Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-10-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent,

I Cabinet making has progressed
slowly. If the outsiders were per-
mitted to take a hand in the BUSH
ness they would have completed the
job in about three days--to suit
themselves. Material enough has
been suggested to President Arthur
by the disinterested gossips for three
or four tirst-class Cabinets, but
somehow hehas not seen fit to let
the selections be made in this way.
Evidently the President has foun d
what difficult piece of work 1t is to
construct political edifice that shall
comport exactly with his own wishes
while it also meets the expectations
of the public and satisfies the de-
mands of his own party. There have
been many consultations at the Pres
idential residence in which repreSen-
tatives of the stalwart element are
chiefly the participants. One of the
great difficulties so far encountered,
SO am credibly informed, is the de.
sire on the part OF the President to
so arrange that Mr.. Conkling can
come in after while. The final de-
clension of Governor Morgan,
nominated for Secretary of the Treas
ury, was great disappointment.
In the course of the immense bust
ness transacted by the Treasury De-
partment great many very curious
aud amusing things occur. The
public have little idea of the enor-
nous correspondents received by the
different Government Departments,
from all sorts and conditions of pee-
Pile, in all parts of the country. That
received by the Treasury is probably
the largest of all. Every now and
then letters coma in without sigma
ture and containing sums of money
which is ascribed to conscience"
and credited to a fund bearing that
name. OF course there is no means
OF knowing who these conscience
stricken people are who have at some
time taken from Uncle Sam that
which did not belong to them, and
finally restore it for their piece of
mind. They may be -ofiice-hold-
ers or contractors, or citizens who
have had unjust claims allowed
them. Not many days ago an anony-
nous letter came from Cincinnati
containing $3.50 in coupon bonds and
a small sum in Treasury notes. Not
a word of explanation accompanied
the inclosed and it is not known
what the object of the sender was,
unless a contribution to the '.con-
science fund" is intended. The
bonds were cut and mutilated be-
yond Identification except as to their
amounts. AS an illustration of the
funny things that occur: A gentle
man residing in Chicago recently
wrote to his wife from New York to
forward some coupons to the Treas
ury for redemption and to send the
numbers to him. The faithful spouse
obeyed his request literally. The
coupons came to the Treasury with
the numbers cut out and the officials
were at loss to understand it until
letter came from the husband in
New York saying that his wife had
carefully cut them out and sent
them to him. instead of sending a
memoranda of the numbers as he in
tended. ....-..
Last week tall angular man of
some sixty odd years came to town
from Ohio with $4,000 in six per-
cent bonds for redemption, and he
made Rome howl with his demands
for gold. He went up to the Treas
ury and taking a stand in the cash
room commenced the delivery of a
set speech in favor of paying gold for
bonds. When told that he could
have gold il he preferred it, but that
be would find Treasury checks or
greenbacks more convenient, his
worst suspicious were aroused. He
had paid gold for the bonds and
wanted gold in return. So the en-
tire amount was given him in yellow
coin. 1t weighed about seventy-fve
pounds. The old man sat down and
carefully counted it over two or
three times and then slowed it away
in an old leather valise. When, with
this strapped over his shoulder, he
started down the street staggering
under the load, an officer was sent
after him TO see that no harm came
to him. On all other subjects this