The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-12-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. d. G.. Dec. II. Is,

is every indication of satisfactory re-.
suits being accomplished uotwithstand-
ing tho short session. During the first
few days there has been good deal of
bantering and chatting each other
among the members who have aud have
not been re elected. but on the whole
congressman appear ~ he IN an unnsli.
ally serious frame Of mind as regards
the business before them. ThcNgallerics
are pretty well filled every day with
people curious to see not only what is
going on, but TO have look at theme
tables. Mr.. Robson comes in for Q
large share of interest, and he has con-
Quoted himself admirably. Nobody
would suspect from his manner that he
was disappointed by his late defeat.
Judge Kelley, "the father OF the house,,
As he is called, and who is so strong in
his district that he was reelected with
practically no opposition, always at
tracts attention when lie rises in his
seat. His voice is deep bass, and his
enunciation very distinct The court
~ kasson is also much sought for b.
visitors in the galleries. There is no
better parliamentarian on the floor.
Page, of California, who was 80 active
In securing tho passage of the River
and Harbor bill over the President,
veto last session, shows that he feeb
his recent defeat, and looks as though
he wanted to explain to every one how
it happened. The ample form of Reed
OF Maine is always CONSPICUOUS as his
active brain entities him to be. On the
Democratic side Randall and Carlisle,
prospective speakers of the next Con-
gress are the most criticised from the
galleries, but the genial Sam Cox is rev.
er overlooked. The man on that side Who
seems to be more pleased with himself
and the rest of mankind than any ,ne
else is Ben LeFevre, of Ohio. Someon
asked him how Ohio was, and he re-
piled that Ohio was one hundred CENTS
on the dollar.
The frankness and frequency with
which Republican leaders refer to tleir
recent defeat upon the floor of the sen-
ate and the House indicates most tlor-
oughly to those whose second sight ell.
ables them to read between the lines
that, like Grace Hardcastle in the old
play "She Stops to Conquer" they
only bide their time and seek to pluck
the weaphos and presage of future
victory from the smoking ruins of their
late disaster. Not only is this noticea.
BILE in the many wise measures for pub
lie reform and public benefit, both
national and local, which have already
been billed for the present session, but
perhaps the best exemplar of this spirit
may be found in the recent Presidential
message. AS President Arthur may be
safely accepted as the highest imper-
sonation of the great party whose sec.
ond nominee he was, so in his message
can be traced the spirit which animates
its cooler and wiser heads. The gener-
oil commentator it has received as a
brief but able and statesmanlike paper
which seems dictated by broad and
national rather than narrow and mere
psrty feeling, strikes the keynote of
future Rnpublioen mo, cnents and leg
islation. The great party of progress
issnever half so dangerous as when it is
smarling from rhcent defeat, and it al
ways accepts the latter not so much for
punishment for its sins as hint that
it can do better things, and as spur
and incentive for the future.
President Arthur still resides in his
cottage at the Soldiers Home, and
drives in every day to transact business
at the White House. The improvements
and renovations at the Executive Man
sion will be completed in a few days,
when the old White House will look
better than it has for years. The Pres
ident expresses himself as entirely
pleased with what has been done.
which, as he is fastidious and not al.
ways satisfied with the way things 90
on, is good augury. Last winter, for
instance, while he was occupying Sena.
tor Jones' house, the workmen at the
White House Jagged almost unaccount.
ably. The President went up there
one day and gave them piece of his
mind in very dignified but effective
manner. They turned in and in less
than two weeks the house was ready
They found out that work that came
under the Presidents own eye conld
not be trifled with. Society people are
anticipating lively season this winter,
to be opened by tho Presidents New
Years reception and followed by some
gorgeous entertainments at the Man.
sion. Last season the White House
was in mourning. Besides the usua]
receptions President Arthur proposes
this winter series of dinners to his
Cabinet and the Judges of the Supreme
Court, and also to Senators in Con.
gress. 1t is expected that before March
4, every Senator will have been invited
to dine at the White House. Mrs.
McElroy, the Presidents sister, will re-
turne here from Albany the latter part
OF this month and remain as his social
aid. de-camp during the season. She
is q lovely and accomplished lady.
DIR. d. W. Bliss is as mad as March
hare, and 1t is understood will refuse
to accept the award of the board of au-
dit-$6, 60O-for hfs services in connec.
iion with the illnaaa of the late Prasi.