name of his successor was liable to be sent in any time, though he knew of no particular plan for his immediate retirement President Arthur stated tonight that the resignation of Sec retary Blaine had not yet been accepted, and he could not say when any Cabinet nomina- tions would be sent to the Senate. It is said the new Attorney General and Secretary of State will be nominated within ten days; that Hunt will remain till January. James will stay till next June. Lincoln will be given @ prominent foreign mission and Emory Sterrs
  placing the temporary appointee to the de- partment of justice.
 The subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary committee having in charge the subject of a bankrupt law have prepared report to sub- init to the full committee at it's next meeting. The members hope bill for permanent bankrupt law will be perfected and reported to the Senate before the holidays.
 Prof. J. W. Shively of Saratoga Springs, who was arrested here few days ago and sent to the insane asylum, now turns out to be the same man arrested near Chicago about month ago, when it will be remembered there he represented himself as possessed of the secrets of a conspiracy to assassinat @ Garfield in which Conkling, Grant and others were alleged to be implicated.
 Since the Senate committees were formally reorganized changes have been necessitate d by the retirement of Senators Conkling and Platt, of New York, the death of Burnside ceed Edgerton. The Republicans, although they have just passed resolution continu- ing the committees, are not altogether satis- hsd with them as now constituted. As va cancies occasioned they were filled by putting @ new man on the same committee as his pre- decessor, but at at the bottom of the Repub- ican list. Thus New York lost the chairman ship of the Commerce committee and the For eign Relations committee passed from Gen eral Burnside by Lapham, who succeeded Conkling, to Edmunds, who also holds the chairmanship of the Judiciary committee. MT. MacMillan. who was chairman of the Re- vision of Laws, by the retirement of Conkling got the Commerce, giving him also two com mittees. There are but thirty-nine commit tees standing to select from. H ad Windom remained in the Senate he would have been chairman of the Appropriation committee and had place on the railroads and transpor- tation routes to seaboards.- As successor to Edgerton he goes to the foot of the list of Re- pubicans on Pensions, Patents, Education and Tabor, his former standing going for naught. At the caucus this morning it was proposed, but not generally favored, to correct this matter. committee was, however, ap- pointed to consider the subject and it is quite probable that some voluntary changes will be made on the Republican side to ac- commodate existing circumstances. An other caucus will be held in 8 few days
 Speaker Keller is hard at work on the House committees. The chairmanship slate is not materially changed since yesterday, though nothing definite can be stated
 The Senate adjourned after the introduc- tion of some bills of a private nature.