Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-04-19
[From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.


Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. c.. April Is, 's2.
Now that Lent Is over. Washington has
for brief season resumed those social en-
tertainments from which society has had
short respite. Tho president has given one
general reception, on which occasion the
White House was crowded beyond prec-
edent, and this is saying good deal. for
the old mansion has boen packed before.
There has been some talk about building q
new presidential residence. but there is no
prospect of thi, being done soon. The
present house is old aud iRconvenicnt In
many respects-just too good to tear down,
but not quite good enough to stand.
There has been further debate on the tar
iff question during the week. The sub
ject has been agitated, and 1t will not sleep
until 1t has changed party lines and from.
tiers. If all members who have speeches
prepared on this question speak, tho session
will be prolonged till August.
There was rumor yesterday that the
secretary of war, Robert Lincoln, would
be removed In few days and successor
appointed. thus making President Arthur's
cabinet entirely new; but have 1t from
the best authority the present secretary
will remain, the sole survivor of Garfleld's
cabinet.
Mr.. Chambers appearance in the navy
department is regarded with some dread
by the barnacles, toredos and rats that
have had so much to do in navigating the
old hulk to the ID, and If reports are
true, he will soon reorganize the navy
department with very stiff boom. Mr..
Teller, the new secretary of the interior,
it is reported. will also do little spring
@ cleaning, and more than one chief of
bureau, with his little coterie Of depend.
ents, is wishing tina. he had not hung on
princes favors until he became too weak
to hang at anything else. Mr.. Teller is a
man of ability and industry. He has ex-
perience as lawyer, and is especially
familiar with land and mining cases, and
the Indian question. all of which matters
are in charge Of the department Of tho
interior to which he has been appointed.
This department is an unwieldy conglom.
Grafton of incongruous parts. 1t comprises
the patent and tho pension Offices, the
general land office. the Indian bureau, the
bureau of education. Tic census and the
geological survey are both attached 10
the interior department, as is also the
commisslonership of all railroads that have
been granted any loan or credit, OF subsidy
in lands or bonds by the United States.
The navy department, of which Mr..
Chandler takes charge, is much nicer
and more homogeneous machine. 1t con.
sists of eight bureaus, viz: Yards and
docks, navigation, ordnance, provisions
and clothing, medicine and surgery, con
struction and repair, equipment and re.
cruiting and steam engineering. Some oil
these bureaus have subordinate offices, as
for instance, the chief of the bureau Of
navigation has control ofthe naval observ-
atory, tho nautical almanac Office, and the
photographic office. each efwhich employs
quite a number Of clerks and scientific
specialists.
There seoms TO be a very good prospec,
for the passage of bill relating to the
count of the electoral vote in presidential
elections, so as 10 avoid the difficulties
that almost eliminated in revolution in
1876. The Senate has passed bill which
will probably be concurrsd In by tn,
House. The object of this bill is to throw
upon the states themselves the RESPONSE.
bility of deciding oil disputed questions as
to their respective electoral votes. and to
limit the work of congress TO the functions
devolved upon the two Houses by the con
stitution-that of counting the votes sem
| in.